Where does it make sense to base ourselves for 2 nights? We (91 y.o. dad and I) have 3 days in Switzerland in late July, to be spent as follows:

Day 1 - Arrive noon in Lausanne by train from Dijon. Pick up rental car and make our way to Verbier for a concert that evening. Staying in Verbier.

Day 2 - Leisurely drive towards Ligerz for afternoon/evening balloon ride with Swiss friends (who I met on a trip to Costa Rica last year!) Where to stay this night?

Day 3 - Drive to and explore Grindelwald/ Lauterbrunnen/Wengen/Murren, as time permits. I can't be so close and not go to some of these villages. Where to stay this night?

Day 4 - Return car to Bern train station and catch 8:30 or 9:00 am train to Zurich airport for 1ish flights.

I currently hold reservations in Grindelwald but am concerned that it is too far being we have to be in Bern so early on a Tuesday morning. Could be traffic, could be a wait to return the car, etc. I would rather spend both nights in the same property. Where would you recommend we stay these two nights?

Thanks

I would only use the car on days 1-3.

Day 1: Lausanne - Verbier: 1hr30 drive (stay in Verbier)

Day 2: Verbier - Ligerz: 2hr drive (stay near Ligerz to enjoy the balloon ride and friends and a great night out)

Day 3: Ligerz - Interlaken (about 2 hour drive) (I personally would return the car somewhere along the way on this day and just use the train. This gives you more freedom on Day 4. I also recommend staying in Interlaken due to your tight schedule)

Day 4: Interlaken - Zürich ( The train ride from Interlaken - Zürich is about 3 hours so you will need to leave Interlaken latest at 8 in the morning.)

The Saturday evening concerts at Verbier all ends between 8 pm and 9.30pm.
As iit will get dark shorlty after 9pm, I suppose that you will sleep at Verbier or may be at Le Chable (down in the Valley, very good road, but with 13 hairpin curves nevertheless).
Verbier is in the heart of the Alps, not far away from the highest mountains of Europe. It's a pity that you will have to be at Ligerz the same day.
If the weather is fine, you could nevertheless take the first morning gondola to Mont Fort, 11000 ft above sea level, just in front of Mont Blanc and not far away from Matterhorn, etc.(Verbier dp 8.30 - Mont Fort ar 9.05).
Leave then Verbier as late as possible for your drive to Ligerz (count about 2 1/2 - 3 hrs, very scenic itinerary, almost all motorway along Lakes Geneva, Neuchatel and Bienne).
As to the place to sleep, all depends of the time your balloon adventure ends and when you will leave your friends. May be you will still have dinner together. Count about 2 hrs for the drive from Ligerz to Grindelwald. There are hotels all along the way. Accommodation will be easy to find up to Thun (excluded) whereas the Bernese Oberalnd area will be crowded and overpriced as usual in this period.
May be you stay in or around Berne for both nights.

Thank you. As much as I want to see exactly the picture you posted from Grindelwald, I think I have to abandon it for this trip. I just think it will be too stressful to try to fit it in. Dad put a wrench in things by wanting to go to the concert in Verbier, but hey, he's 91, so I am happy to acede to his wishes. I think my current plan is:

Saturday - arrive Lausanne, get car, make our way to Verbier for concert and spend the night there.

Sunday - leisurely drive to Ligerz to meet friends, balloon adventure, dinner, drive to Bern, return car and stay in Bern for 2 nights.

Monday - leisurely explore old town Bern.

Tuesday - early train from Bern to Zurich airport.

I have booked a hotel in the old part of Bern close to the rail station. Any must sees you recommend for a one day visit?

Thank you kleeblat.