I have gathered SO many ideas from my Rick Steves, Switzerland guide book as well as this forum, so thank you RS & community! Problem is that now I can’t decide what to do with my last 3 days & I’m looking for suggestions. In 2 weeks, I’m flying to Zurich, staying overnight then traveling to Wengen where I’ll join a group for an “Alpine Wildflower” tour. From 6/30 to 7/7 we’ll have a BO regional pass & planned hikes include Kleine Scheidegg to Wengernalp, Männlichen to KS, travel to Schilthorn & hike Birg to Mürren, another hike from Wengernalp to “slipper valley“ (?Biglenalp?), Grindelwald to First & Schynige Platte to visit the Alpine Garden. On 7/7 -leave Wengen, I hope to hike around Lauterbrunnen and check out some waterfalls before heading to Luzern with a friend for 3 nights. We’ll have a Tell Pass. Not sure what our legs are going to feel like after Wengen so our Lucerne plans are flexible but I would like to visit at least one of the peaks Rigi, Titlis or Pilatus, & ? rent a SUP & paddle on the lake. Then my friend leaves and I need to figure out what to do 7/10-12. I’m staying in Zurich 7/12 as I depart early 7/13.
Should I stay in the mountains and do more hiking or go to another area? What’s a Must See and reasonable to travel to & from in that time, on a first trip to Switzerland? Zermatt, Montreux, Bellinzona? I’ll be solo & maybe less adventurous, but maybe not since I’ll have been in Switzerland 11 days by then! I’m thinking a 3 day STP would be in order for these days. My interests include hiking, flowers/gardens, Birdwatching, old towns, chocolate, cheese & good beer!
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! BTW, I’m following Carrie’s posts which are very helpful! Good to know about the construction near Mürren and the temps in Luzern! Thank you in advance!!!!!
Posted by
Kalamazoo, MI, USA
92 posts
My sister visited Schaffhausen many years ago and recommended it to me for a couple of days at the end of our trip before flying out of Zurich:
https://www.travelyesplease.com/travel-blog-schaffhausen-things-to-do/
Posted by
Fort Myers, FL
1881 posts
You could take day trips from Luzern to Rheinfalls and Stein-am-Rhein, Bern or you could stay in Montreux and visit Gruyeres and the Callier chocolate factory.
Posted by
Green Bay
21142 posts
Head to Apenzell for more mountains.
Posted by
Minnesota
74 posts
I agree with Sam, heading to Appenzell is a great idea.
It meets all but one of your interests:
Very quaint old town with beautifully painted buildings.
The birthplace of Hershe....you know from Hershey's chocolate.
Appenzeller cheese, a fantastic alpine cheese, is made there.
The hiking is phenomenal in the nearby mountains.
You can take a gondola up to Hoher Kasten and see the alpine gardens at the top while looking over Liechtenstein. The ridge hike to Staubern is stunning.
The gondola up to Ebenalp is another great choice. From there hike down to Aescher for one of the most iconic berghutte in the world. It's image is on every bottle of Appenzeller Alpenbitter.
If you are ambitious hike berghutte to berghutte. They are far more like B&Bs than rustic huts and they are spaced apart ideally for snack breaks.
And finally, Quollfrisch beer is made there. An excellent refreshing beer and available at the berghutte's as well as in town.
Jay
Posted by
Chicago
8164 posts
Another vote for the Appenzellerland region specifically to Ebenalp:
https://www.ebenalp.ch/en/welcome
Posted by
OP
NC
4 posts
Thank you all for the suggestions! Jay, I especially appreciate the hiking and berghutte details. Jill and Jazz+Threads thank you both for the helpful links! I'm feeling less stressed already :)
Posted by
Charlotte, NC
179 posts
I added three nights in Vevey and explored it along with Montreal’s, Chillon, Lausanne, the wine area and would have done the Chocolate/Cheese train to Gruyère but had logistic issues. Enjoy.
Posted by
OP
NC
4 posts
I've returned from my first trip to Switzerland and want to thank Sam, Jay and Jazz+Travels for the suggestion to go to Appenzell! I stayed in a lovely family house/BnB, went up to Hoher Kasten and Ebenalp. The alpine gardens at Hoher Kasten were beautiful and not crowded. I may have spent too much time there before I headed out on the ridge hike to Staubern, as I felt pressed for time to get back to catch the last lift down! I ran out of energy and water so hiking to the lake and back to the valley wasn't an option. My visit to Ebenalp was brief because I was exhausted from Hoher Kasten but I didn't want to miss it. I went up early and had coffee on the deck at Aescher, great experience that topped off my vacation perfectly! Thanks again, Julie