We are planning to spend 8 days in Switzerland in late Aug/early Sep. We did the same last year and spent most of that time in Murren (thanks to advice here) with a couple of days in Lucerne, and had an amazing time. Any suggestions on where else we could go this year? We are thinking of possibly going back to Murren but would love some advice on where else we could spend time. Many thanks.
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
Not mountainous but Lake Geneva area and Lausanne are very nice. By car we enjoy Appenzell area for mtn day hikes. generally you can't go wrong but I agree berner Oberland area is tops!
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
We also enjoyed Pontresina and St Moritz area by train from Zurich it is easily done and you can cont to Italy on the rail line.
Posted by
NYC area
2980 posts
Hi, I'd consider heading to Zermatt for a couple of days. The Matterhorn is something to see. We took the Gornergrat trip while there. www.gornergratbahn.ch/en/Pages/default.aspx www.zermatt.ch/en/page.cfm/experience/peaks/gornergrat/ www.zermatt.ch/en/ Paul
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Second the recommendation for Zermatt, especially because you will have 8 days and have already visited the Berner Oberland. The Matterhorn really is as stunning as touted. Neighboring Monte Rosa isn't too shabby either. The hikes here, however, are quite a bit more difficult than the Berner Oberland. You need to be in pretty good shape. If you have car, consider driving over the Grimsel Pass. I can't imagine a more scenic Alpine drive.
Posted by
OP
new york, NY, United States
61 posts
Thank you, all. We definitely want to spend a few days in Murren or Wengen. If we had to pick one other area to spend some time in, what would you recommend? Lake Lugano, St. Moritz or Zermatt? We are flying in and out of Zurich, and have to spend the last night in Zurich as our flight is early in the morning. Thanks again for all the help.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17432 posts
Zermatt offers some great hiking, and the Matterhorn is stunning. But our favorite hikes in Switzerland are at Bettmeralp, also in the Valais. Check out the photos at www.bettmeralp.ch. You can see the Matterhorn in the distance from here, but the main attraction is the huge Aletschgletscher; you can hike above it for miles and hike down to it at several points. bettmeralp is 3 hours from Zurich by train and cable car. Zermatt is 3 hours 20 minutes.
Posted by
OP
new york, NY, United States
61 posts
Lola - thank you! How do you get to Bettmeralp? What is the nearest train station? is it Sion? Do you think about 3 days each in Wengen and Bettmeralp sounds like a good trip? Thanks!
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17432 posts
Hi KT- to get to Bettmeralp from Mürren, you head to Brig (via Interlaken and Spiez). Change there for the local train heading east ( this is the Glacier Express route) to Betten. It is only about 15 minutes from Brig. At Betten, you board a large cable car, like the one up to Mürren, but you ascend about 4000 feet to the village of Bettmeralp. It is perched up there on the bench high above the valley and like Mürren is mostly car free. The Swiss train website www.rail.ch will show you the whole route and schedule, including the cable car. Bettmeralp is at the top of the cable car run, so don't get off at the intermediate stop! Three days in Mürren and Bettmeralp would be excellent. That is pretty much what we do when we go to Switzerland for hiking, but we go for 2 weeks so we generally include 4 places for 3 or 4 days each. Bettmeralp and Mürren are always included, and the rest changes. One of these days we will have to get to the Engadine (Pontresina) but so far we have found plenty of amazing hikes in the Valais and Berner Oberland.