Germany and Switzerland in July!

A look a t a map would help. If the intention is to travel from Frankfurt to Zurich, then Berlin and Trier are several hours in the wrong direction, and the part of the Rhine valley worth seeing is also behind you, though not as far.

As to rail tickets, Eurail passes are rarely a good idea because they often cost more than point to point tickets. Get to grips with the German railways site bahn.de, and if you are travelling as a family, then check out the regional ticket offers, known as laenderkarte. I think bahn.de has an english version if you don't speak german.

Switzerland: if you want to see only Zurich and Lucerne, you better spend all your time in Germany. The gems of Switzerland are really elsewhere!

Thanks for the advice! I've heard good things about bahn.de, and I'll be sure to check it out.

I realize that all of the places I want to see are a bit spread apart. I don't mind zigzagging or backtracking a bit in order to see as many places as possible, but I get your point. I'll think about flying into Berlin instead, and making my way down to Zurich from the western route, perhaps. Thanks for all your help! I really appreciate it :)

Hmm I've heard this from others as well. If Zurich is really that unimpressive, could we possibly use it as a home base and take day trips elsewhere from there? For example, we could take a train to Grindelwald (which I hear is actually worth visiting). What mainly draws us to Zurich is that we have a great deal on a hotel there!
I'll think about skipping Lucerne as well. You've given me lots to think about, so thank you for your response!

Zurich - Jungfraujoch is 4 1/2 hrs by train OW, from your great deal hotel probably 5 1/2 hrs. How long could yo enjoy the Bernese Oberland on a day trip if you sit 11 hrs in a train?

I will take that answer as a no. Thanks for your help.

Hi
Switzerland is most beautiful place on earth if you are into scenic beauty landscapes rivers -its a perfect picture postcard place.
That said and done-it has most efficient transport system-be it trains boats or buses........
Lucerne-I wd vouch for it big ways-Daytrips from Lucerne to Juangfrouch , titlis .. are v much doable...and still whwn you come back from a long daytrip-the city is not dead -eve is alive...it has beautiful lake with cruises etc-drive from zurich to Lucerne is like driving through a fairytale.
Food is good
people are tourist friendly.
Do not drop Switzerland from your plans
Its beauty beyond any parallels.
Rest ur choice
hv fun
Im planning Germany this july-but still going for 2 days to st moritz -as that's the only part of Switzerland I am yet to see
Happy Hols

So if you fly to Frankfurt then I would take Baden-Baden, Heidelberg, the black forest and Trier out of your itinerary. I suggest you the following (looking at the map)

Frankfurt
Berlin
(maybe Dresden/Leipzig or Weimar on your way to...)
Rothenburg (and Nuremberg)
Munich
Castle Neuschwanstein
then to Zurich (which is a great base for exploring the things around Zurich like the Rhine Falls, Ostschweiz (eastern part) with Appenzell, Rapperswil, the world renownd monastry of Einsiedeln)
Lucerne (Mount Rigi, Mount Pilatus, Mount Titlis, the lake, the Verkehrshaus)
Grindelwald (beautiful mountain scenery)
flying out of Zurich