My wife and I will be travelling to Europe this summer. After some research, we have chosen southern Switzerland as a two day break between Rome and Paris. The Bernese Oberland region, specifically Muerren and Wengen seem appealling. However, are those the two most conveniant locations to lodge? We will be arriving early one morning and depart the following evening. What would you recommend? Thank you for your assistance.

I was in Lauterbrunnen for a week last summer. I considered Murren and Wengen, but opted for Lauterbrunnen because it was easy to reach by train from Interlaken Ost. Neither Murren nor Wengen can be reached by car. To get to Wengen, you take the BOB train from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen and change to another type of train to make it up the steep grade. To reach Murren, you get off the train in Lauterbrunnen, take the cable-pulled lift to Grutschalp, then get on the trainlet to Murren. Neither destination, in my opinion, is easy to reach. However, the views from both villages are exceptional. They are perched up on the side of a valley with fantastic views of the Berner Oberland chain, particularly the Moench, Eiger, and Jungfrau. I don't think you can see the north face of the Eiger too well from Murren. But the Jungfrau is in full glory, when the sun is shining. Why not go to Grindelwald? Or stay in Lauterbrunnen and take the public conveyences up to either Murren or Wengen. You will be able to get out much more quickly the following morning. The first train to Interlaken Ost leaves before 7 AM, if I recall correctly. We usually jumped on the 7:26 for wherever. Bern, Luzern, Grindelwald, Kandersteg, Interlaken, etc. <BR>Too bad you are short-changing your self by having so little time there. I love the place and plan on going back in September. <BR> <BR>I assumed you are taking the train. But if you are taking a car, there is a big car park in Lauterbrunnen.

I agree with Bob that Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald may be the most convenient for two days. Look at the hikes and things you want to see there, and then choose which one is the best situated. They are on opposite sides of a mountain ridge. Grindelwald is closer for the Jungfrau and the hikes around First. However, Lauterbrunnen is good for the Gimmelwald/Murren and Schilthorn area. Plus the Lauterbrunnen Valley is an easy and beautiful walk in itself. I would pick Wengen personally after having been to all these places though. It is not really that much worse for train service than Lauterbrunnen, but the views are even better. I think both are less touristy than Grindelwald or Murren.

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Dan is absolutely right about First. The walks from the First gondola station well up above Grindelwald are great. <BR>We walked to the Faulhorn Hotel and loved every second of it. The ride itself on the gondola is incredible. The walk after you get to the First station is lovely icing on an already bountiful cake. <BR> <BR>From Lauterbrunnen, it is easy to take the trip to the Junfraujoch. The train leaves from Lauterbrunnen. Passengers coming up from Interlaken have to change in Lauterbrunnen. So if you leave Lauterbrunnen early you can get a jump on the crowds. The train goes up the valley side via Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg, where you have to change trains for the final leg of the trip. <BR>From Lauterbrunnen you can also get to Murren for the ride up to the top of the Schilthorn. <BR> <BR>The Jungfrau trip can also be made from Grindelwald. So trains actually approach Kleine Scheidegg from two directions: Grindelwald and Kleine Scheidegg. <BR> <BR>Lauterbrunnen is crowded by day, but there are relatively few hotels in the village, so it clears out by dark. <BR>As stated earlier, I chose it for several reasons -- one of which was its central position in the transportation grid. <BR>

We were in Murren in 1997 and stayed at the Alpenruh. The view is fantastic from anywhere in the town and in August the town was not as crowed as some of the other locations. Hiking was wonderful and breakfast at the revolving restaurant on top the Schlithorn was fantastic (its owned by the same people that own the Alpenruh, at least it was then). It was by far my favorite site on our trip.

A pity to have such a short time, but make the most of it! Stay up in Muerren where you'll find spectacular views and the best value excursion in the Oberland to the Schilthorn. <BR> <BR>Suggesetions for a short visit at http://twenj.com/swissoneday.htm <BR> <BR>Ed

We stayed up in Wengen for a couple of nights and thought it was heaven. We easily made the train connections up. We just had wheeled bags to pull to our hotel (seems like it was the Baren). It had a great view. You can also take the cable car up from there and hike around and back to Wengen to see the Eiger. It was much quieter than in the valley (so fewer stores and restaurants). I thought Grindelwald was way too crowded and noisy with tourists. The cable car and hike above First (again, we walked down, but there were wildflowers to see in June) were great.

Hi Randy. In summary, just pick one of the places mentioned above and go! <BR>You cannot really go wrong because everything is worth seeing. People have indicated their preferences, but as you have read, there is a lot to see and a lot to do. Go and have a great time! And stop in a bakery and get two or three or four pastries for me. (Eat them soon so they don't spoil, and I will do the same for you in September!! ) <BR>Hopefully you will soon be able to return and enjoy what you missed the first time. If you stay in Lauterbrunnen, the Silberthorn Hotel had the best food. <BR>