Best city in north-west Switzerland?
 

Hi everyone,
I will be driving from Tübingen, Germany to Kaufbeuren, Germany this July, and I want to make a slight detour and drive through Switzerland. I'll only have one day to drive from Tübingen into Switzerland, and spend that day wherever I end up going. Then I would have to leave the next day for Kaufbeuren. Now I know that's not much time, but if you only had one day, what town(s) would you recommend I spend most of my time? I am limited to the more northwestern part of Switzerland, but keep your suggestions open, because you never know what might happen. Thank you!

You could drive down the A81 from Tübingen (past the excellently named town of Villigen-Schwennigen, take photos of signs!) and go through Schaffhausen to visit the Rhein Falls (Rheinfall) on the viewing platforms or by boat on the Swiss side.

Then you could head back out of Switzerland on the E41, get on to the E54 and make your way to Konstanz along the lake as much as you can (B33). Spend a bit of time sightseeing there before heading back over to Switzerland and on to Winterthur to wander a little and see the sights before spending the night. Or you could skip Winterthur and head a little further south to Rapperswil on Lake Zurich (Zürichersee). In fact, probably a better option as it's a prettier town (IMO) than Winterthur and the harbour and old town will be lovely at that time of year.

The next day you could decide if you want to head to Germany via St Gallen or through Liechtenstein (a stop in Vaduz for lunch might be fun, and you can see the royal castle from the main street). Then through Linau (more Lake Constance) and on to Kaufbeuren. That journey will only take around 3 hours without stops, so you can plan a stop in Vaduz and also in Lindau if you're not in a hurry to get to Kaufbeuren.

Don't forget you'll need a Road Tax Sticker/Vignette for Switzerland and Austria, available at the borders or shops either side showing the sticker sign. Hope that gives you some ideas.

You don't say what you would like to do with your day, but Stein am Rhein is very pretty and you could also fit in a trip to the Rhine falls (Rheinfall). Do you really want a city? Stein am Rhein is more of a small town, which means you could explore much of it with your limited time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhine_Falls
http://www.steinamrhein.ch/xml_1/int...on/d1/f405.cfm

Madamtrashheap: that sounds like a really cool route. I was looking at possibly going to Vaduz, so since you mentioned it, that makes me consider it even more. What is cool about Vaduz?

FoFoBT: Being in a city doesn't matter to me, what matters to me is the scenery, and uniqueness of something. I would take an interesting small town or village over a regular city anyday. I think small towns are great ways to experience the culture of something, not just a church or statue. So what I am trying to say is that I would prefer whatever you think would be the most interesting experience for me. Thank you so much for your suggestion. Every suggestion is extremely helpful!

Also I didn't realize this before, but I just realized it now. I have been saying north west Switzerland, when I meant to be saying north east Switzerland.... I really need to proofread my posts, haha

Randomly enough, I knew where you meant anyway!

Vaduz, and Liechtenstein, are interesting in the sense that they are sandwiched between Austria and Switzerland, yet manage to have a national identity of their own - albeit based on a royal family, stamps, grapes and false teeth! It's a tiny country and you can drive the length of it in 30mins, but whilst it's scenery is a nice flow on from Switzerland, you should stop in Vaduz to experience a little more than what you can see from the car window. It's easy to navigate your way, it's not a big city, and if you follow the signs once you cross the "border" (ie the bridge) coming from Switzerland, you'll drive along the main road and into the centre of Vaduz. You'll see parking along the side of the road and off to the left in a small shopping centre (look for the sign on the left as you get past the Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein) or head to the next roundabout and turn left as there is parking down that road. Take a walk back up to the street called Städtle, where the main post office is, and you'll get good views of the castle as well as some places to eat lunch if you need. Walk down the stairs to the bus pick up area (you'll see it) and you'll get an even better view of the castle from below, and if you turn with your back to the castle, you'll see the little supermarket area I mentioned (with the parking) which also has cheap lunches. You can take a little wander around the rest of the streets in the general vicinity, but you won't need too much time. It's a pretty town, but doesn't warrant hours and hours. Plus as you drive out of town towards the Austrian border, you'll see the vineyards of the royal family on the right hand side (literally just out of town) and some more scenery.

Glad you like the route, you'll certainly get a mix of towns and cities and a whole lotta scenery.

My vote is for Stein am Rhein

The OP asked for Switzerland, so whatever charms Vaduz/Liechtenstein may have, that's not Switzerland. If the OP wants to spend his limited time IN Switzerland rather than NEAR Switzerland, I still recommend Stein am Rhein and the the nearby Rhine falls.

I would have to vote for Stein am Rhein as well. My husband took some amazing photos there. It's a lovely town.

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/256...11574650yIRnkj

Near Basel, Rheinfelded is like a smaller (and less gussied up) version of Stein am Rhein, with the addition of a major spa complex at the edge of town. Virtually untouched by tourists, except the groups heading off to the Feldschlösschen brewery. However, I wouldn't recommend it to the OP for this trip.

FWIW, I hope the OP's Swiss excursion isn't planned for a Sunday, when things in Stein am Rhein will be VERY quiet.

Rheinfelden, not Rheinfelded.

Rheinfelden looks very interesting. I'm going to put that on my list of places to see in Switzerland -- next trip.

In all fairness, Stein am Rhein is not much more Switzerland than Liechtenstein. Actually it's less. The former is just a kilometer behind the border from Germany. It is a nice scenery, but more or less as in many towns along the Upper Rhine river or on Lake Constance.
If "going to Switzerland" has the intention of being more IN the mountains than among some quaint hills, the initial itinerary of madam makes more sense. Whether or not you make a stopover in Liechtenstein is totally optional. Not a must-see IMO.