sasark

hi there,

I am trying to plan the perfect scenic train ride from Lac Léman to Basel...

I'll be traveling by regional train and think I know the "right" general route to take -- that is:
Montreux -> Zweisimmen -> Speiz -> Bern -> Basel.

Right now I'm trying to decide - what's the best place to stop for a one- or two-hour break along the way? (It's OK if it involves adding another town into the route...) My initial ideas are:

-- Bern, for a long walk through the old city.

-- Some scenic mountain town that has both great views and plenty of cozy places to relax with a cup of hot chocolate (but I'm not really sure which one that would be...)

-- Murten - other people's pictures looks beautiful...

For context, this is my first visit to Switzerland since I was a child but unfortunately it will be a short trip (one week). Other things I'll be doing include spending three nights at Lac Léman (in the Vevey area), several days in Basel (mainly seeing visiting relatives), then one night in Solothurn before flying out of Zurich. If you're wondering why I'm avoiding Lucerne -- that's because it's the one place in Switzerland I've been, and I also don't want to be any place too touristy (I have a sensitivity...).

Anyway, with this train ride, I was hoping to squeeze in a short visit to some other town -- hence my bulleted list of options.

I started out assuming I would stop in Bern. But lately I am really attracted to the idea of stopping in the mountains, if there's someplace that has both a charming village atmosphere, a few cafes to choose from, and maybe an easy walk that could be done in an hour or so (Wengen maybe? Or is that really just someplace you go when you're skiing?)

If you have insights, I'd appreciate them!

thanks a lot,
Sasha

sasark

oops... and of course I have to apologize for the typo in my subject. Sigh...

PalenQ

Bern is one of Switzeland's most beautiful cities - can't go wrong, throw bags in a station locker, station right in the heart of town.

Gstaad, which the Golden Pass route goes thru and regional trains as well would be a nice Alpine resort for a few hours+ Of cure Gstadd like any Alpine resort is full of tourists - it lives on tourists.

WeisserTee

When is your trip? Winter, spring, summer?

As for Gstaad being "full of tourists", if your trip is in ski season, lots of people will be on the slops rather than thronging the village streets. I go to Gstaad a few times during the winter and don't find the streets unbearably crowded. And there are some quiet walks you can take around the village past beautiful chalets.

However, in late spring, it will be pretty much empty. From April to late June, it's very quiet and some places will be closed.

Bern is fully open year round, of course!

If you're traveling during an off-season time for villages like Gstaad, I recommend Thun. It's a stop on the way from Zweisimmen to Bern.

And enjoy yourself in Basel!

sasark

Thank you both so much!

And I'm sorry -- I meant to say when this would be happening: at the very end of March. In fact probably March 31. So perhaps ski season will just be wrapping up.

Thanks again for the tips -- much appreciated!

Sasha

kja

FWIW, I far preferred Bern to Gstaad. I also preferred Thun to Gstaad. The good news is that you won't go wrong with any choice!

swandav2000

Hi sasark,

I also recommend Gstaad, where I've stayed a few times, for a week or 10 nights.

Gstaad is a lovely brown-chalet town in the sorta-lower Alps; the scenery in the immediate area is rolling hills backed by mountains. As you leave the train station, walk straight ahead for about half a block, and then the pedestrian street will run to your left and right. There are tons of restaurants and cafes and upscale shops on that street -- the rich 'n famous have been living and vacationing here since the 1950s (think David Niven and Elizabeth Taylor).

There are a number of *outstanding* restaurants if you'd like to make this you lunch stop. The Chesery (just off the pedestrian zone) is renown, and I particularly like the Terrace restaurant of the Hotel Olden (it sits just across the street from the hotel, but enjoying it depends on warm/good weather).

More information at

www.gstaad.ch

Have fun as you plan!

s