One day in Berner Oberland?

It's well worth staying in the mountains for a few nights, especially if the weather is good. In fact, you may want to flip the plan - spend most of your time in the mountains and do a day-trip to Bern. It's only an 80-minute commute.

FastEddie is right - spend most of your time in the mountains rather than in Bern. Its a nice enough city, with city-type attractions, but its not in the mountains, and isn't that what you go to Switzerland to see? Staying in Bern, and making a day trip to Schilthorn would eat up to much of your time getting there and back.

We were in a similar situation where we only had 3 days total in Switzerland (wish we had more!) and one night had to be spent in Bern and one night in Zurich due to flights. We spent the 2nd night in Murren. It was so lovely, soo wish we had longer there! We did not go up the Schilthorn for the time factor - didn't want that to be our only activity there. We didn't miss it at all, there was plenty to see, do and enjoy in Murren by itself, esp. if you like hiking. Bern was pretty but Murren is GORGEOUS and SPECTACULAR.

Thank you all so much! We will definitely stay most of the time in the mountains and less time in Bern.

I think Bern is worth a good day. The Einstein exhibit in the history museum is excellent. The Klee museum is also good and the old town area with the clock and interesting fountains are a must see. However, I'd stay in BO and day trip to Bern. I would spend at least four days in BO. Another magnificent city in that area is Luzern. It is on a beautiful lake and river and situated among the mountains. As much as I liked Bern, I would rank Luzern higher.

You’re right, there are a lot of connections. But they’re tiny connections...as in take 15 steps to the next connection. Don’t let the number of connections fool you into thinking it’s difficult or complicated.

"You’re right, there are a lot of connections. But they’re tiny connections...as in take 15 steps to the next connection. Don’t let the number of connections fool you into thinking it’s difficult or complicated."

This is quite correct and VERY important. The reason there are so many connections is that they have not blasted tunnels through the mountains in that area. So, the trains can't go through the mountains - only up, down, or around them. Hence, there are lots of connections. But they are all timed to coordinate, and they're very easy. Plus, if you miss a connection (if you stop to buy something or use the toilet), they all run 2-4 times an hour, and are unreserved - just get on the next one.

I know that before you've been there, the connections seem complicated - all those unfamiliar looking Swiss-German place names and all those different modes of transit (trains, rack railways, lifts, etc). But once you're actually there, and can see the mountains and the tracks, it's really easy.

And yes, Bern is nice, but a few days there are plenty. However, you want to be in the mountains as long as you can spare. Not only are they spectacular, but mountain weather is both unpredictable and rapidly changeable. You want to have as many nights there as you can, to have the most possible time to get good weather, and you want to be right there, so you can adjust your plans when the weather turns. One of the saddest things I've seen was groups going up to the Jungfraujoch, even though the webcams showed that there was zero visibility at the top, because they'd pre-booked and prepaid for the excursion from further away. The Schilthorn is the same; you don't want to do it from Bern because you may hit bad weather by the time you get there. You want to be in the area, so you can go when the weather is good.

Lots of great advice here. I'm glad you are now planning on more time in the mountains and less time in Bern. I have been there a couple of times and it's ok as far as cities go, but the mountains are what one travels to Switzerland for. Personally I prefer to stay on the Gimmelwald/Murren side of the valley, not to be confused with Grindelwald. Sigh! I miss those mountains! Maybe next year.

Thank you very much for the additional responses. We'll spend a couple of days in Luzern after the Berner Oberland and a couple of days in Bern before it. Thank you for the advice on the connections, that was really making us nervous, but such great explanation makes us feel at ease, especially carrying all our luggage :-)