Best place to view the Alps?

If you could be more specific, i.e., Switzerland, Austria, France, etc., it would be easier to make a recommendation that would fit in with the rest of your trip.

A few suggestions. For the Bavarian Alps, try the Zugspitze. You can walk to the top in the summer from Grainau, take the cogwheel train from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to the glacier, then take a ski gondola to the summit, ride a ski gondola from the Eibsee Hauptbahnhoff or take one from Ehrwald on the Austrian side.

In the Interlaken area of Switzerland, you can ride the cogwheel train ($$$$$) from Interlaken all the way to the Jungfraujoch near the peak of the Jungfrau. Across the gorgeous Lauterbrunnen Valley, you can reach the peak of the Schilthorn (home of the Piz Gloria restaurant featured in James Bond's "On Her Majesty's Secret Service) by a series of gondola and funicular lifts. Rick's favorite Swiss Alps hideaway, Gimmelwald, sits on the lower slopes.

Of the three mountains, the Zugspitze is the cheapest, although not exactly budget. There are probably many more options of which I am unaware.

Well we are starting in Holland and ending in Paris with about 7 days in between and are really pretty much up for anything. At first we we planning on having more days and wanted to travel down the West side of Germany, over to Salzburg, across Switzerland and then back up through France but we decided to stay in Holland longer. I don't want to feel too rushed but I also don't want to miss out on anything. Who knows when we will ever get back there.

Years ago we traveled from Amsterdam to Paris with a stop in the Alps. We took the night train to Interlaken and spend a few days in the Bernese Oberland. It was the highpoint of our trip.

We spent a few days in Colmar (Alsace) between Switzerland and Paris. You could visit the Romantic Road (before Switzerland) or Alsace or Burgundy (after).

Two notes: Switzerland is pricey, and in May the Alps are going to be snowbound. Have a great trip, whatever you do!

Interlaken is a great base for seeing spectacular mountain scenery. I've been to the top of the Schilthorn twice; I think it offers a more panoramic view than the Jungfraujoch. The ride up, with stops in Gimmelwald and traffic-free Murren, is breathtaking. The view across the Lauterbrunnen Valley towards the Monch, Eiger, and Jungfrau with its glacier is awe-inspiring (weather-permitting!). The gondola ride down with its steep descent back to the valley (I forget the name of the town)is thrilling. Yeah, it's pricey to go to the top, but on a good day, it will be unforgettable. Also in the area are the beautiful glacier-fed lakes (Brienz and Thun) and the Trummelbach Falls where the falls thunder right through the mountain rock. This area is unmatchable for alpine scenery! Do a web search for photos of the area. Use an overnight train or two to cut down on travel time. Have fun!

Hi Melinda,
My first response to your request..."I am wondering where the best place to go and be IN the Alps and have the whole experience is" ...would be Wengen, Switzerland, in the Berner Oberland. Absolutely Amazing! While there are many excellent places to experience the Alps, Wengen, IN the Alps, is tops with us.

Paul

If you are in the Interlaken area, I would travel to Brienz, by either boat or train, and take the Rothorn Breinezer Bahn to the top of the Rothorn. This is a steam driven cog-wheel train that takes you on an unbelievable ride. You look over the Breinzerzee (Lake Brienz), Brienz, Interlaken, and the Meiringen valley, and observe the Jughnfrau and Eiger from a different angle. Very breath-taking and worth the journey. If you're into hiking, there are also a number of trails down the mountain into either Brienz or other locations.

Oooh, oooh! I vote for Garmisch-Partenkirchen like Tom said. Lovely town nestled in the alps. Also, my very first view of the Alps was from the castle in Salzburg. Breathtaking. We're visiting both cities in September and can't wait.

You people are so smart and knowledgeable. Thank you for the suggestions. I'm going to have to do some serious research!

Lucky you, the Alps are in my opinion one of the most beautiful places in the world.Pick your spot from Ricks suggestions in his Switz guidebook.
I once had the opportunity to see it from the pilots cockpit. I will never forget it! Natures gift to tourists and the Swiss-the Alps.

The wife and I are traveling to Europe in June 09', we originally wanted to start in Munich. We were now thinking about flying into Switzlerland and taking a picturesque train ride through the Alps enroute to Munich. We might have time to stop at one location to view. Can someone help