We are taking a river cruise May 2025 - we end in Basel Switzerland. Debating if we go to Lake Como or Interlaken for about 2 days after we get off the cruise. Thoughts?

It's really up to you.
If you are looking for a particularly crowded place, there will be no chance in May.
You could consult the weather forecast and decide on the spot, as there willb e no problems to find accommodation in May.
If you fly home from Milan Linate or Milan Bergamo, Varenna etc. may be a good choice. If not, it's a lot of train travel for 2 days only.

BTW: there would be stuff for more than 2 days in and around Basel

If you go out of Milan, Lake Como, or better yet Lake Garda, would be a mellow and beautiful way to end your trip. Interlaken means more activity and crowds and travel and tickets and fares as you will be obliged to go see the many famous mountain peaks and glaciers. It was very crowded in August, not sure in May. Depends on whether you want to wind down or end it with a bang.

Agree that Lake Como is a long way to go for two days. By two days, do you mean three nights?

Some ideas here:

Five-beautiful-Swiss-villages-located-less-than-an-hour-from-Basel.pdf


Saint-Ursanne has been on my list for awhile, but we've yet to fit it in.

I am all team Lake Como, it's amazing there

Thank you! Will look more around Basel.\

I love Lake Como, Interlaken not so much. Skip Interlaken!

If by Interlaken you actually mean the Jungfrau and the various villages and towns, and not Interlaken itself, it is way more spectacular for mountain scenery than Lake Como. Lake Como has the lakes and towns/villages, plus some cable cars with higher views (and roads) but the town of Como iself is less charming. (I lived in Switzerland and would voyage into italy often, to our offices near Bergamo, with many weekends in the Como area)

Sounds like the OP is going to stick around Basel and will check out the villages. There are also interesting places on the German and French side. I assume you will be taking a river cruise though down past many of the villages along the border area. A car may be required to see some of these smaller villages. Driving is easy and the terrain is flat in that part. Don't overlook Bern as well. You can also drive/train past interlaken and go direct to Grindlewald. There will be a lot of snow still in May at the upper elevations.

Thank you!

I haven't been to Interlaken, but I loved Como, especially taking the funicular up the mountain at night to have a drink while my friend and I admired the lights of glittering Como and other nearby towns around the lake.