South Germany / Switzerland / Liechtenstein

This seems like a really rushed trip, so in the interest of not going too far, I'd do the Bodensee for sure. Lindau is my personal favorite town there. It's really beautiful and charming.

Personally, I would skip Bern and add Lauterbrunnen.

Thanks. I've been to Lauterbrunnen - we will probably pass through on the way to the Alps (probably Murren, maybe Gimmelwald) - but I definitely want to see Bern.

Just FYI; Liechtenstein is a dud. Aside from the novelty of being in a tiny country, there is nothing there more interesting or more scenic than anything else nearby. There is nothing special about it at all. We did it as a road trip from Bavaria for the sake of saying we set foot there and I felt like an idiot afterwards. It was a waste of time. It tops a very very short list of things we did in Europe that in retrospect, I wish we had not. In your time frame, I would stick with London/Paris/Switzerland. That's plenty. If you really want to see something that looks & feels a little like the romantic Germany, stop by the lovely town of Colmar, France near the border with Germany (used to be IN Germany pre WWII). It's a fantastic place to spend a night or two (and a nice small town contrast) - or you could choose a nearby town just across the border in Germany, I suppose. But bottom line; your time is very limited and seeing interesting things is more important than spending time in transit from place to place or padding the "I've been to _____ countries" list. We found Bern to be a very pleasant mid-day stop to stroll for a few hours. But I would not want to devote more time to it than that with the Alps nearby. Congratulations on exposing more people to Europe! Good luck!

Thanks. I think Liechtenstein is out then - my regular travel buddy would definitely get the kick out of it that I do, but my husband and family probably will not, especially since we'll be seeing Switzerland. I've been to Colmar and it was lovely - but I definitely want something in Germany. The Bodensee is very close to the border, so that may be my best bet ...I'm working my way through a guidebook to see what else is in that area. Perhaps I will distribute one of the Bern days elsewhere if the Alps are much preferred - I have been to Lauterbrunnen (not quite the Alps), but never to Bern. Thanks again!

Lindau is an excellent choice and it fits well within what you have planned... which I agree, by the way, is too rushed. Even better if you visit in the summer, when you can take advantage of the swimming and water sports. Lichtenstein isn't bad (it sits in an Alpine valley, after all), but it's otherwise indistinguishable from the adjacent areas of Austria and Switzerland. There's an attractive castle at the southern end of the country, although I don't know if you can visit it. If you're visiting Bern and flying out of Zurich, the Alps around Luzern would probably be a better fit for the flow of your trip than the Interlaken/Lauterbrunnen area.

Lake of Constance is one of my favorite places in Germany. It is absolutely beautiful and I have great memories of watching the sunrise over the lake. I would return in a minute. I did have a car, so explored a number of towns around the Lake. Also, I guess I am one of the few who enjoyed Lichtenstein...first trip to Europe, so maybe that was part of it, but I remember driving up this narrow winding road and finding a little place to park and sat on a bench overlooking the countryside. Quintessential scene with the church steeple, etc. Took time to breath the air and write in my journal. We went on a whim, so not sure if I would plan a day there if it took me out of my way...but another special memory for me.

Carolyn, You don't say what time of year you are talking about for this trip. That is a major factor in deciding what to see in this area. Like a previous poster, I spent an hour in Liechtenstein a few years back and think that was way more time there than it warrented! Bern, in my opinion, can be seen in an afternoon, with plenty of time left over for a nice long, dinner.
There are great places to visit in Switzerland - Chateau Cillon outside Montreux, Lucerne, lakeside at Lausanne, etc. Check it out...

Hi, I agree with others to skip Liechentstein. With the limites time you have, there's nothing there you won't see elsewhere. Terry kathryn... Liechentstien was where we stayed on our very first night in Europe also! We stayed at the Hotel Martha Buehler. Maybe we loved it as it was our first night in Eurpoe and we got our first glimpses of the Alps. Fantastic views as I recall. By the way, our room was right next to the church steeple, and that bell liked to ring.

We routed ourselves through Liechtenstein as I wanted their stamps. just was not excited by the City or the surroundings. Much better scenery in many places in Switzerland or Austria. I also preferred Munich, Rothenburh and Nuremburg to Lindau and Lake Constance. If you are into gardening however, the Island of Mainau on Constance is quite a place to visit

I'm glad you've decided to skip Liechtenstein. I saw nothing there except a McDonalds.