Hi there!

My husband and I (both 30) are planning a trip to Switzerland this summer. WE have not bought our plane tickets yet so we have an option of flying into Zurich and leaving from Geneva if that makes sense for our trip.

We will be flying into Zurich.

Based on some research we have done, we would like to visit the following areas:

- Luzern
- Bern
- Bernese Oberland
- Possibly Appenzell??

Since we are flying into Zurich, is spending a one night there enough or should we spend more time in the city? WE are not really museum goers, etc but do like the charm of an old town...

We fell in love with Switzerland for its amazing nature and beautiful scenery (lakes, mountains, etc). So the goal of this trip would be mostly to see that , explore the nature, do some hiking (if doable? ) do some boat rides and just simply take all the natural beauty Switzerland has to offer. We do enjoy dining out , so staying next to good restaurant options is a plus.

We are not sure which part should we use as a home-base to stay in the hotel... When i envision staying in Switzerland, i think of a hotel that is surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges with a view of the lake but also has dining options nearby that it wont take 2 hours to get to.

Does it make sense to split the hotel stay between Bernese Oberland and Luzern or stay in a one place over another. We plan on staying at least 1 if not 2 nights in Zurich.

I would appreciate any advice and info very much!!!

Thank you!!

Yes split the time between them as they both offer a lot of stuff in their immediate vicinity -lovely lake rides on Lake Lucerne and then take the scenic Brunig Pass railway (part of the Golden Pass scenic train route) to Interlaken-Ost station and head for the hills - Wengen and Grindelwald are perpetual favorites as bases.

Trains are great all over - check www.swisstravelsystem.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.comfor lots of great info on Swiss trains in those areas and lake boats,etc. Check into the Swiss Pass - valid on trains, postal buses, city transports and lake boats and free entry to hundreds of museums like many in Lucerne.

I'd spend a few days in Lucerne and more in the Jungfrau Region where there is so so many varied things to see and do. On the not unusual wet weather day day trip to Bern - a day is enough there and you'll have much more dreamy views from hotels in Lucerne or the Berner Oberland (Jungfrau Region).

How much time do you have? Appenzell is nice but if time is short I'd concentrate on the Lucerne-Interlaken area.

~~~~~~~We are not sure which part should we use as a home-base to stay in the hotel... When i envision staying in Switzerland, i think of a hotel that is surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges with a view of the lake but also has dining options nearby that it wont take 2 hours to get to.~~~~~~~

It almost sounds to me like you are describing Lake Brienz, a lake surrounded by mountains not too far from Interlaken. I loved that region and Jungfraujoch.

Are you staying in Zurich because you have specific reasons or are you staying in Zurich because you thought there is an unwritten rule that you must stay in the city your plane lands?

"WE are not really museum goers"

Then skip Zurich. The old city of Zurich isn't bad, but there are much nicer one's all over Switzerland.
Go directly from ZRH airport to Lucerne (trains every 30 min), stay there as long as you like and continue then via Brunig Pass to the Bernese Oberland.

There are tons of hotels at the shore of a lake (or a bit above it) and with views to the Alps. Decide whether you want to stay at a local railway hub with tons of possibilities for day trips all over Western resp Southern Switzerland (Thun-Hunibach-Hilterfingen-Oberhofen, Spiez-Faulensee, Interlaken, Lucerne city) or at rather isolated places (Giessbach, Brienz, Gunten, Sigriswil, Hertenstein, Vitznau, Weggis, Seelisberg).

Staying in Brienz, Vitznau (or Lucerne) and Pontresina/ St. Moritz/Sils might indeed fit your needs.

Although taking the train is a perfectly fine and relaxing way to get to Switzerland's main sights, for the ultimate luxury kick in Switzerland, there's nothing more breathtaking than driving the alps in a convertible and stopping in places at a whim.

Only if the weather is divine, of course.

there's nothing more breathtaking than driving the alps in a convertible and stopping in places at a whim.>

but if going to the two most famous areas - Jungfrau and Zermatt you cannot drive into the Alps there but must garage your car and take public transit.

Unless you want to see the museums I would not bother with Zurich which is primarily a business city. Yes, there is a cute old town - as there is in any city in Swtizerland. But not easy access to the major mountains as you get in Lucerne or the Berner Oberland.

1 night enough for Zurich - and a day there before your flight - check out the old town center and boat rides on Lake Zurich and walks along the lakeside esplanades.

Parts of Interlaken are cute areas on the tip of Lake Brienz - that may be what you want too - see the Alps in the distance arising from the lake and be right near a train station with trains everywhere.