I am working on plans for 2018, which will have us visiting Switzerland and then hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc. This will be in August. I am thinking of flying home to Seattle with Condor Airlines in Business Class---first time we will deviate from British Airways in many years, but it saves a lot of $$$ and we would earn miles rather than spend them.
So, we would have 2-3 nights between leaving Chamonix and arriving in Frankfurt for a flight out the next day. Thinking of a one-night stop somewhere in between, and then either 1 or 2 nights in Frankfurt, if there is enough to see there. We love museums, pedestrian zones, parks, historic buildings, nature, architecture, and walking/hiking.
Looking at bahn.de, I see the direct route between these places goes via either Lausanne or Visp (tunnel involved here) to Bern, and then Basel, Karlsruhe, and Mannheim to Frankfurt. Places we could stop for the night, without much deviation from the route, would be Vevey, Lausanne, Basel, Colmar, or Kandersteg. We have been to that last one but are happy to return, as we love Oeschinensee. Of the others, I am more attracted to Colmar and Vevey as they are smaller towns, and probably less expensive than Basel---but the museums there sound very interesting! I know nothing of Lausanne but what I have read in Rick's book.
Does Frankfurt have enough of interest that we should spend two nights? Or should we spend two nights at the chosen intermediate stop, and leave just one for Frankfurt? I should note with respect to Vevey that we have previously visited Chateau du Chillon.
Anyplace else along the route that we should consider instead?
Thanks for your help.