Summer in Switzerland

[Old Expat Beast]

Can anyone recommend a few places to visit in Switzerland during the summer months please? The must-see cities, towns, regions, lakes, etc from a first-time tourist point of view...

Thanks in advance!

Adam

[SearChart]

If you like flowers you should definitely check Mainau, a small german island in the Bodensee very close to the Swiss border, spring and summer is the time to visit.

[bondtoys]

Make sure to visit Schilthorn - Piz Gloria in the 007 movie "On Her Majesty's Sectret Service".
IMO a magical place.

The Vallee de Joux with all the famous watch brands is great, too - must visit Geneva as well!

[smak]

yeah Interlaken for a day then Piz Gloria. Jungfraujoch if weather permits.

The adventurous enjoy taking on the Eiger.

Mount Titlis is very nice from the Zurich end.

Basel also has a lot charm in a medieval sense.. The city gates, town hall.

When will you be visiting Adam?

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by smak

yeah Interlaken for a day then Piz Gloria. Jungfraujoch if weather permits.

The adventurous enjoy taking on the Eiger.

Mount Titlis is very nice from the Zurich end.

Basel also has a lot charm in a medieval sense.. The city gates, town hall.

When will you be visiting Adam?

Possibly August/September...wife fancies the lakeside cities and some hiking around mountain areas, but nothing too hardcore. Geneva is on the list for me, but we'll be flying into Zurich.

[Dan Pierce]

Here you go, Adam:
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...of+Switzerland
dP

[Old Expat Beast]

Thanks Dan..some great shots and ideas there

[Zuger]

While in Zurich, take a half day trip to Zug. I lived there for many years. Small quiet town by the lake. There is a bird zoo in old town with many nice restaurants. San Marco has great Italian fare with the lake as the backdrop. Nice and chill way to spend a day and watch the locals swim in the lake or sunbath. Lots of benches by the lake to have a picnic too if you want to grab something from the supermarkets like COOP or Migros.

Other day trips around Zurich that I particularly enjoyed: Schaffhausen (old town, castle, beautiful painted houses), Rapperswil (great harbor, nice stroll around the castle, great ambience).

When you are ready to move away from Zurich, consider spending two nights in Montreux. Another gorgeous town by the lake with awesome mountain vistas. Lots of 5 stars hotels and a great casino. Take a boat ride early in the morning to visit Castle Chillon (awesome arriving by boat instead of by bus) and after that take the boat ride to Vevey and Lausanne on Lake Geneva. In Lausanne it's worthwhile to visit the Olympic Museum. Return to Montreux by train. Next day, consider taking the Golden Pass to Lucerne. Skip Geneva if you are short of time. But if you are in Geneva, consider taking a trip to Annecy in France.

Must sees in Swizerland in my opinion: Zermatt and Matterhorn, Bern, Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, Muerren, Jungfrau or Schilthorn, Lucerne, Locarno.

Off the beaten path: Solothurn, Murten, Gruyere.

Skip St. Moritz and Graubunden if your time is limited. That part of country best to visit during the fall and winter, though many people also seem to enjoy the numerous hiking trails there in the summer.

You will like Switzerland. I travelled extensively throughout the country while living there, by car and by train. Train is more relaxing and you don't have to worry about speeding tickets which are very expensive. Consider getting a rail pass which allows you to use the trains, buses and boats.

[Old Expat Beast]

Thanks Richard...some great ideas there!

[Fredrik]

i haven't been in Switzerland since the 90's, but I have been there a few times in the summer.

Geneva is just really nice, Grindelwald has a fabulous view, from Solothurn you can go straight up in the jurassic mountains for some really nice scenery(the road is very steep).

Oh, and just outside of Zürich you can go to Walensee, a nice lake with a green hue. There is a nice walk by the lake. You can also take a boat from Weesen to Quinten which has a nice restaurant by the lake.

[smak]

Well Interlanken, Lauterbrunnen and Mürren are all in proximity of each other.. Either are a great basecamp for your adventure during that particular leg of the voyage.

I will likely miss you for my next trip out but if i can help it and plans change i will shoot you a pm. Would be happy to treat you to a beverage of choice and possibly meet the missus.

Sincere best wishes and scenic horizons to you and yours in the meantime.

[fmc000]

On the Lake Maggiore be sure to visit Ascona and Locarno. On the Lake Lugano you can have a bike ride from Melide to the airport of Agno, very nice and almost without traffic. Lugano is also a good place to spot nice watches, especially in via Nassa. Please keep also in mind that Swiss people are a little close minded (no offense intended, of course), so everything is closed on Sundays (apart from some bars and restaurants) and shops close at 5pm during the week. Other nice small villages on the lake are Buochs and Beckenried on the Lake Lucerne.

[Cru Jones]

Re: August v September, being a vacation destination, I would imagine August is much, much busier than September. But, if Geneva is anything like Paris in August, the city will be dead. So, overall, I would think September is a nicer time to visit (though I have no first-hand knowledge of non-ski life in Switzerland).

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by smak

Well Interlanken, Lauterbrunnen and Mürren are all in proximity of each other.. Either are a great basecamp for your adventure during that particular leg of the voyage.

I will likely miss you for my next trip out but if i can help it and plans change i will shoot you a pm. Would be happy to treat you to a beverage of choice and possibly meet the missus.

Sincere best wishes and scenic horizons to you and yours in the meantime.

Thanks very much...nothing confirmed yet, and it might turn into another Italian vacation, but it would be great to see Switzerland.

Looking at the map, and the above suggestions, I'm thinking..top to bottom....Zurich, Luzern, Interlaken and around, Montreux, Geneva, Lugano. Maybe with 10 days away if possible. Too much ground to cover?

[fmc000]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Thanks very much...nothing confirmed yet, and it might turn into another Italian vacation, but it would be great to see Switzerland.

Looking at the map, and the above suggestions, I'm thinking..top to bottom....Zurich, Luzern, Interlaken and around, Montreux, Geneva, Lugano. Maybe with 10 days away if possible. Too much ground to cover?

Quite possible IMHO. Switzerland is very small, I normally travel to Baselworld and back in the same day coming from Italy...