Full Description
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 cafe which is used by locals because of its quality. He helps travellers rediscover the environmentally friendly way to travel.
Contents
Acknowledgements iii Introduction xWhy choose public transport xi, Tourism and sustainable transport xiPART ONE GENERAL INFORMATION 1Chapter 1 Practical Information 3When 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 14Chapter 2 The Swiss Travel System 15General advice 15, Trains 16, Postbuses 21, Car 23, Tourist offices 24, Using this book 24Chapter 3 Special Trains 25William 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 27Chapter 4 Walking and Cycling 29SwitzerlandMobility 29, Walking 29, Cycling 31, Maps and guides for walking and cycling 33PART TWO THE GUIDE 35Chapter 5 Zurich 37Getting there 37, Getting around 38, Tourist information 38, Where to stay 39, Where to eat 39, What to see 39Chapter 6 Around Zurich 45Zurichsee (Lake Zurich) 45, Zurich HB-UEetliberg 45, Zurich HB-Sihlbrugg 47, Zurich HB-Zug 47, Zug-Arth-Goldau 49, Zug-Zurich HB via Affoltern 49, Zurich HB-Brugg 49, Dietikon-Wohlen 51, Lenzburg-Rotkreuz 52, Zug-Luzern 52, Zurich Flughafen-Zurich HB-Ziegelbrucke 52, Ziegelbrucke-Linthal 53, Zurich HB-Rapperswil 56, Rapperswil-Pfaffikon-Arth-Goldau & Wadenswil-Einsiedeln 58, Rapperswil-Winterthur 59, Zurich Stadelhofen-Esslingen 60, Zurich HB-Hinwil/Rapperswil 60, Wetzikon-Effretikon 61, Zurich HB-Winterthur 61, Winterthur-Bulach-Koblenz 63, Zurich HB-Niederweningen/Bulach-Schaffhausen 64, Zurich-Baden 65Chapter 7 The Northeast 67Winterthur-St Gallen 67, St Gallen-Trogen 71, St Gallen-Wattwil-Rapperswil 71, St Gallen-Romanshorn 73, St Gallen-Gais-Appenzell 73, Gais-Altstatten 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 92Chapter 8 Bern 93Getting there 95, Getting around 95, Tourist information 96, Where to stay 96, Where to eat 96, What to see and do 97Chapter 9 The Eastern Bernese Mittelland 105Bern Fischermattelli-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 119Chapter 10 The Western Bernese Mittelland 121Bern-Biel/Bienne 121, Lyss-Buren an der Aare 124, Biel/Bienne-Neuchatel 124, Biel/Bienne-La Chaux-de-Fonds 126, Sonceboz-Sombeval-Moutier 127, Biel/Bienne-Delemont 127, Biel/Bienne-Solothurn 128, Biel/Bienne-Ins 128, Lyss-Murten-Payerne-Palezieux 129, Bern-Neuchatel 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-Zweilutschinen-Lauterbrunnen 151, Wilderswil-Schynige Platte 153, Lauterbrunnen-Grutschalp-Murren 154, Lauterbrunnen-Kleine Scheidegg 156, Kleine Scheidegg-Jungfraujoch 158, Zweilutschinen-Grindelwald 159, Grindelwald-Kleine Scheidegg 160, Spiez-Zweisimmen 160, Spiez-Brig 161Chapter 12 Luzern 165Getting there 166, Getting around 166, Tourist information 166, Where to stay 167, Where to eat 167, What to see 167Chapter 13 Around Luzern 173Lake 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 195Chapter 14 Basel and the Northwest 201Basel 201, Basel-Rodersdorf 208, Basel-Delemont 208, Delemont-Porrentruy-Boncourt 209, Porrentruy-Bonfol 211, Basel-Olten 211, Liestal-Waldenburg 212, Sissach-Olten 212, Olten-Brugg 212, Aarau-Schoeftland 214, Aarau-Menziken 214, Basel-Brugg-Zurich 215Chapter 15 Neuchatel and Jura 217Neuchatel 217, Neuchatel-Boudry 220, Neuchatel-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, Neuchatel-Travers-Buttes/Pontarlier 226, Neuchatel-Yverdon-Les-Bains 229, Yverdon-Les-Bains-Ste-Croix 233, Yverdon-Les-Bains-Lausanne 234, Chavornay-Orbe 235, Lausanne-Cossonay-Vallorbe 235, Vallorbe-Le Day-Le Brassus 237Chapter 16 Geneva and Lausanne 239Geneva 239, Lac Leman 248, Coppet-Geneva-Annemasse-Evian 249, Geneva-La Plaine-Bellegarde 249, Geneva-Lausanne 250, Nyon-La Cure 252, Morges-Biere/L'Isle-Mont-la-Ville 253, Lausanne 253, Ouchy-Les Croisettes 258, Lausanne Flon-Echallens-Bercher 259, Lausanne-Vevey 259 Chapter 17 Vevey and Montreux 261Vevey 261, Vevey-Mont Pelerin 264, Vevey-Puidoux-Chexbres 264, Vevey-Les Pleiades 265, Blonay-Chamby 266, Vevey-Montreux 266, Montreux 267, Montreux (Territet)-Glion 268, Montreux-Rochers-de-Naye 268, Montreux-Zweisimmen-Lenk 269, Montbovon-Gruyeres-Bulle-Palezieux 276, Bulle-Broc 278, Montreux-Aigle 278Chapter 18 Southeast Vaud and the Valais 281Aigle 281, Aigle-Leysin 283, Aigle-Les Diablerets 284, Aigle-Champery 285, Aigle-Martigny 286, Bex-Bevieux-Villars 288, Villars-Col-de-Bretaye 290, St Maurice-St Gingolph 291, Martigny-Vallorcine 291, Martigny-Orsieres/Le Chable 293, The Great St Bernard 294, Martigny-Brig 295, Brig-Domodossola 301, Brig-Domodossola 301, Brig-Zermatt 302, Zermatt-Gornergrat 305, Brig-Andermatt 306, Realp-Gletsch-Oberwald 310, Andermatt-Goeschenen 311, Oberwald-Meiringen 311, Oberwald-Airolo 312, Airolo-Andermatt 312, Andermatt-Furka-Oberwald 313Chapter 19 Ticino 315Airolo-Lugano 315, Lugano 319, Lake Lugano 322, Around Lugano 324, Lugano-Ponte Tresa 325, Lugano-St Moritz 326, Luino-Cadenazzo 327, Bellinzona-Locarno 327, Locarno 327, Lake Maggiore 329, Around Locarno 330, Locarno-Domodossola 331, Lugano-Chiasso 334, Capolago-Generoso 336Chapter 20 Graubunden 339Andermatt-Chur 339, Disentis-Biasca 343, Chur-Bellinzona 343, Chur-Arosa 344, Chur-St Moritz 345, St Moritz-Scuol-Tarasp 350, The Swiss National Park 354, St Moritz/Samedan-Tirano 355, Filisur-Davos-Chur 359, Chur-Ziegelbrucke 362Appendix 1 Language 365Appendix 2 Useful Addresses 368Appendix 3 Railway and Postbus Routes by Timetable Number 370Appendix 4 Further Information 372Index 373
