Does anyone have any suggestions about a great small town-big enough to have at least a few hotels/inns and restaurants-that would serve as a base for hiking in the Alps? It doesn't actually need to be in Switzerland-France, Italy, Solvenia, Austria would be fine too.

To give you an idea of what I'm looking for, I've been to Zermatt and Chamonix and they were bigger, busier and more touristy than I'd like. Murren in the Berner Oberland was perfect, and I may end up there again-I just wonder if there is another place I should know about. Someone on the Lonely Planet board suggested Zernez, and I will check in to that.

I'd highly recommend the Val D'Aosta area of the Italian Alps. Check out Cogne, gateway to Gran Paradiso National Park. We hiked there a few summers ago and it was gorgeous. Plus the whole area is fascinating, with Roman ruins, castles, etc.

http://www.cogne.org/english/index.htm

and I have some photos at:

http://www.jczinn.com/Italy/Italy%20...talyindex.html

I recommend Soglio. I was just there and it is an adorable, totally un-commercial little village in the Bregaglia Valley of Switzerland. It has a couple of little restaurants and is close two two major walking trails, the Via Bregaglia and the Via Panoramico. It has only one hotel--the Palazzo Salis--which I did not stay at but hope to someday. The Swiss Post Busses can get you to neighboring towns should you grow bored of Soglio itself.

Hi christy1,

Well, now you've opened the floodgates! There is no shortage of quaint little towns with world-class hiking in Switzerland!

I spent a week in Zuoz, not far from Zernez, a few years ago. We cycled through Zernez. I think Zuoz is smaller. Anyway, yes, anywhere in the Engadin would be perfect. In addition to Soglio, Zernez, & Zuoz, also look at Guarda. You can start your research at www.engadin.ch. Let us know if you want more information.

In another direction, I think the towns in the Saanenland (also Switzerland) would be perfect. This is the junction where the French pre-alps meets the German Berner Oberland, and it includes such towns as Chateau d'Oex, Saanen, & Gstaad. I spent a few days in Saanen one year and went back for a week in Gstaad. I'm eager to return for more time. The land is softer & rounder than the Oberland (no majestic peaks), but green and sweet. Architecture is brown wood chalet. These are small villages, but because the rich & famous discovered Gstaad in the 1950s, the dining and shopping is truly world class.

Here are links to my "reviews" (w/photos) of the area:

Gruyeres
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR..._Fribourg.html

Saanen
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...wiss_Alps.html

Gstaad
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...wiss_Alps.html

Also look at www.gstaad.ch and www.chateau-doex.ch.

Have fun!

s

In addition to swandav's recommendations I'd suggest Scuol, which is the hub (but still small) town for the Lower Engadin. It is perfect for hiking - about 1'000 km of paths in the vicinity.

Zernez is not bad and is a good hub too, but I think Scuol is more beautiful. And Scuol has a great spa.

www.scuol.ch

Zuoz is of course another option: small, picturesque, not very touristy, good train connections and also some hiking paths starting in town.

Sils or Pontresina would be my choices for the Upper Engadin. A hikers paradise. A bit more tourists than Scuol, but by far not as many as Zermatt or Chamonix.

www.pontresina.com
www.sils.ch
www.bergbahnenengadin.ch

If you prefer the lower mountains for hiking (about 2000 m) then I highly recommend Gstaad and the other villages in the area. Swandav gave you some good links.

I.

Thanks for all the great (and fast) responses! I'll have a lot of fun looking at all the links-it's good to know I have so many choices.

jciznn, your pictures are gorgeous, and they really make a great case for Valle D'Aosta. The ruins and castles would be a big hit with my boyfriend, who points out that we have beautiful mountains here (near Seattle) to hike in, and he'd ideally like a little something "more" than Alps, huts and raclette for our European hiking vacation (I am thoroughly charmed by those things, but I understand his point).

As a great fan of the Italian Dolomites I must add my two bits worth.

Any of the little towns along the 'Great Dolomite Road' between Bolzano and Cortina and beyond is eminently suitable as your sort of base for a wonderful hiking holiday. To name a few from West to East: Welschnofen (Nova Levante), Carezza, Vigo di Fassa, Rosengarten, Campitello, Canazei (my favourite), Arabba, Pieve ...

Best time of year is June through September, and I recommend the Kompass series of maps, of which No. 59 covers the Sella group and the spectacular Marmolada which are accessed from Canazei

Harzer

I am a BIG fan of the Italian Dolomites also! Liked Ortesei/St. Ulrich in Val Gardena and loved the Sieser Alm!!
www.val-gardena.com

I will throw more locations into the mix. Zinal in Switzerland where one can drive to Lac de Moiry and ascend along the ridge to Cabine de Moiry for a stupendous view of the de Moiry Glacier. That, hwever, is just the beginning.

Outside of Switzerland, two places come to mind. The Ötztal in the vicinity of Sölden or Ober Gürgel or even Längenfeld. Or Heiligenblut at the southern entrance to the Grossglockner Hochalpenstraße. Many trails around all places that lead into snow convered slopes, particularly west of Sölen where there is a glacier on which people ski all year.

Thanks for all the new replies. I'm still working my way through all the links!
For the Dolomite fans here-what do you think that area offers compared to Val D'aosta or other parts of the Alps? I have read they are Italy's most beautiful mountains. I did try to visit once but it was in May, I was snowed on, and after less than a day I said "another time."
This trip is in September-do you think crowds in any of these places will be a problem?

Hi Christy1,
Why I prefer Val Gardena is it's classic "Dolomite" peaks and scenery, it's Tirolian ambiance (we love Austria, and this part of Italy was part of Austria not long ago) and the Seiser Alm/Alpe Di Suisi.
www.seiseralm.net/en/hintergrundbilder/
www.ortisei.com/english/
We were here the first week of October 2004 and crowds were definitely not a problem.
Paul

As a ski instructor living close to Alps I think I know them pretty well. For me, definitevly the best hiking place is Torbole on Lago di Garda. You can hike, mountainbike and swim and surf and sail in the same village. In addition, in one hor drive you can reach Verona, or madona di Campigli or many, many different things around.You cannot hike all day and all night anyway.

As a ski instructor living close to Alps I think I know them pretty well. For me, definitevly the best hiking place is Torbole on Lago di Garda. You can hike, mountainbike and swim and surf and sail in the same village. In addition, in one hour drive you can reach Verona, or Madona di Campiglio or many, many different things around.You cannot hike all day and all night anyway.