The trip to the top (“Top of Europe”) is, of course, number one for most tourists who come to Jungfrau region. In this part we take train to Jungfrau, look, how to get to Grindelwald, what you can do there and on First.
Vallorbe Caves
Vallorbe caves are very large, varied and most impressive of all caves I’ve seen. There are no such bizarre figures as in Harz. But there is an underground river, huge halls and curtains of thin, thin icicles.
Sankt-Gallen
The Swiss coast of Lake Constance has fewer attractions and is more boring than the German one. The most worthy object to visit is just Sankt-Gallen, apart from the Stein-am-Rhein and the Rhine Falls, which are actually on the Rhine, and not on the lake. Although from the other end of the lake I would not go for him alone.
The city is located in the hills behind the lake, 15-20 minutes by train from the nearest coastal town of Rorschach. There is absolutely nothing to watch in Rorschach. Its main attractions are the ferry to Lindau and the funicular to the nearest mountain.
Stein am Rhein
Not far from the place where the Rhine flows out of the lake is the town of Stein am Rhein. The town is very small, but very visited, thanks to the large number of painted old houses with bay windows. You can get there by train and boat.
Rhine Falls
The Rhine Falls is an absolutely stunning sight, mainly with the amount of raging water rushing right on you.
It is highly recommended to visit it at unpopular times – early in the morning, in bad weather, etc. You understand, the sight is stunning, the observation platforms are small, the stairs are narrow and slippery, and then there are groups with cameras in a crowd… The first time we were at the waterfall in the pouring rain. But still we had to wait five minutes to take a picture.
Jungfrau region. 4. What to do in Interlaken and on Schynige Platte
The Jungfrau region is the concentration of everything that a restless tourist might want: lakes, mountains, gorges, caves, castles – welcome, there are also waterfalls – in excess. Number of railways and cable cars per square kilometer – I would not be surprised if a world record was set here. The only thing missing was a good thermal pool.
In this part, about those places that are not in the immediate proximity of the Jungfrau – Interlaken and Schynige Platte.
Jungfrau region. 5. Lake Brienz attractions. Giessbach falls
Lake Brienz, surrounded by mountains, is like an oval bowl with turquoise milk water on the bottom. The water owes its milky color to the Aare, which flows into the lake between Brienz and Giessbach falls.
Despite the beautiful color of the water, a Lake Brienz cruise seemed boring to me. Apparently because of always the same banks. It was more pleasant to take the Interlaken – Meiringen train with huge panorama windows than to “hang around” for a long time on a ship between the banks.
Jungfrau region. 3. Breathtaking Lauterbrunnen valley waterfalls and Mürren
Lauterbrunnen valley waterfalls hike is for me more interesting und must to do as train to “Top of Europe”. In this post we go through “thundering streams” of Lauterbrunnen valley, climb with cable car to Mürren and fascinate incredible views of the Jungfrau mountain range.
Jungfrau region. 6. Aare gorge and Reichenbach falls
After all the previous valleys, the Meiringen Valley surprised me with how flat and wide it is. People come here for the Aare Gorge and Reichenbach Falls. The town seemed boring.
Lucerne old town
Lucerne (Luzern) is one of the most beloved Swiss cities for tourists. Lucerne old town and attractions are enough for whole day visit. It can be also a good rainy day option. But staying here for a long time to explore the lake is probably not the best idea: there are many people, transports, and the view is not the same as further along the lake, where the mountains are higher and closer.
The statement that Lucerne is surrounded by mountains, which I have repeatedly come across on the sites, is not true. There is only one mountain nearby – Pilatus. And you can climb it not from the city itself, but from the suburb of Kriens. However, the Reuss River is beautiful, and away from the center, for example by the ramparts, there are quiet, pleasant residential areas.