Hiking in Switzerland
 

Hi Everyone!

Does anyone have any tips on where is the best place in Switzerland to stay in order to be able to do lots of hiking up the mountains? This is my first time there and I'm keen to do a couple of one-two day hikes but am a little lost as to where to base myself. Any recommendations anyone has would be amazing!!


Many thanks!

Berber Overland.
Wengen or similar area town

At what time of year?

Switzerland has more than 60'000 (sixty thousand) kms (resp fourty thousand miles) of well signmarked hiking trails.

If you want to hike in the Alps, you may choose any place between Les Marecottes (French border) and Scuol (Austro-Italian border).
The cantons I prefer for mountain hikes are Valais, Ticino and Graubuenden.
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/i...89,29503,25522
http://www.wanderland.ch/en/wanderland.html

You are spoiled for choice. Hiking is available throughout the country.

Every single one of our many trips to Switzerland - regardless of time of year - has focused on hiking.

Hi Everyone,
Thanks so much for your responses!

We are going to be there in July, I was thinking of staying 3 nights in Grinderwald and using that as a base? What are your thoughts?

Many thanks again!

A fine choice.
Do check out neckervd's links for multiple hike specifics.

For that time of year, yes, good choice!

Other options in that area (the Bernese Oberland) include Wengen (best, IMO, if you are willing to pay for a room with a stunning view), Murren (a favorite of many) and Lauterbrunnen (through which one must pass to reach Wengen or Murren).

Agree with mokka - Jungfrau Region in and around Grindelwald, Wengen, etc:

https://www.google.com/search?q=jung...w=1920&bih=950

We hiked every day for eight days during our stay in Lauterbrunnen. There are so many beautiful hikes of varying degrees out of every little village. Can't ask for better views.

Poor weather can always set in for days in Alps - have alternative plans - a place that offers other options in foul weather - take a train from say Wengen area to Bern or do a boat ride on the lakes bookending Interlaken (when poor weather up in the hills could be nice down below).

Other options in that area (the Bernese Oberland) include Wengen (best, IMO, if you are willing to pay for a room with a stunning view), Murren (a favorite of many) and Lauterbrunnen (through which one must pass to reach Wengen or Murren)>

I prefer Grindelwald because it is livelier, especially at night - but Wengen seems to please more other folks. Grindelwald is a utilitarian base because it is at the epicenter of so many great excursions and only about 20 minutes from Interlaken -go down for the night at the famous casino to replenish dwlindling trip funds!

Wengen I'd say is the favorite all in all of folks posting about this area. Little more remote - no cars -about 45 minutes by trains from Interlaken. But again a well positioned utilitarian base for excursions and hikes.

OK Palen and and others, are there some easy hikes from Wengen for someone a tad older with knee replacement, but in generally good health? I will be there in mid July. Been to Murren and loved it. How strenuous is the Wengen/Grindelwald/Murren trek by whatever means of travel/cable car etc. Will be based in Wengen for a few days. Thanks all. Sue

Serika, I stayed in Murren once for about 3 days in Spring and it was a lovely spot, lots of waterfalls (11 or more) across from our little mountain cabin that we rented off the Internet for very nominal cost (probably more now). Took the cable car up the mountain too, I think it was the Shilthorn, double check this. Great area to hike and very pretty spot. Small mountain stream thru the village too. Sue

Hi Serica,

Just wanted to add some comments about Grindelwald --

Because that's as high as gas-powered cars can go, that's where they all go, including the lines & lines of tour busses. The small town cannot absorb all the off-loaded day-tripping passengers, who tend to congregate in clumps on the sidewalks and in front of the shops.

I was in Grindelwald in August with my Mom one time, and that experience was really unpleasant for both of us. We are both slow travellers, so we liked to linger and walk the streets of the town, enjoying coffee or wine in a cafe, go window-shopping, etc. And that really wasn't possible because of the unpleasant crowds. (Note that I'd been to Grindelwald twice before to ski in the winter, and though it was crowded, it wasn't mobbed like this. This is really only a problem at the height of the summer, July & August).

In contrast, we went to Wengen one day, and it was peaceful and quiet, just like you'd expect a mountain village to be. There was some crowding around the train station as folks went up to the Jungfraujoch, but most of them did not wander away from the station. I've also been to Wengen three times to ski, and I really do prefer Wengen. It's just what you imagine a Swiss mountain village to look like and to feel like.

Anyway -- just wanted to let you know what you might see if you stay in Grindelwald in July.

Have fun as you plan!

s

If you've already been to Murren, then I think it would be worth considering staying in Wengen -- particularly if you are willing to pay for a room with a GOOD view. The views from Murren and Wengen are, IMO, astonishingly different. I FAR preferred the views from Wengen; YMMV.

P.S. Welcome back swandav! I hope you enjoyed your vacation. :-)

Thanks kja! It was so-so; I moved too often for my taste. Also, realized that I needed a college course on German history; 2-hour tours in a city can't give me what I need. I'm working on the photos now.

Such a kind note for me to see! Thanks again!!

s

I was in Grindelwald a couple of weeks back, I thought it was fabulous, easy access to First(and several hikes from there), the Eiger trail and so on.
No matter where you stay, you should go up First, walk to Faulhorn, Bachalpsee(a but strenuous, but not too bad), I loved the Eigergletscher - Alpiglen part of the Eiger trail. The walk to Gross Scheidegg from First was pretty good as well.

and of course from Grindelwald you can take a cable to The Mannlichen (rave vista point) and do the easy few-mile stroll up to Kleine Scheidegg -the so-called Ridge Walk overlooking both the Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen valleys - then for more energetic do the walk back to to Grindelwald or hop trains to Jungfraujoch.