We are coming off 4 days in Amsterdam ending with Taylor Swift concert and then full day train to Munich for two days inclusive of concentration camp and castle before ending our trip with 4 days in Swiss alps (leaving from of Geneva). We want one day for chocolate and cheese. Would love one day of hiking and probably two on the water. Any recommendations? Preference to stay in one place but can be convinced otherwise. Ideally, I prefer not to rent a car.
Thanks in advance!
It sounds like you want Montreux and the cheese/chocolate train
For water, Lake Thun or Lake Brienz!
Emmental, Gruyère, and Appezeller Cheese will be everywhere you look. I am not interested in chocolate but assume I walked by plenty of it, left it for others to enjoy.
We spent a week in Grindelwald and toured the other towns in the Berner Oberland. We had a car but you can do it all on trains too.
It sounds like you want Montreux and the cheese/chocolate train
Forget the chocolate train. It is not needed. And it isn't even a train nowadays. Just make your way to Broc and Gruyeres using normal public transport. Can be done from Bern as well.
Since you are leaving from Geneva I'd suggest you concentrate in the French speaking part of the country and leave the German speaking part of the country (my part) for another occasion. There is plenty of chocolate, cheese and mountains there to be going on with, although probably not well covered by Rick.
As you will be travelling with your granddaughter, one important thing to note is to make sure you have a written authorisation from her parents to make medical decisions on her behalf. The laws here in Switzerland have become much stricter in the last year or so. Hopefully you won't need it, but it is better to be prepared that for it to become problematic.
Hope you have a great holiday.
If you really want to be in the Swiss Alps, I would suggest the. Berner Oberland area. Lauterbrunnen is convenient for transportation. Mürren and Wengen are actually IN the mountains. All very accessible by trains and lifts.
Great cheese and chocolate can be found at any grocery store in Switzerland. You’ll even see farms selling their cheese from vending machines right by the side of the road.
You might like Brienz for your lake/hiking time. Personally I would swap the mountains for the lake and base in Wengen, then travel to Brienz for some time on the water. Either way, be sure to get to the mountains above Lauterbrunnen if you get to that area. Truly stunning scenery.
