The last week of October I will be traveling to Switzerland for business and will have 3-4 days to spend as vacation. Last year, when I was there, I was able to visit Zurich, Luzern, Bern as well as the Berner Oberland (Jungfrau, Interlaken, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, Murren, etc). I would like to see something new this year and I will again be based in Bern. Would you recommend Geneva, Lausanne, Zermatt, St. Moritz? I love outdoor beauty and love to hike, but not sure how the weather will be at that time.

Thanks!

October should be chilly but probably not snow yet except at mountaintops that are covered all year.

I like Geneva (and you can definitely do Montreux and Chateau Chillon from there) but it's definitely a company town (the UN).

We also like visiting some of the smaller towns: Thun (great castle), Gruyere (another interesting castle), Neuchatel (just charming).

Sorry - have not done Zermatt or St Moritz - I somehow think of them just for skiing.

<i>but not sure how the weather will be at that time</i>

Not especially conducive to hiking and outdoor activities, unfortunately. Maybe go south, to Lago Lugano?

Then Engadin is beautiful in October (if weather permits). The golden larches, the blue sky - you need at least 2 days. There are so many beautiful villages.... Scuol/Schuls, Guarda and Zernez with Nationalpark are a must, and the hiking possibilities are endless.
http://www.nationalpark.ch/go/en/

As for cities, Thun, Murten (a well kept secret) and Fribourg are great medieval cities. Basel is superb for art lovers.

Have you been to Kandersteg? If not, it's well worth the trip and the hike to the Oeschinensee - a Unesco protected area!

As someone currently saying in Geneva - I would say please spend your time in the more lovelier parts of Switzerland. I've traveled all over Europe, and Geneva isn't memorable - actually quite disappointing. I enjoyed my time in the Bernese Oberland, though, and I highly recommend Saanenland. Still lovely in the fall.

Sorry. I meant..currently 'staying' in Geneva. You can see the highlights here in a day, maybe, the food leaves much to be desired, if you've been to the Bernese Oberland and Saanenland and other parts of Switzerland, Geneva is an anticlimax. The folks I know here race to leave over the weekends, and they love close-by parts of France for better (and less expensive) food.

Thanks to all of you for such good info and good options. Hopefully, I will hear in the next few weeks about my final itinerary.

If you think it will be too cold outdoors depends very much on were you're from. For me the weather was fine - but I hate heat and like brisk (not cold but fall brisk). If yuo're someone who thinks temps les than 60 mean you have to stay indoors it will be too cold for you. (Summer is my least favorite season - I like fall, spring and winter better.)

In the Geneva/Lausanne area the towns I recommend are: Vevey, Monteux, Gruyeres.

Another vote for Kandersteg

Sorry, but Gruyeres is not in the Geneva/Lausanne area; Gruyeres is in the Canton of Fribourg about 1h30 from Lausanne.

Do agree that it's a terrific place to visit though!!

Other places to see on Lake Geneva are Morges and Yvoire.

Have fun!

s

Zurich gets a bad rep on this board, but it's a really great place to visit, especially in summer. It has a compact medieval old town in pristine condition, a beautiful river and lake you can actually swim in, an amazing number of hip restaurants and bars, museums and gorgeous views of the Alps.

I agree! We spent four days in the city and had a great time. Besides the old town, my favorite part was Zurich West, which used to be an industrial area but is now full of nightlife, restaurants and art galleries.