route through switzerland

[skhosla]

Just found this site and looks great.

I have a question for the some of the experts here. I am planning a surprise trip for my wife for her birthday to Europe this summer. The tail end of the trip has me picking up a rental in Munich, going down to Salzburg for a couple of days, then I have about 4-5 days to make it from Salzburg to Geneva to catch our flight home.

I am trying to plot the most interesting route to drive. We both love the mountains, and I am looking forward to those twisty roads that we just don't have here in Canada.

Can anyone who knows the roads there suggest an itinerary here? We aren't looking to rush our way through it. We want to stop at places along the way take it all in.

We will get a chance to see Zurich earlier in the trip as we have a stopover between flights there. Figure a maximum of 8 hours a day of driving, ideally around 5 hours. I am hoping that with the direct path showing as a 7 hour drive, 4 days of 5 hours should account for all the detours and passes and winding roads.

The only restriction is I can't enter Italy. Going into Italy would void the insurance coverage from my credit card.

Any help in planning this out would be greatly appreciated. The dates I am looking at are Arrive in Munich the night of Aug 3, depart Geneva the morning of Aug 11.

[MogulBoy]

The Susten Pass is a good target to plan around as it is pretty much in the middle of the country. Interlaken is also picturesque as and there are plenty of interesting routes to consider as you could then head south to Kandersteg and go through the trail tunnel and enter Valais which would see you on your way down to Geneva on the motorway - if you have had enough of mountain passes by then. It's hard to go wrong really.


P.S. Book early if you need accomodation in Geneva around the 10th August as it is the climax of the Fetes-de-Geneve. There is a 55min firework display set to music and the whole lake front is pedestrianised as 100's of thousands of folk will be in town.

http://www.fetes-de-geneve.ch/2013/en/program/feu-...

[skhosla]

MogulBoy said:

P.S. Book early if you need accomodation in Geneva around the 10th August as it is the climax of the Fetes-de-Geneve. There is a 55min firework display set to music and the whole lake front is pedestrianised as 100's of thousands of folk will be in town.

http://www.fetes-de-geneve.ch/2013/en/program/feu-...

That is absolutely insane luck. Fireworks are one of my absolute favorite things in the entire world.

Where is the best place to watch them, and what hotel would make the most sense to book?

[MogulBoy]

I suppose the 'best' place to view the fireworks would be the ticketed seating area that they temprarily erect on the main Pont de Mt Blanc bridge at the end of the lake. There are some photos on that link I gave that should give you a flavor. Tickets cost a bit but might be worth it if you are keen... Failing that, you cannot really miss it from anywhere that you can see the famous Jet D'Eau fountain - just follow the crowds! If accomodation is an issue, plan B might be to stay out of town and get the train in/out.

[scrubberamit]

hi mate - i actually live and work in geneva.... defo book hotels now - as u would be surprised at how busy geneva gets during this week!!
if u dont mind me asking what kind of budget are u looking at... if ard 500-600 quid a night (trust me this doesnt go a long way in geneva!!) - stay at teh kempinski / 4 seasons as both have bars taht overlook the lake and u will get a great view of the fireworks... otherwise tbh... just try and stand ard the lake area