We've often combined Switzerland and Germany.

I too would recommend Freiburg (am Breisgau) - shortish train journey from Zurich. From Freiburg you can easily reach Colmar, France by train and bus, Basel, Switzerland, Staufen, Germany (a small town located at the edge of the Black Forest, surrounded by vineyards and overlooked by the imposing Bergruine) and a bit further afield, Strasbourg, France.

I have a few trip reports posted here regarding our Swiss/German trips should you be interested.

Thanks. We’ve been to the Alsace region so I’d like to concentrate on Germany and Austria this time. I guess some people would say to choose one or the other, but it’s always tempting to see another country that you have never been to.

So maybe a small part of Germany and a small part of Austria? Or is it better to just see one in more depth?

I'm sure you realize that none of us can answer that question for you. Different people make different choices for different reasons.

It's more about what you want to see and your personal travel style and interests, than which is 'better'. With two weeks, perhaps do a week in both. Two weeks in Germany has proven a bit longish for me, whereas I could spend many, many, many weeks in Switzerland.

You don't say where in Switzerland you plan to visit this time. I've spent very little time in Italy, but if you're in the Engadine getting to both Austria and Italy are a breeze.

The rough plan for Switzerland is to spend six or seven nights in the Bernese Oberland, possibly in Wengen. Last time we stayed three nights in Interlaken in the hope of being able to go up the Jungfrau but it didn’t fine up until the day we left, so I hope by staying longer we get a chance to go up into the mountains in good weather.

The other two places I’d like to stop for about three nights each are Zermatt and Bern. Last time we took the Bernina Express from Tirano to Chur, then the next day the Glacier Express and local trains to Interlaken, and finally the Golden Pass to Montreux. We also did a day trip to Lucerne and a boat ride on Lake Brienz. We were only in Switzerland for six nights last time as part of a long European trip.

Bern for 3 days? Curious as to why - nice city great for a day but I'd base in Lucerne and daytrip to Bern and spend more time in Lucerne and environs.

There is nothing wrong with Berne as a base for day trips to Western Switzerland, like
medieval city of Fribourg
medieval walled city of Murten
small medieval city of La Neuveville
medieval city center of Solothurn
Lake dwelling museums at Biel/Bienne and Neuchatel
Swiss time measurement and watch making museum at La Chaux de Fonds
boat rides on Lakes Biel/Bienne, Neuchatel and Murten, plus Aar river (Murten - Neuchatel - Biel/Bienne - Solothurn needs a whole day, so does Murten - Neuchatel - Yverdon)
Roman amphitheatre and museum at Avenches
medieval city of Gruyeres and chocolate factory at Broc nearby
menhirs, castle and medieval city center at Yverdon
menhirs, castle and car museum at Grandson
medieval city of Orbe and Roman villa with mosaics nearby
Jura Gorges of Taubenloch, Combe Crede, Twannbach, Seyon, Areuse and Orbe
Roman villa with mosaics at Vallon, close to the Lake Dweller's village at Gletterens
museums of Berne: Paul Klee Museum, Art Museum, Albert Einstein Museum, Historical Museum, Museum of Natural History (with big cristals from the Swiss Alps), Alpine Museum, Museum of Communication, Museum of Wildlife and Hunting in Landshut Castle, Museum of Bernese Home Decor in the 17th - 18th Centuries in Jegenstorf Castle, Antique and Medieval textiles museum at Riggisberg, etc. etc.

Wow, Neckervd, that is a gold mine of a post. Bookmarking!

If doing day trips like that get a Swiss Travel Pass for sure - if traveling around most days and even first class as those are largely intercity trains that can like someone else said above get very crowded at rush hours.

I visited many of the things neckervd mentions, but not from Bern -- and I found more than enough to keep me very happily busy in Bern itself for 2 full days. Fodorites are fortunate to have neckervd -- or people could consult a good guidebook or two. The better ones DO cover these things!

Maybe we should spend longer in Bern then, with all those places to see. What about Zermatt? Does three nights there sound about right?

I think we’ll definitely be getting a travel card - last time we got the half fare card.

I'm sorry -- I really don't know how any of us can tell you how much time to spend where. It really depends on what YOU want to see and experience, and ONLY you can decide that. IMO, you will make better decisions if you consult some guidebooks rather than just listening to a few people who, no matter their knowledge and experience, can't possibly put themselves in your particular shoes.

Good luck!

Hi again,

Well (here I am in my curmudgeon role), I didn't care for Zermatt much. I visited two times, once for a week for skiing and another time as a day-trip from my base in Brig, just to see if I had been mistaken in my first, negative impression. I wasn't.

It's a great base if one is sporty and enjoys skiing and hiking. otherwise... there's not much to do after the first day. It will take you a day to see the town and the museum, and that's it. Zermatt sits at the end of a long valley, and it just takes a lot of time to get in or out, so it's not a great base for exploring a region. You are pretty much stuck right there.

And I didn't care for the town itself. There's really no more land left to build on (that restrictive valley...), but someone seems to put up a new chalet on every square inch of ground, leaving a higgely-piggely, chaotic effect. And with all those buildings comes people. It was super, super crowded. In my mind, a remote, car-free Swiss Alpine village ought to be at least somewhat serene, but that wasn't true for Zermatt, at least in my view. I was simply overwhelmed by the over-crowding and over-building, and I couldn't get out of there fast enough.

You wrote that your interests are scenery and old towns. Zermatt has the scenery, but I'm not sure how long you'll be happy just sitting on a balcony and staring out at it. It doesn't, in my opinion, have a pretty old town that invites exploring.

If you want to see the Matterhorn, though, you have a problem. You have to stay there sufficient nights for a good chance to get good weather, but you just may get bored sitting around and waiting.

If it were me, and I just felt that I had to see it, I would only stay 2 nights and hope for good weather at that time.

Have fun as you plan!

s

Thanks Swandav, that gives me a lot of information that I need. I was just hoping to see the Matterhorn but am not at all sporty with my bad feet. I think we might give Zermatt a miss then.

KJA, I have a guidebook and as mentioned earlier, this will be our second visit to Switzerland. I find the opinions of people who have been to a place a valid source of information, especially when they give reasons for their views and I’ve already said the kinds of things we like.

As we only did a day trip to Lucerne and didn’t go on any boat rides or mountain trips, that might be a good third base. Or else somewhere near Lake Constanz.

Good to know that you have a guidebook. Enjoy your trip!

I'll take Berner Oberland over Zermatt if one had to chose anyday- more and varied things to do that just one mountain - oh hikes in Zermatt area are great if hiking is goal but BO has many more hiking possibilities including many easy ones. Plus if wet easy to day trip to Bern or Thun or other nice cities - Zermatt is 90 minutes from any town of size so if wet you're stuck.

I know many do not like Zermatt, but I love it. Last September I and hubby visited it for the fourth time. We usually stay 2-3 nights and find plenty to do. You can take the train up to Gornergrat for beautiful views of the Matterhorn and the Gornergletscher (glacier). We sat on the terrace and had a glass of wine. Another day you can explore the town. We like the Museum and the cemetery. Another excursion is to Klein Matterhorn via the cable cars. Such gorgeous scenery! We have always gone in late September and early October. We have always seen the Matterhorn. Yes, sometimes the clouds come in, but they disappear as fast as they come in. We have also come to know the Julen family that owns several hotels in Zermatt. The Romantic Julen is well known, but we stay in the Hotel Daniela (owned by Daniela Julen and managed by her daughter Rebecca) in a Matterhorn view room. Staying at the Hotel Daniela gives you privileges at the Julen Hotel Pool (indoor). Many times we will chill out at the pool in the later part of the afternoon. If you like lamb, the Julen's raise their own lamb and use it in their restaurants. Fantastic flavor.

I would not count Zermatt out. And yes, we stayed 5 days in the OB. Love it there also.

Thanks, we have a lot of decisions to make regarding our itinerary. Can anyone recommend a guidebook they found useful? I have the Rick Steves but he doesn’t cover all possible destinations.

What do you want out of a guidebook - for sightseeing and maps the Michelin Green Guide to Switzerland is great.

IME, the Michelin Green and Rough Guide provide the most comprehensive coverage, but I don't think any do the Engadine justice.