Can we base in Thun for the Berner Oberland Area?
Dec 27th, 2011, 01:40 PM
#1
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Can we base in Thun for the Berner Oberland Area?
We are going to spend a few days in Switzerland at the end of Italy trip to see Thun, the ancestral home of my husbands family. We would like to explore Lake Thun and Interlaken one day and take another couple days to explore and take some easy hikes up in the Mountains. Can we base easily with trains and cable cars from Thun or should we base up in the Mountains? If so, where? Gimmelwald, Murren, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen?? We will be traveling with brother and sister in law ( we are all in our 50's) and one teenager and two young adults. Help...I'm so confused!
Dec 27th, 2011, 02:46 PM
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Hi TNT,
Yes.
You will change trains in Interlaken to get to the mountain villages.
See http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html for schedules and prices.
Yes.
You will change trains in Interlaken to get to the mountain villages.
See http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html for schedules and prices.
Dec 27th, 2011, 03:08 PM
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When are you going?
From Thun it's about a 35 to 55 minutes train ride to Interlaken depending on which train you take. The IC and ICE are quicker. One of the days you should take the boat instead which takes 2 hours from what I recall. It's worth going in 1st class since you can sit up top with the unobstructed view.
From Interlaken it's 40 to 50 minutes to get up to Wengen.
I would say that since Thun is the place you're wanting to explore because of family history...that I'd stay in Thun. The mountain hikes are about 2 hours away by train...and it's a beautiful train ride.
I've been to the area twice and stayed in Murren and Wengen. Both are a bit remote (with Murren being more so). Depending on when you go both places are rather dead in the evening. But if hiking is a big draw then being up in the mountains would be nice.
From Thun it's about a 35 to 55 minutes train ride to Interlaken depending on which train you take. The IC and ICE are quicker. One of the days you should take the boat instead which takes 2 hours from what I recall. It's worth going in 1st class since you can sit up top with the unobstructed view.
From Interlaken it's 40 to 50 minutes to get up to Wengen.
I would say that since Thun is the place you're wanting to explore because of family history...that I'd stay in Thun. The mountain hikes are about 2 hours away by train...and it's a beautiful train ride.
I've been to the area twice and stayed in Murren and Wengen. Both are a bit remote (with Murren being more so). Depending on when you go both places are rather dead in the evening. But if hiking is a big draw then being up in the mountains would be nice.
Dec 27th, 2011, 05:39 PM
#4
We stayed in Lauterbrunnen a few years ago and did a half day trip to Thun, which is a very pretty town. It's possible to travel around the area by train but if your focus is more on the mountains and the beautiful walks and scenery, I'd be inclined to stay in Lauterbrunnen. You could still spend a whole day in Thun but the rest of the time you would be closer to the mountains.
Lauterbrunnen is very small but beautiful and I remember Thun as being more open, in flatter country with a lovely flower-filled centre (and a lot more shops and cafes). It's bigger than Lauterbrunnen. We didn't like Interlaken much, personally I wouldn't stay there. If you have four nights, you could have 2 nights in each place but that would mean more packing/unpacking/checking in and out.
Kay
Lauterbrunnen is very small but beautiful and I remember Thun as being more open, in flatter country with a lovely flower-filled centre (and a lot more shops and cafes). It's bigger than Lauterbrunnen. We didn't like Interlaken much, personally I wouldn't stay there. If you have four nights, you could have 2 nights in each place but that would mean more packing/unpacking/checking in and out.
Kay
Dec 27th, 2011, 10:08 PM
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Hi TNTraveler,
That's a good question!
I sometimes recommend Thun as a base for Switzerland because it's close enough to the Jungfrau region to see it, plus you can also easily see some of central and western Switzerland from there as well. So it's a perfect base to see a whole lot of territory.
But if you only want to see the Jungfrau region, I'd be more included to stay IN the Jungfrau region. Thun would be close enough for you to take one or two day-trips to explore it and find your family connections -- but staying in a mountain village will give you more awe-filled moments.
It also depends on when you're going. If you're going in the high summer season, I'd definitely avoid Interlaken and Grindelwald and stay in one of the car-free villages like Wengen or Mürren.
More information
www.myjungfrau.ch
Have fun!
s
That's a good question!
I sometimes recommend Thun as a base for Switzerland because it's close enough to the Jungfrau region to see it, plus you can also easily see some of central and western Switzerland from there as well. So it's a perfect base to see a whole lot of territory.
But if you only want to see the Jungfrau region, I'd be more included to stay IN the Jungfrau region. Thun would be close enough for you to take one or two day-trips to explore it and find your family connections -- but staying in a mountain village will give you more awe-filled moments.
It also depends on when you're going. If you're going in the high summer season, I'd definitely avoid Interlaken and Grindelwald and stay in one of the car-free villages like Wengen or Mürren.
More information
www.myjungfrau.ch
Have fun!
s
