My husband and I will be coming from paris to Kandersteg and will change trains both in basel and Bern to get there. We dont need to get to kandersteg until that evening so we could store our luggage and spend a few hours walking around either basel or bern. We arent huge museum people. Just want a town that would be fun to walk around. Would be open to doing a chocolate making class. Is one easier to get from train station to where we would want to walk around at? Is one better than other as far as stuff to see or little shops or restaurants to walk in? Thanks!
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
For a short visit from the train station, Bern will be prettier and more picturesque than Basel. Rick has a good walk from the train station to the river in the Bern chapter of his Switzerland book.
If you wanted to see museums, both cities have some very good ones. But for just walking around for a few hours, Bern wins (at least for me).
Posted by
Meridian, Mississippi, USA
124 posts
Vballrains,
I would suggest Bern because the train station is closer to the shops in the Alstadt. Just walk out the train station head toward the swooping glass covered trolley station and then turn left (east). You will soon come to the Käfigturm clock tower (and the Zytglogge just a bit farther) and medieval covered shopping promenades.
Basel is also beautiful and worth a visit, you would just want to catch a trolley to the Alstadt. It's only three stops to the Marktplatz, but a bit farther than you might want to walk.
I don't know any chocolate classes?
I hope you guys have a great trip!
Posted by
New York, NY
1586 posts
I agree with my travel mates. Bern is the winner.