3 days in Basel prior to river cruise!
Hi everyone! My husband and I are taking a river cruise from Basel to Amsterdam in Sept and we have 3 days stay in Basel before the cruise begins. We love guided tours (hence the river cruise) but aren't sure what to do/see for a few days before on our own. Is it easier to take a train than rent a car? Is interlaken area doable to a day trip? I'd like to see some beautiful areas or whatever is memorable. Any advice would be appreciated!
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Well, hi again. We left our river tour in Basel, had the cruise company arrange transport to Zurich. From there we took the train to Lucerne where we stayed for 2 nights, and then to Wengen, again by train, for some mountain sights. The Swiss train system is amazing; you know where your platform is, when the train will arrive, where it will stop, etc. If you only have a couple of days, Lucerne is lovely. Couple of mountains to tour, lovely sightseeing on a lake river tour. Wengen is spectacular. I was nervous planning our excursion via train, but it really is easy.
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Is it easier to take a train than rent a car? Is interlaken area doable to a day trip?>
Yes but for a fleetingly short time if you want to go into the high Alps above Interlaken -why not stay a couple of nights -and yes for that trains are best -take a train to Wengen and stay in this car-less mountain village: https://www.google.com/search?q=weng...w=1920&bih=950 For lots about trains and especially this area check www.sbb.ch; www.swisstravelsystem.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. |
Interlaken is about 2 hrs by train from Basel - then take the mountain train 20 mins more up to Grindelwald - and just soak up the awesome high Alps- take a cable car to Mannlichen or trains to Jungfraujoch -highest train station in Europe and a land of perpetual snow and ice:
https://www.google.com/search?q=jung...hrome&ie=UTF-8 So possible as a long day trip if you cannot stay overnight somewhere here - like Grindelwald or Wengen. |
The trains in Switzerland are convenient and comfortable. I enjoyed Basel, but if you want to see gorgeous Alpine scenery, then I agree that going into the Bernese Oberland for a few days, perhaps staying in Wengen, would be well worth considering.
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If taking trains Basel - Interlaken - Wengen and Jungfraujoch a Half-Fare Card- will more than pay for itself just on those.
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