English Forum Switzerland - View Single Post - A Day out in Switzerland

sojoh · #3 17.03.2009, 18:45

In a shameless bid for attention, I’m bumping this thread up in the hopes that some of you will feel inspired to tell us how you would spend a day out in your city/town. What are your favorite places in your "home" town? I’m selfishly hoping that there will be some information about Solothurn and Baden because I’m attending workshops in those cities in the near future and would like to know what to do with my free time. So, does anyone have suggestions for a day out in Zug, Lugano, Neuchatel, etc.? It would be really helpful to have some insider’s tips.

In an effort to keep this thread going, here are my suggestions for a sunny Saturday next to the lake in Vevey and Montreux during the summer:
*Spend the morning at the market in Vevey. Even if you’ve been to lots of other markets, this one is still worth a visit, especially in the summer because many of the vendors wear traditional Swiss costumes and there is wine tasting under the pavilion. There are lots of stands offering Asian food, traditional food, etc., plus plenty of fruit and vegetables. We always have a picnic on one of the benches near the lake. If you feel like having your picnic in a truly special spot, turn left and walk along the lake towards the port of La Tour- de- Peilz. Follow the path next to the lake around the Toy Museum, it looks like a small castle, and you’ll arrive at the port. It’s probably a 25 minute walk from the market place.
*Take a bus or the boat from Vevey-La Tour (http://www.cgn.ch/eng) to the Castle of Chillon, Switzerland’s most visited historic monument. Get off of the bus/boat in Clarens or Montreux if you want to have a long walk next to the lake before going to the castle. I prefer walking clockwise around the lake because the views seem to be better. www.chillon.ch
*The Terrasse du Petit Palais, located next to the mini golf in Montreux, is a great spot to stop for a coffee or a cool drink. It’s owned by the Montreux Palace, but their coffee is the same price as the other cafés in town (except McDonald’s where it’s CHF 2.50) and the terrace offers a wonderful view of the lake and mountains. Just be sure to go there outside of the regular dining hours because it’s also a restaurant.
*If it’s a special occasion and you want to enjoy the evening next to the lake, then the terrace of the Mai Thai restaurant in Clarens is a great choice for dinner because it sits right on the lake. http://www.montreux.ch/mai-thai/
*If you’re looking for something more traditional, then go to the caveau (wine cellar) in St.-Saphorin. Open from May to October on Fridays and Saturdays from 17 to 21 and Sundays from 16 to 20. Following the lake road in the direction of Lausanne, St. Saphorin is the village after Vevey. We always get a bottle of wine and some bread, tomme (cheese), and salami. For more information about the wine cellars in the area: http://www.lavaux.com/index.asp?language=EN