About the Book
Switzerland is home to the world's finest public transport system. You can't reach much of the country by car, but travellers can hop from steamer to cycle to scenic rail route with ease, allowing them to explore this alpine landscape and picturesque towns at a more relaxed pace. It is home to some of the most beautiful mountain landscapes in the world with peaks such as the Matterhorn, Eiger and Jungfrau. As a result much of its cultural attractions are largely overlooked. Switzerland has thousands of fine museums, castles, mansions and outstanding churches together with vernacular buildings. The collections of its major art galleries collections would hold their own with most capital cities.
This guide, fully updated with the latest route information, explores the length and breadth of the country by public transport. There is a detailed section on understanding the Swiss Travel System to help travellers get the most from their visit. Author Anthony Lambert outlines special train routes such as the Glacier Express and the Pre-Alpine Express and describes every railway line and what there is to see from each station as well as connecting journeys by steamer, postbus, furnicular, cableway, bicycle and foot. Swizerland without a car showcases the unique features of each station such as luggage forwarding, cycle hire, walking routes and even the station café which is used by locals because of its quality. He helps travellers rediscover the environmentally friendly way to travel.
Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements iii
Introduction x
Why choose public transport xi, Tourism and sustainable transport xi
PART ONE GENERAL INFORMATION 1
Chapter 1 Practical Information 3
When to visit 3, Highlights 5, Tourist information 5, Red tape 6, Embassies and consulates 6, Getting there and away 6, Maps 9, Health 10, Disabled travellers 10, Electricity 10, Money 10, Budgeting 11, Accommodation 11, Drinking 13, Shopping 13, Arts and entertainment 13, Language 14, Media and communications 14
Chapter 2 The Swiss Travel System 15
General advice 15, Trains 16, Postbuses 21, Car 23, Tourist offices 24, Using this book 24
Chapter 3 Special Trains 25
William Tell Express 25, Centovalli Roundtrip 25, Golden Pass Line 25, Golden Pass Panoramic 25, Glacier Express 26, Palm Express 26, Bernina Express 26, Pre-Alpine Express/Voralpen Express 26, Chocolate Train 27
Chapter 4 Walking and Cycling 29
SwitzerlandMobility 29, Walking 29, Cycling 31, Maps and guides for walking and cycling 33
PART TWO THE GUIDE 35
Chapter 5 Zürich 37
Getting there 37, Getting around 38, Tourist information 38, Where to stay 39, Where to eat 39, What to see 39
Chapter 6 Around Zürich 45
Zürichsee (Lake Zürich) 45, Zürich HB-Üetliberg 45, Zürich HB-Sihlbrugg 47, Zürich HB-Zug 47, Zug-Arth-Goldau 49, Zug-Zürich HB via Affoltern 49, Zürich HB-Brugg 49, Dietikon-Wohlen 51, Lenzburg-Rotkreuz 52, Zug-Luzern 52, Zürich Flughafen-Zürich HB-Ziegelbrücke 52, Ziegelbrücke-Linthal 53, Zürich HB-Rapperswil 56, Rapperswil-Pfäffikon-Arth-Goldau & Wädenswil-Einsiedeln 58, Rapperswil-Winterthur 59, Zürich Stadelhofen-Esslingen 60, Zürich HB-Hinwil/Rapperswil 60, Wetzikon-Effretikon 61, Zürich HB-Winterthur 61, Winterthur-Bülach-Koblenz 63, Zürich HB-Niederweningen/Bülach-Schaffhausen 64, Zürich-Baden 65
Chapter 7 The Northeast 67
Winterthur-St Gallen 67, St Gallen-Trogen 71, St Gallen-Wattwil-Rapperswil 71, St Gallen-Romanshorn 73, St Gallen-Gais-Appenzell 73, Gais-Altstätten Stadt 75, Gossau-Herisau-Appenzell-Wasserauen 76, Gossau-Sulgen 78, Wil-Nesslau-Neu St Johann 78, St Gallen-Rorschach 79, Rorschach-Romanshorn 80, Rorschach-Heiden 81, Romanshorn-Schaffhausen 82, Schaffhausen-Erzingen 86, Schaffhausen-Thayngen 87, Schaffhausen-Winterthur 87, Winterthur-Etzwilen/Stein am Rhein 87, Winterthur-Romanshorn 88, Frauenfeld-Wil 90, Wil-Weinfelden-Kreuzlingen 90, Rorschach-Sargans 91, Rheineck-Walzenhausen 92
Chapter 8 Bern 93
Getting there 95, Getting around 95, Tourist information 96, Where to stay 96, Where to eat 96, What to see and do 97
Chapter 9 The Eastern Bernese Mittelland 105
Bern Fischermättelli-Bahnhofplatz-Worb Dorf 105, Bern-Worb Dorf 107, Bern-Solothurn 107, Solothurn-Moutier 111, Solothurn-Niederbipp-Langenthal 111, Solothurn-Olten 112, Oensingen-Balsthal 113, Solothurn-Burgdorf 113, Burgdorf-Konolfingen-Thun 114, Bern-Olten 115, Langenthal-St Urban Ziegelei 116, Bern-Luzern 116, Langnau-Burgdorf 118, Ramsei-Affoltern-Weier 119, Wolhusen-Huttwil-Langenthal 119
Chapter 10 The Western Bernese Mittelland 121
Bern-Biel/Bienne 121, Lyss-Büren an der Aare 124, Biel/Bienne-Neuchâtel 124, Biel/Bienne-La Chaux-de-Fonds 126, Sonceboz-Sombeval-Moutier 127, Biel/Bienne-Delémont 127, Biel/Bienne-Solothurn 128, Biel/Bienne-Ins 128, Lyss-Murten-Payerne-Palézieux 129, Bern-Neuchâtel 134, Ins-Murten-Courtepin-Fribourg 134, Bern-Lausanne 135, Flamatt-Laupen 140, Fribourg-Payerne-Yverdon 140, Romont-Bulle 141, Bern-Schwarzenburg 142
Chapter 11 Bernese Oberland 143Bern-Belp-Thun 143, Bern-Thun-Spiez-Interlaken Ost 145, Interlaken 147, Lake Thun 150, Interlaken-Zweilütschinen-Lauterbrunnen 151, Wilderswil-Schynige Platte 153, Lauterbrunnen-Grütschalp-Mürren 154, Lauterbrunnen-Kleine Scheidegg 156, Kleine Scheidegg-Jungfraujoch 158, Zweilütschinen-Grindelwald 159, Grindelwald-Kleine Scheidegg 160, Spiez-Zweisimmen 160, Spiez-Brig 161
Chapter 12 Luzern 165
Getting there 166, Getting around 166, Tourist information 166, Where to stay 167, Where to eat 167, What to see 167
Chapter 13 Around Luzern 173
Lake Luzern 173, The Swiss Path 176, Vitznau-Rigi 177, Arth-Rigi 179, Luzern-Lenzburg 180, Luzern-Olten 182, Zofingen-Lenzburg 183, Luzern-Stans-Engelberg (LSE) 183, Luzern-Meiringen 187, Alpnachstad-Pilatus 191, Meiringen-Innertkirchen 192, Meiringen-Interlaken 192, Brienz-Rothorn 194, Luzern-Airolo 195
Chapter 14 Basel and the Northwest 201
Basel 201, Basel-Rodersdorf 208, Basel-Delémont 208, Delémont-Porrentruy-Boncourt 209, Porrentruy-Bonfol 211, Basel-Olten 211, Liestal-Waldenburg 212, Sissach-Olten 212, Olten-Brugg 212, Aarau-Schöftland 214, Aarau-Menziken 214, Basel-Brugg-Zürich 215
Chapter 15 Neuchâtel and Jura 217
Neuchâtel 217, Neuchâtel-Boudry 220, Neuchâtel-La Chaux-de-Fonds 220, La Chaux-de-Fonds-Le Locle 222, Le Locle-Les Brenets 223, La Chaux-de-Fonds-Glovelier 224, Le Noirmont-Tavannes 225, La Chaux-de-Fonds-Les Ponts-de-Martel 226, Neuchâtel-Travers-Buttes/Pontarlier 226, Neuchâtel-Yverdon-Les-Bains 229,
