If you had to choose between Interlaken or Lauterbrunnen, which would you choose as a home base for several days? I plan on spending some time in Murren as well. Thanks for the help

Do a search. This subject has been beaten to death.<BR>I do have one question. What are your trip objectives?<BR>That might help you answer your own question.<BR>

When you say "Interlaken," you inherently include the little villages around there. One such really neat little town, right on the lake with many old half-timbered houses, is Bonigen (with umlaut over the "o"). Hotel Seiler is a good hotel overlooking the lake.<BR><BR>Interlaken makes a pretty good home base for both auto and train travel, because you can get into and out of the city pretty easily. <BR>Depending on where else you want to go besides Murren, Lauterbrunnen is not handy because you have only one way in and out. But Lauterbrunnen is great for getting up into the mountains, hiking, and enjoying the overall mountain experience---and there are several nice hotels and restaurants. Plus it's close to Murren. <BR><BR>So you really have two good choices, but I would add that if you are going in the middle of winter, you might want to stay in Interlaken because you might get really "snowed in" in Lauterbrunnen for a day here or there.

Neither.<BR><BR>Interlaken is one of the country's preeminent tourist havens, bar some. Lauterbrunnen could be fine in good weather, but is otherwise a rather dim hole in a steep-walled valley with a surprising amount of traffic when that fine weather does roll in. Damned if you do and damned if you don't.<BR><BR>If I had time to spend in that valley and wanted to express my specialness, I would go to Gimmelwald. Yes, in doing so, you are committing to one side of the valley. However, you are well placed to explore that side while staying in a village that has not gone the way of most in this country over the last hundred years. The location is great for Muerren and the Schilthorn. There are many very fine walks and hikes. The ride down to Stechelberg (and from there by foot or bus to Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, and the Jungfraujoch) is quick. And you will very much have a sense of where you are.<BR><BR>E-mail me if you want addresses.<BR><BR>I am not affiliated with Gimmelwald or tourism in any way; just like my country.

Marilynn-<BR> We spent a week in Murren last Sept. I would definitely not spend my time in Gimmelwald. You can walk there from Murren, but there is essentially no there there. Lauterbrunnen would be o.k. if you wish to explore both sides of the valley but we loved Murren (and went to Wengen one day.) Have a great time. Carol

Hi Marilynn,<BR><BR> I would choose Lauterbrunnen over Interlaken, but I would choose Wengen over both. Wengen is such a beautiful place and there are several nice hotels there. You can look over Lauterbrunnen and hike down easily. It only takes a few minutes on the train if you want to get down the mountain to get to Lauterbrunnen. The pass for the train is somewhat pricey, but well worth it if your planning to spend several days.<BR><BR> Jeff

I don't agree that Lauterbrunnen is a dim hole. I will be there soon for my 4th week, and I enjoy staying there for a week at a time. I rent the same apartment and have a view of the M&auml;nnlichen Ridge out of one window and I can see the snow capped Jungfrau out of the other window. <BR>I think the big advantage of Lauterbrunnen is that it is a transportation center. Trains to Wengen and M&uuml;rren are at hand.<BR>(I know, M&uuml;rren is reached by a cable car that leads to a little train that runs along the shelf of the valley.)<BR><BR>I have not felt the need to change my location because I can go most anywhere in the area with ease from Lauterbrunnen.<BR>Grindelwald is a 34 minute train ride (best connection) during the day, with the last good connection from Grindelwald to Lauterbrunnen being about 6:20 in the afternoon.<BR>Interlaken is also a 20 minute ride down the rail line.<BR>On the days I have a car, it is easy to get to Interlaken and head either east or west to other destinations.<BR>So I think it all depends on what you want to do with your time in the mountains.<BR>

I would compare staying in Interlaken to see the Alps to staying in Denver to see the Rockies. Do you really want to spend time communing with nature, hiking and enjoying the scenery? I think Interlaken is where travel agents want you to stay because they can't book accomodations in the other places. <BR><BR>We stayed in Wengen last summer and it was glorious. There have been discussions about the pros and cons of there versus Murren and Lauterbrunnen.<BR><BR>If it were me, I would look at those discussions and make my decision based on those comments. I would look at Interlaken as a place to transfer trains or spend an afternoon.

I agree with Bob - Lauterbrunnen is NOT a "hole". My family of 4 (2 adults & 2 kids ages 10 & 7) spent our 4-day Swiss vacation based in Lauterbrunnen. We rented a 2 bedroom apartment and found it to be perfect! The train station was close by, allowing us to travel to Wengen 1 day, Murren another day & Interlaken on our last day. We loved it! Unless you plan to spend all of your day sitting on your balcony you will not notice much traffic in Lauterbrunnen. Things were very quiet in the evenings (except for our elderly neighbors who liked to sit outside and sing old songs to themselves!).

Just a postscript note to my previous message: You said "home base" which suggested that you want to explore from such a location. Those who suggest that you stay in Murren or Wengen are correct in saying those places are lovely, but getting into and out of either is not all that easy. And doing it 2 or 3 days during your stay would become a bit trying. At least in Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen you have the possibility to get away to other places to see pretty quickly.

Thank you very much for all your help - I havn't had any chance to look into it any further yet but I very much appreciate all the info you have given me. Thanks again. Am I right in thinking that the B. Oberland pass is half price if you have a Swiss card ?

With respect to the price of the Berner Oberland Regional Pass purchased with a Swiss Card: The answer is NO it is not, half price, not even close. (Unless 20% is close to 50%.) <BR><BR>I am curious, did someone tell you it was half price? If so tell them for me that they need to check their figures.<BR>They may do so at the following site:<BR><BR>http://www.regiopass-berneroberland.ch/engl/preis.htm<BR><BR>Note that the prices in euros are subject to fluctuation because the Swiss franc is not pegged to the euro.<BR>You pay in Swiss francs.<BR>