July in Swiss villages- Need Your Suggestions

You are so lucky!
I'd suggest you get the RS Guide books and watch a few of his Swiss videos, as background research. See what mountain towns speak to you, then come back here for specific ideas on where to stay, how to get there, etc I'm sure the Berner Oberland will be part of your journey. Also, check out all the entries under the Switzerland section of this Forum.
Safe travels!

Like Pat suggested, I’d do a little initial research. But, what comes to mind when I read your post was Montreux, Murren or Wengen, and Lucerne for you home bases.

Congrats on the retirement!!! I’m 48 and keep checking my 401k to see if I have enough to retire yet. 😊

Sounds wonderful! I would suggest Murren or Wengen and Vevey on Lake Geneva.

Thank you, Pat, Carrie and Carroll, for your quick responses. I appreciate your suggestions very much.

I think you might like Meiringen. The town where the train over the Brünig Pass between Interlaken Ost and Luzern changes ends, so excellent transportation connections by train and car. A short train trip takes you to the eastern end of Brienzersee (Lake Brienz) and the small town of Brienz which is famous for its wood carving (most so called "Black Forest" carving was actually carved in and around Brienz) where you can board steamer towards Interlaken which calls as it first stop at Giessbach which is famous for the Falls which you can hike up to and walk behind, and walk in the woods, as well as using the antique funicular up from the ship to the magnificent hotel.

I've always liked Meiringen. Near the town, walkable or there is a tiny railway going there, is the gorge of the Aare river which you walk next to (charge), and a funicular going up to the Reichenbach Falls, where Sherlock Holmes had his battle for his life, is a real place. Hiking, riding the funicular, or even taking a Post Bus from the train station to a stop above the falls.

By the way, can you tell I like it there?

One year we stayed at an airbnb with sliding living room doors which opened onto fabulous views over to the mountains, yet was just a couple of minutes walk to the shops.

The Berner Oberland region would meet many of your interests, and it is easy to travel there by train. Once there, you can get to many great views by train, cable car, or funicular, then enjoy the view or add short or moderate hikes.

I stayed in both Lauterbrunnen and Murren. Lauterbrunnen is in the valley and offers quicker connections to both sides of the valley or down to Interlaken and the lakes. Murren is higher up and offers great views of the mountains.

Lauterbrunnen is about a 30 minute train ride from Interlaken and just over an hour from Thun, a smaller city. You can take a scenic boat trip around the lakes from either. However, I would spend most of my time in the Berner Oberland region in one or more of the villages.

From Lauterbrunnen, you can take the bus toward Stechelberg and get off at any point and walk back to Lauterbrunnen. This is an easy, but very scenic walk. There are several impressive falls along the way.

You can also take the train to Wengen (beautiful scenery); then the cable car to Männlichen.

There is a cable car from Lauterbrunnen to Grutschalp and a train from there to Murren. There is a nice hike from Grutschalp to Murren or vice versa. If you don’t want to walk the entire way, there are several train stations along the way.

You can take the cable car up to the Schilthorn for impressive views.

You can walk the road from Murren to Gimmelwald and take the cable car back.

You can take the Almendhubel funicular and walk around the flower trail or hike down to Winteregg or Murren.

Here are good sources for descriptions of hikes:

https://lauterbrunnenhiking.wordpress.com/lauterbrunnen-hiking/murren-hikes/
https://lauterbrunnenhiking.wordpress.com/
https://muerren.swiss/en/summer/tracks/northface-trail-2h30/

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/switzerland/berner-oberland-lauterbrunnen-valley

This thread discusses activities for a rainy day:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/switzerland/rainy-day-cloudy-day-things-to-do-in-jungfrau-region

All the best,

Raymond

I will join the chorus on spending at least a week in the Lauterbrunnen area, whether you choose Mürren, Wengen, or Lauterbrunnen itself.

Vevey is nice but more of a town/city IMO than a village. Maybe Lugano for a lakeside location.

I am very fond of Pontresina in the Engadine. Lots of Italian speakers.

We have found many easy hikes in the Lauterbrunnen area as well as near Pontresina. Lugano has mountain ringing the lake with lovely vistas and light hiking.

You will want to explore Swiss transportation passes extensively. Not only the Swiss Travel Passes and Half Fare Card, but also regional passes once you settle on the locations. For example, in Pontresina a lift pass was included in our lodging, but in Lauterbrunnen we get a Berner Oberland Regional Pass.

Hello Nigel, Raymond and Laurel,
Thank you very much for sharing your suggestions and tips. I truly appreciate your taking the time and effort to assist!
I've just ordered Rick Steves' Switzerland book and am watching YouTube videos and researching all of the towns and trains that have been recommended by Forum readers. Many thanks!

If you need some you tube suggestions, i like city walks. Here are some of my favs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsp2XG8lPyw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsp2XG8lPyw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xqgW2Ha7kg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI3IH6KJjFY

The how to switzerland channel has great videos. some on places, shopping, travel tips, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/c/HowToSwitzerland

This one convinced me to stay in Montreux for my upcoming June trip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAT3YVfhQ4g

Janet Hewag has lots on Switzerland:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDyVn80GuHYMgkKe3nVJXAw

Hi Carol, What a great way to start your entry into retirement! If you’re looking for small towns, Nigel and Laurel’s suggestions
are excellent. Pontresina makes a great base for walking to the Morteratsch Glacier, which is a flat, easy 30- minute walk from the train station at Morteratsch. Pontresina also is a great base town for catching the regular trains which do the same route as the famous “Bernina Express” down to Torino Italy. The scenery is spectacular and you won’t want to miss it since you’re a photographer.
From Pontresina you can also get out to the Swiss National Park and the medieval town of Zuoz which is on the way to the park. I stayed in Zuoz, but Pontresina is a bit more central as a base town.
The suggestion of Meiringen is excellent too. It’s in spectacular scenery and gives you access to Lake Brienz and it’s beautiful villages and easy hikes. The train ride through the nearby Brunig Pass is not to be missed.
For the Berner Oberland, I think you can’t beat Murren for the setting with views of the Eiger, Munch and Jungfrau mountain peaks toward the east on the other side of the Lauterbrunnen Valley. The 30-minute hike on a easy path to Gimmelwald is fantastic.
You might also want to make one of the lakeside towns in the Italian-speaking Ticino area on the banks of Lake Lugano. Locarno is a bit sleepier than Lugano as a base. There are other smaller towns nearby as well.
Have a great Trip!

If I had a month in addition to the Bernese Oberland I would try the Engadine. I have been to Switzerland 5 times and have heard from Swiss that it is lovely, many villages, lakes, etc. But you must see the majesty of the BO.

Hello Carrie, Kenko and Chapin,
Many thanks for your excellent suggestions. I'm finding the You Tube videos mentioned by Carrie to be extremely helpful and am looking forward to receiving Rick Steves' Switzerland guide this week so I can start researching all of the suggestions offered in response to my request. Thanks to all!

You’ll also want to check out the lavaux wine villages around lake geneva.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwkYlEHi2I0

Saint-Saphorin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieFwmKNncL8

Rivaz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bbTWPIYoXw

Wow- so many moving parts and so exciting! Just to weigh in on the Berner-Oberland, stay in Wengen, Murren or Grindelwald and not Lauterbrunnen. It looks central on a map but is in the bottom of a deep valley with no views. Of the 3, given your priorities, I would suggest Wengen or Murren.