This was published 7 years ago
A scenic train trip in Switzerland and Northern Italy
Jungfraubahn funicular train climbs to the Jungfrau from Kleine Scheidegg in the Swiss Alps in Bernese Oberland, Switzerland.Credit: Getty Images
I am a 63-year-old female travelling to Northern Italy in August-September for an organised food tour of Piedmont. I'd love to wing it for a week beforehand, touching on Switzerland and a scenic train trip or two, working my way down to the lakes of Northern Italy and Milan. can you suggest an itinerary? J. Bansemer, Horsham
As a starting point you might consider Lauterbrunnen, in the Swiss Alps just south of Interlaken, and accessible by train from Zurich, Geneva or wherever else you enter Switzerland.
This is some of the most amazing mountain scenery in the world, a deep valley shadowed by the snow-capped peaks of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau.
Rather than staying in Lauterbrunnen, I'd take the mountain railway up to Wengen, a really lovely village perched on a shelf above the Lauterbrunnen Valley.
You can do some fabulous walks from here using the mountain gondolas and railways, including the spectacular ride through the mountain to Jungfraujoch, highest railway station in Europe.
After three nights take the train back to Interlaken, where you'll board the Interlaken-Lucerne Express which will take you along Lake Brienz, over the Brunig Pass and along the shores of lakes Lungren, Sarnen and Alpach to Lucerne.
Lucerne is a city of real charm with a lively cafe culture, a fine Museum of Art and a robust taste for the great outdoors.
Highlights include a walk along the Museggmauer, the old city walls, with panoramic views from its watchtowers which still protect the north side of the Altstadt.
Don't miss the trip up Mount Pilatus. It begins with a 90-minute lake steamer trip to Alpnachstad, from where the world's steepest cog railway completes the journey.
From the top station, the walk to the 2132m peak, the Tomlishorn, takes less than 30 minutes, with heart-stopping scenery along the clifftop path.
After three nights in Lucerne board the William Tell Express, which will take you on a lovely journey beginning with a boat ride across Lake Lucerne and ending at Lugano, deep in the Italian-speaking Ticino district of southern Switzerland, from where it's just a short trip across the Italian border to the lakes and Milan.
CONVERSATION
OVER TO YOU …
The question was "got a favourite, classic hotel?"
From L. Strauss: "Two classic gems of their era come to mind, neither breaking the bank to stay there. In Warsaw is the exquisite Rialto Hotel – art deco in style down to the most minute detail. The bathrooms are gorgeous, the breakfasts beautifully presented and staff very professional. Even the gym is faithful to the era, loved the old-fashioned sauna. The other is the Gellert Hotel in Budapest, where you can once again immerse yourself in the grandeur of yesteryear, though a little faded in parts. Pay a little extra for a balcony room overlooking the Danube. Our suite was enormous, as was the breakfast in the grand dining room. Guests have their own separate access to the fantastic Gellert Baths and there was nothing more enjoyable after a day of sightseeing and a soak at the baths, to sit on our balcony sipping champagne and feeling terribly sorry for the river cruisers down below being bustled aboard to depart this beautiful, romantic city."
"The Royal Monceau in Paris," I. Hartwinger writes. "It's the very best of old and new, a belle epoque wonder brought stylishly back to life. It's close to the Champs Elysees and just the perfect place to stay in Paris, elegant and classical but supremely comfortable at the same time. Well worth the price tag. You feel like a million dollars walking in the front door."
R. Silber writes: "Our favourite classic hotel is the Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne Switzerland. The setting of the hotel is 10 acres of gardens on the shore of Lake Leman. We have fond memories of the elegant Christmas tree in the foyer, the gold lifts and staircases, the heated towel racks, the Bulgari amenities, the breakfast room overlooking the lake, and most memorable, the snowfall on our first night there, resulting in a fairy wonderland from our bedroom window!"
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