Mark

If you had your choice of just visiting one city in Switzerland, which would it be? And why?

s

Hello Mark,<BR><BR>Not sure if it's physically possible to list only one here. I'm CH-challenged!<BR><BR>Anyway, Montreux for the views, the vineyards, and the French ambiance.<BR><BR>Luzern for the views, the history, and the German ambiance.<BR><BR>s

Ingo

It is definitely not possible to list only one! Switzerland has so many beautiful cities. Each is different, but on the other hand similar in providing beautiful old towns, good restaurants/hotels and surrounding landscape.<BR><BR>At least I had to list one in the several parts of Switzerland: Swiss-German, Swiss-French, Swiss-Italian and Romansch.<BR><BR>You better tell us your preferences and we can list a city which meets your requirements!<BR><BR>Ingo

Davis

Out of Zurich,Geneva and Basle i would go for Basle.Basle is very lively at night and is on the border of Germany (Black Forest) whilst Geneva is sooo quiet

chuck

Ascona, right on the Swiss-Italian border. Beautiful climate (it was probably 20 degrees warmer than central CH when we visited in March).<BR>It has beautiful scenery (what in Switzerland doesn't), nearby ruins, a great little town-center, and its on the water. In the warmer months there is a ferry that takes you out to a nature preserve island.<BR><BR>We only spent a day there, but it was fantastic.<BR><BR><BR>

Tom

Mark - What is your definition of a city? I can think of a bunch of small towns I would rather visit if I had to choose only one destination.<BR>Regards - Tom

Eric

Basel? Did I hear that right? Basel? Even the Swiss don't like Basel and tried to sell it to Germany a few years ago.

BTilke

I just got back from a couple of days in Basel and I think it's a wonderful, lively and vibrant small city (I worked there for a while in early 2002). We're going to do another visit in Feb. It's got an attractive old town, great museums, great restaurants, fab shopping, and it's fun to walk around in. <BR>I also spent a night in Lugano on this trip and it was very interesting to be in the city during its off season (VERY off season). I went to the city's art museum Friday morning and had the place entirely to myself. The art collection is quite interesting and I look forward to seeing it again (and also going back to the Villa Favorita, which I couldn't fit into this trip).

Grasshopper

BT, you have a heck of a life!<BR><BR>I thought Basel was a pretty place but it definately has two faces; the industrial Biomed city and the old, charming city. And the lovely Rhine separates the two. But those little boats are really fun to ride across the river.

jw

Let's see: Zurich, Lucerne, Lugano, Berne, Lausanne; the order changes depending upon my mood. J.

Grasshopper

JW, do you have the website for your little hotel on Lago Maggiore? I was thinking of trying it on my next trip.<BR><BR>Grasshopper

Dall

I vote for Innsbruck

Alicia

There are an inordinate number of questions on this board about Switzerland, considering its size and amount of visitors, and I suspect some of them are planted by the rah-rahs. They must feel confined by the running chitchat threads they maintain and want to expand.

Grasshopper

Interesting speculation, Alicia. However, I wonder how it would compare statistically to the number of posts per size/visitors of Paris? Certainly not more than it's due.

rah-rah

That is so funny. I don't usually laugh so hard on Mondays.<BR><BR>

Bob Brown

If Dall can vote for Innsbruck, I will put in my vote for Paris.<BR><BR>Other than that, if we have to stick to Switzerland, I vote for Saas Fee.<BR>Why, it has the Dom towering over it, and some nice places to eat.<BR><BR>And unlike Zermatt, it is not overrun with English speakers.<BR><BR>

baemel

Fun reading this thread, but I want to know ,more about the best SMALL TOWNS to visit in Switzerland. We'll be there this May coming from Munich and want to stop in and get a taste of Switzerland.....please recommend some good small towns to stop in....Thanks

creative

I thought Montreux was beautiful and the Chateau de Chillon was wonderful. We managed to go first thing in the morning and for awhile were the only people there. Really felt like we went back in time! We stayed at Hotel Eden de Lac, which was charming--right on the lake with a balcony overlooking it.

Ingo

Baemel, since you did not tell us which part of Switzerland you are going to visit, I list some in several parts, okay? Small towns, not villages.<BR><BR>German Switzerland: <BR>Stein am Rhein<BR>Schaffhausen (maybe not small enough)<BR>Rapperswil<BR>Laufenburg (haven’t been there, but my Baedeker says it’s great)<BR>Werdenberg (very small)<BR><BR>French Switzerland:<BR>Murten (but with German atmosphere)<BR>Fribourg (maybe not small enough)<BR>Gruyeres (town or village? Don’t know, but very beautiful)<BR><BR>Italian Switzerland:<BR>Bellinzona<BR>Locarno<BR>And many villages …<BR><BR>Romansch Switzerland:<BR>Only picturesque villages, no towns …<BR><BR>Ingo<BR>

jmw

Hi, to add to Ingo's list -- maybe Altdorf just below the southern tip of Lucerne's lake -- it's a lovely little town. Then there's Thun on its lake between Bern and Lucerne. But for location and for aesthetics (unless it has changed lately), I'd second Ingo's recommendation of Rapperswil. Nice town, lake view, plenty of daytrips possible. J.