Hello, I am planning a week or so trip to Switzerland with my mom end of September. We would like to visit couple of towns, and skip the hikes and peaks. I am trying to decide if we should base out of either Basel or another town, and do day trips from there or if we should just spend the night along the way. Which cities are a must destination? I’ve been to Geneva but wasn’t impressed as a tourist that much, but my mom keeps mentioning it as a destination on her list. Would love to hear your thoughts. I looked at old posts but as much informative and great they were it seemed they focus on the mountains/nature and I don’t think that’s in our cards this time around. Thank you.
Posted by
Bainbridge Island
3254 posts
Fly into Geneva if your mom wants to see it, stay one night. Then head to Bern, our favor Swiss city. Maybe add Lucerne for 2 nights before flying out from Zurich.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7777 posts
I stayed in Geneva years ago in the winter, at the end of a ski trip and made a day at trip by train to Gruyère. Have not gone back.
We finished our France/Germany trip a couple of weeks ago with three nights in Basel, although we didn’t make any daytrips from there. It was hot at the end of July, and the air conditioning in our hotel room was very much appreciated.
Speaking of hotels, every hotel in Basel will give you a visitor card that provides free transportation (there are trams everywhere, and they seem to come about every 20 seconds), plus discounts on museums. Basel has many, many museums, art, history, etc. - even a doll museum. We do want to return.
How would you get to Basel, if that’s where you visit? If flying to EuroAirport that's actually on the French side of the Rhine River, when you take the shuttle bus into Basel, if there’s actually anyone onboard checking passengers’ tickets (we never were asked), just show your hotel reservation. Once you reach the hotel, you’ll get the visitor card to show for the remainder of your trip.
I don’t know about September, but a big activity (which we didn’t do) is to float down the Rhine. We talked with the owner of an Indian restaurant one night who said that’s how locals cool off, with towels, shoes, change of clothes, etc. in a waterproof stuff sack that floats along with them. I don’t know if they go back upstream on land afterwards to where they started, or if they travel upstream to start, and get out closer to home when they’re done. The brownish green water didn’t look too inviting for a swim, but the city was delightful.
Posted by
Green Bay
20940 posts
Where you coming from?
Posted by
OP
3 posts
I am coming from Los Angeles, and my mom is coming from Bulgaria. I like the idea of starting in Geneva and fly out from either Basel or Zurich.
Posted by
Green Bay
20940 posts
But you can get nonstops from LAX to Zurich, and I would bet your mom will as well. If you want to visit Bern, Basel, and Luzern, Zurich is your closest, most convenient airport.
Posted by
32 posts
Don't forget Lausanne! It's a lovely city with a very walkable lakeside and easy access via boat or train to other cities.
Basel is a fun and interesting city, but Bern might be more centrally located.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you all for the great suggestions. The biggest reason for the Geneva stop was visiting The United Nations but it seems they are all sold out of access for September.