Interlaken, Grindelwald, Murren or Wengen?
 

We have one day and night. Where should we spend it?
Also, hotel and restaurant (authentic Swiss) recommendations would be much appreciated.

Wengen Wengen Wengen Wengen. Sleep and eat at the Alpenrose Hotel. You will thank me and you will remember it the rest of your life.

Add Gimmelwald, the most isolated of all to the list - but easy to get to by cable car - once there you are confronted largely with the rugged Alps looming just across the valley - a couple of typical Swiss hotels, a hostel and the chance to "sleep in the straw" - a cow barn converted to hostel in the summer when the cows are pasturing in higher levels.
Gimmelwald for something far different - a few minutes from Murren by cable car.

Wengen-I agree with teacherlady.

Thank you for the great responses.
Teacherlady-Can I ask what you like about Wengen over Grindelwald? The Alpenrose looks adorable.

PalQ-How do you get to Grindelwald by cable car (where do you pick it up)?
That sounds like fun.
How would I find the cowbarn?

JES: Don't confuse Grindelwald (big and very touristy) with Gimmelwald (the place PalQ is talking about). Big difference!!

We stayed in Wengen and had a wonderful meal at the Regina where we were staying. Great hotel beautiful rooms with great views. Quite expensive though but the restaurant is well worth it . Wengen is car free.

Thanks LSU--I definitely did confuse the two.

OK, another vote for Wengen...what you like about it over the others?
I have actually been to Grindelwald years ago and loved it so I'm curious what Wengen has over it?

Thanks again for all of your advice!

Wengen is a simpler place than Grindelwald, and as previously mentioned, it is car-free, so you walk everywhere and it's much more peaceful. I was a little put off by walking in to shops in Grindelwald and having blonde-haired blue-eyed salesclerks look at me (long light brown hair) and say "Konichi Wa", obviously catering to Japanese tourists. The street signs also have Japanese on them. To me, Grindelwald seemed like a small Lucerne (lots of traffic and stores) and Wengen is the real Swiss experience of mountains and valleys and waterfalls. You can easily go to Grindelwald from Wengen if you really want to see it. If you do go to Wengen, be sure to ride the Mannlichen tram up tot he top and then hike down to Kleine Scheidegg, taking the train from there back to Wengen. Absolutely jaw-droppingly awesomely beautiful.

Teacherlady--that sounds like a great plan. Thank you!

I'm finalizing this portion of my trip and wanted to ask one more time making sure you all know what we are looking for....
wengen looks beautiful, but I'm wondering if it's too quiet? My hubby has never been to Switzerland and with only a few days, he wants to see a village, experience the food culture, and of course see the scenery.
While I know Grindelwald offers all this, I'm now concerned it's too touristy....but again, on the flip side, will Wengen have enough of all of this?
Thanks again!

Another vote for Wengen! We were there a few years ago and absolutely loved it! We've been to the Dolomites, Austria and Germany but haven't found a place like Wengen. The best.
We stayed at Hotel Eiger which had fantastic views!
Paul

I forgot, in case your interested...
www.eiger-wengen.ch

paul

Thanks Paul--just curious if you also spent time in Grindelwald?
Do you feel wengen has enough going on in the village in terms of restaurants?

I know fondue is harder to find in the summer, but any recommendations on where we can find it?

Paul--no luck with Hotel Eiger for the night I'm going:(
What about staying in Lauterbrunnen?

Hi JES,
You can check these sites for info...
www.berneroberland.ch
www.wengen.com
www.lauterbrunnen-tourismus.ch
www.grindelwald.com
I think Lauterbrunnen has less going on than the other places. As far as restaurants in Wengen, we stayed 4 nights and had no problem with having something different each night. We found Grindelwald, we visited for an afternoon, too much. We liked Wengen mostly for the views, walks outside of "town" and it's lack of cars. In the evening we'd walk outside of town and all you could hear was our footsteps and the ringing of distant cowbells, with a magnificent view down the valley and the snow capped peaks surrounding us. Wow, now I'm really wanting to go back! For a day and a night, I don't know how one could get bored. Plenty of walking, hiking, cog train trips, cable car rides, etc. to do.
Hope this helped.

paul

JES,
Another helpful link, in my opiinion, to check hotels, restaurants in the Berner Oberland is... http://www.ricksteves.com/books/feed.../rurl/pid/270/

Paul

JES,

Something to keep in mind --

Because Grindelwald allows cars in the village, it gets swamped by tour busses, especially in August. I was there with my mother, and we saw several huge busses unload their load along the main street in Grindelwald.

In contrast, Wengen was almost deserted. We went there for lunch and enjoyed the quiet and the views! I vowed to return to Wengen and give Grindelwald a miss.

s

Thank you Paul! And for your opinion swandav. We will be there in a couple of weeks (mid June) so I wonder how they will be then.

JES - you should have no trouble finding fondue just about anywhere, even in the summer.

great!
Any thoughts on if I wait last minute and try a hotel while we're there as opposed to booking ahead? I hate to be so scheduled but I don't want to pay a premium.

I think it depends on how long you are there and what you want to do while visiting.

I find Grindelwald to be too crowded to be Swiss anytbing. Lauterbrunnen at times seems overwhelmed with Americans.

I became very conscious of that last year when we ate more than normal at the hotels. Even the waitstaff spoke with American accents!!

If you want to get away from the typical tourist mobs, I recommend Saas Fee and, in Val d'Anniviers, the villages of Zinal or Grimentz.

Wengen is an ok place with upscale accommodations and a nice flat location on a shelf of the Lauterbrunnen Valley.

Mürren is in a similar position on the west side of the valley with incredible views of the Mönch and the Jungfrau, plus the lesser ridges of the Breithorn and the Tshinglehorn.

Lauterbrunnen is fine as a transportation hub. Trains and buses to higher locals are there and it is relatively easy to get in and out by car.

Gimmelwald seems to have an appeal, but it is quite small, and mostly when I strolled through it on my way elsewhere, I did not stay very long.

pja
thankyou for the four links that you posted. There is such a wealth of information there. A big help for planning next years trip.

I'm back and did stay in Wengen and we really enjoyed it for one night. More than that may have been too quiet for me but we took the train up to Kleinne Scheidegg from there and hiked 3 hours down and then had a fabulous dinner outdoors at our hotel. Quiet, but very nice. Though I think Wengen's best season is probably the winter where the pavement is covered with snow making it all more charming.

I do like Lauterbrunnen and would definitely consider staying there next time because the town is cute and you are surrounded by all of the mountains. The glacier water jetting down the cliffs is an unforgettable sight and it's a great central point to get everywhere.
Thanks again for all advice.

Will you have a car? Nice to have in that area. Lauterbrunnen is the place you get the cog train to Wengen. Yes, Wenger is gorgeous, and car free...and for just one night and day it would be fun and beautiful , of course. Some people like to base in Lauterbrunner if staying several days., and then take a day trip to Wengen. We were there in late Oct,,,,NOTHING open in Wengen. Well , it was rainy, and we had lunch at a hotel and the scenery WAS gorgeous....but it is a tiny place. More active in Summer AND Winter.
Murren is WAY up on the Mt. opposite Wengen and I believe a little more difficult to get to....funicular perhaps.
We spent a night in Grindelwald and it to is interesting, but a little more "commercial"...gorgeous view of Jungfrau area etc.
We also stayed a night in Interlaken...a much larger CITY, but a nice change and of course lovely also.(a good place to "regroup", do laundry, walk the streets etc)

JES - welcome back! So, did you get to have any fondue?

That's a good walk from KS to Wengen. Good for you. Any cows out yet? Probably too early. In July they're all over that pathway. Sometimes I wonder how they can stand that noise of the bells every time they move..LOL!

Where else did you go?

Mari5, why do you say a car is useful in the Bernese Oberland? Several of the places mentioned are not reachable by car. And Switzerland has such excellent and well-coordinated public transportation that I think a car is a hindrance rather than a help.

Mimar; a car is Always a nice way to see a country, that's why I said it.......(with a bad knee and foot and sometimes limited walking), and also combined with the good transportation one has in Switzerland.
Just personal thoughts....and in some ways one can see and experience MORE....and still get to "walk the streets" in villages, etc..

Kopp--thank you! I wish I could say it's good to be back:) I could have stayed another month!
Yes, we did get fondue, but we didn't have it until we got to Luzern. It was so expensive in Wengen and the Oberland! 50 chf per person! Compared to 29chf in Luzern and Zurich.
In Wengen, we had a fabulous meal at our hotel--a veal roast. We stayed at Hotel Schonegg and ate outdoors with a view to the mountains. So great.
We did see (and hear) the cows on our hike which was one of the highlights of our time there. It was so incredible with the sound of the bells and the views. But those poor cows! I guess they get used to it b/c they didn't seem to mind.
The rest of our trip, we stayed in Luzern and I had a reunion with my friends in Zurich who I hadn't seen for 15 years. I even saw my ex-boyfriend (with both of our spouces). It was very emotional seeing everyone but so incredible.
I had travelled in my early 20's and met all these people and esentially lived in Zurich for a few months. They are very dear to me and I only regret not spending more time with them while there. But we will be planning a ski trip with them in the next year or so which I'm really looking forward to.
We ate outdoors on a hilltop in Zurich that served Raclette and Fondue. It was one of the best nights I've ever had.

In terms of car vs. train. After driving everywhere in France, it was so great to be on the train for Switzerland. I think so much easier than car--especially b/c the train system is so good. Only caveat--it is expensive and hot--little air conditioning on the trains.
We did see a couple in Wengen who said it took them forever to drive there b/c there was so much construction and our Swiss friends confirmed in the summer there is always a lot of construction.
I think with bad knees, etc, the train is a better option b/c you can move around BUT--it depends where you go and how much luggage you have. Going from Zurich to Wengen was difficult b/c of all the transfers.
Definitely a personal and situational decision.

Whoa - 50 chf per person for fondue? That sounds like a price for 2 as I usually think of it being like 25 pp. Amazing!

Seems kind of kinky vacationing with the ex. Good that you can put "all that" behind you and just be friends!

I know--it was ridiculous when you think about the fact that it's cheese and bread! You also have to watch out for the hotels being per person--I thought they were reasonable until I realized. I had never stayed in a hotel in Switzerland before so never realized.

Yes, it was strange seeing my ex. I hadn't planned on it, but he arranged it through another friend there.
I didn't think I wanted to go there, but it ended up being really nice. And it was fun b/c I had learned German in the meantime which he got a real kick out of.
They want to visit us now in the US. I don't think I could be best buds (not healthy) but it was definitely a good thing to get beyond the break up! And it was such a special time in my life. My husband was a great sport.

JES, please, please tell me that CHF50 cheese fondue included other things than only cheese fondue, starter, c.fondue, dessert or you just drank lots of white wine. Or as Kopp said CHF50 only for cheese fondue is just impossible !

We didn't do it for that price, but it was CHF49 per person and didn't appear to come with any dessert, wine, etc.

In Luzern we payed CHF32 to get one with cheese, one small sausage, a little bit of rosli and bread. We found this a bargain after Wengen--also b/c it came with more than just bread. We did not have to order it pp here, so I got this and my hubby something else.
They said we could share on order for CHF 6 here--which we did not ask in Wengen so I don't know if they would have allowed that.

Just spoke to my husband, he remembers it being 49 at one place but in the 30's at others for cheese and then 55 to 59 (per person!) for bourguignon fondue.
So a little more reasonable for the cheese at some places--but not much. I'm sure it's a special price for tourists. When we asked a local where the best fondue was, she said they usually don't eat it out b/c they make it at home all the time.

JES: re;car vs. train....both are wonderful in Switzerland.
But , I'm glad for your last sentence of your one post where you stated "definitely a personal situational decision"

(I was just about to write that you didn't know what you were talking about._
NO WAY is the train better for "bad knees" or any handicap. Lots of walking after arriving in a station etc etc. Can see so much more from a car (in most places), and experience the true feeling of a country and it's people. However many people don't feel comfortable driving (and they shouldn't!) Some can't navigate or read a map ,and get frustrated, and the car is not for them.
BOTH WAYS are lots of fun....it's ALL traveling and again, to each his own!!!
(We always travel in LATE FALL and EARLY SPRING, and don't usually have a car/road/ hwy problem)
You have named 4 lovely towns...all interesting in their own way. (I'll bet you picked Wengen! Let us know!)

Mari,
You are definitely right and in the Spring and Fall I'm sure driving is a much different experience than the summer!
We came to Switzerland after driving in France and were relieved not to have to navigate, get stuck in traffic, etc... But driving does give you more freedom to explore areas you can't get to by train. I have been lucky to have locals drive to those areas while I train to others.
I wanted my husband to get a feel for the European train system also since it is so much better than our local train into Manhattan. The Swiss have a new high tech train he was really amazed by--very cool, all automated, fast, incredibly quiet and smooth. It was very star trekish.
Yes, we did stay in Wengen, but spent a day (lunch) in Grindelwald. My hubby liked it so much he wants to go back to ski in the winter. With skiis and more luggage, we will definitely take a car instead of a train because of the connections.

Hi JES,

nononononono . . . no!

No need to rent a car when you return to Switzerland to ski. I'm always amazed when folks say a car offers more freedom -- when (in Switzerland, as you know) many places are just not accessible by car. Sure, you may have to actually walk a bit and carry your own stuff a bit, but hopefully we can survive that ordeal : )))

I'm even more amazed when people think they're meeting more Swiss people by taking an auto -- on a train, you're face to face with the folks, often sharing a picnic. On the train, I see & meet businessmen, matrons going shopping, young mothers with strollers, gaggles of school kids coming home from school, etc. Taking a car, all you see is gas station attendants, shopkeepers, and hotel/apartment workers.

When you ski in Switzerland, rent your skis & boots locally. You'll be riding on the newest equipment and you won't have to lug your stuff around. You can always ship your stuff from your US airport to your Swiss destination using the SBB's Fly Rail luggage service.

No need, really, to rent a car.

However, if you're from the US and you're just used to having a car . . . well, there's no way I'm going to convince you I guess.

s

Very good idea to rent the equipment. I did that years ago and it worked out great.
If I ski with my swiss friends we will probably meet them in Zurich and go together so we may end up taking their car.

Cars are great when:
1. You want to explore/visit Switzerland's tiny towns in the mountains or countryside.
2. You want to experience the "driving over the passes" feeling. For this I'd rent a convertible.
3. You're staying in a place too far to walk to a train station or bus stop.

Otherwise, take the train.