dizzedollee

Hello everyone! My family and I are planning a last minute trip to Switzerland in July, because this is so last minute we are struggling a bit to absorb all the information! We know that Switzerland is famous for its beautiful scenery and for its cheeses so we would love to know; which are the 'best' mountains and dairies to visit? We will only be there for 5 nights sadly and be based in either Lucerne or Bern.

Mountains we think possibly the most 'famous' (most tourist-y anyway!) are Jungfrau, Pilatus and Titlis. Which would you say be the best to go to for a first time trip to Switzerland?

We would also love to do something similar to the Swiss Chocolate Train that visits Gruyere and Broc however I have heard that they dairies and factory there are a bit 'tourist-y' and not very authentic? Therefore I would love to go somewhere authentic, somewhere like Bolderhof is perfect but perhaps a little closer to Lucerne or Bern?

Thank you for your help!

Hitashi

Hoping to get some info on this.

bobthenavigator

The best mountains are easily the Bernese Oberland. The other things you mention are just tourist hype, but the Luzern area is also quite lovely.

nytraveler

Well we went to the facility where they manufacture gruyere (it was raining) and I must admit it was terminally boring (seing a giant oar swirl the cheese around - and smelled way to strongly of cheese. Aldo saw a chees manufactory in Holland and had to leave. IMHO wineries and evern breweries can be interesting - the only goo part about cheese is eating.

As for mountains Jungfrau is much the most dramatic but

1) you may need to wait several days to ascend since hte tip is often wreather in clouds and you can see nothing (even if the vally is sunny
2) the altitude can affect some people - if anyone in the group has any sort of lung problem or has ever smoked they may have problems breating at the top - due to lack of oxygen

Rigi and Pilatus are much lower and shuold not affect anyone's breathing unless they have seriuos lung problems

Toucan

Gruyere factory is pretty boring but the town is interesting. For authentic, visit Ballenberg near Interlacken. It's an open air farm museum replica of an old Swiss village with many different animals, milking, cheese making etc. It's a very interesting and authentic place to visit.

http://ballenberg.ch/en/Welcome

swandav2000

Hi dizzeedollee,

wow, I have to disagree with all (yikes!) above who say that the Oberland has the "best" or "most dramatic" mountains. I will agree that those peaks are indeed the most famous and probably the most-visited, but imo that's the extent of their advantages.

I think the peaks in the Upper Engadin Valley are more dramatic -- they are more craggy and raw looking. They inspire more awe when I see them. And for me, the "best" ones are between Zweisimmen and Gstaad, and for me that "best" means prettiest (actually lower, more rounded, greener).

I think you'll be fine with your choice of the Jungfrau area or Pilatus or Titlis. I'm adding these comments for those in the future who may be reading this and comparing areas of Switzerland --

s