Hi, fellow travelers. I'm a college student and have traveled a lot of Asian country, but I'm planning a European trip for this winter break. I can say that planning this trip is the most stressful thing.....ever. I'm going to be in Europe for about a month (12/27-1/22), and want to visit all the places I want to visit. I'm starting in Paris, then to Barcelona. The problem is here. I was just going to visit Bern, Switzerland, but it would be crazy of me to skip Swiss Alps. So I've been searching and searching, and still can't find the best way to go from Bern to Swiss Alps (Berner Oberland) then to Rome. Is there a way?
Also, I'm a bit tight on budget, so what's the best way to truly experience Swiss Alps? I was going to end my trip with Vienna, Prague, and Amsterdam. Then the next question is quantity or quality. Sure I want to have both, but this is my last travel before I join Korean army next summer, (no traveling for 3 years), so I want to make the most of it. Thanks for reading!!
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
The Berner Oberland is far from the only Alpine region in Switzerland, it's just the most well-known to contributors to this website. But if your funds are limited, Switzerland is one of the most budget-busting countries on Earth. If you're visiting mainly for the scenery, realize that in early winter, adequate daylight hours can be very short. The sun rises late, the morning hours are usually hazy and gray, and it's mostly dark by 4:30 in the afternoon. That's not a lot time for good site-seeing in one of the most expensive corners of the planet. Also, Switzerland is somewhat out of your line of travel between Barcelona and Rome. If you want to see some grand Alpine scenery that better fits your budget and direction of travel, I would recommend looking into the French or Italian Alps on either side of the Mont Blanc masif. Although not exactly cheap either, it's still a bargain compared to the Swiss Alps. After Rome, if you head north to Prague or Vienna, you'll have to pass through the Tyrolian or Julian Alps, so that gives you another mountain option besides Switzerland.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16330 posts
As Tom suggests, Switzerland is not a good budget destination, especially in winter. The ski resorts in the alpine regions are very popular and can keep their prices high due to demand. However, if you are going to Bern, you will pass through the Alps on your way to Italy, so you could easily include a stop on your way. From Bern to Milan (your gateway to Italy and Rome), you have a choice of two routes: either via Luzern-Arth-GoldauLugano to Milan, or via Spiez and Kandersteg to Milan. The latter route is shorter and faster. If you went that way, you could do a short detour at spiez to Interlaken and then to Lauterbrunnen-a 52 minute train ride. Maybe stay that night in Lauterbrunnen so you can look around and experience the scenery (ride up one side of the valley or the other for great views.) The next day return to spiez and continue on your say south into Italy, or you could stop for another Swiss night in the village of Kandersteg (ther is an International Scouting Center there where youths can stay quite inexpensively). If you choose the other route, Luzern is a lovely town to visit, but expensive. You might look into staying up on nearby Rigi, a mountain that offers winter walking paths as well as skiing. You can ride a train up and over the top (at Rigi Kulm) and down to connect with the train to Milan at arth-Goldau. that would be a nice little adventure and a good way to experience Switzerland even if it is not in the Berner Oberland. You can see the routes and schedules for the trains at www.rail.ch (in English).