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!

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.

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.

If taking trains Basel - Interlaken - Wengen and Jungfraujoch a Half-Fare Card- will more than pay for itself just on those.