jmw44

How did I miss this thread?! Thanks, Liesel. First, Isabel, you will find that there are so many daytrips possible from Interlaken that your head will spin. Not only can you use the boats on Thunersee to visit the three places you listed, but the town of Brienz (try to go early or late to avoid tour buses) and the outdoor museum at Ballenberg, and train daytrips are possible to Bern and Lucerne and even Solothurn. You probably should allow more than one day for the mountain villages. Interlaken really is a good location. However, I can't tell you a thing about its own charms. I'm sure there will be nooks and crannies that you will discover and can share with us.

Now, Liesel, back to your poll: Two lakeside favorites -- the Lavaux region along Lac Leman (I stay in Rivaz) and Gerra-Gambarogno on Lago Maggiore. Be still my heart. Thanks for asking. J.

jmw44

p.s. If I may disagree with Bob, the real Switzerland is the remarkable contrast and marriage of its various regions -- the Vaud, Ticino, the Oberland, Appenzellerland, the Engadine, -- languages, customs, architecture, cuisine -- just to name a few. J.

richardsonsnm

My favorite place is Baur au Lac Hotel in Zurich, without a doubt the finest bedding and bathrooms in Europe IMO. I great place to stop for a couple of days and eat well and sleep even better.

sunstar

Berner Oberland is one of my favorite places. I like all of the Jungrau villages and the areas nearby such as Meirigen.

My favorite hike is the North face of the Eiger hike. I start that in Alpligen and walk up the trail. I start early as I can and pretty much take my time as I stop to take in the views, do me some lunch and pretty much enjoy the hike and the day.

I usually tell novice travelers to the area to do the North face Eiger walk in reverse from the way I do it, but either way a person does this magnificent hike, good walking boots are essential for this hike.

I then walk back down to Kleine Scheidegg or walk back to the Wengenbahn station. The views of the mountain as you walk back down to Wengerbahn station are great, but those hiking sticks sure come in handy going back down. coming back down can be hard on the knees.

I have done that hike or variation of that hike many times and I always enjoy that.

Another favorite place of mine is Saas Fee. The hiking is good there, but in my opinion probably not as novice friendly, although you can certainly find some good walks there. I always enjoy crossing the Saasental valley for the hikes above Saas Allmagel and saas Grund. The hike up to the hut (Weissmuis hutteSP?) is fun.

For a safe, but nice workout, I enjoy the walk up to the Hannig area.

I like Lucerne just because of the quaint old town appeal of Lucerne. One of the most pleasant hikes I ever did was close by to Lucerne. I took the train over to Engleberg. I saw the top of that area with all the craggy appearance of MT Titlis area. One day while on that trip, it was like 80 humid degrees down in the lower village, but at the top of Titlis was cold. Bring a jacket on that excursion.

From there I went back to the Trubsee cable station and caught the cable or ski type chair down to Englesee <SP>. Walked past several lakes and excellent scenery. After a walk of a couple of hours, caught the post bus down to the Sarnen train station where I caught the train to Lucerne.

So Lucerne is a nice area also. Plenty to do there.

Anyway, Good Lord willing, will be back in this area late August. Will pop over to Saas Fee for a few days.

Nicol

My favorite place is the sunny balcony of room 317 at the Hof Maran in Arosa. Drinking hot tea, eating chocolates, watching rainbow coloured hot air baloons balanced on the mountain top opposite, hearing the merry jingle of sleigh bells as another horse drawn sleigh full of happy travellers passes beneath the balcony. Is there time for a 3 km toboggan run into the town through the pine forest, past the half frozen sparking streams before the 5 course dinner with smoked salmon buffet? If not perhaps a short run around the cross country slope passing beside the hotel? No, the sun is going down, setting the mountain tops on fire as the full moon rises. I guess it is time for a glass of wine downstairs by the log fire.

Corgwyn

Isabel,

By all means, spend a day taking a steamer from Interlaken West to Thun. If you can, catch the Blumsalp, or the Dragonboat. Dpend some time in Thun,two castles, the Aare river, and a beautiful Promonaid. Also, taking a steamer on the Brienzersee from near Interlaken Ost to Giessbach Falls, and the short furnicular up to the Grand Hotel is time well spent. Have food and beverage on the terras and enjoy the view. If you don't mind getting a little wet, you can actually go behind the Falls. For anyone interested is Swiss Folklore, a trip to Ballenberg is a must. Also, if you are there on a Friday night, the trip up to Harder Kuln to enjoy the food and music is worth the money and more. The Tell Sphiel is also a hoot, even if you don't understand Germay. You will find 5 days not nearly enough to do all the things in and around Interlaken.

Though the Lauterbrunnen area is my favorite, Celigny, a liittle village between Coppet and Nyon on Lac Lemon is a gem for those who enjoy quiet rural settings. It is a peaceful, graceful rural area. Richard Burton and Alistair McClain are buried there. Try the Hotel du Soleil, a real budget gem.

JN

When we were 25 we took our honeymoon traveling across Europe. We wanted our last stop before flying home to be a place where it had great scenery, was on a lake and could be relaxing. When we exited the Luzern train station and looked across the Reuss and Lake, something just clicked--we knew we had our place. For me, the views, food, relative quiet and yet interesting things to do if one wishes, makes Luzern my favorite. Weather and other issues have prevented us from going up into the BO, which so many of you describe so amazingly. Until we finally go there, however, I'll take Luzern.

simpsonc510

Lucerne (Have stayed in a number of places but favorite is the Grand National Hotel) Favorite restaurant is La Fenice in the old part of town.

Lago Maggiore (Hotel La Palma Au Lac in Locarno... we try to go there as often as possible) We love to eat pizza and chianti along the lakefront.

Interlaken.. have stayed in a couple of places, but there is a very quaint Best Western at the eastern end, by the eastern train station... we had a room along the small river channel there and could sit on our balcony and hear the cowbells on the grassy hillside just across the stream.. delightful!) Can't think of any favorite restaurants in Interlaken at this time.

Zurich... the Bahnhofstrasse!!! We usually stay at either the Glockenhof or the Seidenhof, both are just a few steps from the great shopping and trams of the Bahnhofstrasse. We also like to walk to the old city and dine at Santa Lucia restaurant. If you like vegetarian, try Hiltl. A truly amazing assortment of dishes! I'm not a vegetarian but I do like this restaurant. It is just beyond the Bahnhofstrasse, behind the St Annahof department store.

Switzerland is my favorite country in Europe, with Italy a close second. Hubby is on his way there (alone.. drat) in a couple of weeks. Wish I had the time to go again, but just can't fit it into the schedule at this time.

rrruuunnn

I went to Zurich, Bern, Lugano, Interlaken, and Bellinzona. Interlaken and Grindelwald was the most scenic. Switzerland is most beautiful outside the big cities. The only downside to Interlaken is high percentage of tourist, very small town though. It is not like being in France. Grindelwald a small town within a valley in the mountains. Don't just stay in the big cities, you will miss the view. By the way, I went to Italy and France too. I liked Switzerland better for the countryside.

mr_go

I'm glad this thread was resurrected. Here is another place I'd like to share:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/...36129249YHcHHY

It is on the trail from Grutschalp to Murren, right on the edge of the valley. Took my breath away.

FainaAgain

Any place selling ice-cream is my favorite in Switzerland

If seriously, there are so many places, from large cities to small villages, I wouldn't be able to choose only 1 or 2 or 3 favorite!

katzen

Any lovers of Appenzell or Heidiland out there?

jmw44

Yes, indeed. I visited Appenzell while staying in Rapperswil for a week many years ago. I remember the gentle rolling landscape and the village architecture, and the cows. I've never met a Swiss canton I didn't like. J.