tinabina

We will be in Paris for several days in mid April, this is our 2nd trip to the city.
Upon leaving we have 5 days until we need to fly out of Zurich. Our departure is set due to mileage tickets.

We are open to rent a car/train/or fly.
We are not "hikers" or nature people.
We like history.
We don't drink.
We like to be on the move.
We are likely to spend around $200 for hotel/accomodations.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Any favorite cities/towns or activities you loved? Please share.
Thanks
Tina

suze

I love the Lac Leman region outside Geneva. Towns of Lausanne, Vevey, Montreux. You can get a fast train Paris to Lausanne. It's french-speaking, while Zurich is gerrman-speaking, so would give you a bit of a mix.

swandav2000

Hi tinabina,

I'd say to head to Basel.

The TGV runs from Paris to Basel in about three hours, so it's a super quick run and easy run.

I normally don't suggest folks visit Basel on a first trip to Switzerland because it's so far from the Alps, but for folks who value history and culture over nature and hiking, it's a perfect choice.

Basel has more museums per capita than any other city in the country; it has amazing history as well as a cosy and interesting old town.

It will be very tough, though, to find a hotel room for two people for $200.

You can get more information here:

http://www.basel.com/en/welcome.cfm

Basel to Zürich is about an hour, to the airport is about 1h15.

Have fun as you research!

s

FoFoBT

As a Basel resident, I heartily second Swandav's recommendation

However, I would split the five days between Nancy (two or three) and Basel (two or three). Nancy is a wonderful city, easy to reach by train and then to explore on foot.
http://www.ot-nancy.fr/uk/centre_historique/index.php

You should have little trouble finding Nancy hotels in your budget - we like the Hotel Crystal, a short walk from the train station.
http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwest...ertyCode=93449

For accommodations in Basel, your best budget accommodation is the Youth Hostel in St. Alban. This is NOT your ordinary hostel - you can get a private double room with private bath well within your budget. The rate incudes breakfast and free "mobility pass" allowing you to use Basel's extensive mass transit system for free. The hostel is located in the heart of the historic and attractive St. Alban district and is a short walk from the Rhine. It attracts a sociable, international clientele. http://www.youthhostel.ch/en/hostels/basel-st-alban

Among the many, many museums in the city, my favourites are the Haus zum Kirschgarten
http://www.hmb.ch/en/ueber-das-museu...r/kirschgarten
The Beyeler Fondation
http://www.fondationbeyeler.ch/en/mu...ns/impressions
and the Art Museum, of course
http://www.kunstmuseumbasel.ch/en/home/

As you don't drink, you might enjoy trying the non-alcoholic beverages at the many cafes. Everybody has their favourites, but we tend to hang out at the Stadthauscafe http://www.stadthauscafe.ch/
Mercedes Cafe
http://www.kestenholzgruppe.mercedes...t_us/spot.html
and
Il Caffe
http://www.ilcaffe.ch/home.html

Happy travels!

nytraveler

As a multiple visitor to Basel (I used to have a client there) - I never found much to do - and was extremely frustrated that the whole town seems to shot down at 6 pm. Add that to the current miserable state of other currencies versus the franc - and I wouldn't stay in Switz. (If it were later in the year I wold reco that you do - but in the Bernese Oberland.)

Instead I would head to Strasbourg, which is a charming and fascinating city and from which you can easily see Colmar and the wine villages in between. You can just head to Zurich the night before the flight.

FoFoBT

When were you last in Basel? I've been living here for a few years and it is simply NOT true that there is "not much to do." It's not a town known for glitzy nightlife, but it certainly isn't "shot down" at 6 pm. There is plenty going on.

Michael

Drive from Paris to Basel, stopping on the way in Troyes and Colmar. See the Ronchamp Chapel on the way to Colmar. Drop off the car in the French section of the Basel airport so as to avoid cross-border drop-off fees. In Basel you can visit a variety of museums, including the Vitra Chair museum (across the border in Weil) in a building designed by Frank Gehry and the Fondation Beyeler in a building designed by Renzo Piano.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57622927438333

The Music Museum is in the former city jail.

Take the train to Zurich. In fact, if your flight leaves after noon, you can stay in Basel and take the train in the morning to get to the Zurich airport. We did the reverse--take the train from Zurich to catch an afternoon flight from Basel.

bilboburgler

I'd stay out of Switzerland unless money has no value to you. Visit Strasbourg (buildings), Bescancon (buildings), Luxembourg (buildings), Reims (you guessed it),go and see the WW2 concentration camp in Alsace http://www.struthof.fr/en/home/ Belfort, Trier (for 20 years this was the Capital of the roman empire).

In between all these places are some wonderful buildings, hostory and art for example at Charleville-M?? you have europe's best puppet show (don't laugh until you see it)

Do it by car,

tinabina

Love everyone's ideas! WE have no itinerary, so we can do as we please. It sounds like Zurich and Geneva are pretty much out as destinations, we will train straight to Zurich airport from "somewhere". Thanks for the information regarding the COST. I had not researched far enough to realize the big jump in price from France to Switz. However, I like the sound of Basel & maybe Nancy. Mmmm. What to do? Thank you for all the time and energy it takes to share and reply. With Gratitude.
Tina

nytraveler

I traveled numerous times to Basel over more than two years until about year ago. And - really didn;t see much to see and do versus so many other places. And if you walk the old town at 6 pm almost everything is closed - and people all seem to eat dinner at 6 in the afternoon - versus 8 or 9 at night. (My clients - who lived there full time - said that they spent a lot of time - and did most of their shopping - in France or Germany - to find places that were still open after work.)

suze

As anywhere, it depends where you stay, where you eat, what you choose to see and do. Switzerland does not have to be a budget buster. And I hate to see people missing it because of this (mis)conception.

FoFoBT

NYT: "My clients - who lived there full time - said that they spent a lot of time - and did most of their shopping - in France or Germany - to find places that were still open after work."

Then your former clients need to learn the city better. Manor is open until 8 pm weeknights. Most stores in the city center are open later than 6:30 pm on Thursdays and Fridays. The restaurants in St. Alban are full at 8 pm. As are the restaurants around Bankverein and Spalentor. (We were happy to find that the stores in Basel actually keep longer hours than the stores in many towns in the UK.) And where did the OP say they wanted to go shopping at night?

I've read your repeated putdowns of Basel. Apparently the city, like your co-op neighbor, isn't up to your particular standards. But many, many people enjoy it.

Bilboburgler, you may not have noticed, but the dollar has strengthened significantly against the franc since the summer. Switzerland is never going to be cheap, but it's not true that the country should be avoided "unless money has no value..."

swandav2000

Hi again,

I've heard Basel described (by residents) as a larrrrgge village; that is, practically everyone knows everyone else. I've also had the honor to attend some private parties (one in a private club after a football game), and I can tell you, these folks are veryveryvery happy and do know how to party.

I have friends who live in the St. Alban district and can confirm that it's a prime location.

I think Basel is a wonderful and vibrant city --

s

Ingo

Another vote for Basel. I've been there a couple of times. LOTs of things to do, from museums for all sorts of interest over churches, shopping, excellent dining, cafes and also excursions to the neighbouring towns.

An idea for accommodation: Hotel Rochat http://www.hotelrochat.ch/
Stayed there once and liked it a lot. Perfect location IMO.

bilboburgler

sorry I missed where the OP said she was American.

nytraveler

Well the clients that I worked with there were not Swiss - although they worked for a Swiss company. They were from the US, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Germany and Ireland., Perhaps if they were Swiss they would have appreciated it more.

To people who have spent time living in larger cities (not JUST NY) having places that close at 6 pm is just a PIA - as are restaurants that don;t allow you to start dinner at 8 or 9 pm. (Here we are used to many things open 24/7 - including markets, and shops that are usually open until 9 pm - if not 11. On weekends restaurants are often open until midnight. I didn;t say there is nothing to see or do - just that other places have a lot more. They found it frustrating that after they left work at 6:30 or 7 pm every shop they wanted to go to was closed (and staying open "late" one night a week doesn't really count). It;s just the difference between a city and a small town.

tinabina

Update:
We decided to fly from Paris to Zurich and stay 3 nights in Zurich. Great location at the Marriott City Center!
My husband was tired of France. Zurich was expensive, but beautiful!
Tina