Switzerland's Cream-of-the-Crop Destinations

Well, I live in Basel and I find that many visitors, including repeat visitors, are missing some of the best bits of the city and its surroundings. Did you wander among the vineyards of Ettingen? Take a dusk stroll through St. Alban's down to the Rhine?

I love Neuchatel. We were there with friends who live there. It is charming and yet "metropolitan" enough to afford you some choices(There's an H&M). The streets are cobblestoned and there are so many statues all over the town. There is an open air market on Saturdays which has great food. The train does run there. We travelled from Avignon to Neuch and then back to Paris. Check out the in town L'Aubier for good pastries and coffee. If you have a car take a trip out to L'Aubier for dinner. It's delicious.

I have to disagree with several of your statements, but it would go too far to explain and you asked for something else. Just want to point out that your impressions are very subjective. Even the characterizations of the towns in your list above is incorrect. Anyway, of those you mentioned I'd recommend as most striking Fribourg, Bellinzona and St. Gallen for their architecture. You'll probably find Fribourg to be somewhat boring, Bellinzona too small, St. Gallen too focused on the cathedral or so.

There seems to be something to your whole approach that is "off" in my opinion. When in Lugano, for instance, did you visit the villages of Morcote and Gandria, take the funicular up Mt. San Salvatore and hike down? Why doesn't your list include Wengen or Sils or Guarda, the small, idyllic towns that Switzerland is noted for?

I haven't seen all that much of Switzerland, but I love Soglio and Sils, in the Bregaglia Valley and Engandine respectively. Charming towns withy gorgeous mountain scenery.

Didn't make it to Schaffhausen but from what I have seen of Switzerland, one of the most memorable places I have been is Stein am Rhein.

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2251280330011574650bVeFCQ

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2550515830011574650bWtNFh

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2999949940011574650oJzEKW

Thanks for starting this. I've only been to Basel and most of the day was spent in the art museums. I'd gladly return.

Holy Cheese! Bettyk, your pictures were beautiful. If there were any doubt about adding Switzerland to our next trip, it is no more. Thanks!

I'll be watching this thread with interest.

LOL. Thanks, LSky. My DH is the photographer. But Stein am Rhein was beautiful as were the other places we visited on that trip.

Switzerland is another place we enjoy returning to over and over again.

It looks like it's worth the addiction.
We also share a love of Germany. Well, except for Bad Wimpfen

There was a saying many, many years ago for Olympia Beer:
"It's the water."

Well, here in Switzerland, "It's the mountains."

If a Swiss were to look at your list, they'd shake their head in wonder. All those towns are fine but just only scratch the surface of Switzerland and truly not reflect its true nature. In addition, I only find a few mildly representative of Switzerland's culture and architecture.

Where is Appenzell? Where is at least on beautiful little town in the lower Engadine? Where is the beautiful area of Emmental? What about the gorgeous villages in Wallis? Or the unique stone village in Tessin? Where are the villages that offer breathtaking views of the mountains and lakes?

If you only went to those "villages" on your list, you would really miss the best part of Switzerland, namely the mountains. You'd also miss the mountain villages, which really reflect Switzerland's charm.

Fribourg is the only one of your choices I've been to, and it was very charming, but I preferred Solothurn (which yiu haven't shortlisted), which has some really lovely Baroque architecture and a lot of charm.

Hi,

I think people are taking this too personal. To understand my approach, please understand that Switzerland is among the most expensive destinations in the world and while the country is small, time and money are factors for everyone. If I were living around there, then sure, I'd try to see every inch of this beautiful country. However, facing the realities of traveling, I simply try to narrow in on what are the greatest towns/cities and villages. I use Rough Guides for that. As for nature, I don't ask questions because I already know where I want to go.

greekness, you'll find that when you post on Fodor's asking for input, that's exactly what you will get.

No one says you have to take it. IMO, the best thing to do is say thank you, take whatever advice works for you and toss out the rest.

Cream of the Crop?

Zermatt for the Matterhorn
Wengen for Berner Oberland (or any of the other villages)
Ascona / Locarno / Lugano / Gandria for Tessin feeling
Lucerne/Weggis for Central Switzerland
Guarda / Scuol for quaint village feeling
Vevey/Lausanne for French Switzerland
Pontresina for Upper Engadine /Bernina area
Appenzell for quaint village

That's what Switzerland is about.

Stein am Rhein, Schaffhausen, Solothurn and the other villages/towns you've mentioned are nice to look at but not necessarily "cream of the crop" for tourists.