PalenQ

Any care-free cities in the Engadine - Murren is another one in the Jungfrau Region?

LA_FadeAway

Kja, to answer you questions, we have only three nights to spend while traveling from Zurich to Venice. We'd only do the Bernina Express if traveling via Engadin. If we go that route, we probably only spend one two nights in Engadin and the remaining night or two at Lake Como.

If we go to Wengen, we'd spend either all three nights there or two there and somewhere else on the way like Stresa.

Another option is to spend a day or two in Lucerne and then travel down to Italy and spend the remaining night somewhere else, but it looks like our best scenery will be sticking with either the BO or Engadin.

Swandav, I've looked at a ton of pictures already which makes the choice that much more difficult

I will look at the links you guys suggested later tonight when I have more time.

kja

With that time frame, the Bernese Oberland might make most sense. Much as I love the Engadine (and I do!), you might want to wait until you can give it a bit more time. Just my opinion. And do consider giving it all three nights: With only two nights, you are really talking about only one day, and if that day happens to be one with bad weather, there are things to do, but not necessarily the ones that made you interested in the first place. That extra day or two can make a huge difference!

swandav2000

Yes, Pal. Sils.

s

swandav2000

Well, as I say, I think Sils is car-free. But it's not perched high in the mountains like Wengen and Mürrehn are; it's at lake level, right next to the lake.

But it's possible to spend the night at a mountaintop hotel in the Engadin, if a visitor would want to do that.

But really truly Pal, this isn't a contest and there are no winners or losers. Some folks will want to go to the Engadin for what it offers, and others will want to go to the Jungfrau region. Each his/her own. Right?



LA_FadeAway, I wish you luck with your choice. But it'll be a win/win for you and your husband!

s

Ingo

Some parts of Sils are car-free. The main village is a cul-de-sac, so not much traffic.

Several villages in the lower Engadine are almost car-free (because cul-de-sacs), perched high up on sunny terraces: Tschlin, Vna, Ftan, Guarda. On my many visits there I saw maybe two cars per hour. (Btw, Wengen is not totally car-free, some locals have permission to drive up there and yes, there is a very small road from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen!)

neckervd

...but even a jeep wouldn't succed to reach Wengen along this "very small road": Lauterbrunnen - Heimeggli - 12 hairpin bends - Zwirgi - 5 hairpin bends - Schluecht - Wengen.

LA_FadeAway

So after all the wonderful input above, I think we may just go to Lucerne and Lake Como! We ran into some very large unexpected expenses a couple days ago and now need to watch the budget more carefully. I also discovered we can go from Lucerne to Como for $10 each on a sale fare vs the $200+ per person to visit the BO before paying for mountain trains, cable cars, etc. Going via Engadin is not as expensive but is still a lot more than $10, lol.

PalenQ

OK - but from Lucerne taste at least a wee bit of Alpine Wonderland Switzerland - take the train to Engelberg - not a big ticket and you are in one of Switzerland's primo Alpine Wonderlands in just over an hour or so.

https://www.google.com/search?q=enge...w=1455&bih=977

Twould be a shame IMO not to see the dreamy Switzerland picture etched in many folks' minds but which will not be fulfilled in Lucerne, lovely a town as that may be. And do a boat trip on Lake Lucerne.

kja

You could do much worse then spend a few days in Lucerne! I second the idea of taking a boat trip on the lake.

LA_FadeAway

Thank you both! Will definitely do a boat trip on the lake and will try to make it to Engelberg too. I'm sure we'll be back when we have more time as well. I've already got a perfect two week Switzerland itinerary worked out in my head

PalenQ

a good boat trip goes to Mt Rigi - take a boat to Vitznau - bout an hour from Lucerne and then the mountain train to Rigi-Kulm, the summit - not at a real high elevation but one of themost ballyhooed observation places in all of Switzerland with views over all of central Switzerland and the lake below. Mark Twain famously wrote of his ascent up Mt Rigi - climbing before trains were around - quite a nice story - he abhorred the tradtional blowing of Alphorns up top - to me like bag pipes - screeching awful noice - but a tradition carried on there.

McLisa

LAUTERBRUNNEN!!!!

PalenQ

Mt Pilatus is Lucerne's own mountain and its familiar visage can be seen from town if the skies over it are clear and a big if IME - but though you can take a thrilling mountain train up to its summit it in no way represents the Alpine wonderland that Engelberg does - opt for Engleberg and mix in a boat trip to get to it - like taking boat to Stans or some station on the Engelberg train line.

LA_FadeAway

Thank you for the great suggestions PalenQ! Do you recommend a trip up Mt. Titlis while visiting Engleberg too?

PalenQ

Yes though pricey- ride that awesome rotating cable car to the world of ice - the Alpine Wonderland of your trip up top:

https://www.google.com/search?q=mt+t...=1600&bih=1075

LA_FadeAway

That does look beautiful PalenQ. I see it's $89RT with no pass from Engleberg, which is a bit pricey. I guess it will depend on how well we budget the rest of the trip and the weather.

kja

"I guess it will depend on how well we budget the rest of the trip and the weather"

And how you manage the rest of your limited time in Lucerne! Even after narrowing your destination to one city, you still have lots of options.

Enjoy!

PalenQ

I see it's $89RT with no pass from Engleberg, which is a bit pricey.>

But it could be the highlight of your whole trip IMO - $89 in Switzerland is about two budget restaurant meals!