Norway and Berner Oberland

Posted by Andy Scott (California) on 04/04/19 02:00 AM

My daughter is planning a trip in July to Norway and Italy, and a couple of days in Amsterdam. She has 4-5 days left at the end of her trip and hasn't decided where to go before she returns to the US. (She's already been to Spain and England).

I'm trying to convince her to visit the Berner Oberland, but she thinks it's too similar to Norway. I haven't been to Norway, but my opinion is that while Norway may be scenic, the experience staying in places like Lauterbrunnen and Murren and hiking in the area is out of this world.

For those of you have seen both countries, what do you think?

Posted by kb1942

04/04/19 03:50 AM

613 posts

We have lived in one of the most scenic mountain locations in N America (the view out our front windows was the main backdrop setting for the TV background for the 2002 Olympics) for 21 years. during which time I spent 11 days in Norway's mtns & about a week in the Alps, having previously driven the length and width of the Alps several times. To some, all mtns look alike, to me, everyone is uniquely different and they are all worth seeing multiple times.

Summer weather in Italy is awful-- hot & humid. In the 25 years we took summer trips to EU, a quickly leaned rule was never go south of the Alps in summer (retired now, so don't travel in summer).

What is she going to do in the Alps if the weather is bad?

For consideration: skip Italy, rent a car & tour the Austrian Alps where bad weather is off set by visiting cute villages and Baroque architecture. Nothing in Switzerland compares.

Posted by joe32F

Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂

04/04/19 03:58 AM

11877 posts

I have not been to either, but it seems she feels Norway will give her her mountain fix.

You mention her being in Amsterdam and still having 4-5 days to fill, so to me Paris seems a logical choice

Where does she want to go?

Posted by Andy Scott OP

California

04/04/19 04:19 AM

174 posts

I agree it will be very hot in Italy, but July is the only month she can go. Of course, the weather in a place like Murren will be a gamble. She is conidering Greece and Santorini, which is also going to be super hot. We visited Santorini in June last year, and were underwhelmed with this overhyped, crowded place.

Paris and Austria could be possibilities, but she may enjoy Austria more because she and her husband are into natural scenery more than museums and cathedrals. I was thinking of suggesting the Rhine river valley as another possibility.

Posted by Threadwear

Fort Myers, FL

04/04/19 04:40 AM

1881 posts

First, don't skip Italy regardless of the heat. It is not to be missed. If she is spending a lot of time in the mountains of Norway, then the BO may not be worth it this trip. (But, it should be visited in the future for sure.) The other issue is where is she flying to and leaving from?