Looking to do Switzerland for a week or so, either late June or early July this year. I've found 2 self-catering places that look good to me (Only positive about availability on the second one)

1. 2nd floor (European) in Brienz with a view of the mountains and lake Brienz. http://www.chalet.twwt.com/heidi.html
840 CHF/week (that's their nightly rate x 7, don't know if there's any reduction.)

2. Ground floor studio in Wengen. Does not seem to have a view per se but I've heard that Wengen is a gorgeous place to be. And not so many stairs.
http://www.wengen-chalets.ch/alpengruss/apa2.php
490 CHF/week

We are going to be car-less.
We are looking for a relaxing, jaw dropping gorgeous inspiring scenery, beautiful contemplative hike-filled trip, a few nice day trips, without tooooo many crowds. Enjoy towns well-equipped for tourism but not overrun with touristy crap souvenir shops.

I would like to hear comparisons and preferences especially from people who have spent time in both towns. What are the big pros and cons?

ttt

Hi again LSUvetgirl,

It's hard to choose between these two places; both will give you the relaxing vacation you seek with great views.

I didn't find Wengen to be overcrowded, even in August, when Grindelwald was packed with tour busses -- but that may have been a fluke. Wengen does have some touristy shops, but it's not over-run with them (imo!).

Brienz won't be over-run, I think, as most folks will be just racing to Interlaken & beyond.

I think the decision would come down to whether you want to be in a tiny mountain village or a town on the lake!

Good luck!

s

I can't tell you which is better but I can say that alot is going on in Brienz this summer. Check out the website: http://www.brienz-shopping.ch/detail.htm (It's in German but use Babelfish to translate)

There's quite a few wood carving exhibitions and other activities going on.

We were in Wengen last year and loved it. Absolutely wonderful hiking and so many beautiful things there- the EigerGletscher walk, the Trummelbach falls, Gimmelwald for the best fondue lunch in the face of a mountain, Lauterbrunnen Valley. From what I can tell on that map on the website, the apartment is down the hill away from town and on a hillside overlooking Lauterbrunnen Valley, which is really beautiful.I don't see how you could help but have a view there! Hmm..I didn't find it to be touristy, but we were there in early June before the crowds came.

I have been to both Wengen and Brienz (took boat from there back to Interlaken). You will probably enjoy Brienz. It is in a more open countryside, but you can visit many places by either train or boat from there. The only drawback I can think of is that the train station is quite a bit above the pretty part of the town itself, so you will have a bit of a hike to get there to take the trains to Interlaken (for Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen, or to Thun.) But if you are not in a hurry, the boat rides to these places are very relaxing, and no hike up the hill!

Hi,
While we haven't been to Brienz, we stayed 4 nights in Wengen in Oct. It is an ideal place without a car. Now, for "jaw dropping" scenery, beautiful hikes and walks, w/o too much of a crowd, I can't think of any place that compares to Wengen. We've been to Austria, Bavaria and the Italian Dolomites and in my opinion, Wengen is best!

paul

Hi,
I have also been looking at staying in Brienz in May 2007 and at the same apartment! We may be meeting friends there so will have to stay in one of the bigger apartments.
It looks lovely, doesn't it? I just hope it is as nice as it sounds.
We will be using trains only as well and thought Brienz seems like a good place to base ourselves.
I would love to know what you decide so please post back and I will look forward to reading your trip report!
Treplow, Could you let us know roughly the time to walk to the station from say the lake side?

Maudie

Ok, I'm thinking that Wengen will be the winner. My mother (and don't mothers know best always?) says (and I quote) "Wengen by a country mile! Brienz is on the lake and on the direct rail line to Interlaken, so you would save money on transportation, but the town itself is a zero, populated by Japanese tourist buses." and then says "Brienz is pretty because it is right on the lake and has a view of the mountain. It is just one street wide, so there is not much to see or do in the town itself, The town is known for its woodcarving, so lots of tourist shops and buses. If you want a place that you can enjoy just being in the town, I would pick Wengen."

How can I not listen to my mom? Don't they shoot people for that? As much as I love the looks of the place in Brienz.......

Carrie

Carrie,
Yes it is a difficult decision and I can tell you that we have been wrestling with it for a while now.
I guess at some stage we will have to bite the bullet and make a booking (somewhere).
Hope you have a great time.

Maudie

Brienz is a neat little town that is well known for its wood carvers and their shops. We were there last summer and thought it to be interesting.

The main problem I see with Brienz is that it is not as close to the heart of the Berner Oberland as Wengen.

If you have a rental car, I think would be perfect in many respects. For example you are close to the high passes east of Interlaken: Susterns, Grimsel and Furka. Luzern is perhaps a 90 minute drive away. The charming little town of Meiringen is close by.

The Museum of Swiss Life at Ballenberg is very close to you, and that is a worth while visit. I really enjoyed seeing a re-creation of Swiss alpine life. Houses from all over Switzerland have been brought there and reconstructed. Many are in working condition.

If you want to take the train all the way, Wengen is a little over an hour away.

the apartment looks nice, and at the price you quote it sounds like yu factored in the 100 chf final cleaning add on.

I think the above posters have laid it out for you. Where do you want to be?

I think one thing about Brienz you might like: I found it to be far less touristy than other places. Switzerland derives a high percentage of its income from tourists, so you have to expect a lot of them, but Brienz seemed to me to be more of a regular town you might say.