Retweaking our trip and thought those 2 areas looked interesting. Since we will be in touristy areas for other days, thought one of these would be nice. Wondering if anyone has thoughts on these locations.
I realize Merligen is part of BO, but thought it would be a quieter choice. End of September and public transport only.
Thank you for your help,
I have visited Neuchatel several times since my family is from there. I am probably prejudiced, but I think it is a wonderful small city to visit. Lake Neuchatel is beautiful and there are a number of museums and sites both in town and in the canton. Train connections are good, very walkable city. If you go there, don't miss the funicular that goes from the lower level of the train station down to the level of the lake and can save you a taxi ride to your hotel if you are staying near the water.
One advantage of Neuchatel is that they offer a Neuchatel tourist card if you stay locally, which your hotel will provide to you. It provides free admission to museums in the canton, (not just the city) and free transportation in the canton on trains and buses. Even a free boat cruise on the lake. That means you can go to other cities in the canton for free, such as La Chaux de Fonds where there is a really good horological museum, etc.
I can't offer any opinion about Merligen, since I haven't been there.
Wherever you go, be sure to check if there is a big local festival going on while you are there. That can really have a negative impact on the experience!
Thank you for your helpful information. The grape/wine festival does start the night before we plan on leaving,, so not sure if it gets crazy before then as we are there during the week. Any hotel recommendations? We were curious about the Hotel Palifitte..seems unique.
Great info on sites to see. Thank you.
These two locations offer very different experiences, making it hard to directly compare them. Your choice will really depend on the type of experience you're seeking.
Merligen is a very small village with fewer than 1,000 residents, while Neuchâtel is much larger, with a population of around 45,000—similar in size to Thun, which is about 30 minutes from Merligen.
Because of its size, Merligen has fewer restaurant options and amenities, but it more than makes up for it with its stunning location. The village sits right on the Lake of Thun, with the impressive Niesen mountain (known as the Swiss Pyramid) directly across the water. The views are often breathtaking, especially in the mornings or during a beautiful sunset. I have sometimes gone past on the bus, and always enjoy the view.
From Merligen, you can easily take the funicular up to Beatenberg (20 min away) or continue on to the top of Niederhorn mountain (40 min). Nearby attractions include the St. Beatus Caves and the hanging bridge in Sigriswil. You can also take a boat or bus to Thun to explore, or head in the opposite direction toward Interlaken. Along the way, you might stop in Unterseen, where there’s a lovely restaurant on the lake and a bird sanctuary at the Neuhaus bus stop (18 min). From there, you can continue on to Interlaken and explore many more areas from there.
I think that this would be a very tranquil, more out of the way location, but still close enough to lots of exciting opportunities.. Sandoz has provided a great overview of Neuchâtel—now all you have to do is decide :-)
Either way, you can’t go wrong.
