How to spend 7 days in Switzerland

Well, there are the must-see places like Lucern,Zermatt,
Lauterbrunnen, etc, but it depends on how you want to spend the 7 days. Out in the country seeing the beauty or in the cities, or a combination of both? Either way, bring LOTS of money....it is very expensive there! I lived there for a year awhile back, and got back a couple of months ago from a trip that included a brief visit to Switzerland, so if you have any questions, I'd be more than happy to try to answer them.

I'd like to see a little of both, more of the countryside/scenery though than the cities. If you have any suggestions of places off the beaten path or affordable hostels/hotels/bed and breakfasts to stay in that would be greatly appreciated as well! Thanks!

Ashleigh:

I spent time at the Hotel Tellsplatte in Sisikon, Switzerland, right on the Vierwaldstattersee. It was a gorgeous location and off the beaten path - we encountered no huge tour buses full of gawkers and the hotel featured a sauna. Nice & relaxing...I would love to go there again some day.

Ashleigh, We spent a week in Switzerland last Sept. We landed in Zurich @ noon. Checked out the city, took a cruise around Lake Zurich (free with Swiss Pass) before we headed via train to Lausanne. Spent 2 nights there where we saw the Olympic Museum (free with Swiss Pass) toured the town and surrounding wine country. Great walking. Then a quick stop at Chateau de Chillon, hopped on the Golden Pass train to Lautenbrunner and up to Gimmelwald where we stayed 2 nights. Tons of hiking. Then over to Kleine Scheidegg for a night. Beautiful. On to Appenzell Region where we spent one night up at Ebenalp at the Berggasthaus Aescher. Then back down the mountain to Appenzell. Tons of hiking, luge ride, cheese factory, ect. If you want more detail let me know.

Ashleigh, The Swiss Pass is the way to go. It will save you $ in the long run. We had a 4 day pass. All the benefits are good from the first time you validate your pass to the last day you use it. It is good for things even on days that you don't use it on a train.
We are pretty thrifty travelers. In Lausanne we stayed at the Lausanne GuestHause and Backpackers. In gimmelwald there is a Youth Hostel. In Kleine Scheidegg we stayed at the Grindelwaldblick. Finding a room in Appenzell proved to be the biggest challenge of our trip and the most expensive, but worth the effort. I would do it all again. Travel via the post bus in the Appenzell Region is cheap.