Hi Everyone! I am just starting to plan a second trip to Switzerland (soooo excited!) for next May/June and am struggling to figure out the best route.... I really want to spend some time in Montreux area but also want to make it over to the Engadine. I missed both areas on my first trip as I stayed in Lucerne (really liked it) Wengen (loved it) and Lugano (didn’t love it should have gone to the Engadine). It’s a small country with a lot of beautiful regions!
Nothing is set in stone yet - all accommodations can be changed so I am open to ideas/redirection... but I think I would like to finish in the Engadine as last time I finished in a city and it was kind of disappointing after being in Wengen for a week... I’m traveling by train/bus everywhere. I can fly in to either Geneva or Zurich.
First I booked 4 days in Kandersteg because I really, really loved the Bernese Oberland but didn’t do as much as I wanted when I stayed in Wengen because I was pretty happy just wandering around the beautiful area! From Kandersteg I would like to get up to Oeschinensee and do some hiking in that area, but I also want to get over to Thun to visit the castle, and maybe the Beatenburg caves, and if possible on the same day continue on to Bern... is that too much in one day??? I also didn't make it to Ballenberg last time but that might be too far?
Next I have booked 5 nights in Montreux, from there I will visit the Lavaux Vineyards (had no idea you can walk around in them unescorted how amazing!!), Gruyeres, Sion and possibly Martigny. I hope to do each as a day or half day trip. Also I hope 5 days gives me enough time to explore Montreux and maybe get out on a boat trip, the lake looks so beautiful... Zermatt is on my radar too but I’m not sure how to fit it in. Maybe a day trip if the weather there looks clear? I thought perhaps I could do a day visit on my way from Kandersteg to Montreux? Weather pending of course... I’d either forward my luggage (love this!), or store it in a locker which I assume they have in Zermatt train station?
Then after Montreux I want to head to the Engadine. There are so many really pretty towns over there I don’t know how to pick. I’d like to be somewhat central I guess, I want to do some easy/moderate hiking, and also do the Bernina line hopping on and off wherever I feel like, I assume that’s ok?? So I guess this area is where I need the most guidance. Towns I have looked at on past recommendations at are Pontresina, Sils Maria, Silvaplana, and Soglio (pretty far out of the way but really beautiful views). St Moritz is a little too much city for me I think, though I will do a a day visit there... Is it best to just stay in one place and zip around by train? Or split between two locations? I do like a home base that I can get comfortable in...
So as it is now, I would fly into Zurich, train to Kandersteg for 4 days then to Montreux for 5 days then on to somewhere in the Engadine, I think for 5 or 6 days? Or switch around Montreux and Kandersteg flying into Geneva? Then fly out of Zurich back to Toronto...
Sorry this is really long I'm super excited right now and rambling lol - but I just want to get a plan in place then I can look at each area a bit closer... how does this sound so far? Thanks for any feedback!!