Need two bases in Switzerland please

Posted by psellazzo on 05/03/17 09:05 PM

Traveling from Paris by train, will be in Switzerland for 7 days in July and ending up in Milan. I need two good base points to see the most of Switzerland! We are not really interested in big cities. Mostly want outdoor sightseeing, hiking, small villages, scenic train rides. These are the places that I have read about that I would like to see, but can eliminate if not convenient to base.
Lucerne, Zermatt, Wengen, Bern, Rigi, Appenzell, Ascona, Lugano, Morcote, Guarda, Tarasp.

Any advice greatly appreciated!!

Posted by Chris F

Basel, Switzerland

05/03/17 09:23 PM

8889 posts

Luzern (aka Lucerne) and Wengen.
Both good bases with lots of day trip options. Luzern is more of a town. Pretty, on a lake. Day trips up mountains (Rigi, Pilatus, Titlis)
Wengen is in the mountains. Walking and mountain view paradise.
Both are in good locations for coming from Paris and continuing to Milan.

Zermatt is "off route". Bern is a big city. Appenzell is NE Switzerland, off route. Ascona, Lugano, Morcote are places to chill out on the south face of the Alps, but not good for "hiking, small villages, scenic train rides". Guarda, Tarasp are in Graubünden, too far East.

Posted by TravelingMom

Washington

05/04/17 12:45 AM

470 posts

Have you read about Murren? It is on the other side of the valley from Wengen. We stayed in Murren and went over to Wengen. We were happy we chose Murren as our "home". It is the ultimate small city (no cars allowed), has lots of hiking opportunities with outdoor sightseeing you will never forget. It includes a very scenic trip just to get to Murren including a gondola and tiny train. All coordinated schedules so you just hop off one and onto the other. Murren is situated higher than Wengen so the views are better IMHO.

Posted by psellazzo OP

05/04/17 03:37 PM

2 posts

Thank you!