Is Bern worth spending any time in?
My friends and I are taking a 16-day tour of Europe by rail. We have only about 3-4 days to spend in Switzerland and I do want to make the most of it. My plan is to arrive in Bern, and go on to Luzern (spend the night) and onto Interlaken. Most of the time will be spent in Lauterbrunnen (sp?) and the surrounding mountain villages. Should I leave some more time for Bern, Luzern and Interlaken?
Thanks much!
What about Gimmelwald? Is it a place we would want to stay for a few days? Or should we make Lauterbrunnen our base and visit the villages during the day?
Interlaken is not worth a visit; it’s not particularly pretty or scenic, and mostly a tourist trap. as for Luzern, it depends… it can be very crowded with tourists (which i never like when i’m traveling), but it is one of those cities that anyone visiting Switzerland should see, at least once. the same could be said for Bern. i suggest, visit Bern on arrival. it doesn’t take much time to see the city, unless you want to go to every museum/attraction. 2 hours is fine; you’ll get a feel of the incredibly fairy-tale feel of Bern, the seemingly infinite covered walkways, and the major sights like the Parliament building, Einstein House, Bear Pits, and the plentitude of charming fountains that line the streets (start at Spitalgasse when you leave the Bahnhof, and it will go straight into Marktgasse, Kramgasse, and Gerechtigkeitsgasse — remember to get a nice map from the tourist office when you arrive). another tip, you can rent free bikes (just put down 20franc deposit which will be returned) to peddle around town, right in front of the Bahnhof. after your city tour, continue onto Luzern and spend the rest of the day/night there. next day, head into Jungfrau region and don’t waste time at Interlaken. Lauterbrunnen valley is very pretty, and Trummelbach falls is considered a highlight (though i wasn’t crazy about it when i went). Wengen is, imo, the most picturesque of the mountain towns. Grindelwald isn’t the prettiest town in the region, but the Trottibikes (take the Firstbahn to Bort, where you can rent scooterbikes that lets you roll down a narrow gravel road, while enjoying incredible view of the mountains/glaciers, rolling green fields, wandering cows, etc.) are a lot of fun. an easy way to reach Grindelwald would be if you were going to Jungfraujoch, then on the return at Kleine Scheidegg, take the train to Grindelwald. you want to make sure you spend most of your time in the mountains, otherwise, you’ll regret it once you’re home (really, it’s that amazing). if you get really bored, you can always visit Thun, Spiez, Brienz, etc which you’d need to come down from the mountains for, though they’re interesting cities in their own right.
The Maya Diaries – Episode 12 – Europe Trip – Brugge
|
|
Europe by Eurail 2012: Touring Europe by Train $11.33 This comprehensive guide, newly revised and updated, provides the latest information on fares, schedules and pass options, as well as detailed information on more than ninety specific rail excursions…. |
|
|
Daytrips Germany: 60 One Day Adventures by Rail or by Car in Bavaria, the Rhineland, the North and the East $12.89 Now in its sixth edition, Daytrips Germany has long been a favorite guidebook for adventurous travelers who prefer to make theor own tours. This latest revision covers the tremendous changes taking place, especially in Berlin and the East. Each of the 60 one-day adventures is complete with a do-it-yourself walking tour, a map, full travel directions, time and weather considerations, restaurant sug… |
|
|
Europe by Eurail 2011: Touring Europe by Train (Europe by Eurail: How to Tour Europe by Train) $14.31 35th Anniversary Edition Europe by Eurail has been the train traveler’s one-stop source for visiting Europe’s cities and countries by rail for more than thirty years. This comprehensive guide, newly revised and updated, provides the latest information on fares, schedules, and pass options, as well as detailed information on more than ninety specific rail excursions. Trips start from one of … |
|
|
Shaun White Snowboarding Road Trip $8.20 Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip for Nintendo Wii introduces a whole new way of playing snowboarding games. Developed by Ubisoft, Shaun White Snowboarding was developed from the ground up to take advantage of the Wii Balance Board, giving you an experience that is more intuitive, realistic, and fun. .caption { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bo… |
