Switzerland is a place that is not to be missed. Absolutely one of the most beautiful on the planet. Interlaken is the town to visit as most others are boring shopping malls. This place has everything for a really nice rest in between big cities as well as some of the most amazing outdoor activites you could imagine.
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.
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.
Kandersteg is my favorite village in Switzerland. It is less crowded than Interlaken and seems less commercial. Mountains are close and there are many hiking trails with great views. The tourist office can suggest hikes and/or tell you about earning a gold, silver, or bronze hiking pin by completing six for each level.
OMG Gimmelwald Switzerland is the most beautiful place I have ever been.
Gimmelwald is the one of the most charming, peaceful, beautiful places on this planet! The people are equally as amazing.
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]
Far from the crowds lies the vilage of Lauterbrunnen -- much more charming than the city of Interlaken. You do not need to spend much time in Lauterbrunnen itself, as the waterfall will take you one hour maximum. But it's a perfect base to spend some days in this area, where there's a lot of things to do -- river rafting, canyoning, just walking, going with the bahn to Jungfraujoch, and much more. Best part of Switzerland if you have a few days and want to do a lot.
Wengen is my favorite place in the world! I've been there twice and am going back next year.
Beautiful, serene, charming, breathtaking -- go to Lauterbrunnen! Skip Interlaken with all its expensive adventure stuff and spend some time hiking around Lauterbrunnen. You won't regret your time here. You will leave refreshed and full of good cheese and chocolate.
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