My daughter and I are taking an early morning train from Paris to Bern and then traveling on to Lauterbrunnen to spend 3 nights. Would it be feasible to put our luggage in the left luggage(there is one I hope?) and have lunch & spend a few hours walking around Bern before travelling on to Interlaken and then on to Lauterbrunnen? We arrive in Bern around 12:30 and we're not in any rush to get to Lauterbrunnen. Or would it be better to take a train to Thun and then the ferry to Interlaken? Would love to have some help on how to best spend the day. The way the next 2 days shake out, we're probably going to go to the Jungrau weather permitting and maybe a trip to Luzern if it isn't. Thanks for your advice.

topping

Hi cjtrav,

I'm partial to ferry boat rides along glacial lakes with majestic mountains spilling down at my feet and sweet villages on hillsides passing by. Cities -- even small ones like Berne -- generally leave me cold.

So . . . I'd do the ferry boat. Consider taking the train all the way to Spiez, a charming town, then the ferry from there.

s

To answer your question about left luggage in the Bern station: yes, there definitely is a loeft luggage office which I have used on several occasions.

I cannot, unfortunately, remember the cost in CHF per piece. The way to that office is well marked with the usual pictograph signs of a suitcase.

I've been to Bern and I've taken the boat ride around the lake and without a doubt I would skip Bern and do the boat ride.

Bern is a nice enough little city, the capital of Switzerland but I thought it was the most dull and uninteresting European city I have ever visited. I would rate it on a par with Steubenville, Ohio after Dean Martin left town.

Have a great trip the BO region is really spectacular.

Larry J

I agree that Bern is dull, although I think Brussels is actually considered the most boring town in Europe...

If this were my trip, I would get off the TGV at Lausanne and spend a few hours wandering their wonderful old town and mostly admiring the stunning views of the lake and Alps, and having lunch outdoors somewhere along the lake. This may whet your appetite for future trips. Get back on the train and head to Lauterbrunnen as late in the day as you can, trip is only 3 hours. I know your trip is in early June and it will be light until almost 10 pm. The best thing would be to leave Lausanne at about 5 pm to arrive into Lauterbrunnen at between 8 and 9 when you can still see the mountains during dusk. You will also see the great countryside on the train ride. That would give you maximum time in Lausanne. Book dinner in the dining car if you can.

Unfortunately TGV line Paris-Bern does not go thru Lausanne but via Pontarlier and Neuchâtel.

cjtrav has to get off the train in any case in Bern in order to change to another for Interlaken. Considering your luggage (that you can leave at Bern station while you walk in the city vs.carrying it from Thun station to Pier and all the way on the boat then Interlaken Pier to hotel), I would choose Bern walk. And it's not such a dull place. Visiting the Unesco's World Heritage old town with its arcades and the colorful fountains is perfect for a few hours of promenade, especially if you have never been there, I think.

There is a TGV which goes from Paris to Lausanne with no changes, there is at least one train a day. Trip takes less than 4 hours. I just took one myself about 2 weeks ago. That is the TGV I was recommending, there are several. They can then take Swiss Rail to Lauterbrunnen via Bern and Interlaken Ost.

> There is a TGV which goes from Paris to Lausanne with no changes ..

There are such trains, even 5 of them since nearly 10 years or so. But I presumed cjtrav already has their tickets direct for PAR-BRN, thus my advice.

> even 5 of them

Per day.

Wow, what great advice! So many choices. I don't have the tickets yet. We have a Select Pass and I was told I could make the reservations when we got to Paris, so I could still go through Lausanne. I guess the general consensus is to skip Bern and either go through Lausanne or go to Spiez and take the ferry. Any other votes for which one? Is the train trip from Lausanne to Interlaken particularly scenic? I assume I'll still have to change trains in Bern for Interlaken? Thanks so much for the replies. I love having informed choices!

there is a TGV to Lausanne from Paris as well as Bern. If we are talking about the 7:44 departure from Gare de Lyon, the two trains leave as one and divide at Frasne.

From Lausanne, the fastest train route to Lauterbrunnen is through Bern.

I am of the opinion that Bern is worth a couple of hours.

The boat ride on the Thuner See depends on personal preference.

From Thun, the trip is over 2 hours.
It is not a short trip.

From Spiez to Interlaken west is about a 90 minute trip because the boat crosses the lake to Beatenberg before going to Interlaken West.

Please note that to get to Lauterbrunnen by train, you must change trains at Interlaken Ost. The rail line is operated by a private company called the Berner Oberlandbahn, or the BOB. The train cars are painted brown and tan, and some of them are shall we say rather old.

The train divides at the second station up the line, with part of the train going to Grindelwald and part to Lauterbrunnen.

Make sure you board a car marked Lauterbrunnen. The cars have hangtags on the outside that identify the destination.

If you get on the wrong section, there is a mad scramble to change cars. Usually people make the switch at the station called Zweilütschinen, but time is short.

Usually the Lauterbrunn train leave from Gleis 2, Sektor A.
The sectors are marked with big letters overhead.

The cars in sector B are usually marked Grindelwald.

If you want to ride on the lake, I think the Brienzer See on the east side of Interlaken is the more spectacular, but that is strictly a personal decision.

I am surprised that Bern received such negative reviews. I personally loved this city. Wandering under the loooong arcades through the old town, seeing the several old fountains, the gothic cathedral, the Baroque Heiliggeist church etc. is fun. IMO Bern's old town is more beautiful than Lausanne's.

So no consensus on this subject ;-)

In any case, I guess that going through Lausanne takes more time, which is the major point IMO.

I.

Poor Bern. Or did the negative posters go to a different Bern than I did? I can't tell you whether you'd like the ferry ride or Bern more, but I think Bern has a lot of history and charm to be seen in just a few hours.

The best views are from the top of the church steeple, the Clock Tower and the Rose Garden (across the river). The charming fountains are located all over town. Einstein's apartment is interesting in its ordinariness, especially as he developed his theory of relativity in these rooms. The Paul Klee Museum (with some Giacomettis thrown in) is a very nice collection. We also enjoyed the Alpine Museum.

One of the things we enjoyed most in Bern was touring the Swiss Parliament. The symbolism represented in the art in the main hall and in the two legislative chambers was very interesting, and we appreciated hearing about the formation of the confederation and its governing bodies (loosely based on the U.S. Congress). Unfortunately, this visit requires a reservation in advance (at least a day or two), and not all tours are conducted in English.

I think that traveling "by concensus" is sometimes a very risky thing to do.

Having lunch and spending a few hours in Bern is probably a good idea because it was <b> your first </b> idea! You have said yourself that you &quot;aren't in any rush&quot; to get to the final destination so why suddenly do so?

How about taking the boat ride on the way back?

Switzerland is nice...take it slow and enjoy it your way, not anyone else's.

Have a great trip.

Wheeew, it's good to know not every foreigner finds Berne &quot;dull&quot;.

Thanks everyone for all the great replies. Bob Brown, Wow! I loved your detailed instructions on the trains and stations. I'll feel like a native armed with all that information. I'm glad to hear that Bern isn't dull to everyone. It looks charming in everything I've read. Thanks again for all the help.

How could I forget the tour of the parliament building? Absolutely fascinating. I did not have to make reservations, but it was before 9/11 (and Zug) - maybe it has changed since then. We just showed up and could join the next tour (I am German, but the tour/group was half German/half English).

I.

I went to Bern on a day that was very wet. Walking around was entertaining and interesting. The visitor (tourist) center is staffed by very helpful people.

It was there that we learned of the cheese demonstration plant at Afoltern (I hope I spelled it right.) We went there later on and by sheer luck we drove up just in time for the finals of the Miss Cow judging.

Being an old farm boy, I know a beautiful milk cow when I see one.
These ladies were the best of the best from Canton Bern. While we were there, the judges got out the big bells and the head dresses for the prize winners.

The cheese making display was interesting as well. We had lunch in the restaurant and had a chance to sample the different cheeses.

Without the assistance of the tourist office, we never would have known about it.

Brookwood, good to hear your experience in Bern. So you went to the cheese demonstration factory in Affoltern-im-Emmental in Bern Canton. Emmental is of course known for the cheese of the same name (the kind which has gas holes).