Switzerland post trip suggestions
We are on the Switzerland: Europe’s Crown Jewels tour in September 2025. Does anyone have suggestions for a post trip of 2-4 nights somewhere? The trip ends in Lucerne; so we can take a train or fly out of Zurich to anywhere in Europe. We have already been to Prague,Budapest, and Vienna. We were thinking of a Swiss town or area that we visited on the tour. We would just go back for more. We were also considering the Glacier Express or the Bernina Express. Has anyone taken those trains? Would that be repetitive?
Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
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If you wish to remain in Switzerland and like museums, consider Basel since it is the cultural capital of the country. Bern, another capital (parliamentary) is easy to walk with its pedestrian friendly walkways. The clock tower and surrounding area are great for strolling. Taking a tour of the parliament buildings might be of interest as well as visiting Einstein's home. Or, you can stay in Lucerne and take day trips to the mountains. If your tour does not include Lucerne's Lion Monument, I recommend not missing that. With four days, it would be easy to travel by train to the aforementioned cities. Enjoy.
I did not find the Glacier Express to be a highlight of the tour when it was included on the tour. Have you seen all there is to see in Prague, Budapest and Vienna? I've been to Prague (my favorite city in continental Europe) and Budapest twice and Vienna 3 times. How about Krakow? I really enjoyed my visit there.
I would recommend getting a Berner Oberland rail pass and going back to Lauterbrunnen, Murren and Grindelwald. You pass through this area on the Jungfrau portion of the Tauck trip. This area is very scenic and has a variety of easy walks or hikes. We stayed in Murren which is a car free village in the mountains and was very restful. The Berner Overland rail pass is purchased for a specific number of days and will cover the train trip between Lucerne and the cities mentioned above. It includes almost all rail, bus, gondola and boat transportation in the Berner Oberland region between Bern and Lucerne. The only thing it does not cover is the train from Lucerne to Zurich at the end of your trip. This area is very relaxing with lots of activities that are covered by your rail pass.
I second Basel. It's a lovely city. If you stay four days you might even want to take a short train ride to Colmar or Strasbourg.
Yes, I second a side trip to Colmar, France. The best gewürztraminer I have had outside of Germany and Austria. Simply divine.
I spent a week in Basel and Bern last year. There are several major museums; I also recommend Museum Tinguely and the impressive Fondation Beyeler. The city actually has about 40 museums. I stayed at The Passage, a short bus ride from the station, though a bit tricky to find. Once you master the excellent tram system and the various stair shortcuts, getting around is easy. When I was there, a free tourist card offered free transport and museum discounts. Check out the famous Tinguely Fountain, with its charming moving sculptures! https://www.basel.com/en/attractions/tinguely-fountain-6259537a82
You have a many options. There are plenty of options without having to fly. The trains can get you into multiple city centers easily. You could stay in Lucerne and head to Mount Rigi or Pilatus which you could take the boat and cogwheel train. You could head back to the Lake Geneva area and visit the vineyards and the small towns along the north shore. You could head over to Geneva and day trip to Chamonix-Mont Blac and swing over to Anncey. You could run up the Wine Road from Basel to Colmar and make trips to Freiburg, Strasbourg, Baden Baden, or even Heidelberg. Head to Zurich for an overnight stay and then on to Munich via train(3.5 hours.). The Swiss rail system is amazing and if you are planning on primarily staying in Switzerland look into the Swiss Rail Pass.