Frommers Switzerland
15th Edition
Darwin Porter & Danforth Prince
About the Authors
A team of veteran travel writers, Darwin Porter and Danforth Prince, have written Frommers Switzerland since the inception of the guide. Porter has also written separate guides over the years to both Zurich and Geneva. They have also written other Frommers guides to Europe, including Germany, Italy, Spain, and Austria, plus city and regional guides to Frankfurt, Munich, and the Bavarian Alps, Vienna and the Danube, and Berlin. Porter is a Hollywood and political biographer, a radio broadcaster, and a columnist. Prince, a former member of the Paris bureau of The New York Times, is also president of Blood Moon Productions.
Published by:
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River St.
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
Copyright 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, 978/750-8400, fax 978/646-8600. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, 201/748-6011, fax 201/748-6008, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.
Wiley and the Wiley logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates. Frommers is a trademark or registered trademark of Arthur Frommer. Used under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.
ISBN 978-1-118-15042-9 (paper); ISBN 978-1-118-22592-9 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-23916-2 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-24188-2 (ebk)
Editor: Elizabeth Heath with Ian Skinnari
Production Editor: Eric T. Schroeder
Cartographer: Elizabeth Puhl
Photo Editor: Richard Fox
Production by Wiley Indianapolis Composition Services
Front Cover Photo: Lake Lucerne in the Swiss Alps Joan van Hurck / Alamy Images
Back Cover Photo: Lucernes Kapellbrcke (Chapel Bridge) Gerth Roland / Prisma Bildagentur AG / Alamy Images
For information on our other products and services or to obtain technical support, please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 877/762-2974, outside the U.S. at 317/572-3993 or fax 317/572-4002.
Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic formats.
Manufactured in the United States of America
5 4 3 2 1
List of Maps
Switzerland & Liechtenstein
Switzerland in 1 Week
Switzerland in 2 Weeks
Switzerland for Families
The Grisons, the Engadine & Ticino
Where to Stay in Zurich
Where to Eat in Zurich
Zurich Attractions
Walking Tour 1: Zurichs
Bahnhofstrasse
Walking Tour 2: Zurichs Altstadt
Northeastern Switzerland
Basel Attractions
Where to Stay in Basel
Where to Stay in Bern
Walking Tour: Berns Altstadt
The Bernese Oberland
The Valais
Lausanne & Lake Geneva
Where to Stay in Geneva
Where to Eat in Geneva
Geneva Attractions
Walking Tour: Genevas Quays &
Old Town
Walking Tour: Lucerne
The Grisons
The Engadine
Lugano, Locarno & the Ticino
Liechtenstein
How to Contact Us
In researching this book, we discovered many wonderful placeshotels, restaurants, shops, and more. Were sure youll find others. Please tell us about them, so we can share the information with your fellow travelers in upcoming editions. If you were disappointed with a recommendation, wed love to know that, too. Please write to:
Frommers Switzerland, 15th Edition John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River St. Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774 frommersfeedback@wiley.com
Advisory & Disclaimer
Travel information can change quickly and unexpectedly, and we strongly advise you to confirm important details locally before traveling, including information on visas, health and safety, traffic and transport, accommodations, shopping, and eating out. We also encourage you to stay alert while traveling and to remain aware of your surroundings. Avoid civil disturbances, and keep a close eye on cameras, purses, wallets, and other valuables.
While we have endeavored to ensure that the information contained within this guide is accurate and up-to-date at the time of publication, we make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this work and specifically disclaim all warranties, including without limitation warranties of fitness for a particular purpose. We accept no responsibility or liability for any inaccuracy or errors or omissions, or for any inconvenience, loss, damage, costs, or expenses of any nature whatsoever incurred or suffered by anyone as a result of any advice or information contained in this guide.
The inclusion of a company, organization, or website in this guide as a service provider and/or potential source of further information does not mean that we endorse them or the information they provide. Be aware that information provided through some websites may be unreliable and can change without notice. Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any damages arising herefrom.
Frommers Star Ratings, Icons & Abbreviations
Every hotel, restaurant, and attraction listing in this guide has been ranked for quality, value, service, amenities, and special features using a star-rating system. In country, state, and regional guides, we also rate towns and regions to help you narrow down your choices and budget your time accordingly. Hotels and restaurants are rated on a scale of zero (recommended) to three stars (exceptional). Attractions, shopping, nightlife, towns, and regions are rated according to the following scale: zero stars (recommended), one star (highly recommended), two stars (very highly recommended), and three stars (must-see).
In addition to the star-rating system, we also use seven feature icons that point you to the great deals, in-the-know advice, and unique experiences that separate travelers from tourists. Throughout the book, look for:
special finds those places only insiders know about
fun facts details that make travelers more informed and their trips more fun
kids best bets for kids and advice for the whole family
special moments those experiences that memories are made of
overrated places or experiences not worth your time or money
insider tips great ways to save time and money