Where to spend 3 nights in Switzerland/Italy/?
Dec 28, 2014, 5:56 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 568
Where to spend 3 nights in Switzerland/Italy/?
My wife and I are taking a AMA river cruise on April 6th (Enchanting Rhine) from Basel to Amsterdam. We have 3 nights free prior to our departure and are looking for recommendations in what city to stay.
I have been to France and Italy (Venice, Milan, Florence) but have never been Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, etc...
Given that travel is arduous on my physically, we have to make base camp in one city for 3 nights prior to our embarkation.
What city do you suggest?
Thanks in advance.
I have been to France and Italy (Venice, Milan, Florence) but have never been Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, etc...
Given that travel is arduous on my physically, we have to make base camp in one city for 3 nights prior to our embarkation.
What city do you suggest?
Thanks in advance.
Dec 28, 2014, 9:15 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: SYD, Australia
Programs: VA Silver, QF FF, Priority Club
Posts: 923
Where are you coming from?
Are you flying into Europe from somewhere?
I see potential options depending on the above:
Geneva
Lausanne
Zurich
Bern
All are within 2-3 hours of Basel by train to board your boat
All have things to see and do in the cities themselves and all have nice little day trips that are 1 hour by train from them. Lucerne is an hour from Zurich, and an hour from Bern, Montreux and Vevey are an hour and a bit from Geneva, 20 minutes from Lausanne.
If you're flying into Germany, then Basel itself might not be a bad option to stay in. Plenty of Switzerland is accessible from Basel on the very efficient Swiss train system.
Are you flying into Europe from somewhere?
I see potential options depending on the above:
Geneva
Lausanne
Zurich
Bern
All are within 2-3 hours of Basel by train to board your boat
All have things to see and do in the cities themselves and all have nice little day trips that are 1 hour by train from them. Lucerne is an hour from Zurich, and an hour from Bern, Montreux and Vevey are an hour and a bit from Geneva, 20 minutes from Lausanne.
If you're flying into Germany, then Basel itself might not be a bad option to stay in. Plenty of Switzerland is accessible from Basel on the very efficient Swiss train system.
Dec 29, 2014, 6:05 am
#3
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 344
My wife and I are taking a AMA river cruise on April 6th (Enchanting Rhine) from Basel to Amsterdam. We have 3 nights free prior to our departure and are looking for recommendations in what city to stay.
I have been to France and Italy (Venice, Milan, Florence) but have never been Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, etc...
Given that travel is arduous on my physically, we have to make base camp in one city for 3 nights prior to our embarkation.
What city do you suggest?
Thanks in advance.
I have been to France and Italy (Venice, Milan, Florence) but have never been Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, etc...
Given that travel is arduous on my physically, we have to make base camp in one city for 3 nights prior to our embarkation.
What city do you suggest?
Thanks in advance.
The question though, as asked by Jtraveller, is where are you flying into it? What is your arrival airport?
Dec 29, 2014, 7:33 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: CLE
Programs: UA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,661
I was in Switzerland in March several years ago. I stayed in Geneva and Vevey. The area around Lake Geneva was beautiful. And you could get up into the mountains on a cog train. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the Swiss cities (well, I've never visited Zurich)
Dec 29, 2014, 7:40 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 568
Our flights arrive and depart through Amsterdam. We have a total of 7 nights in Europe prior to cruise. Our plan is to spend 3 nights getting settled/acclimated/exploring Amsterdam. Then spend 3-4 nights in one other city for which I am asking advice.
Last edited by atwnsw2; Dec 29, 2014 at 7:49 am
Dec 29, 2014, 10:27 am
#6
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 344
Assuming then you'll need to fly from AMS to Basel to catch your cruise, I would suggest you fly into Zurich and spend those three or four nights in Lucerne. Or alternatively fly into Basel itself and stay there. They are all relatively close and, with a car, or without one, you can see a lot of the countryside with day trips.
Have a great time
!
Dec 30, 2014, 1:23 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Helvetia
Programs: AS; BA Silver; UA; HH Gold; Sprüngli Connaisseur
Posts: 2,912
Another vote for flying into Zürich and staying in Luzern. You'll only be about an hour by train away from Basel.
That said, there are some fairly nice museums in Basel. There is the whimsical Tinguely museum, and there is also the music museum where you can see various versions of the saxophone before it became what it is today.
That said, there are some fairly nice museums in Basel. There is the whimsical Tinguely museum, and there is also the music museum where you can see various versions of the saxophone before it became what it is today.
Dec 31, 2014, 12:22 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AA, UA lowly commoner
Posts: 780
Just one more possibility, if you're open to visiting France again: Strasbourg. Beautiful, interesting city with lots to see, workable daytrips (e.g., Colmar), and an easy train ride to Basel.
Jan 2, 2015, 10:37 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Helvetia
Programs: AS; BA Silver; UA; HH Gold; Sprüngli Connaisseur
Posts: 2,912
Jan 2, 2015, 7:51 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,565
Completely off-topic:
About 35 years ago in Basel, an American colleague and friend showed me an article on Switzerland, published in a minor US newspaper. It was explained that three languages (missing Romansch) were spoken in the country giving an example: Cities had three names, such as Lausanne in French, Luzern in German and Locarno in Italian!
About 35 years ago in Basel, an American colleague and friend showed me an article on Switzerland, published in a minor US newspaper. It was explained that three languages (missing Romansch) were spoken in the country giving an example: Cities had three names, such as Lausanne in French, Luzern in German and Locarno in Italian!
Jan 3, 2015, 1:50 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Helvetia
Programs: AS; BA Silver; UA; HH Gold; Sprüngli Connaisseur
Posts: 2,912
Completely off-topic:
About 35 years ago in Basel, an American colleague and friend showed me an article on Switzerland, published in a minor US newspaper. It was explained that three languages (missing Romansch) were spoken in the country giving an example: Cities had three names, such as Lausanne in French, Luzern in German and Locarno in Italian!
About 35 years ago in Basel, an American colleague and friend showed me an article on Switzerland, published in a minor US newspaper. It was explained that three languages (missing Romansch) were spoken in the country giving an example: Cities had three names, such as Lausanne in French, Luzern in German and Locarno in Italian!
Perhaps you meant Luzern(D), Lucerne(F), Lucerna(I)? In the local dialect, it's also Lozärn.
Jan 3, 2015, 2:42 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: SYD, Australia
Programs: VA Silver, QF FF, Priority Club
Posts: 923
Good choice.
Fly into ZRH and take the train (you can take one direct from ZRH airport) to Luzern.
Really pretty place, nice relaxing cruises on Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstattersee).
Bern is an hour on the train from Luzern, as is Zurich, if you want to have a look at those cities which I'd highly recommend.
Fly into ZRH and take the train (you can take one direct from ZRH airport) to Luzern.
Really pretty place, nice relaxing cruises on Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstattersee).
Bern is an hour on the train from Luzern, as is Zurich, if you want to have a look at those cities which I'd highly recommend.