Actually, I found it super-easy to get around that area of Switzerland, taking lots of hikes, cable cars to peaks, visiting the attractions -- although I admit I did NOT paraglide off Schilthorn -- but how slow can that be?

At that time of year, the Trummelbach Falls will not be the big "wow" that they are for some visitors (kids mainly). Ditto other waterfalls. Down to a trickle.

I would want more time in Paris and a shade less in Switzerland. I've never been to Titlus or Pilatus, but if you've never been to Paris, you might want another day there. How did you feel about Rome? Were you itching to get out of city and into nature, and did you enjoy every day of it. Paris and Rome are very different cities, but if you enjoy urban exploration, and you and GF don't always picks scenery over cities, then Paris is a treat.

Hard call to make. It really comes down to your personalities and whether you are always happier outside of cities or enjoy being in them.

I think your allotment of time looks good. We were in Lauterbrunnen in September 2009 and the falls were raging. I guess every year is different. Trummelbach was quite impressive. You can easily do Jungfrau and Trummelbach on the same day. Head up to Jungfrau early and then get off the train in Lauterbrunnen, walk across the street from the train station and catch the bus to the falls. It runs every few minutes. From the bus stop to Trummelbach is about 10-15 minutes. You walk about 10 minutes on a path to the falls and then the falls take about 45 minutes or so. So allow a couple hours for this trip.

We loved Rome. I think Lauterbrunnen would be a nice change of pace between Venice & Paris. It looks beautiful. Really, would we need more than 4.5 days in Paris ? I realize you can spend weeks in any of these European cities & " still not see it all " as people would say ... but no we have not been to Paris or any of these cities. We went to Rome , Florence & Berlin for our first trip last year. As far as outdoor stuff I certainly enjoyed Boboli Gardens & Tiergarten in Berlin. Maybe we could trim it down to 3.5 days in Lauterbrunnen ?

It will take the majority of the day to get from Venice to Lauterbrunnen. The same for Lauterbrunnen to Paris. We took the 7:50 train from Venice and arrived in Lauterbrunnen at 15:25. By the time you walk from the train to your hotel/apt, unpack and get situated you will have just enough time to eat dinner before the town shuts down for the night.

The first time we spent 8 days in Lauterbrunnen and this time we spent two full days: just a little introduction for our kids. Your trip to the Jungfrau will depend on the weather. I would check the weather each morning and then catch the early train up the mountain if it is a clear day. You can grab breakfast at the train store and eat on the train.

You can get a good intro to this area with just three days and you could spend more time in Paris if you wish. With just four full days in Paris I wouldn't plan any day trips to Versailles or such.

You can always spend more time in each area, but you only have so many days in total so some sacrifices will have to be made. Either way, I still think you have a good amount of time in each area for an overall good introduction.

Michele

What else did you do in that 8 day span ? Say we are there for hypothetically 3.5 days what would you do besides Jungfrau & Trummelbach ? Say we get in & have enough time to go eat dinner & after traveling to get there. Just enjoy the town. Next day we do Jungfrau ( pending weather ) and Trummelbach Falls. Could we fit in other stuff that day ? What would you do on the following 2 days ?

Well just a note on Swiss trains and passes - also check out the Half-Fare Card - but for most a pass is great - covers not only trains but everything that moves in Switzerland just about.

Rather than buying a Swiss Pass in Brig you may check prices for sales in the U.s. I have been tracking these for years and more often than not they are significantly cheaper here and you also have no foreign transactions fees - recently I check and they were significantly cheaper here than there and you may be on a train that continues past Brig to Spiez (changing there for Interlaken) and with the pass already you need not get off the train to buy or activate your pass if you already have one.

For loads of great info on Swiss trains and passes and the fabulous Jungfrau Region - to me the absolute highlight of Switzerland, both literally and figuratively check out these fantastic sites - http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id3.html; www.rickstevees.com and www.swisstravelsystem.com - compare pass prices in Swiss francs at latter with those on other two sites or www.raileurope.com, part owned by the Swiss Federal Railways.

Train Lauterbrunnen to Geneva to Paris 9/7>

Maybe slice a day off Lauterbrunnen and stay a day in lovely Montreux or Vevey on lovely Lake Geneva and savor the French part of the country?

this would give you time to take the Golden Pass specialty train from Interlaken to Montreux - one of Switzerland's iconic scneic railways - it takes a bit longer than the main route to Geneva so if going straight on you'd obviously want to go that route - but consider hopping the Golden Pass train, which plies a different Alpine route and near Montreux you can walk, train, bus or boat to the nearby famous Chateau de Chillon, of Lord Byron fame sitting plop on Lake Geneva.

Then you can get direct train to Paris from Lausanne, just a few minuttes train ride from Vevey or Monteux.

At that time of year, the Trummelbach Falls will not be the big "wow" that they are for some visitors (kids mainly). Ditto other waterfalls. Down to a trickle.>

Are you sure you are not mixing up Trummelbach Falls - the unique water cascade inside the cliffs with the very high open-air falls that backdrop Lauterbrunnen? That one in summer does often dry up to a trickle but I have seen Trummelbach in August and being the sole drain of the northside of the then melting Jungfrau Massif glaciers and snow, etc was a real torrent as I understand it is at that time?

Palen!Q,

I am talking about Trummelbach Falls. I thought they were boring. I did not enjoy being cooped up in a hole with electric lighting on a beautiful day with a stunning landscape outside listening to what sound like a rainstorm inside a broken NYC drain pipe. To me, it was a "roadside attraction." Other people have told me that had I gone later then November, I would have been mightily impressed by the thundering noise and volume of water. I still think I would have rather been outside in the sunshine listening to the cow bells and bees, watching the clouds drift over the mountains.

Beerstarkes,

If you are not going to that area to hike, and then hike some more, or paraglide, there really isn't anything to "do" in terms of attractions other than the Jungfrau, or piz Gloria, to look at more stunning views of the stunning Alps. The town, while pleasantly Swiss, are not anything to write home about. They are not places to "explore." They sell postcards of the views.

I once booked myself into Murren for 4 days, and left after 3 to go to a lake for variety. Of course, I wouldn't have booked myself there for 4 nights if I had known ahead of time how I would feel, nor would I have gone to Trummelbach Falls had I remembered I'm usually not as interested in others in caves, geysers, weird rock formations. My goof.

It's really a very subjective call. I very much enjoy walking through the Alps and I feel the same way you do about Rome or Berlin or other cities you've enjoyed . Of course you are not going to be through with them in 4 days or 5 or 6. I also think Switzerland will make a great break from between Venice and Paris (I don't like Venice much at all but that is totally irrelevant. I think the time you've allotted it makes sense).

Just go with your gut on this one. If you run out of things to do in Switzerland, be naughty and leave for a surprise location. Have fun whatever you do!

I don't think you need a "Swiss Pass" for what you describe.

I strongly agree with the suggestion to somehow include Montreux, Vevey, Lausanne, which is right on your route and an incredibly beautiful area.

I don't think you need a "Swiss Pass" for what you describe.>

You cannot say that until you know exactly what the poster is going to do in the Lauterbrunnen area - assumedly not stay put in town all the time - one great excrusion that is 100% valid with a Swiss Pass from town goes via thrilling aerial cable way up the cliff to Grutschalp then scintillating electric train right along the cliff to Murren - then aerial gondolas to Gimmelwald - a farming hamalet out in the middle of nowehre and which has gained popularity in recent years for its unique setting - then the awesome aerial gondolas that plunges back down to the Lauterbrunnen Valley at Stechelberg for a postal bus ride back to Lauterbrunnen - 100% covered by a Swiss Pass this rather expensive loop would be and if they go to Schilthorn from Murren they get 59% off with a Swiss Pass - about $50 savings there along so could easily realize $100 or so in ticket prices on just one day.

And maybe in rainy weather they bail out of the Alps and day trip to Lucerne or Bern - the pass is valuable even more or they want to go down to do boat trips on either lake bookending Interlaken - great great floats IMO - so it depends on what they do before anyone can say whether they need a Swiss Pass or not IMO.

<You cannot say that until you know exactly what the poster is going to do in the Lauterbrunnen area>

That's why I said I don't *think*...

Obviously you can never figure out which pass (if any) is best until you know where you are going!

I think we would need the Swiss Pass. We certainly wouldn't want to stay put. Going up gondolas & train rides to nearby towns.

PalenQ , all the things you mentioned sound great.

Hi beestarkes,
We did hiking/walking nearly everyday with the exception of one day for grocery shopping and laundry. We also went down to Interlaken and rode the funicular one day. We went to pretty much every town in the BO during our time there. Switzerland was in the middle of a three month trip.

If you do not want to hike but want a lovely, very easy walk then take the train to Wengen, cable car from Wengen to Mannlichen. Walk from Mannlichen to Kelein Scheidegg and then take the train down to Grindelwald, wander around and then take the train from Grindelwald to Lauterbrunnen.

Another day you can take the funicular and train from Lauterbrunnen up to Murren. It is a lovely town to walk around. You can take the funicular up to Allmendubul and stroll leisurely back down to Murren.

We did not do Schilthorn, but many people here recommend it.

There is a lot to do in the area. Restaurants are quite expensive so you might want to pack a little lunch to take with you on your outings.

It is a beautiful area. You will enjoy it.

I always find that if I have a Swiss Pass I may end up doing more than I thought I would - simply because I do not have to think well is this worth that - like on a whim I often in Interlaken take a boat ride on Lake Thun - just a float around the lake on a nice late afternoon in summer - the Jungfrau Massif is out in all its glory and you laze on deck and drink up the intoxicating scenes.

Bring a picnic and make it even better. But if I had to think well would I pay $30 or so for that ride well I may not have done it, etc. And again on rainy days it is easy to take the train to Bern or even Lucerne - cities that even in wet weather can be fun - especially Bern as it has covered passageways lacing the town center.
consecutive-day passes are the best deal per day but even with a flexipass you get 50% of everything in between the 100% covered travel days - again makes one more likely to take a fairly expensive conveyance over paying full price.
Pass gives you flexibility in case of poor weather, not uncommon here and if staying in a place like Wengen or Murren the pass covers 100% of the trains and cables, etc to get there and back and most do not stay put in just one place.

What kind of savings do you see from going up Jungfrau & Schilthorn ?

Whatever savings you realize from the Swiss Pass, on the rest of the railways, I still believe that there is no savings at all from any pass for the section from Kleine Scheidegg up to the Jungfrau. At least there wasn't with the BO pass. It is a private railroad. There is a discount for the first train of the day to the top though. I did like having a pass for our stay in the BO, we could just hop on and off whenever we wanted, no money to worry about after the initial purchase.

Whatever savings you realize from the Swiss Pass, on the rest of the railways, I still believe that there is no savings at all from any pass for the section from Kleine Scheidegg up to the Jungfrau. At least there wasn't with the BO pass.>

Yes there is with the Swiss Pass - 25% off and that is no chump change on one of the world's most expensive if not most expensive railway - did not know BO pass got zilch - but conditions of Swiss Pass say 25%.

Thanks PalenQ - that's good to know.

Uhh Ohhh

I remembered incorrectly (darn brain). I just checked my notes from our trips to Switzerland and saw that we received a 50% reduction on the train fare from KS to Jungfrau. I guess I was remembering that there was a charge for that portion of the train trip instead of free travel.

Sorry for the confusion...I will now go play some 'brain games' to hopefully improve my memory.

I feel that a Swiss Pass is an excellent investment, considering what your preferences are. If you have the names of all 3 travellers noted on the same pass, you qualify for a 15% discount (of course then all 3 have to travel together, which I presume will always be the case). The Swiss Pass also covers all boat journeys, and free entry to all museums. It is a great convenience to hop on to any train, bus or boat anywhere, without bothering to buy a ticket first.

Since you reach Lauterbrunnen on the afternoon of your first day, perhaps the best use of that day will be to visit Trummelbach Falls that day. It is a 10 min bus ride from Lauterbrunnen. You could also utilize that day just strolling around Lauterbrunnen, and admiring the numerous other waterfalls just outside the town.

michele-d has given an excellent suggestion, about taking the train to Wengen, riding the lift to Mannlichen, then walking to Klein Scheidegg (it is one of the best walks in the region, and utterly delightful, and easy on the legs). From Klein Scheidegg, I would take the train to Jungfrau, and on the return journey, would stop to look around Wengen before returning to Lauterbrunnen. This would make for one long day.

On another day, I would take the lift from Lauterbrunnen to Grutschalp. Rather than taking the connecting train from Grutschalp to Murren, I would walk from there to Murren (another lovely walk of BO, very easy). Halfway to Murren there is a village called Winteregg, where there is a lone restaurant that serves the best Rostis on Planet Earth ! From Murren, you could take the ropeway to Schillthorn. On return to Murren, walk down to Gimmelwald (rather than taking the lift), a lovely hamlet, and then board the lift going down to the valley floor for an eye-popping experience, connecting with a bus that takes you back to Lauterbrunnen. Another very long day.

On another day, take the train to Grindelwald. From their, ride the gondola to First, then hike to Lake Bachalpsee and back, and return the same route to Lauterbrunnen.

If you have another day, go to Interlaken, ride a boat on Lake Thun, stroll around Thun town and in Interlaken, before returning.

What you have to understand about Switzerland is that the beauty is in the walks everywhere...there are not much "sights' to see, but everywhere there is lovely vistas and views, and fresh mountain air, with the sound of cowbells. The beauty lies not in any destination, but in the journey to that destination, i.e. the journey is the destination !

Do not waste time travelling to Luzern or Pilatus or Titlis, as it would take too much time. Although those places are nice, they are not feasible in a day trip from Lauterbrunnen. I think you have better "action" in BO than going there.

Swiss Pass will cover all the transport that I have mentioned above, except for only 50% of the lifts from Wengen to Mannlichen, and from Grindelwald to First, and 25% from Klein Scheidegg to Jungfrau, and about 50% of the ropeway to Schillthorn. All trains and lifts to Murren, Wengen and Grindelwalk, and Interlaken are 100% covered, including buses and boats.

You will not run out of things to do in Lauterbrunnen. Do not reduce your time there.

<I just checked my notes from our trips to Switzerland and saw that we received a 50% reduction on the train fare from KS to Jungfrau. I guess I was remembering that there was a charge for that portion of the train trip instead of free travel.>

But things have changed since then - it was with a Swiss Pass free up until Kl Schidegg and then 50% off from there the really expensive Jungfraujoch train. But now you get only 25% off and this is from Grindelwald or Wengen to Kl Schidegg and onto Jungfraujoch - so the benefit is not nearly as great as it once was but is still no chump change either.

I love all these ideas. The hiking between Wengen to the train up Jungfrau sounds great as well as the route from Murren to Schilthorn. We might paraglide off Schilthorn, but not positive. I think my GF is more scare than me ( neither of us have ever paraglided before ) I think I'd very much like to get in a boat ride & check out Oberhofen. I know it's not as famous as Chateau de Chillon , but we would like to get in at least 1 castle. Could we eat well for say $75 per person each day ? That would be breakfast , lunch & dinner.

That's ~70 CHF so you will certainly be able to eat on that, but I'm not sure how "well" and it definitely won't cover 3 sit-down restaurant meals. Food is expensive in Switzerland!

Even a fast-food lunch can easily cost you 20 for example.

So that amount will be OK but you'll need to have some bakery, picnic, local cafe workman's lunch special, farmers market kind of meals, not be in restaurants 3x/day.

Oh and if you drink wine, don't order bottles of a wine list. Get whatever 'house wine' is offered (red, white, rose) by the pitcher or carafe.

We loved watching the paragliders when we visited Murren. You are VERY brave to do this. The colorful para-gliders looked like little teeny tiny specks against the massive rock faces of the Lauterbrunnen valley. Scarey indeed! But fun to watch.

$75 per person each day should be fine. You will be on the go a lot so probably just picking up quick munchies throughout the day, with a good sit down dinner each night. There is a good cafeteria style restaurant, surrounded by glass windows to take in the view, on the Jungfrau where you can come inside and have a hot meal. It's a nice break especially on really cold days.

Regarding picking up snax/picnic items: Be sure to check the times at the grocery store in Lauterbrunnen, as they do close early. One time we exited the train station and literally ran to the grocery store, only to have them lock the door literally as we approached the store.

The BO is outstandingly beautiful. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on it upon return.

The hiking between Wengen to the train up Jungfrau sounds great as well as the route from Murren to Schilthorn.>

those are both IME strenuous steeply upward hikes, I do not see what kind of hikes you want but those are not strolls - now I did walk down from Kl Schiedegg to Wengen and that was a waltz - all downhill and not that steep as it was a wide path that even ATV can go over - lots of mountain bikers roaring down it all well. But uphill I would not have liked it that much - still took a few hours going down but oh so great views over the Lauterbrunnen Valley far below.

To be clear..the leisurely hike you want is from Mannlichen to KS, not from Wengen to KS.

michele_d is right; walk from Mannlichen to Klein Scheidegg, and not the opposite (which would be uphill), nor should you try Wengen to KS.

Also, the hike from Grutschalp to Murren is not at all uphill, but a gentle stroll on level ground, very easy. Do not try walking all the way to Schilthorn, unless you can fly ! There is a long long cable car to take you there from Murren.

the Mannlichen to Kl Schiedegg stroll is slightly uphill the whole way but still easy - the so-called Ridge Walk as you can see both the Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen valleys - Mannlichen is reached by an aerial cable way from Wengen and is a celebrated vista point - with views 360 degrees over both valleys and Interlaken, far below wedged between the two lakes bookending it.

The Grutschalp to Murren walk is also a popular easy hike - flat and there are a few train stations en route in case you want to hop on the train - there is a famous cafe with an open-air belvedere about half-way that is renown for its Farmers Breakfast - sit on the large terrasse and drink up the Jungfrau Massif right across the narrow valley below.

another easy stroll you could do if you do that fantastic Murren Loop from Lauterbrunnen IMO is to rather than take the aerial cableway Murren down to Gimmelwald, walk there over a paved footpath which at times skirts the cliff edge so you get awesome views over the valley below and the glorious Jungfraujoch Massif high above.

I took the train from Geneva and stayed in Verbier for three days one winter. Verbier was really beautiful for skiing in the winter. I don't know what it's like in summer at all, but you could always look into it. The town was cute and there were a lot of fun bars and restaurants. It's one of my favorite places I've ever been , simply amazing views and a hub for young people.

Do not try walking all the way to Schilthorn, unless you can fly ! There is a long long cable car to take you there from Murren.>

Indeedy - that would be one heck of a strenuous hike - especially the closer you get to Shilthorn where you have a very rocky and steep and to me treacherous looking final ascent - yes take the Alp's longest aerial cable way there - Schilthorn to me is awesome and well worth the money and time.

So getting to Lauterbrunnen by train. I think I'm supposed to go to Milan 1st & then ride to Brig to Spiez to Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen. According to a previous post I can get the Swiss Pass ahead of time & use it in route to Lauterbrunnen. Would I just book a ticket from Milan to Brig & show the Swiss Pass as the train is leaving Brig ? Also , I hear that there are 2 different trains going from Brig to Spiez. 1 that is thru mountain tunnels & doesn't show much scenery. I believe there is another train that shows amazing scenery in route to Spiez , right ?

Yes if you have a Swiss Pass on a train that goes thru the border entering Switzerland you can then activate that pass on the train - the only time that can be done - so folks do not have to get off the train to do so and miss time, etc.

Yes buy a Italian ticket to Domodossola as Swiss Passes to my knowledge are valid in full until that first regular Italian station - show the pass when the Swiss conductor comes by and he is supposed to activate it (IME sometimes the conductor will not have the right stamp and just tell you to activate it when you get off the train at your final destination on that train - Spiez in your case - not Lauterbrunnen.

You should be able to activate your Swiss Pass from Italy itself, even a few days in advance (for the precise date that you wish). When we were traveling in this region, and had a Swiss Pass and an Austrian pass, we were in a similar dilemma when we were boarding a train from Zurich to Salzburg. To our relief, we could activate the Austrian Pass at Zurich station itself. I presume therefore that you could activate the Swiss Pass at Milan station.

I would not count on activating at Milan - but the rule is if you are on a train coming from outside the country then the conductor has to activate your pass on the train - so you do not have to get off the train - no need to activate in advance. This is a seemingly universal rule with railpasses - it should be spelled out in the fine print that this can be done - the only case where you can activate a pass on a train and not at a ticket window.

So there is no worry about activation - but read the rules to make sure it says that as it does on any pass I have had, including Swiss passes.

The only other dependable way of activating a pass is to have it activated when it is issued - then you only have to start using it. But most agents, though they can do that, are aloof to do it because once activated the pass is no longer refundable if not used - but for folks on a tight schedule landing at an airport and wanting to dash right off for some train it could be useful.