A couple itinerary questions for central Switzerland. We are visiting in January.
I will be starting our Switzerland portion of our trip at Appenzell and will make my way south to Geneva where we will take a train to Paris for our trip home.
After I stay in Luzern, it looks like I could take a Golden Pass train to Berner Oberland Area or I could take the train to Bern. I would like to visit both areas before taking the Golden Pass train to Lake Geneva area. Should I take a sidetrip from Berner Oberland to Bern or go from Luzern to Bern to Berner Oberland which means we do miss the part of the Golden Pass from Luzern to Berner Oberland?
Secondly, regarding Berner Oberland. I am thinking I'd like to spend time in Gimmelwald, Grindelwald, Schilthorn and possibly Scheidegg. We will not be skiing. We will be sightseeing and sledding and possibly snowshoeing. We are not shoppers and prefer quaint and scenic rather than "overly tourist". Any specific suggestions? Further, is there one community/village/city that we could stay where we could easily cover all those areas? Additionally, we are trying hard to keep a budget in mind which is seeming to be very difficult in Switzerland. We are not "fancy" people. In fact we like to stay in small, local inns. Is there a particular area that might be more budget friendly? And specific inns/hotels/BnB recommendations are most welcome, too.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Gimmelwald is snowed under and there is nothing to see in the winter. This is the time of year when the Alps cater primarily to winter sports enthusiasts, so that's primarily what the infrastructure supports at that time of year.
If you want to try sledding and snowshoeing, and based on some of your preferences, Wengen might be a good fit for you. Many posters here prefer Mürren, but you'll have more and better options for winter activities on the Wengen side of the valley. If this was the only consideration, Grindelwald would be an even better choice, but if "quaint" is a requirement, you may not love this town. Like every other town in the region, Grindelwald is very attractive and the views are amazing, but it's very much a modern ski resort. Wengen has no automobile access and sits on a ledge high in the mountains.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32212 posts
jules,
You should certainly be able to do some sledding or whatever in the Berner Oberland in January. However, you'll need to consider transportation logistics in terms of the location you choose to stay. Gimmelwald, Mürren and the Schilthorn are on one side of the valley, and Grindelwald, Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg are on the other side. The common "hub" for both sides is Lauterbrunnen, and there are a number of nice hotels there. If you're planning activities on both sides of the valley, you might consider staying there. There's also the Valley Hostel if you want really low cost accommodations and don't mind "communal living'. In any case, wherever you decide to stay, it would be a good idea to book early.
Grindelwald and Wengen are both somewhat posh resorts so more "upscale" than the other areas, and may be more expensive in terms of lodgings. There are hotels at Kleine Scheidegg but IMO that wouldn't be a good choice as it's somewhat distant from the other locations you want to see. However you should be aware that anywhere in Switzerland is not exactly "budget" so you'll have to plan accordingly. I was just there again in September, so the cost aspect is fresh in my mind. My first meal in Switzerland was the equivalent of about Cdn$72 and it was just an ordinary meal along with two glasses of the house wine (that's for ONE person).
Many people on the forum prefer staying in Mürren as there are more hotels and other facilities there. If you don't mind a "quieter" atmosphere in the evenings, you could certainly stay in Gimmelwald (probably the least expensive option in that area). The Pension Gimmelwald is very comfortable and rustic, and there's also the famous *Mountain Hostel, Esther's Guesthouse* and a few others. As I recall, a few of the rooms in the Pension had shared washrooms, but not sure if that's still the case.
Having a car in that area won't be of much use, as many of the places you'll be visiting are "car free" and not even accessible to vehicles. Your rental car will be gathering dust (or snow) and incurring parking charges during your stay. Switzerland has an excellent public transportation system and that will be the fastest and easiest way to get around.