Best routes to Switzerland

[quorngeordie]

I know there's a wealth of knowledge on the travel sections of the forum, but have you got any advice for a first timer to tour to Switzerland, your best routes that take on some good stopovers, hotels good for bike storage etc

I wanted to get down to the good biking routes quicker so I've considered putting the bike on the overnight sleeper to Munich, arrives at 6am from northern Germany. Anyone got experience of this?

My thoughts being that if did this then I'd be closer to the roads and passes that I want rather than spending too long getting there if I've not got loads of time to spare.

Your thoughts on the time ?, the best routes? And the places to stop at ?
Cheers in advance

 

[ianf]

Basel is a good point of entry, do-able in a day from London. I stopped in a good hotel just inside the border http://www.airporthotelbasel.com/en/ with an underground car park and casino on site.

You can go the fast way via Strasbourg, or cut south, and go through the Vosges/Mulhouse.

 

[ihandyman247]

I know there's a wealth of knowledge on the travel sections of the forum, but have you got any advice for a first timer to tour to Swizerland, your best routes that take on some good stopovers, hotels good for bike storage etc

I wanted to get down to the good biking routes quicker so I've considered putting the bike on the overnight sleeper to Munich, arrives at 6am from northern Germany. Anyone got experience of this?

My thoughts being that if did this then I'd be closer to the roads and passes that I want rather than spending too long getting there if I've not got loads of time to spare.

Your thoughts on the time ?, the best routes? And the places to stop at ?
Cheers in advance

To be honest the best route I took it was when I actually went lost trying to find a near by village to get some petrol . No satellite reception or coverage , I didn't know if I was comming or going but it was so nice to explore it this way . I do this now every year now it is so fascinating , I also done it last year with my car and end up in in Hungary trying to go to Rom with a special delivery for one off my American painters but then I sutched on the GPS and in 8 hours later I was in Rom
I am pretty sure that some one it will give you the best route off advice but my one is just different I dont think you will go my way but if you do you will have the time off your life

 

[beatmeier]

Avoid the big cities and head to the hills and mountains .....there you also can forget about anything happening to your bike......... the people there are swiss they have their own nice bike at home !

 

[swissrob]

I know there's a wealth of knowledge on the travel sections of the forum, but have you got any advice for a first timer to tour to Switzerland, your best routes that take on some good stopovers, hotels good for bike storage etc

I wanted to get down to the good biking routes quicker so I've considered putting the bike on the overnight sleeper to Munich, arrives at 6am from northern Germany. Anyone got experience of this?

My thoughts being that if did this then I'd be closer to the roads and passes that I want rather than spending too long getting there if I've not got loads of time to spare.

Your thoughts on the time ?, the best routes? And the places to stop at ?
Cheers in advance

consider the motorail train to lorrach, all depends on your initial point in DE.

munich is still a fair distance away though.

basel airport hotel is quite good, the area is dead but bus stop outside and you can be in the city in 15 mins.

loads of campsites about but also look at bnb.ch - homestay places.

blast down to central switzerland on the highway, i dont bother with a vignette either but if controlled you pay 100chf fine plus cost of a vignette 40chf.

if you REALLY want 1 then just buy it at the border - takes 2 mins and you dont need to get off your bike. you dont need a vignette is going straight into basel from the saint louis/basel french border.

heed the warnings and costs about speeding and you will be fine, oh they dont like filtering here BTW but loads do it anyway.

 

[bladerunner]

It's a fair trip from Calais to the Northern departure of the Autozug, time that could be better spent riding South. However, it is a buzz to wake up with Bavaria zipping by.
Gird you loins for riding onto the carriage - if you are short of leg on a GS it can be interesting as the head room is VERY limited (think bonked helmet on metal roof) and if the line stops when you are in the middle of the carriage you may find a foot of air beneath your feet, and no choice but to drop the bike - DAMHIK

German bikers are fun though and the beer is good.

 

[Wapping]

I know there's a wealth of knowledge on the travel sections of the forum, but have you got any advice for a first timer to tour to Switzerland, your best routes that take on some good stopovers, hotels good for bike storage etc

I wanted to get down to the good biking routes quicker so I've considered putting the bike on the overnight sleeper to Munich, arrives at 6am from northern Germany. Anyone got experience of this?

My thoughts being that if did this then I'd be closer to the roads and passes that I want rather than spending too long getting there if I've not got loads of time to spare.

Your thoughts on the time ?, the best routes? And the places to stop at ?
Cheers in advance

Then post in the Travel section as your post has nothing to do with 1200's technical or untechnical.

Just before you post there try answering:

(a) To where you intend to cross the sea that divides us from mainland Europe and how. I guess Calais, but one can never be sure that you do not intend to see your aged great aunt in Portsmouth on the way.

(b) How long you have to complete your journey from your front door to Switzerland and where precisely you want to end up? If you want to come back and want help there too, repeat as necessary. In short, one day, one week, a month or two, a lifetime?

(c) If you consider 200 miles in a day to be a long way?

(d) What's your idea of a 'great ride, mate'?

To give you an idea, Loughborough to Munich is about 850 miles. That is the same distance as Loughborough to Inverness and back so quite a long way.

How would you chose to ride from your front door to northern Jockland and back for recreation? Would you take 'great roads, mate' or the motorway or every small road inbetween? When considering your answer, remember to that your intention is to get to the Alps for fun for X (unknown) number of days and come home again.

(d) Do you have a map? You know, those paper things, not some ridiculous Google effort on your PC.... a PC that you will not have with you when you leave your front door, by the way.

Look forward to your post in the Travel section, with the answers.

PS Someone is bound to say 'Go via the Millau'. If you really must, do it.

 

[Sleepy]

Then post in the Travel section as your post has nothing to do with 1200's technical or untechnical.

 

[Wapping]

You really couldn't make it up....

I know there's a wealth of knowledge on the travel sections of the forum, but have you (as in 1200 riders) got any advice.....

 

[Ted]

blast down to central switzerland on the highway, i dont bother with a vignette either but if controlled you pay 100chf fine plus cost of a vignette 40chf.

Been over to Switzerland a few times but last summer was the first time they were actually stopping all traffic and directing those without vignette to pay stations, was on the main routes though. Also got stopped and checked, had it in the top of tank bag. Both a first in 6 years of visit..
Guess its getting tougher like the French and speed guns on the autoroutes, never seen so many as there were last year...

 

[littleredrooster]

Then post in the Travel section as your post has nothing to do with 1200's technical or untechnical.

Seconded. Why does all this shite constantly clog up a Technical forum when there are other (much more useful) sections for it.

Does the OP really think that only people with 1200s go to Europe?

Any chance the Mods could shift stuff like this to a more appropriate place...or are they too busy watching what att is posting elsewhere?

 

[swissrob]

Been over to Switzerland a few times but last summer was the first time they were actually stopping all traffic and directing those without vignette to pay stations, was on the main routes though. Also got stopped and checked, had it in the top of tank bag. Both a first in 6 years of visit..
Guess its getting tougher like the French and speed guns on the autoroutes, never seen so many as there were last year...

there were quite a few controls last year but they dont tend to bother with bikes at all - you must have been lucky they have the checks at the main border and always ask where you going if in a car. bikes get waved through.

 

[Dellis]

Starting from Calais I like to go via Belgium, Luxembourg and The Vosges crossing into Switzerland around Basel. A bit of variety, it saves that awful trudge across the Autoroutes of Northern France, the petrol is cheaper and there aren't any tolls

Dave

 

[Dahoum]

You really couldn't make it up....

He's a Geordie - and he eats quorn