My sister and I loved Switzerland so much in October that we are thinking about going back in late spring 2023. We used Lauterbrunnen as our home base for the week and did day trips from there. We went as far as Montreux. We are looking to see more on the next trip. She has expressed interest in Zermatt and I would like to go west toward St. Moritz and possibly to Italy (Lake Como/Varenna/Bellagio) for a few days. We would also like to spend a day in Grindelwald to do the thrill activities (zip line, First Flyer, go carts, Trotti bike). So, for all the Swiss experts, what to do you suggest for a good home base this time? Thanks!
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11776 posts
Ah, you are hooked like many of us! So much to explore in CH and a tough place to have one base. Zermatt and St. Moritz (to the east) are hours apart by train with Grindelwald somewhat in the middle. How much time will you have. Are you willing to devote a couple of days to long transfers to visit three decidedly different regions.
A couple of ideas for you to explore transportation options so you can work out a route. Use https://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html .
- Stay in Pontresina not St. Moritz. The latter is less charming then you’d think while Pontresina is quite charming.
- Look at the Glacier Express to get from Pontresina to Zermatt. You can get to St. Moritz from Pontresina in a few minutes to catch the train. It goes all the way to Zermatt or you can stop in Interlaken and visit Grindlewald then later continue to Zermatt.
Italy is another long transfer day from Interlaken or Zermatt so it depends on how much time you have. Ply with the SBB site or use Rome2Rio or Google maps to really understand the distances in terms of travel time and what you have time to do.
Spring can be dicey in the mountains. Later is better then earlier…
Posted by
Chicago
3125 posts
The desire to return to Switzerland must be contagious. 😊 I was there in Sept. with my sister and bro and law and am returning solo in June. We based in Basel (to see Germany and France), Lauterbrunnen and Lucerne. This June, I’ll be based in Montreux, Wengen, and Lucerne.
Lugano would be a good stop on your way to Lake Como, assuming you're starting in Zurich. We loved Bellinzona, which is easily reachable from Lugano. Did you spend anytime in Lucerne? I loved the boat/train combo up to Mt. Rigi.
Posted by
Abruzzo Mountains
1088 posts
I have spent a few months in total in Ticino over the last two years, as my daughter is working on a masters degree in Lugano. It's not the usual first trip, as the Bernese Oberland mountains are more dramatic, but it's a great second or third trip. The reason it often gets ignored is it does have similarities to the Italian lakes district, but naturally costs more because...well, it's Switzerland.
Lake Lugano is gorgeous, and they have a trash boat chugging around constantly to keep it clean. Carrie mentioned Bellinzona, which is fabulous and has a great Saturday outdoor market. There are marked hiking trails just like everywhere in Switzerland, and the food is very good, leaning more Italian. Lots of cute little towns and castles to explore, and within easy reach of Lakes Maggiore and Como.
It has traditionally been the poorest canton in Switzerland but now has a lot of banking and, in normal times, tourism to prop it up. Mountains and palm trees is an unusual and fun combination. We have enjoyed it a lot, it's worth a look if you're headed south anyway.
Then there is the French side...you say you got to Montreux, so you've touched it. The same daughter spent a year as an exchange student near Fribourg. We visited her there in 2013 and loved the cheese, chocolate and the lakes, this time not surrounded by mountains. We had a great day in Murten on the lake, another in Gruyère and the Cailler chocolate tour in Broc. There is so much variety in a small country, but I like your question about a home base to explore a section of it.
Posted by
Los Angeles
4853 posts
In Rick's guidebook there is a suggested all-of-Switzerland circular tour, you might crib parts of it.