Obviously this comes down to opinion - but that's what I'm asking for! I have only a couple of days in Switzerland this August and then on the third day will be heading south over to the Lake Maggiore area. I would like to check out the Interlaken area, but it seems that the distance is the same from either. I would also like to take a mountain cable ride. Not sure what else at this point. Which city do you think is a better base city?
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Neither. Interlaken is the best base to explore the best Alpine scenery in Europe, the Berner Oberland. That's if you're not going to stay in the Berner Oberland villages.
Posted by
OP
Phoenix, USA
60 posts
Kent,
I assume you're proposing that I stay in Interlaken rather than Bern or Lucerne. I was under the impression that Interlaken is actually a small town with little in the way of a city. Is there a good selection of hotels, cafes, etc there?
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
Interlaken is a Small city. In fact, it's mostly hotels, restaurants, and cafes. If you want to experience either the Schiltorn, or Jungfrau (two of Switzerland's top attractions), Interlaken or one of the mountain villages in the above it a better choice than Bern or Luzern.
Posted by
Taylor, TX, USA
416 posts
I would stay in Meiringen. You can take the cable car up to Planplatten (for gorgeous views of the valley from Meiringen to Brienz) and then hike down, there is the Aareschlucht to hike (Aare river gorge), Reichenbach Falls and you can catch a postbus to Grindelwald if you want to do the Jungfraujoch.