Interlaken is a really nice place specially in summer. Like other touristy area, Interlaken has various bars, cafes, and branded stores. But if you are looking for natural-real Swiss thing, try to catch some of the small villages surrounding it. Leissigen (4 minutes by regional train from Interlaken) is a worth place to see. Dont worry, almost everyone can speak English.
Visited Wengen twice in the '70s, once with my daughter Heather. I want to return. Hiking in spring and summer are a must and I visited the Eiger, Monch. Christmas Market bus tour last December brought me very close as we drove through Interlaken to Brienz.
The best thing about Interlaken is it's vicinity to some of the most beautiful mountain senery around. Spend some time meandering in town maybe catch a great dinner at one of the many restaurants then get out of town and go explore those beautiful Alps. Interlaken is your bigger town in the mountains, offering what the smaller mountain towns don't.
Gimmelwald is exactly as you think Switzerland should be -- goats and cows meandering through wild flowers, waterfalls and breathtaking vistas every way you turn. If you like to hike, this is the place for you!
Gimmelwald is heaven on earth...and then some. My husband and I went in Oct. 04 and stayed for three days. The scenery is spectacular. A quiet little village perced on the end of a cliff high in the Alps. Peaceful...nothing but the sound of tinkering cowbells. Gimmelwald is a place you will never forget once you travel there. I guarantee you that no matter where you travel on this earth...Gimmelwald you will never forget and will always yearn to return.
Wengen is wonderful, a great place, we had a fantastic time.
I've visited Lauterbrunnen twice and am captivated by this town and its amazing setting. One of my top five favorite natural setting in the world. In the fall the constant sound of the many waterfalls was very serene. In the winter this place was even more beautiful. The second time without the rain I was able to see the surrounding mountain tops. It rains here a lot. That's what makes it so lush and green. So bring your umbrella along with your camera with plenty of film. Both visits I took the train up to the town of Wengen. From there you have great views of the valley and the town of Lauterbrunnen far below. Wengen with it's lack of cars is also wonderful. In the winter people are skiing through the town and there goes grandma pulling the grandchildren in the sled home. The entire valley is a beautiful place that ignites those dreams of "what if I lived here...."
Wengen is halfway up the Lautenbrennerthal, which to me is the Yosemite valley of Europe. No motorized vehicles [in 1987] except for the mail jeep and the garbage truck--electric golf-like carts for elderly tourists, make for quiet and peace in the Alps, with views of the 3 famous mountains: the Monch, the Eiger, and the Jungfrau. Excellent connections going up to the Kleine Scheidegge pass [alpenhorn played here, or listen to cowbells from the valleys below] and connecting mountain railways down to Interlocken below, then the rest of Switzerland [get a SwissRail pass, at least]. Either this place CALLS to you, and you will love it, or else go to some place that DOES call to you. But if you like the mountains, you should LOVE Wengen in August. No summer skiing, but there IS a nice pool! [Visited in 1987]
Wengen is my favorite place in the world! I've been there twice and am going back next year.
Bern is a beautiful classy city. It's a great place to walk around and spend some time by the river. As you would expect in Switzerland, it's very clean and stately. Their are great views of the city, the river, and the residents' small gardens from the small park with an overlook next to the gothic chuch. Bern also has its own medieval part of the city that winds down to the river and is quite charming. While Bern won't take up too much of your time, it's a great city for an overnight stop and some meandering.
Bern is fun to walk around in, there are lots of cute fountains, but the Bear Pits are slightly depressing. I liked the art museum, but after one day I thought that I had seen most of the city.
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