Preparing a trip to Switzerland - Need some help and advice

ryancharles · Oct 27, 2022

Hey fellow crazy watch people. I am planning a trip to Switzerland and am looking for some guidance from those who have been there.

We are looking to go between the middle of March and the middle of May.

I would like to visit the following museums
Omega Museum
MIH Museum
Musée d’Horlogerie du Locle
Longines Museum

I think I have narrowed my trip options to the following 2

Option: Trip 1
Fly into and spend 2-3 days in Zurich
Spend 2-3 days in the Saint-Imier, and Biel/Bienne and go to Museums
Spend 2-3 days in Geneva
Fly home

After further research Bern and Lucerne are supposed to be really nice.

Option: Trip 2
Chose 1 and fly into either Geneva or Zurich and spend 2-3 days.
Spend 2-3 days in the Saint-Imier, and Biel/Bienne and go to Museums
Spend 2-3 days in Bern or Lucerne
Fly home

Beyond watch stuff, we love the outdoors, nature, walking, hiking.

If I can only go to one, would it be Zurich or Geneva?
Is Bern or Lucerne worth visiting?

Look for all advice and guidance.

bananapeanut · Oct 27, 2022

How about spending a day in the Swiss Alps ?

Evitzee · Oct 27, 2022

Much prefer Zurich over Geneva.....both have great shopping re. watches, but nothing is nicer than strolling down the Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich, one of the world's great shopping streets, start at the top coming out of the train station and you'll end at the lake. All of the watch brands have boutiques or are available in the famous stores like Beyer, Meister, Turler, Gubelin, Bucherer and more. You can take the train to the Uetliberg Mtn. in Zurich, lots of nice trails for walking and hiking and getting great views of Zurich. Lucerne is worth visiting, beautiful location, it's only an hour by train from Zurich. Must visit Bucherer in Lucerne, the largest Rolex seller in the world, they get multiple shipments of Rolex's per day. Another short hop from Lucerne is Interlaken, another great spot for sightseeing and shopping. If you have time you can take the train from Interlaken to the top of the Jungfrau, the highest train station in Europe at 11,332 ft. A great day trip with fantastic scenery and an engineering feat from a 100 years ago. Bern is ok but nothing really compelling about it. Whether you go to Lucerne, Zurich or Geneva take a boat trip and have your lunch onboard, it's 90 minutes or so well spent looking at beautiful scenery and getting away from the crowds. The Swiss trains run like clockwork and can get you anywhere in a reasonable time. If you are in Zurich and have an itch to see Geneva you can get there in 3 hours via train, or vice versa. A day trip. You do not want a car, everyplace can be gotten to by train, bus, tram, boat, cable car or funicular, they are all interconnected time table wise.

Three of the watch museums I'd hit are the Musée international d'horlogerie in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the Omega museum in Biel, and the Patek Philippe museum in Geneva. You can go crazy trying to hit every horological museum in Switzerland these days as there are so many, and usually the wifey isn't that keen on hitting a museum every day. Switzerland is a place best enjoyed outdoors.

iamvr · Oct 27, 2022

Evitzee
Much prefer Zurich over Geneva.....both have great shopping re. watches, but nothing is nicer than strolling down the Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich, one of the world's great shopping streets. All of the watch brands have boutiques or are available in the famous stores like Beyer, Meister, Turler, Gubelin, Bucherer and more. Lucerne is worth visiting, beautiful location, it's only an hour by train from Zurich. Must visit Bucherer in Lucerne, the largest Rolex seller in the world, they get multiple shipments of Rolex's per day. Another short hop from Lucerne is Interlaken, another great spot for sightseeing and shopping. If you have time you can take the train from Interlaken to the top of the Jungfrau, the highest train station in Europe at 11,332 ft. A great day trip with fantastic scenery and an engineering feat from a 100 years ago. Bern is ok but nothing really compelling about it. Whether you go to Lucerne, Zurich or Geneva take a boat trip and have your lunch onboard, it's 90 minutes or so well spent looking at beautiful scenery and getting away from the crowds. The Swiss trains run like clockwork and can get you anywhere in a reasonable time. If you are in Zurich and have an itch to see Geneva you can get there in 3 hours via train, or vice versa. A day trip.

Wow you beat me to it, I was going to suggest pretty much the same itinerary. I'd like to add a few things.

For the OP: Yes, fly into Zurich and do some sightseeing and (eye) shopping in Zurich. If I have time I can show you around (@Aludic can tell whether I'm any good as a tour guide). Beyer also has a famous watch museum which exhibits Sir Edmund Hillary's Rolex (I heard and read, have not been there myself yet). From Zurich you have the option to do a day / halfday trip to Rapperswil by ship on Lake Zurich and visit the castle there or take a train to see the Rhein Falls (about an hour from Zurich).

Next stop as @Evitzee suggests is Lucerne, very pretty town and headquarter of Bucherer and Gübelin. From Lucerne you have to option to do a daytrip to Top of Pilatus (cheaper than Jungfrau Joch). From Lucerne I would also take the train to Interlaken, but take the scenic train route with the Lucerne-Interlaken-Express with breathtaking views (make sure you get a seat on the right side of the train in the direction of travel). As already mentioned, from Interlaken you can get up to Jungrau Joch, but prices are steep even for Swiss standards. Blame Bollywood!

From Interlaken it's not far to Biel/Bienne.

If you still have time, go to Montreux.

Hope that helps!

sheepdoll · Oct 27, 2022

Not sure where you are coming from. I was there in June. I took my old iPhone 6 and got a local number on a sim card. That way I could use the App for the trains. I also used AirBnb which was great for making some last minute plans.

Check in advance to see if the 'Museums' are open. It is also advantages to arrange in advance with the museum 'experts.' Otherwise there is only the tour group minder ticket taker present.

I still have a doll I got in Geneva. The only parts of Zurich I have seen is the airport and train station. Basel is a bit industrial, but has some good museums.

I spent the weekend in Bern, which was wonderful. Nuechâtel is my favorite city. I regret that I did not allow for the extra day in Biel/Bienne. I would have liked to have visited LeLocle and La Chaux de fonds again. The Baud Brothers museum in Vaud was also quite good. Seewin is off the main transport network but worth it, especially if one is going to Delemont.

ryancharles · Oct 27, 2022

Evitzee
Much prefer Zurich over Geneva.....both have great shopping re. watches, but nothing is nicer than strolling down the Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich, one of the world's great shopping streets, start at the top coming out of the train station and you'll end at the lake. All of the watch brands have boutiques or are available in the famous stores like Beyer, Meister, Turler, Gubelin, Bucherer and more. You can take the train to the Uetliberg Mtn. in Zurich, lots of nice trails for walking and hiking and getting great views of Zurich. Lucerne is worth visiting, beautiful location, it's only an hour by train from Zurich. Must visit Bucherer in Lucerne, the largest Rolex seller in the world, they get multiple shipments of Rolex's per day. Another short hop from Lucerne is Interlaken, another great spot for sightseeing and shopping. If you have time you can take the train from Interlaken to the top of the Jungfrau, the highest train station in Europe at 11,332 ft. A great day trip with fantastic scenery and an engineering feat from a 100 years ago. Bern is ok but nothing really compelling about it. Whether you go to Lucerne, Zurich or Geneva take a boat trip and have your lunch onboard, it's 90 minutes or so well spent looking at beautiful scenery and getting away from the crowds. The Swiss trains run like clockwork and can get you anywhere in a reasonable time. If you are in Zurich and have an itch to see Geneva you can get there in 3 hours via train, or vice versa. A day trip. You do not want a car, everyplace can be gotten to by train, bus, tram, boat, cable car or funicular, they are all interconnected time table wise.

Three of the watch museums I'd hit are the Musée international d'horlogerie in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the Omega museum in Biel, and the Patek Philippe museum in Geneva. You can go crazy trying to hit every horological museum in Switzerland these days as there are so many, and usually the wifey isn't that keen on hitting a museum every day. Switzerland is a place best enjoyed outdoors.

Wow thanks for all the feedback. I will have to adjust to fit everything in. I am excited just thinking about it.

Tony C. · Oct 27, 2022

Evitzee
Much prefer Zurich over Geneva

I agree completely, and prior to COVID I travelled there once or twice a year on average.

Looking forward to a return trip.

Dan S · Oct 27, 2022

My wife and I visited Switzerland a few years ago and divided our time between Zurich and the Bernese Alps. In the latter, we stayed in Grindelwald, which is right in the shadow of the Eiger, really an impressive setting. It was a little touristy, but still an enjoyable place to stay. We did day-trips from there, including the Jungfrau "theme park" which had great views but was a bit over-rated. We briefly visited a smaller town called Lauterbrunnen in the same area that looked like it might be more authentic. Maybe the locals can verify. That region was the highlight of our trip, although we did enjoy Zurich and I recommend it. My wife isn't a watch person, so we didn't do any watch tourism, which was unfortunate. I would have liked to visit some of the museums. Maybe next time.

To provide context, we are mountain people from Colorado, and gravitate to mountains wherever we go. When we went to Argentina, trekking in the Patagonian mountains was the highlight.

Evitzee · Oct 27, 2022

Dan S
We briefly visited a smaller town called Lauterbrunnen in the same area that looked like it might be more authentic. Maybe the locals can verify. That region was the highlight of our trip

Indeed, the Lauterbrunnen Valley region is one of the most beautiful places you'll find.

noelekal · Oct 27, 2022

Thanks for starting this thread ryancharles for we'll be traveling to Switzerland for our wedding anniversary trip in less than two weeks. The insightful descriptive replies are appreciated and seem to validate our own plans for our stay. We're planning to use Zurich for our jumping off point.

I'm not certain how much watch-y stuff that Mrs. noelekal is willing to take in beyond the Omega Museum and perhaps IWC while in Schaffhausen. I'm torn between IWC's museum which I have read is mostly a disappointing marketing effort and Longines museum which is a personal favorite brand, but perhaps less comprehensive. Don't know if we could do justice to both Omega and Longines in the same day. I'm told by a watchmaker who has been to all of them that the Patek Philippe museum in Geneva is best.

I always like the Alps which seem to address something within me. We don't have Alps in Texas, but only dusty ol' Guadalupe Peak. I've not spent enough time in life seeing the Alps, having only seen Austrian and German Alps so far.

Guadalupe Peak. Not many watch-y things to do in the region.

ryancharles · Oct 27, 2022

Evitzee
Indeed, the Lauterbrunnen Valley region is one of the most beautiful places you'll find.

Just looked up pictures for Lauterbrunnen. WOW. Didn’t know places like that existed.

BobLeeves · Oct 27, 2022

Interlaken is an absolute must not miss! Even though it's expensive, I'd put going up the Jungfrau up there too (and if you have time and are able, hike down if the conditionslet you).

iamvr · Oct 27, 2022

Dan S
Lauterbrunnen

Yes, the Lauterbrunnen / Grindelwald area is very nice indeed.

Ruffian · Oct 28, 2022

Definitely visit the Bernese oberland. I'd recommend staying in Murren or Gimmelwald, two villages perched on a cliff above the Lauterbrunnen valley. Gimmelwald's the more rustic of the two. Murren's more touristy. Both are connected by cable car.

Here's a view of Jungfrau from Grutschalp, near Murren:

From my hotel balcony in Murren (I was there in June):

Archer · Oct 28, 2022

If you are looking for museums, the Patek museum in Geneva is hard to beat.

ryancharles · Nov 1, 2022

iamvr
Wow you beat me to it, I was going to suggest pretty much the same itinerary. I'd like to add a few things.

For the OP: Yes, fly into Zurich and do some sightseeing and (eye) shopping in Zurich. If I have time I can show you around (@Aludic can tell whether I'm any good as a tour guide). Beyer also has a famous watch museum which exhibits Sir Edmund Hillary's Rolex (I heard and read, have not been there myself yet). From Zurich you have the option to do a day / halfday trip to Rapperswil by ship on Lake Zurich and visit the castle there or take a train to see the Rhein Falls (about an hour from Zurich).

Next stop as @Evitzee suggests is Lucerne, very pretty town and headquarter of Bucherer and Gübelin. From Lucerne you have to option to do a daytrip to Top of Pilatus (cheaper than Jungfrau Joch). From Lucerne I would also take the train to Interlaken, but take the scenic train route with the Lucerne-Interlaken-Express with breathtaking views (make sure you get a seat on the right side of the train in the direction of travel). As already mentioned, from Interlaken you can get up to Jungrau Joch, but prices are steep even for Swiss standards. Blame Bollywood!

From Interlaken it's not far to Biel/Bienne.

If you still have time, go to Montreux.

Hope that helps!

Hey..thanks for the info....If we stayed in Lucerne as a base for 3-4 days...maybe we just do day trips to the three Museums:

Musée international d'horlogerie in La Chaux-de-Fonds,

Omega museum in Biel

Longines Museum in Saint-Imier

How reachable by train are these locations or does it make more sense to just stay in Biel/La Chaux-de-Fonds area for a day or two.

Evitzee · Nov 1, 2022

You can easily check the train times by using the www.sbb.ch online timetable. The SBB timetable | SBB which you should link to your phone or tablet for easy checking. Personally, I think you are going to spend all your time visiting watch museums and missing out on a lot of what Switzerland has to offer in terms of scenery, food, shopping, sightseeing, etc. With only 3-4 days you don't have the luxury of time. Museums are fine but they wouldn't be my focus with that short amount of time available.

sheepdoll · Nov 1, 2022

Evitzee
You can easily check the train times by using the www.sbb.ch online timetable. The SBB timetable | SBB which you should link to your phone or tablet for easy checking. Personally, I think you are going to spend all your time visiting watch museums and missing out on a lot of what Switzerland has to offer in terms of scenery, food, shopping, sightseeing, etc. With only 3-4 days you don't have the luxury of time. Museums are fine but they wouldn't be my focus with that short amount of time available.

+1. The SBB app is great. Swiss trains are *NEVER* late.

You can get almost anywhere by train in Switzerland. I saw where they built a train over a mile long to set a world record.

I mentioned it before. Always check in advance when the museums are open. Especially in the off season. Some of the rarer stuff is also only shown by appointment. Otherwise you only get to see the video.

Not sure how factory tours work, but they are great too. Here are some shots out the windows of one of the factories in the 1990s taken with a first gen digital camera.

There is a lot more to Switzerland than watches.

noelekal · Nov 1, 2022

Does anyone have an opinion on the Longines museum?

UncleBuck · Nov 2, 2022

Planning a trip to Northern Italy/Switzerland for my 50th, so marking this thread.
Quadrophenic-Schizophrenia.

Preparing a trip to Switzerland - Need some help and advice

ryancharles

bananapeanut

Evitzee

iamvr

sheepdoll

ryancharles

Tony C.

Dan S

Evitzee

noelekal

ryancharles

BobLeeves

iamvr

Ruffian

Archer

ryancharles

Evitzee

sheepdoll

noelekal

UncleBuck

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