In early November, my BF and I will be arriving in Zurich on a Saturday morning, and I have to be in Basel for business on Sunday night. I travel periodically to Basel for work and on this trip we will be there for 2 nights, so we don't want to spend the weekend there. After Basel, I'll be in Zurich for 2 nights, so don't care to spend the weekend there either.

So, as the subject suggests, I'm looking for suggestions for somewhere pleasant - but not too far by train from Zurich or Basel - to spend Saturday night. I was thinking Interlaken as I haven't yet been there and a spa sounds nice for jet lag...but am concerned that many places may be closed. I've not yet seen much of Switzerland, aside from Basel, Zurich, and Montreux. We just want to relax, hopefully see some pleasant scenery on the train journey, and visit a nice town. Thanks in advance for any ideas!

We used Interlaken as a stop in between two night trains (Barcelona to Bern and Spiez to Roma). We visited the Jungfraujoch during the day and Interlaken at night. I would recommend to stay in Interlaken or on higher ground ..........

Bern, Thun, Spiez, or even Lugano are all possibilities (if you get in early on Saturday). The train ride from Zurich to Lugano is pretty (ditto for the ride from Lugano to Basel), although it is three hours long each way. Nice hotel options in Lugano as well...if you want inexpensive, the Albergo Pestalozzi is a good choice--easy on the budget, great views of the lake.

Bern is pretty for strolling the arcaded streets; I also like its art museum.

edcblue: when you say 'or on higher ground' do you mean higher in the mountains? (or is that a reference to the flooding they are dealing with now?) Any specific towns you would recommend that won't be fully closed down the 1st wkd of Nov?

BTilke: we are getting in late morning on Saturday, so I guess our preference in train rides is 2 hours or less. I'll have to check on the distance to Bern. I don't know Thun or Spiez, can you tell me a bit more?

As you are finding, November is not a great month in the mountain areas, as it is too early for skiing and too late for fall walking. Lots of hotels are closed. It is often rainy and foggy in the mountain areas (and actually in most of Switzerland). You may also find that cable cars and cog wheel trains may be closed for annual servicing, if you are considering a trip up to the Alp areas (esp the Jungfrau area around Interlaken), please check this first, as I would hate to see you do all this planning and then get to your destination only to find that the cable car or train to the mountan top is not running.

If you can fly into Geneva rather than Zurich, I would recommend doing that and then taking train for an hour down the lake to Vevey/Lausanne/Montreux for the two days. You can get to Basel from any of the towns mentioned in 2-3 hours (Lausanne would be the most central place for train connections). This area is such a beautiful part of Switzerland, even for just a night you can appreciate it. I can recco some hotels in the area, including two with spas.

Much as I love the Bernese Oberland, for one night in November IMO is it not worth the time and effort it would take to get there, and the weather most likely will not cooperate and I think you are better off going to other areas.

If you can't fly into Geneva, then closer to Zurich Stein am Rein would be my first thought, a charming little town on the river with many painted buildings in the old town; if it is a nice day on Saturday or Sunday you can take a boat ride on the river. You could also go to Schauffuasen, about 20 minutes by train, to see the famous falls. Can't recco hotels, but try some of the sites below. The town is about an hour by train from Zurich, and about 2 hours by train from Basel.

St Gallen which has a lovely old town area with a cathedral and a famous library. You can also go to Lake Constance from there. The town is about an hour by train from Zurich and 2 to 2.5 from Basel. Can't recco hotels.

If you really want to go to the Alp areas and don't mind a longer train ride, while I don't like Interlaken as it is quite charmless, and it is in the "wrong" direction for Basel, it may be a choice for you if you can splurge and stay at the Victorian Jungfrau & Grand Hotel & Spa which has an excellent spa. If you luck out and get a clear day on Saturday or Sunday, you could get up to Wengen or Murren in about an hour and spend some time in the mountains. Keep in mind that the train trip from Zurich Airport to Interlaken is going to take 2.5 hours, and then the trip to Bern is going to take about 2 hours.

Thun and Speiz are smaller more charming towns on the lakes near to Interlaken (get a map of Switzerland) that would take about 1.5 hours by train from Zurich and Basel. The only drawback here is that in November the ferries aren't running, which IMO is the main reason for going to these towns, which is to take long ferry rides down the huge lakes with the mountains in the background. However, again if you luck out with the weather they could be pleasant and would have beautiful mountain views and you could get up into the mountains if you want. Thun has a nice castle and a smallish but nice old town area. Can't recco hotels there, you may also find that many are closed in November.

Lucerne would be a possibility, it is also in the wrong directly, but is closer than Interlaken, and has some things to do if the weather turns bad. There is a great hotel up above the town with a spa, the Park Hotel Burgenstock on the mountaintop, it has great views. You would need to take another train up to it as it is in Burgenstock, which is above Lucerne. The Lucerne Palace is also a very good hotel in town. Both are fairly expensive. Take a look at lhw.com for details on both. From Zurich airport you can get to Lucerne in about an hour, and Basel is about 1 to 1.5 hours from Lucerne.

Lugano is a pretty ride and a lovely town, but IMO is a very long trip for one night (3 hours from Zurich to Lugano, and about 3.4 to 4 hours from Lugano to Basel), and there is a good chance that it will be foggy for most of the ride. I would save Lugano

karenbrownguides.com
alpineclassics.ch
relaischateaux.com
romantikhotels.ch
www.swisshotels.ch (I think this is in German and French only)

Also look at tripadvisor.com which ranks hotels based on reviews.

English website for Swiss rail is rail.ch. Put in Zurich airport to get exact time and schedule for trains from the airport train station.

These are three wellness hotels not too far away from Basel:

Atrium Hotel Blume
Kurplatz 4
5400 Baden

Kurhotel
Quellenstrasse 31
5330 Zurzach

Limmathof Novum Spa
Limmatpromenade 28
5400 Baden

Hello again,

So we are leaving on Friday and still haven't booked...but have narrowed down our choice to Lucerne, based in part also on advice of my Swiss colleagues. We will also have 2 nights there, rather than just 1 (don't have to be in Basel until Monday now).

Any thoughts on hotels in/near Lucerne? Would either like a hip place with some amenities downtown or more resort-style accomodations outside of town. Don't want to break the bank but am not looking for a hostel either ($100-200/nt range good) - Hotel Schiller is the lead candidate at the present time.

Also, I appreciate any advice on activities! We will have a rental car.

Thanks for the advice so far...and thanks in advance for any more you can give!

Hi again:

Just to close the loop, we did stay in Lucerne, and at the Hotel Schiller - I don't recommend it and have reviewed it on tripadvisor accordingly (mine is currently the only review for it!).

We had beautiful weather! Saturday, we arrived in Lucerne around 1, and toured around the Vierwaldstattersee (sp?)...then walked around town and had a nice dinner at the Rathaus Brauerei and drinks at the hotel bar. Sunday, we drove to Interlaken then up to Lauterbrunnen and took the cable cars up to the Schillthorn - perfectly clear day, and a nice afternoon. Monday, we drove up to Basel.

Thanks again for your advice...I am sure it will also be useful for future trips!

Separately on this trip (which for me just ended yesterday), I also spent time in Uetliberg (Hotel Uto Kulm - highly recommended!) and the view from there is just tremendous. Also hiked Mt. Rigi, which also provided incredible views.