We will be spending 4 days in Switzerland flying into Zürich before taking the train to Rome?? Our adult daughters request is hiking, eating cheese fondue and sitting in a mineral spring. How do you suggest we go to make thus all happen?
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Hiking - easy. this is virtually the Swiss National Sport.
Fondue - easy. No tourist -orientated restaurant would fail to have this on the menu.
Mineral Spring - slightly more difficult, you need a Spa.
And, what time of year is this? Hopefully May to September, so the mountains are not totally snow covered.
My recommendation: The Jungfrau region. One of these places: Mürren, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen or Wengen
Local tourist website, with photos, info and accommodation: https://jungfrauregion.swiss/en/summer/
Local map (to see where theses places are: http://www.regionalpass-berneroberland.ch/assets/karte-und-partner/Regionalpass-Panoramakarte-2017.pdf
Topographic and Hiking Map: https://map.veloland.ch/?lang=en&bgLayer=pk&season=summer&resolution=5&E=2636914&N=1162019&layers=Wanderland
This map is centred on Wengen, but you can slide and unzoom to find the other places. the green lines are ALL signposted hiking routes. Map squares are 1 Km.
You can get to all these places by train from Zürich airport station (Zürich Flughafen) in about 3 hours. Train times on the Swiss Railways website: https://www.sbb.ch/en
Wengen and Mürren are car-free (only reachable by train).
And the Spa: Interlaken is a town at the entrance to his area. Very upmarket. I found this page on the official town website listing all the spas in the town: http://www.interlaken.ch/en/activities-excursions-adventure-festivals/wellness-fitness-selfness-relax-spa.html
Google "Spa" and one of the four towns I suggested (Mürren, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Wengen), and you will find many more.
Enjoy. This stay will cost you. Switzerland is a lot more expensive than Italy.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16221 posts
Here is a "top ten"' of outdoor mineral baths in Switzerland:
Leukerbad is in the Valais and a bit off your path, but you could detour there from Brig on your way into Italy.
Rigi Kaltbad, on the other had, is close to Luzern and could be a stop right on your way to the Berner Oberland. We have stayed in Rigi Kaltbad but it was before this Mineralbad was built. You reach it from Luzern by taking a boat to Weggis and cablecar up from there. More Swiss fun.
Views over the lake and mountains from Rigi Kaltbad are gorgeous, and there is nice hiking there as well.