switzerland 7-8 nights around mid june
 

Hi,
We are looking forward to spending romantic get-away for around 7-8 nights in switzerland but are totally confused seeing the sheer amount of options.

Couple of things we would like:
- stay in remote areas.
- decent enough hotels
- some leisure excursions - we are still digging options ;).
- of course would like to board a train.

still figuring out destinations and plans. but something like GStaad, Sils looks neat.
but come with expensive hotels.

- other thing is prices just shoot up in June from air fare to hotel cost.
- wouldn't mind travelling to Rome/Venice if that seems feasible.

any pointers would help. we will be boarding from NY.

-John

Hi johnslymy,

I love Gstaad and spent 11 nights there last August. You can find some reasonable hotels, I think. The 4-star Hotel Gstaaderhof is always reasonable (that's where I stayed), and it's well located just around the corner from the pedestrian zone. If you opt for their half-board, the prices get to be a steal. The 3-star Post Hotel Rössli, right on the pedestrian street, is also a good value.

There are tons of hiking options from Gstaad, both in the mountains and along the valley floors from town to town. In addition, you can take trips to the chocolate factory at Broc, to the cheese demo and castle at Gruyeres, to the town of Bulle, to Montreux on Lake Geneva, and to Spiez and Thun on Lake Thun. Lots to do.

Information at

www.gstaad.ch

Have fun as you plan!

s

Mid June could be a little too early for Sils this year; plenty of snow so far (of course no idea about the weather in the coming months, though).

Gstaad is a good idea. Love the area, too.

Anywhere in Switzerland is expensive. Have a look into arrangements that include half-board (dinner), hotels in some region also include cable cars/mountain railways and public transportation (Sils e.g., but also Savognin, Davos, Klosters, Arosa in Grisons). Elsewhere regional passes for public transport and cable cars are available.

June is low season. Many bargains. Check www.booking.com.
Snow limit somewhere around 2500 metres. Many cableways begin to run around mid June.
Gstaad and Sils/Segl are among the most expensive places of Switzerland.

In order not to overpay for train tickets in Switzerland would advise to purchase supersaver tickets offered by Swiss rail, those are discounted and available on many connections in Switzerland, including also journeys with some private rail companies

trains are IMO the best way to get around Switzerland, especially if going to Alpine areas where cars can't even go - like the fabulous Jungfrau Region around Interlaken- where cars are banned beyond Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen.

And if moving around the country at all investigate the Swiss Pass - valid not only on trains but also lake boats, postal buses and city trams and buses - you also get free entry to 400+ Swiss museums and 50% off gondolas and cable ways to mountain tops.

For lots of great info on Swiss trains I always spotlight these IMO superb sites - www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

If you have never been to Switzerland before I would head to the Jungfrau region - both the literal and figurative highlight of the Switzerland - glacier-drenched Alpine peaks soaring thousands of feet above lush valleys, etc. Stay in a cozy guest house in one of the famous Alpine villages like Girndelwald, Lauterbrunen or Wengen.

still figuring out destinations and plans. but something like GStaad, Sils looks neat.
but come with expensive hotels.>

Inerlaken and Grindelwald are two towns in the Jungfrau Region that have the most affordable accommodations I have seen in all of Switzerland - true budget hotels - I have gotten private rooms from as low as 40 Swiss francs - nice enough rooms and there are many budget hotel options in Interlaken - and again Gstaad is nice but it is not nearly as awesome ans the Ingterlaken-Jungfrau region nor does it offer the panoply of day trips - varied day trips from lake boat trips to glacier walks that the Interlaken area does.

- wouldn't mind travelling to Rome/Venice if that seems feasible>

with only 7-8 days and wanting to see something in Switzerland forget Rome or Venice as those are all-day marathon train rides or drive from Switzerland.

" wouldn't mind travelling to Rome/Venice if that seems feasible" ~ I agree with PalenQ, save it for another trip, and it could be a little hot in Rome

4 years ago In mid June we were in Zermatt and Sils. The weather was LOVELY, but Ingo says it's been a snowy winter. However there might be great waterfalls!

When we were there the wildflowers were just gorgeous, we're planning another trip back to Switzerland at that time of year.

We flew into Geneva, took a train to Zermatt, spent a few days there, then took the Glacier Express to Sils. We visited Soglio (heaven on earth) hiked into Fex Valley (or you can take a romantic horse drawn carriage) took the Bernina Express into Italy, there is just so much to do.

As everyone says, yes, it's expensive. But it is SO worth it. We stayed at Eidelweiss in Sils and really liked it (thank you Ingo) maybe even more than Waldhaus (which is more expensive) The half board (breakfast & dinner) is a good deal, the food is really good, and they sometimes do a dinner one night back in the Fex Valley (no cars allowed) by horse drawn carriage. Also, when staying there you get a pass for free public transport and all the cable cars.

You could even rent a car for one day and drive up through the Engadine Valley and it's beautiful villages and even to Tarasp Castle (Google images of it)

Grindelwald & Murren (Jungfrau region) are also fantastic with maybe a little more variety of things to do as mentioned above. I don't think the Hotels in the area give you free passes to the cablecars, gondolas etc, I think you have to buy your own. But as mentioned above some passes give you discounts.

And I don't think you said if you like to hike or walk, but the Jungfrau region, Grindelwald, Murren are wonderful for that, and EASY. The trains, funiculars, cable cars etc take you up and down the mountains, and you just do fairly easy horizontal hiking/walking with the Alps smack in front of you, it's awesome.

Do investigate the different rail passes as mentioned above.

If you can swing it financially, you won't regret it. It is an absolutely stunning country!

Hi again,

Do have to argue (as I always do) with PalenQ's statement that

"Gstaad is nice but it is not nearly as awesome ans the Ingterlaken-Jungfrau region nor does it offer the panoply of day trips - "

I've been to the Jungfrau region many times, but for me, Gstaad is just nicer and prettier and more scenic. Yes, I will concede that the Jungfrau region is more dramatic because the mountains are higher there, but drama doesn't always equal joy/beauty. Some folks just prefer other scenery.

As for day-trips, apparently he didn't read my quick description of things to do in/from Gstaad.

s

swandav - I have read you list and it pales in comparison IMO with the panoply of day trips from any Jungfrau Region base:

Jungfraujoch train
all kinds of hikes in both the Grindelwald Valley, Laugterbrunnen and Murren area

can walk to a glacier (not one on top of Jungfrau, but from Grindelwald itself

Trummelbach Falls

Murren - Gimmelwald is a very unique place out in the middle of nowhere

Boat trips on either lakes bookending Inter-Laken

The Glacier Gorge at Innerkirchen

Ballenberg Open-Air museum - overlooking lake Brienz

Brienzer Rothorn bahn -= a steam train climbing a mountain

The Brunig Pass scenic train to Lucerne, an easy day trip from the Interlaken area

Engelberg and Mt Titlis also very easy

Cities of Bern and Thun and Spiez (with the castle of your dreams perched high above the lake

Interlaken's William Tell Playhouse for live plays

Jungfrau Land - yes a tacky to some amusement park at Interlaken but something kids will love

Alpine Garden and Teddy Bear Land at Schynige Platte

The Three Passes bus tour - via public bus goes up and over three high mountain passes and back to Meiringen.

Reichenbach Falls where Sherlock Holmes and Prof Moriarity tangled to the prof's presumed death

Interlaken's historic ornate old casino

Interlaken's summer luge or bobsled runs - again for kids of all ages

And on and on

What about Kandersteg? It is remote.


Thin

What about Kandersteg? It is remote.>

yeh another great day trip possibility from Interlaken/Jungfrau base - I did it in a nice leisurely day.

And one blockbuster day trip I forgot was to the Schilthorn/Piz Gloria of James Bond fame - many scenes being shot there when it was being constructed - in On Her Majesty's Service.

No there are many many more varied things to see and do in the fabulous Jungfrau Region than IMO any other single place in Switzerland and this seems to be the consensus of many people who have been all around Switzerland.

This is not to say that the Gstaad are is not fantastic - just that the Jungfrau Region, for the average tourist, will be both the literal and figurative highlight of Switzerland!

I, too, would put the Jungfrau region at the top of the list for the reasons mentioned above. I was there in June 2009 and made Lauterbrunnen my base. There are several hotels in town and I found the prices to be very reasonable. If you would rather stay somewhere even further off the beaten path, there are other "towns" in the mountains above the Lauterbrunnen valley that are only accessible via train or cable car.

You don't say where you are flying to. If you fly into Zurich, you may want to spend a few nights in Lucerne before heading to the Jungfrau region. While definitely not remote or off the beaten path, it has a charming old town section and lies on a beautiful lake and there are a number of opportunities for excursions, e.g., to Mt. Pilatus (I've never been there) or to Rigi via Lake Lucerne (I've been there twice).

PalenQ, what my list has that yours doesn't is variety. All of the activities on your list are in/around the mountains, and all are in the German-speaking part of the country.

My list incorporates both German and French speaking sections, castles, palm trees, mountains, mountain villages, folklore, balloon rides (Chateau d'Oex), history, etc.

Shall I name all of the pretty villages as you did? Rossiniere, Rougemont, Chateau d'Oex, Zweisimmin, Bulle, Broc,Gruyeres, Prangins, Saanen, Gsteig, Lauenen, Feutersoey, Arnensee, Les Diablerets, Lenk, St. Stephen. Most of these are great for biking through.

Shall I name the nearby peaks: Rindeberg, Hornberg, Wispile, Glacier 3000, Horneggli, Wasserngrat, Eggli, Videmanette, La Braye, Sanetsch, Sparenmoos. Btw, you can see that there is a glacier near Gstaad as well.

I honestly believe you haven't spent more than 2h in Gstaad, if you've spent that.

s

PalenQ, what my list has that yours doesn't is variety. All of the activities on your list are in/around the mountains, and all are in the German-speaking part of the country.>

no the Jungfrau Region's attractions are much more varied than what you list - lake boats are not in the mountains. Ballenberg Open-Air museum ain't in the mountains - the Glacier Gorge ain't in the mountains - Reidchenbafch Fall ain't in the mountains and on and on. The William Tell Playhouse ain't in the moutains - Interlaken's ornate casino ain't in the mountains but Tremmelbach Falls is right inside a mountain!

And I forgot to list one blockbuster attraction in the Jungfrau Region - the Alps longest aerial cable way up to the Schilthorn and also forgot the Sherlock Holmes museum in Meiringen, home to meringue, developed first in this town!

Now Gstaad is a lovely lovely area but it in NO way compares in awesomeness to the Jungfrau Region, at least to fulfill what picture most folks have of Switzerland etched in their minds' eyes. Just so and it is not only my view but many that for someone never having gone to Switzerland the Interlaken-Jungfrau Region is the best bet and I steadfastly think that - don't mean other areas are not gorgeous or also have a panoply of things to see and do.

No there is no French-speaking part of the Jungfrau Region but the babel of languages you hear in Switzerland most popular place for foreign tourists - so many Chinese and Japanese they have advert billboards in those languages as well.

OMG the aerial cable way up to the Schilthorn (and down!!!) it is better than any theme park ride!

And the view at the top is spectacular, the restaurant great fun, just pick a clear day.

Can't believe I'm not going to Switzerland this year :(

wrenwood - I will be watching once again the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Service that was filmed in part at Piz Gloria, the name of the revolving restaurant crowning the Schilthorn - it was filmed during that restaurant/welcome center's construction which could have been spurred for the movie - bit hazy on that but yes Schilthorn is another amazing place that sets the Jungfrau Region IMO apart from other awesome regions like Crans-Montana/Gstaad.

Haha, it's been at least a couple of weeks since Palen and Swandav got in a 'dust-up' over Switzerland. I agree that Jungfrau is best for first time visitors. So so so much to do and see and if it's cheap accomodations you want, Interlaken or Grindewald is it. Try AirBnB. You can rent an empty Airstream trailer for about $60/night. Unique? Yes. Charming? Depends on your tastes, but its absolutely dirt cheap for Switzerland.

Get the Swisspass. Start in Lucerne for 3 days, visit Pilatus, boat ride Lake Lucerne (included in pass), day trip to Engelberg and go up to Pilatus. Then move your base to Interlaken for the rest of the trip. From there day trip to Grindewald, Kandersteg with hike to Oeschinen Lake, hike to Trift bridge above Gadmen, visit Ballenberg, Lauterbrunnen, Murren, Wengen, Gimmelwald, and when the skies are clear do the Jungfraujoch. This alone is more than you can do in a short 8 days but you will see some amazing places!

wrenwood, I'm skipping this year as well but next year, nothing will stop me! :)

Meant to say Titlis from Engelberg. And don't miss Schilthorn. Great views!

hahumm, Toucan. I just can't stand folks who make pronouncements on what is "best" for everyone. The op mentioned Gstaad, so obviously there is something that is drawing him/her to that region.

Pal, the things you list are quite near the mountains. My list of things are in the rolling hills, in the Prealps, in the plains, and by Switzerland's largest lake -- very, very different scenery. Much, much greater variety.

The differences of the French language sections of the country are dramatic, not at all comparable to hearing different languages in the German area. The difference are architectural, interior design, ambiance of the towns/cities (a café-life feel), cuisine, fashion, history, etc. So I guess you've been to Gstaad -- for longer than an afternoon??? Have you ever been to Montreux? Montreux has the look and feel of the French Riviera -- the difference between that and the Oberland is far, far more than hearing different languages spoken.

s

The exchange between swandav and PalQ makes me chuckle. And I am tempted to jump in with the activities in *my* favourite area, the Engadine ;-) But I won't.

Just want to point out that labeling the Schilthorn cable car as "the Alps longest aerial cable way" is not true. Which of the sections do you refer to? There are stations in Stechelberg, Gimmelwald, Mürren, Birg and Schilthorn. If you count all these sections as one (6931 m) it is still much shorter than the Zermatt - Klein Matterhorn cable car (9482 m). If you compare the longest section (Mürren-Birg, 2779 m) then the cable car Laax - Crap Sogn Gion (4168 m) wins.

And listing the Lucerne day trip as an activity in the Jungfrau region stretches it quite a bit, I think. You could list it as a day trip from Gstaad as well then, as it is just a half hour longer from there (via Bern, but the Brünig pass is not really *that* scenic).

Gstaad is great - Engadine is great but yes I would say for the average traveler the Jungfrau Region and Zermatt regions are the highlights of Switzerland and yes I can say what I think is best for the average traveler - folks do that here all the time - does not even mean it is my favorite necessarily.

Been to Montreux many times and it is nice but not awesome like the Jungfrau - awesome that is for folks who never been to an Alpine like area.

Warning!

If you suffer any kind of motion sickness, dizzy spells, ear disorders think twice about going up to the Schilthorn.

You can get very dizzy and nauseous up there because the gondola ascends too fast from Murren.

The revolving Piz Gloria doesn't help matters.

Thin

May be nobody remarked that Johnslymy didn't come back since more than half a week.

This is just hilarious, Pal!!

I didn't mention Montreux as an Alpine area -- goodness, I'm not daft!

When I mentioned the vast differences between the French speaking and the German speaking parts of Switzerland, you responded that

<<No there is no French-speaking part of the Jungfrau Region but the babel of languages you hear in Switzerland most popular place for foreign tourists - so many Chinese and Japanese they have advert billboards in those languages as well.>>

Implying that hearing other languages spoken was, somehow, the same as moving from the German to the French parts of Switzerland. So I concluded that you had never been to Montreux since you seemed to be unaware of how different they were.

I'll agree that the Jungfrau area has the best tourist infrastructure -- trains into & around, hotels and restaurants at every price level, folks who speak English at every corner. So, for a first-time visitor or someone who may be a little timid about visiting, it may be a good choice.

But. One Alp for all? Nope. Not even.

s

But. One Alp for all? Nope. Not even.>

Agreed!

And the Deutcher Switzerland and Suisse francais areas are much different, in look and mentality - I always like to say what I saw on the Golden Pass railway where around Chateau d'Oeux - just before the German language zone suddenly ends and signs are in French - and the wood piles next to every house were stacked exactly straight - straight as a wall but as soon as we engtered the French area the wood was stock piled more haphazzardly - not so meticulous flat.

But I think for the average first-time visitor seeing and appreciating such differences between regions is far below awesome Alpine wonderlands like they do have ethced often in their minds' eyes. Gstaad certainly can fulfill this dreamy picture but Zermatt or the Jungfrau Regions will do it much much more.

So I always advise a first-timer to Switzerland to go to the Jungfrau Region because I think this most matches what they expect to see in Switzerland - and though this area is my favorite area I would not say anyone has to go there - just that this is the Switzerland they have been dreaming about I suspect.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - some may think Montreux and its lake more beautiful than the majestic Matterhorn - some folks have called Interlaken an awfully dread place yet others like me and tower feel far differently - no one is right and wrong but says what their opinions are.