Switzerland Travel Forum

We are seeking accommodation in Thun or similar village close to Interlarken for about 4 nights in second half of August 2008. We would like to be reasonably close to rail stations to access various scenic day trips and also drive around the surrounding areas. The two of us require clean, comfortable, pleasant accomm. but not 5 star. Can anyone recommend a suitable area with accomm.

Is this area well positioned to access Bern, Gruyeres, Montreaux, Mt. Pilatus and Luzerne?

Hi

There are some options: One is Hotel Emmental (www.essenundtrinken.ch) above a pub in a tratitional 1898 building about 10 minutes from the trainstation. Is one of the cheaper options about 90.- a person. The nicest one (4star) ist hotel Krone (www.krone-thun.ch) right in the center of town. Located on a nice square close to the castle. It is about 170.- a person. Another good one in the same range ist Hotel Freienhof. Located on a island. (www.freienhof.ch) As soon as you would move out of town it gets a bit cheaper. Would be accessible by bus (10 min from trainstation) Hotel Alpha for about 130.- (www.alpha-thun.ch)

I would say Thun is in a good location for the places you want to visit. It is a mayor train centre so you would have frequent conections. It is about 20 minutes to Berne by train, about 2 hours to Gruyeres and Montreux and Lucerne.
You can check timetables on www.sbb.ch

Thanks for the web addresses. I have been off sick, sorry I did not reply sooner.
We are looking forward to our stay in Thun and surrounding areas. We will have a car and would like to explore as much as possible. What areas can you recommend we visit? We don't mind driving at all.

what are your interests?

Our interests are driving through the countryside, visiting small villages and towns. Seeing historic buildings and visiting culinary museums. Would like to do a cable car up to some mountains and scenic train trips if you can help please?

In Thun there is the Swiss Gastronomy Museum in the Schadau Castle

Open all year round
Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday 2 pm to 5 pm.
The Swiss Gastronomy Museum is the cultural memory of the restaurant-
and hotel-trade as well as gastronomy in general. Literature, documents
and equipment are collected here and presented to the public.

The main aspect of the collection is the unique gastronomic library that contains more than 5'000 titles in several languages and also many rarities.
lt ranges from contemporary literature to original editions from the 16th century.

Titles can be searched by subject in the electronic catalogue and the books can be viewed in a pleasant atmosphere, but they cannot be borrowed.

For research in the historic Harry Schraemli library appointment is necessary

I think a good place for you would be the Ballenberg Outdoor museum at the end of lake Brienz. It is a nice drive there and you can see typical historic swiss buildings. In addition they show you a lot of things in the culinary area like bread making, smoking saugages, and they have a litte chocolate factory as well. It's nice to go there for a day and stroll arround the different areas. www.ballenberg.ch.

Other than that it sounds with Gruyere you will be right. It is a beautiful little village and you can go and check out the cheese factory. You can drive a loop for example over the Jaunpass which is senic. Or if you go to Montreux drive back over Col de Mosses to the Gstaad area. However this will be a long day trip. Check out my Kandersteg pages for one of my favourite spots up at Lake Oeschinen.

Sounds great, we will go there.
What do you know of Mt Fong jau (not spelt correctly) near Interlarkin.
Does the cable car run in summer? What is the best way to experience this mountain?

Are there any hiking trails and nice walks near this mountain and around the lakes at Interlarken?

What do you know about Lucern?

Do you mean Jungfrau?