Switzerland
 

We have a 3 week trip planned.primarily Austria and southern Germany. We will fly home from Milan, Italy. So we will pass through Switzerland by train. Can anyone suggest a stop on the Train line where we could stay for 2 days and get to see something wonderful?
I have skied from Interlaken in my younger days--incredible, awesome. My husband has never been.
We will not have a car.

The Interlaken area - the fabled Jungfrau Region - would be my choice to see the awesome Swiss Alps pictured in perhaps your minds' eyes - try to stay up in the hills - like in a Grindelwald, my favorite place because of the sweeping views of glacier-girdled mountains rising thousands of feet just a mile or so from your hotel balcony.

I'd do the Jungfrau on the way to Milan -from Germany or Austria head via Zurich to Interlaken - when ready to go to MIlan take a regional train from Interlaken to Spiez and then hop on direct trains to Milan Centrale station.

For loads of great info on trains in those countries check out these IMO fantastic sources: www.seat61.com (good info on discounted tickets Spiez to Milan and from Germany or Austria to Switzerland; ww.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Once in the Jungfrau Region you have a plethora of aerial cable ways, toy-like mountain trains and hiking trails for all kinds of energies - no special gear needed for most. Don't miss the famous Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg Ridge Walk - a fairly flat few mile putz that lets you see down into two deep valleys.

You don't say what time of the year you will be traveling, which would influence your decision and also what scenery do you prefer: mountains or the warmer and picturesque Ticino (Tessin). Is your train ride via Lugano to Milan?

Lovely location on the lake, palm trees and many possibilities for excursions. In addition, totally different architecture, food and atmosphere. It would be a very nice relaxing finale to your experiences in Austria and southern Germany.

I agree with PalenQ, the Jungfrau region is usually what people picture for their first visit to Switzerland. Interlaken on the other hand is the place most people who are knowledgeable about Switzerland will tell you to avoid. So again heed the advice of PalenQ, and stay in one of the smaller villages like Grindelwald, Wengen, Murren, etc. in the area.

Not all itineraries from Southern Germany to Milan Malpensa airport go through Switzerland.
Where will you come from?
in which month?
What ae your interests?

PalenQ-Thank you for your detailed answer. I did neglect to say we will be in Switzerland on October 7th & 8th. Will it already be too cold for hiking/ walking? I remember Murren & Grindewald from my ski trip (it was 25 years ago); Yes. This seems like a good plan. I guess I will look up the average temperature at that time of year.

I think at lower altitudes it will be OK for walks but even in mid-September several years ago I saw ice on the streets of Murren and similar altitudes - the weather can vary a lot so layer - when the sun comes out it warms up - when clouds clouds it over you're cool. Layer on and layer off.

http://www.yr.no/place/Switzerland/B...tatistics.html

Bernese schools have automn holidays in early October and most people go into the mountains for hiking.
But I agree with you that Murren is not among the warmest and driest mountain villages of Switzerland.

Thank you again. We have some old ski jackest that we can pack in vacuum packed bags. Since this is near the end of our journey-we wont have to carry the bulky stuff for long. I get cold easily.

I at times carry some old sweat shirts or sweaters that I can discard when I am done needing them - like in that instance of only on mountain peaks!

I remember Murren & Grindewald from my ski trip (it was 25 years ago)>

Grindelwald is significantly lower in altitude than Murren I think - thus would be a more likely warmer place and hiking/walking around there more dependably better there.

Yeh I would not base in remote Murren in times of possible snow or ice or cold - Grindelwald is not only much lower but has much more on its doorstep to see and do - Interlaken at an even much lower altitude and rarely really cold at that time of year offers boat rides on each of the two lakes bookending it and right in Grindelwald you can do nice walks much less likely to have icy paths than in high-up Murren.