We are two couples, planning three or four days on each end of a Rhine River cruise in August. We are coming from the U.S., arriving in London and working our way to Basel, where the cruise begins.

Our question is whether to spend the front end in Zurich or Basel. BA has flights into each city, for the same price, and we could stay in either so long as we are in Basel by 3 p.m. on departure day.

We have found hotels to be about 10 - 20 percent higher in Zurich than Basel, and have noted considerable comment that restaurants, etc., are quite expensive there. Accepting that anywhere in Switzerland is going to be expensive, I would still like to keep the overall costs under reasonable control, if possible. My hotel target is no more than $225 night, including breakfast, if possible; and air conditioning availability because of the mid-August time period. I have found some hotels that fit within that criteria in Basel, but am still looking in Zurich.

I am considering several options:

Fly to Zurich, train back to Basel on departure day.

Fly to Basel, train to Zurich on a day trip, if worthwhile.

Fly to Basel, and forget Zurich.

The factors we enjoy most about a location are scenery, museums, restaurants, and ambiance.

Thoughtful feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!

JimF

Swiss trains are so fantastic and Swiss cities are generally so uninteresting I would simply head for the mountains via train. Pick your dream spot and go. Switzerland is small.

I haven't been to Zurich but we went to Basel on a day trip and I loved it. We were able to fit in these two museums:

Museum Jean Tinguely
www.beyeler.com

Very much agree with zeppole. I was just in Zurich this week. Instead, take the train to the Lake Thun area. You could stay in Interlaken, Spiez or Thun. All are smaller towns in gorgeous settings. Take the train from Basel and really see the jaw-droppingly gorgeous parts of Switzerland. Museums are cool but the views around Lake Thun are their own museum...

I wouldn't stay in either one. Zurich is primarily a business city, and while Basel has a cute old town - the real beauty of Switzerland is in the mountains and countryside. I would stay in either Lucerne (an hour from Zurich by train) or Interlaken - and spend time on boat rides on the lakes, ascending mountain peaks (Pilatus, Titlus or even the Jungfrau if you get good weather) and touring cute villages and historic centers of these picturesque towns.

Totally agree but I'm going one step further--get INTO the mountains. Even Interlaken isn't IN the mountains. The Berner Oberland area of Lauterbrunnen in the valley or Wengen or Murren just above it would give you a great base to explore one of the best areas of Switzerland. Three or four days would be ideal. Do some searching and you will get tons of good info for this area.

Ditto Connie. Wengen, Murren, Grindelwald... All very cool. Just didn't know how much we should change their paradigm.
;-)

I agree that if you want to go hiking it's preferable to actually be in one of the small villages up in the mountains. But for general sightseeing Interlaken and Lucern both have easy access and a much better choice of hotels and restaurants. It really depends on what you want. (I'm a city person, and while small towns are cute for visiting I find myself getting bored after a day or so. I want easy access to the lakes and train or cable car up the mountain - but also a large choice of restaurants, shops etc.

Cute towns to explore - besides those up in the mountains, include Brienz, Thun, Guyere, etc.

We always rent a car since we prefer not to be tried to train schedules - or riding pst something we want to see (yes, we do want instant gratification). but the train service in Switzerland is very good if you prefer it.

I always love it when someone asks what is better, A or B and the answer comes back C.

Out of the two you mentioned, I would choose Basel. Especially if cost is a factor. Zurich is more expensive.

Actually, "D" Interlaken has nice views and is an easy train ride away. I anwered the spirit of the question, if they don't want the advice, no bother to me. Just trying to let them know how easy it is to get to the scenic parts of Switzerland versus the standard cities... JimF, were you offended we offered you "C, D and E" options?

I agree with Basel over Zurich, particularly if you like museums. One of the other posters already mentioned two of my favorites--Museum Jean Tinguely and the Beyeler Foundation gallery. There is also a really nice contemporary art museum along the river, and the big art museum is really great, too.

Thanks so much for your responses, you have enlarged my thinking about this. Please, no offense at all, Jumbonav and others.

I posed this same question at lunch today with a well-traveled associate and he gave me similar feedback. His suggestion is to fly to Zurich, get on a train and stay in Interlaken for the three days, coming back over to Basel by train the morning of our departure.

His rationale is just as yours: You do not want to miss the opportunity to explore "some of the most beautiful spots in the world." So, that's where I am: investigating lodging in Interlaken, and train/plane schedules.

This has been superb feedback, and I thank you all.

JimF

Also investigate Spiez, a much prettier and charming lakeside town just 20 minutes by train from Interlaken, or places in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Interlaken is very much a rail intersection, and other places have more ambience. Views from the valley floor in Lauterbrunnen can be incredibly beautiful, looking up into the high peaks. But if it's raining, you don't have far to go to catch a train to a city and a museum.