Two active retired couples traveling this September, with four days to spend in Switzerland. It's a first-time there for some of us. All love nature, easy to moderate hiking, scenic photography (mountains and lakes) and microbreweries. Our itinerary has us coming from Munich. We are committed to spending at least one day in Geneva for a friend's daughter's graduation, but it seems limiting to use Geneva as a home base.
Suggestions on best home base to facilitate easy day trips?? Bern? Zurich??
Posted by
4393 posts
With four days, and Geneva being a must, I would look at the Lausanne-Montreux area. You get mountain-lake scenery and hiking, and when I was researching wine tours in the area, I recall coming across some brewery info. The Vevey-Lausanne area seems to have a thriving beer scene as well as vineyards.
Posted by
Chicago
2678 posts
I was in Montreux last June for 5 nights. If you’d like some ideas on what to do there, my trip report is posted. Just click on my name and look for June 2022: Solo in Switzerland.
Posted by
Nashville, TN
422 posts
Head to the Berner Oberland and stay in one of the car free villages, it's an experience you really can't find anywhere else in the world. Wengen has more lodging options and slightly easier connections for transportation. Murren is more historic. Can't go wrong with either. September is a lovely time - not as touristy while still nice weather. And definitely NO to basing in Bern or Zurich. Zurich is a modern tech/banking city. Bern has some lovely parts but it's a city, not what you came to Switerland for.
Posted by
Michigan
10 posts
If you are interested in small villages in Switzerland, consider the Lake Geneva area near Chexbres, Epesses, Vevey, Cully. You can easily get there before/after your stay in Geneva. September is a wonderful time to wander through the vineyards. We try to stay in this area every time we are in Switzerland - including a nine-night stay in September 2 years ago, a week last year, and 4 nights in the coming year. If you stay three nights, you are also given a transportation pass which allows you to travel by train and bus in this area. So many small villages and great vineyards to explore. The perch from Lake Geneva is to die for!