Pegontheroad

I know I'm being gormless, but as I look at my travel map for Germany, Switzerland, and Austria (and maybe a bit of northern Italy), I can't seem to decide which towns to visit. So many of the towns are so close together that it's hard for me to separate them, and various of you Fodorites have suggested interesting-sounding places to see.

I plan on making the the trip in late August and will stay for 3 or 4 weeks. I don't hike, but I do like to walk, explore the towns, admire the architecture, drink coffee in sidewalk cafes, window shop, and just take in the ambiance.

I'm not crazy about art museums, as it seems as if I've visited most of the famous museums in the western world over the past 50 years, but I do like those that show something of life in past times--the Limes museum in Aalen, the Wohnmuseum in Stein am Rhein, or the prehistoric village recreation in the Otztal.

I'll definitely spend several days in Garmisch. I've been there a couple of times in the past, but it's the kind of town that I like. Also Innsbruck. I'm not sure about Berchtesgaden, but I'm considering it.

I'll also want to take a train like the Glacier Express or the Bernina Express, but I'll need to look at particulars before I decide.

Any suggestions for an itinerary?

PalenQ

Ballenberg Open-Air Museum overlooking Lake Brienz near Interlaken shows tradtional Swiss life of say 100 years ago - an open-air museums of tradtional crafts, etc.

I'd try to take the Bernina Express if I had to chose it over the Glacier Express a train that I consider to be rather overhyped - lot better more dramatic scenery on the Bernina Express route even though it is in a remote part of Switzerland but the St Moritz area has a lot of to offer for a few days as well.

If going by train you may want to investigate the Eurail Select Pass good in 3-5 countries of your choosing - it's only for fierst class if you're over 26 and I believe you, like me maybe can't even remember when we were 26! and first class has many benefits - all in all a much more relaxing ride with usually lots of empty seats - the pass in all your countries lets you hop on just about any train amnytime (except official Bernina, Glacier Expresses which require a seat reservation and supplement with the pass.

Great sources of info on trains in those countries - www.budgeteuropetravel.com (check out the Italy section of their superb and free online European Planning & Rail Guide for a good description of the Bernina Express, a novel way to Italy from Switzerland but you need not go that far - just go up to the summit station and the glacier lake you can walk around to to get to a glacier, etc; and www.swisstravelsystem.com (links to official sites of Bernina and Glacer Expresses); www.seat61.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Dukey1

If you decide to do the Bernina that could be ONE way to tie in northern Italy, at least Lombardy with Switzerland. As spectacular as the scenery is I would use it to get from A to B and not do it in both directions.

kja

The Latenium near Neuchatel is an excellent museum of prehistory - not just for its collection, but also for its design and use of both inner and outer space.

swandav2000

Hi Pegontheroad,

I agree with Pal that the Glacier Express is over-rated. The year I took it, I first spent some days in Scuol, and the trip from Garmisch to Scuol through the Tyrolian Alps was at least as beautiful as the GE. After taking both trips within a few days of each other, I was surprised that the Austrians don't market that trip as a "scenic train" as the Swiss do.

I also agree that the Bernina Express is one of the most stunning of all the Swiss scenic trips because of the vast diversity it rolls through -- glacier highs. watersheds, and lush green valleys. It's also just amazing to leave an Alpine town and the two hours later be having lunch in what feels and looks like Italy. Because the best part of the BE is only two hours long, it's reasonable to do it and then return.

I guess my suggestion would be to fly into München and hang around Garmisch, then go through the Tyrolian Alps for a few days, and end up in the magnificent Engadin Valley in Switzerland (either Lower Engadin around Scuol or Upper Engadin in the neighborhood of St. Moritz). Then go to Zürich to fly home.

Have fun as you plan!

s

neckervd

What about
Garmisch/Wieskirche/Linderhof - Ehrwald - Nassereith - Imst - Landeck - Nauders - Scuol - St. Moritz - Bernina - Tirano - Colico - Lake Como boat - Como - Citybus - Chiasso - Swissminiatur - Lugano - Bellinzona castles - Locarno - Centovalli - Domodossola - Simplon Pass post car - Brig castle - Riederalp/Aletsch Glacier - Realp - Furka steam train - Grimselpass - Gelmersee cableway - Aar Gorge - Ballenberg Open Air Museum - Brienzer Rothorn steam train - Soerenberg - Lucerne Glacier Garden - Zurich?