Well I thought I had my Switzerland trip planned out.
BUT now I am rethinking the last night.
After travelling on the Bernina Express we will spend
2 nights in Lucerne
4 nights in Wengen
and then 1 night in Montreux.

Our main thinking in staying in Montreux is the trip on the Golden Pass train trip and seeing Lake Geneva.
However now I am thinking should I spend the last night in Berne. Doing the Lake trip on Lake Thun on the way.

Please help me with this dilemma

Hi aussie_10,

This is really a subjective decision based on what you want to see, experience, and do at each destination. We can only help you by giving you some impressions of what each place looks like and can offer.

Montreux is a medium-sized town in the French section, with French architecture, cuisine, décor, and lifestyle. Montreux feels and looks more like the French Riviera than it does a typical Swiss city or village. Montreux will give you more of a contrast to your other destinations.

Bern is a city that sits on a pretty river in the German section of the country -- it has some nice architecture and great history.

You could actually do a day-trip from either Wengen or Luzern to Bern.

Have fun as you plan!

s

Lake Thun and Lake Geneva cannot be compared. Bern has a well preserved medieval city center and many fine museums.
May be you have a look at
http://www.montreux-vevey.com/en/pag...vaux_en/Unesco
http://www.montreux-riviera.com/en/culture_leisure
http://www.goldenpass.ch/CMS/default.asp?ID=414
http://www.cgn.ch/en-gb/flotte-belle.../shiplist.aspx
http://www.bls.ch/e/schifffahrt/schifffahrt.php
http://www.schlossoberhofen.ch/en/home
http://www.bern.com/en/index.cfm

"a typical Swiss city or village" exists only in the heads of foreign tourists. Switzerland has 4 diffrent languages, 4 different cultures and a lot of completely different architectures (you can see many of them at he Ballenberg open air museum), but no Swiss citizen would say that the one is "more Swiss" than the other.

You will have spent most of your time in German-speaking Switzerland, so perhaps you might enjoy spending a little time in the French-speaking part. I've never stayed in Montreux but I've enjoyed some wonderful drinks and lake/mountain views from the terrace bar and restaurant at the Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic. (The hotel is practically at the base of the escalators down from the train station.)

Yes, you're right, neckervd, that a "typical Swiss city or village" exists mainly in the minds of foreign tourists.

Of which, I assume, the poster is one. If s/he is looking for something that we foreigners think of as "Swiss" or as "Heidi," then Montreux isn't it.

I love Montreux and normally visit at least once a year for two weeks (missing this year).

s

I've stayed in both several times. Personally, I like Bern, particularly with the new Paul Klee Museum.

If you go across Lac Le Man to Montreux, take a ferry ride, very scenic.

Thank you all for your replies.

As always people on this forum provide a wealth of information and valuable insights to places and experiences.

Yes I guess I remember the "typical Swiss village" (and this is definitely drawing me back to Switzerland), having visited as a young adult and we did stop in Berne and all I can remember were the bears?

I must admit to a love of all things French, so Montreux is still up there! Its just the more you read the more you second guess ones choices. Although getting to Montreux is a longer trip but it will also include the Golden pass train trip which looks lovely.