mrt

Next July, planning on flying to Milan from the USA to travel to Lake Como and out of Zurich for a 9 -10 night vacation (not including travel time to and from Europe) I would like to do 4-5 days in Lake Como and 4-5 days in the Jungfrau region in Switzerland to see Grindelwald, Wengen, and Lauterbrunnen and spend a night in Berne or Zurich.. Also, is train travel from Lake Como to my destinations in Switzerland feasible. Any suggestions are welcome.

kja

You might find some useful information in my trip report:
https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...any-thanks.cfm

Train travel should be possible and very easy, comfortable, and convenient.

Dukey1

Depending upon <B>exactly where</B> you end up staying on Lake Como, for rail travel you can go south to the city of Como; west to Lugano; go all the way (back) to Milan; go north to Tirano and take the Bernina Express (which would be a somewhat roundabout way but spectacular).

Suggest you look at a map for the geography involved.

neckervd

There are spectacular Swiss glaciers and mountain peaks not far away from Lake Como (Bernina; 4 hrs by train)
and not far away from Milan Malpensa airport and nearby Lake Maggiore (Matterhorn Paradise; 3 1/2 hrs by train).

If it must be a journey from Varenna/Lake Como to Wengen, count 7 to 8 hrs, for example Varenna dp 13.37 - Wengen ar 20.44 (change at Milan C, Domodossola, Brig, Spiez, Interlaken O, Lauterbrunnen)
resp. Varenna dp 8.37 - Wengen ar 15.51, change at Monza, Arth-Goldau, Lucerne, Interlaken O and lauterbrunnen

PalenQ

Nothing IME can beat the wondrous Jungfrau Region for 3-4 days - easy to get around due to myriad of mountain trains and aerial gondolas and a variety of things to do besides trips to mountain tops - like boat rides on lakes bookending Interlaken - Como to Interlaken area yes long ride - maybe substitute Lake Maggiore (Stresa) for Lake Como - just as nice a lake IMO and much closer to Jungfrau Region. for lots on trains check www.swisstravelsystem; www.sbb.ch; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Can stay in Lucerne the day before your flight - Zurich being a large modern city - nice but not as sweet as Lucerne IMO.

neckervd

"Nothing IME can beat the wondrous Jungfrau Region"

Palen should really get an award from the Jungfrau railway company!

Sue81

OK, I'd try to allow at least a night at the end in Zurich, it is worth a bit of time, before you depart, if you have not been there. Nice to contrast Swiss villages with large city like Zurich. The Jungfrau area is amazing, if you are into mountains, lovely scenery, good food, hiking. Zermatt is interesting but touristy, nice little museum and great tram ride up to Gornergaut in Zermatt. I prefer farther up in Switzerland, i.e. Murren/Wengen area. The views and hiking in Wengen are spectacular, esp if you go up the lift to the Mannlichen for hiking or simply to see the area. Nice boat rides in Zurich too. Trains are great in Switzerland. Sue

Dukey1

I have to say that the Jungfrau region is not exactly "missing" tourists in season and get ready for a lot of groups, too. But there's a big reason why lots of "tourists" go there.

PalenQ

Palen should really get an award from the Jungfrau railway company>

Don't need to take no trains to appreciate this region!

Sue81

Actually I was in Wengen this past July and their really were not that many tourists. Maybe we just hit a slow period? Zermatt was really packed with people. I think Wengen is still a tad off the beaten path, at least I hope so. I'd spend more time in Wengen and less at Lake Como, but it depends on your interests. Awesome place. Sue

PalenQ

Actually I was in Wengen this past July and their really were not that many tourists>

Yeh it's a small town with not zillions of hotels like Grindelwald and being non-accessible by road keeps tour groups out. Wengen tranquility along with awesome views are what makes it so special (and boring to folks like me but I know I'm in the minority about that).

PalenQ

"Nothing IME can beat the wondrous Jungfrau Region"

Palen should really get an award from the Jungfrau railway company!>

So you think some places could beat the wondrous Jungfrau Region - be better than that for the average first-time tourist only going to one Alpine location? And not just for awesome Alps but variety of other things to do like boat trips on lakes bookending Interlaken.

If so what area?

BTW Just got my annual complimentary Jungfraubahn Pass the other day!

swandav2000

Well, to me, the one and only advantage the Jungfrau region has for first-time visitors is a well-developed toursit infrastructure (hotels and restaurants for every budget, everyone speaks good English, excellent and easy transportation in and around).

But for people who don't mind a bit of inconvenience or confusion or who don't mind doing a bit more research before the trip, there are two areas that I personally think have more WOW -- the Gstaad area and the Engadin valley. While the Gstaad area's mountains are not as high or as dramatic as those in the Jungfrau area, I think they are more beautiful. And for those who want those awesome peaks, the Upper Engadin's scenery is awesome.

And, yes, both areas have at least as much to do as the Jungfrau area, from hiking village to village, cable cars to the peaks, bicycing, excursions to nearby or neighboring towns, and lakes to explore (lakes only in the Engadin, not in the Gstaad area).

So, again, imo the Jungfrau area does the best job with advertising and with infrastructure, but it is not necessarily "better." I've heard more than one Swiss person say that the Jungfrau area doesn't have the best mountains, only the best advertising.

s

Dukey1

OK, now perhaps we need to take about the "best lakes" in Italy.

neckervd

"So, again, imo the Jungfrau area does the best job with advertising and with infrastructure, but it is not necessarily "better." I've heard more than one Swiss person say that the Jungfrau area doesn't have the best mountains, only the best advertising."

Thanks Swandav, that's what I try to explain since years in this forum!
And I live close to the Jungfrau area.

neckervd

"OK, now perhaps we need to take about the "best lakes" in Italy"
The Northern Italian lakes are all beautiful, similar and different together.
If you have no personal preference, go to:
Lake Orta or Lake Iseo if you like small, less touristy lakes;
Lake Maggiore if you land/start at Malpensa airport or if you want to proceed to Zermatt, Aletsch Glacier, Jungfrau area;
Lake Lugano for a day trip from Lucerne/Zurich or if you will proceeed to these places;
Lake Como if you want to go on to the tremendous glaciers of the Bernina or Cevedale areas or to the Engadin Valley;
Lake Garda if you go to Venice or to the Dolomites.

PalenQ

Jungfrau area has the best infrastructure for casual tourists I've seen and the peaks are as awesome as any - yes plenty of other neat places in Alps but for easiness of getting to and around once there the Jungfrau Region IMO for casual tourist can't beat it.

And I'll keep saying that when folks want to see Switzerland and have only a few days.