Another long weekend in Switzerland :)
 

I'm looking for ideas on good places to go hiking! We've been to Lucerne, Bern, Muerren, Lake Geneva, Appenzell and around St. Moritz. We're looking for someplace in eastern Switz with really good hiking around the end of July. Any ideas? Our preferences are for a town with at least a few restaurants, beautiful scenery, fantastic mountain hikes. :) Thanks!

Well, it isn't exactly "eastern" but since you haven't done the hiking around Zermatt and environs you might consider that...sorry if this isn't eastern enough for you.

What about Flims? (I love canton Graubünden :) as you can see.)

www.alpenarena.ch

Or Klosters (www.klosters.ch), but this is maybe too close to the Engadin for you.

In July I would really go for high elevation. Could be too hot in the lower regions.

Hey Ingo! What do you think of Arosa? :) I've never heard of Flims but I'll look into that. No worry about it being too hot...I'm from Texas. :)

Arosa? Hm, it is very popular ... it is located at the end of a valley, quite isolated. There is some hiking around (but it is known better for WALKS), the question is ... how long is your LONG weekend? Arosa should offer enough for two or three days, but the scenery around the village is - although beautiful - not of much diversity. No glaciers :)

Ingo

We'll have 2 full days. :) Klosters sounds pretty good and we could get there Friday night after work (by train). Flims looks a bit trickier but might work. Oh boy!!

BTW, Ingo, do you ever come to Bavaria for hiking? There are loads of good places around here!

Hi Peep!

Why does Flims look trickier? You change in Chur for the bus to Flims, which is running frequently, instead of changing in Landquart for the train to Klosters. Doesn't make much difference.

Anyway, Klosters is indeed great for hiking. It also has some charming hamlets nearby and is quite pretty itself. Lots of good restaurants, some cafes and a bit of shopping. Should be fine for you.

Oh yes, I have been hiking in Bavaria as well. Especially around Garmisch, Oberstdorf and Berchtesgaden. Was nice, but it is somewhat at the edge of the Alps. The views to one side are always going toward flat countryside, you know :)

Klosters wins! Any hotel recommendations?

You listed my favorite places in Bavaria! :) We went hiking in Garmisch on Saturday. Beautiful!!

Another question: Klosters Dorf or Platz? It looks like Platz is bigger? But is Dorf nicer and are there restaurants there?

Platz is definitely bigger and has more restaurants/cafes/shopping to offer. No, I don't think Dorf is more charming.

Make sure to stay in a hotel away from the main road - noisy. Or book a room to the back side at least.

Friends of mine have stayed at the four star hotel Alpina and were very pleased. Maybe too expensive, but they have last minute offers (phone) and packages. I saw there is a package with two nights incl. breakfast and 6-course dinner in their 16-pts. Gault-Millau restaurant for 300 CHF per person. Hmm, sounds great ...
www.alpina-klosters.ch

Otherwise, have a look at the three star hotels Kaiser and Steinbock (but book rooms at the back side, away from the street!). No personal experience with those, but they look okay.

I envy you your vicinity to the Alps ;)

Hey, have you heard of the Swiss-Bike Masters? It's taking place in Klosters the weekend we plan to be there. I'm just wondering if it's a huge event and the town will be crowded.

Uh oh, Peep... be careful! Ingo will have you reading The Magic Mountain!

You live a pretty charmed life, my friend. :-)

Hi Ingo! I'm working on finding you some glaciers in Colorado.

I read that there will be around 4000 cyclists and 35,000 spectators lining the route! Sounds like that may ruin our quiet weekend in the mountains, eh?

Hm, doesn't sound like a quiet weekend. I had a look at the route and found out that the Bike Race will take place down the valley from Klosters (-Küblis). Klosters is the easternmost place, Küblis the start/arrival. So I am assuming that you could enjoy a very quiet weekend in the Silvretta mountains east/north of Klosters (which are also my favourite places for hikes there).

Problem is most likely to get accommodation, though.

Did you consider Flims?

(No need to read Magic Mountain for a stay in Klosters, Grasshopper is teasing you ;) )

Ingo

After all that, I think we'll go to Austria instead. :) We'll have to go to Klosters some other time. Thanks for your input!

You're welcome! Austria is not bad either. Have done some nice hikes there as well.

Hey Ingo! Are you familiar with St. Anton or Zell am See? Those are the 2 I'm considering. We've been to Kitzbuehel, Bad Gastein, Innsbruck, Salzburg and Hallstatt. :)