Bob

I a trying to decide whether to go to Bern or Zurich. I am going next July and really want to see the Alps and surrounding areas. Any advise?

Katherine

Bob, <BR> <BR>I was in Bern in June and found it pretty dull. It's very small. Whatever you do, don't go on a Sunday. Everything is closed (except the bears and we have bears here) But, the train ride from Bern to Milan was the most spectacular scenery I've ever seen. You might want to pass on through Bern to Interlaken.

Bob

Sounds like I chose a bad day. I am in fact getting there sunday morning. I am traveling to Munich Monday afternoon so I guess that im now leaning towards Zurich.

Nan

Bob, <BR>Bern is a quaint old town, but as previously noted, closed on Sundays. Zurich is a better bet, large city with more options. Enjoy!

Ursula

Hi Bob! <BR> <BR>Zurich is closed too on Sundays, except the shopping mall in the basement of the train station. It's quite large and you can get a lot of things, not only food. Personally, I only shop there when I get home from a trip. It's very convenient, when everything else is closed. <BR>But don't be disappointed, in July, weather in general is fine, so you can go for a boat trip (i.e. to Rapperswil, explore the parks (Belvoir and Rietberg) or just enjoy a stroll on the lake promenades. But in general, Sundays, are kind of "boring", unless you live here and know exactly what to do and where (hiking, sailing, etc). <BR>You can also go to Lucerne for the day. Takes about 1 hour. <BR> <BR>PS: The Tourist Office Zurich main station will be open from 8.30 a.m. to 6.30. p.m. <BR>www.zurichtourism.ch

Ed

I fear I'm a bit confused. Why, if you want to see the Alps, would you go to Bern or Zürich? Neither is in the Alps. On an unusually clear day you can see the Alps (barely) from the University tower in Bern. <BR> <BR>If you want the Alps, go to the best ... the Jungfrau region south of Interlaken. See <BR>www.twenj.com/bovisit.htm

lucky

Been to Zurich many times. Was in Bern in May and Basel in July. Don't know how long you will be in Switzerland, but the trains work great and it is a very convenient mode of travel. As far as seeing everything in Swiss..it is not that far to travel to get anywhere either via train or car. So really where ever you are, it is only a few hours to see anything else. If I recall, Bern is less than 1 hour by train from ZRH. and Basel is 70 minutes by train. Literally, you can stay in Zurich if you wanted and take the train to Bern and return the same day easily. Bern and Basel were both cool places, but I quess I will try to not go there on a Sunday. If the train that Katherine mentions goes anywhere near and around the St. Gotthard Pass that would be a cool train ride. have a great time your gonna love Switzerland no matter where you go.

dan woodlief

Personally, I really like Bern. It probably doesn't have what anyone would call world class sights, but is is a beautiful town. There are lots of good views of the city - from the cathedral tower, the Rose Garden, and the rear of the parliament building. The bears are extremely boring, as you might expect. I do completely agree about Sunday. We arrived in Switzerland on a Sunday and stopped through for a few hours on the way to Interlaken. It was dead, but I found it a great time for seeing the sights (except I saw several shops I wanted to enter and couldn't). We spent the night there on the way out of Switzerland (a Wednesday), and it was a different world. I thought it was very nice at night.

richard j vicek

Good afternoon, Bob <BR>Would split your time in Zurich or Bern <BR>if these are the places you must stay. <BR>From Bern, you can go into the Berneroberland with aabout 1hr15min trip <BR>to Inerlaken, another 30 min trip to <BR>Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen. From Bern to Brig about 1hr15min., another <BR>1hr17min......These are not bad travel <BR>times from Bern.. From Zurich you are <BR>50 mins to Luzern, main mountains are <BR>Rigi, about 1 hr out of Luzern to Vitznau and then up the railway. To <BR>Pilatus, city bus to Kreins and up on <BR>gondola and cable car to top about 1 hour and can also be done thru Alpnachstad and up the incline railway. <BR>Titlis, train to Engelberg another hour, <BR>and up by Cable car to the Klum.. <BR>Richard of LaGrange Park, Il...