My wife and I are planning our first trip to Switzerland in May '03. I am pretty firm with basing ourselves in the Berner Oberlander. We arrive from Paris by train and Bern is an easy connection. I have also loved everything I've ever heard or read about this region. But I hear conflicting reports about Interlaken as a base. A friend who lived in Switzerland recommended Bern. We like the modern conveniences of larger cities and hotels, but have no need for a Disney or Vegas-like atmosphere. But we're wary of a base so small that it's short on good restaurants or closes at 10pm. While I love the culture and scenery, my wife might love shopping and a little time in the spa. Bern seems ideal, but it would add at least a half-hour to every day trip we take, no? Any and all ideas from those more experienced are most welcome. Thank you!

Personally, I see nothing wrong with staying in the Interlaken area. You don't have to stay right in the city; there are lots of little villages all around. And there really isn't a Disney atmosphere there. With what you and your wife like, I think Interlaken (or the general area) is ideal. I like to stay in the little village of Bonigen, right on the lake just outside Interlaken.

I happen to be a fan of Bern. However, it is about an hour from Lauterbrunen.<BR><BR>On the plus side. Bern is a city (large town) with shopping and restaurants.<BR><BR>It is also a very good jumping point. Visit Friburg for half a day as well Thun for a few hours.<BR><BR>For some reason the train ride from Interlaken or Lauterbrunen to Lucerne is not as good as from Bern. The train schedules don't seem to work as well.<BR><BR>Lucerne is barely an hour from Bern. You want to spend at least a day there.<BR><BR>It's tough to really go wrong in Bern.<BR>

For the record, it is an hour and a half from Bern to Lauterbrunnen, which is not a destination for seeing the splendors of the Berner Oberland.<BR><BR>Over the last 5 years I have spent more than a month exploring that area. The logical bases for seeing the mountains are as follows:<BR>Grindelwald - the largest of the villages in the mountains. In fact, Grindelwald has probably outgrown village status.<BR>M&uuml;rren = picture perfect, sits on the western shelf of the Lauterbrunnen valley with gorgous views of the Jungfrau and other peaks. No cars much in M&uuml;rren, but tends to be shut down in May.<BR>Wengen - another village with great views and no cars. A few hotels will be open.<BR>Lauterbrunnen - on the floor of the valley and the center of transportation to the various villages. <BR><BR>Lauterbrunnen is where I stay because I found a convenient apartment 5 minutes from the train station. The bus valley inward to Stechelberg and the Schilthornbahn is a few dozen yards away. I like the location because I can park a car virtually at the door and go all over the area when I want to.<BR><BR>Interlaken is about 10 miles from Lauterbrunnen by road or by train.<BR>The highest mountains are not really visible from Interlaken, but arguably there is more to do there than in most of the other places.<BR><BR>The drawback to May is that it is preseason. The summer season gets underway in June. Most of the higher trails that lead to some of the spectacular views of the mountains will still be snowed in. The season is post ski and pre summer so to speak.<BR><BR>On the other hand, the Jungfraujoch trip will probably be operating as will most of the other mountain train lines. So there will be places to go even if some of the vantage points are not quite ready for the season.<BR><BR>A lot of what is open depends on the snow pack from the previous winter.<BR> <BR>

Why don't you: stay in Bern for a few days, then go to a place like Spiez or Thun as a base for your mountain time? It's true, if you plan to take daily trips to the Berner Oberland, then being in Bern will tack on at least 1 hr. each day (1/2h + each way). But Bern is worth a stay for, as you say, the city and cultural elements...<BR><BR>Being at a more central location in the Bernese Oberland area will let you easily explore places like Adelboden and Kandersteg, which are near each other; then, venture into the "Interlaken area" but go to Grindelwald, Murren, Wengen, and Brienz. Would not recommend Meiringen - while it's a nice base for hiking in the Engstlenalp and Axalp areas, the village isn't that charming. <BR><BR>Would only use Interlaken as a base, if ever. But to be honest, I'd rather stay in great, authentic Swiss village than in one that's sort of swimming with tourists. (We're all tourists admittedly, but you know what I mean...)<BR>

Addendum: Oops, should have mentioned as well, that May is still early for being in the (higher) mountains. Wengen, Murren and Grindelwald will probably have lots of spring flora so they'd be OK, but any higher and you'd be in the last snow-and-mush. Consider as well another type of central base - Schoenried or Saanenmoser in the Simmental, an area that is at around 1'000meters altitude, full of rolling hills, smaller mountains, and some of the most stunning chalets. You can even visit Gstaad if you want some "glitz", or Chateau d'Oex, Saanen and Rougement, other nearby and very quaint villages...

Martin, reading your post I am convinced Bern is the perfect choice for you, especially in May. I am afraid most of the mountain villages are sort of ghost towns at this time of year.<BR><BR>Interlaken is IMO not a bad idea, but Bern offers more of everything: shopping, restaurants, nightlife. Bern is definitely not a sort of Disneyland! Two years ago I spent five nights there and enjoyed it extremely much. I am not assuming you want to do a trip to the mountains every day, right? Thun and its lake, Fribourg, Lake Biel area with its vineyards and quaint villages are well worth a visit, too. So I don’t see a reason why you should not choose Bern as your base.<BR><BR>Ingo<BR>

Good afternoon, Martin Personlly<BR>have picked Grindelwald with a view of<BR>the north wand of the Eiger. The only<BR>drawback is the touristy town..Interlaken as your base would be<BR>30 ins rail to either Grindelwald or <BR>Lauterbrunnen, another 15 to Wengen and<BR>about 25 to Murrren. Between Murren<BR>and Wengen would pick Murren as would<BR>feel there is a bettrview of the mountains and the view from the Schlithorn is most excellant on a clear<BR>day. Both Ingo and Bob have most<BR>excellant sugesttions. Out of Interlaken on both Lake Thun and Brienz<BR>are the lake boats that can take up some time of the tops are cloudy and<BR>also from Brienz, both the Rothorn and<BR>Ballenberg should not be overlooked.Bern is an excellant place to visit for a day or two but now as a base for the BO... Richard of LaGrange Park, Il..<BR>

Thanks so much to all who have replied. I should have stated that we'll actually be there in very late May and early June if that changes anyone's opinion.

Hi Martin, If you like cities, Bern is a lovely one with numerous day-trips possible by train. Ingo's mentioned some already. You can also visit the towns of the lavaux on Lac Leman and Lausanne, Murten, and Avenches if you're interested in Roman ruins. I guess you have to decide how important it is for you to wake up in the mountains rather than in a more cosmopolitan place a short trainride away. I love the Swiss trains, so using Bern as a hub sounds dandy (though I usually stay in the tiny roll-up-the-sidewalk places, myself). J.