katu41

I will be visiting Switzerland in late September. My schedule has one full day stops in Basel and Lucerne with two days in Zurich. I would like to make a day trip into the Alps from one of these locations to do some landscape photography. My interest is to see the classic valley scenes with green rolling meadows surrounded by mountain peaks. I am not interested in hiking any significant distance. I am looking for a guide to take my wife and I to accessible locations. Any suggestions on which city may offer the best departure point for accessing the alps and/or what guide/company I could contact?

williejoha

When in Lucern, go up Mt. Pilates using the cockwheel tram. Lucern offers fantastic photo ops. You can spend all day taking pictures. Have a great time.
WJH

gmw12 Loc: Indianapolis & Windsor/UK & Montreux/Switzerl

Switzerland is so small you can reach almost any corner in day trips. Surroundings of Lake Geneva are a good start (Montreux, Chillon Castle). Wild scenery in the Grisons and the Rhine valley (the Rhine is a little creek there) which you can easily reach from Zurich through Glarus. Basel has interesting spots in the old city (houses date back to 1400-1500) and probably the highest number of museums in the world (about 50).
A guided old city walking tour is available (see on tripadvisor). For superb sightseing in the mountain, the Glacier express is a must (www.sbb.ch).

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Check with the Concierge at your hotel. A nice gratuity would be in order.

akamerica

Lucerne is lots of fun and a great walk-around. As for the other cities, a city is a city is a city.

Highly recommend for your alps trip Jungfrau Ice Caves Sculptures, Switzerland. Endless mountains and valleys from the view points outside the ice cave. A cog railway to the top with scenic views, and the ice cave a treat. The cave is total ice, floor, ceiling and walls. Bring a warm jacket and shoes to walk on ice and snow.

zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas

Of the three cities you mention (Zurich, Basel, Lucerne), Lucerne is the most ideal base for an easy day trip into the alps. The closest is the Pilatus (Mount Pilatus). There are two ways to get up: an aerial cable car from the outskirts of Lucerne and the cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad (a short and easy train ride from Lucerne or by boat). Another option is the Rigi. Take the boat to Vitznau (about one hour) and then take the cogwheel railway to the top of the Rigi. Another option would be the Stanserhorn--30 minutes by train from Lucerne to Stans, then cable car to the top of the mountain (first section on ground, second section in the air). The large cabin of the aerial cable car features an open-air upper deck which is way cool.

The Rigi also can be reached from Zurich. Take the train to Arth-Goldau (45 minutes, leaves every half hour), then take another cogwheel railroad to the top of the Rigi. (Yes, there are two cogwheel railways to the top of the Rigi.) Arth-Goldau also can be reached by train from Lucerne, so there is another option from Lucerne.

Non of these three options, Pilatus, Rigi, and Stanserhorn, involve a lot of hiking, but in all three you have to do a small amount of walking. All three offer stunning views, but I would favor the Pilatus and the Rigi.

Basel is too far away for an easy day trip.

Keep an eye to the weather. If the weather is bad you will walk around in thick fog without seeing a thing. In fall, the valleys are often filled with fog while the mountaintops are sunny with great views. If that happens, you wont be able to see the lakes that fill many valleys around the Pilatus and Rigi (you can see 11 lakes from the top of the Rigi if the weather is good).

I grew up half-way between Zurich and Lucerne. My family still owns a house on the Rigi, so I know that part of the world like the back of my hand. Here is the link to my Rigi album--pictures from several decades.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/zug55/albums/72157606926408253

zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas

Yes, that is a great trip. But it would be hard to do on one day from Zurich, Basel, or Lucerne. A better base for that trip would be Interlaken (or perhaps Bern).

Some have stated that Switzerland is a small country and everything is close. That is true. But it also is mountainous. So travel can take a lot of time in alpine areas.

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

In 1999 my church choir traveled to Switzerland and France. One of our stops was at Chamonix and we went up Mont Blanc. Fabulous views!

katu41

I am looking forward to our trip. Thanks for your suggestions

katu41

I will follow through with more research on these areas. Thanks for the suggestions.

katu41

Good idea. Thanks for the suggestion.

katu41

Can I reach this on my own without a car? Should I be hiring a guide?

katu41

Thanks so much for your detailed advice. I checked out your photos and this is just what I was looking for. I am going to follow your suggestions. Is there any need for a guide or will I be able to access these areas on my own and without a car?

katu41

I will do some research on your suggestions.

katu41

From what I have seen of the scenery in Switzerland, I am hoping I'll be feeling a little closer to God myself.