So I've got a bloke from the UK coming for a visit after the New Year, and I tried to convince him that Switzerland is very boring. But he says he's never been before, and wants to come anyway.

Since I really don't know much about what keeps Brits entertained [besides Marmite, Eggs on Toast, and apparently this guy], does anyone have suggestions for places to take this fellow sightseeing in the greater Basel-Zurich-Bern region for a quick day trip?

Lots of beer. Everything else just falls into place.

...1 word, "beer" and he'll be happy.


Edit: on top of yer game there Karl...

Beat ya to that one...

Day trips I do from Basel, with visitors, include: 1)Train to Lucerne, change to the little train to Engleberg. Go at least for a walk up the valley, or take a cable car up to eat at a higher level, or hire x country skis for an easy couple of hours going up the valley (pm me for details if that interests you) If your friend has not been to the alps, that would be my numb er one choice. Coming back, stop in LUcerne for a walk over the covered bridges and a drink or meal .
2. Train to Shaffhaussen. Walk back along the river to the RHine falls, then back on the other side. Coming back on the train, stop in Rheinfelden and spend 2 hours at the Sole Uno thermal pools ( specially great if it is snowing)
3. Got bikes? then cycle from Basel to Rheinfelden on the Swiss side ( follow the National trail) go to the pools then either cycle back on the german side, or bring the bikes back on the train (if you are feeling to warm, relaxed and cosy to ride back.)

4. 3 country bike ride - to St Lousi, Hunungue, cross the "friendship bridge" to Germany, and back to Switzerland through KLien Hunaguin (sp)

5. Train to Lucerne, boat across the lake to Weggis, cablecar and or train up to the top of Rigi. Nice view. Have lunch up there. Come back the same way (can walk down to the lake) or take the train back to Arthe- Gaudau and train back via Zurich, stopping for a look at central Zurich.

It's a bit like entertaining an American, or a Swiss, or even an Italian - depends very much on the Brit. There are Brits out there who enjoy very different things, honest

Booze him up.

Sure, but overarching stereotypes are more fun! (The "or even an Italian" part amused me.)

Personally, I think it would be pretty easy to put together a list list called crap an American would like and be right a solid 90 percent of the time.

Kind of like Georgia = NASCAR and chasing your cousins around the double wide?

Would help to know what kind of age guy we are talking about. A young guy who likes clubbing probably won't be into the same things as a old fogey who likes walking in Lake District.

My British friends and rellies (generally all over 40) love:

• a wander round any cutesy Swiss village / old part of town / cathedral, or the Alsace is always a hit too
• fondue (proper smelly cheese one)
• alcoholic coffee with cream on the top drunk at altitude after a trip on a gondola
• riding on the tram and double decker train
• going for a hike in the hills round where we live
• decent pizza (believe me anything you get here is a heck of a lot better than what most UK people think is "authentic" pizza

Of course what most of them like best is sitting at home with us chinwagging and catching up.


Oh, and forget the beer idea - there is no beer in Switzerland - there is only lager and that's for girls.

Top Gear, Match of the Day, Eastenders;

food only eaten from paper, cardboard or tinfoil containers, with plastic spoon and fork;

cheap spirits with food colouring, drunk from a test tube;

doobie.

[.... and that's just for the first night - for the following days, you'll just have to play it by ear]

Good conversation and show him the women, he will find amusing that he gets 2 for the weight of 1 back at home

OMG, this thread almost makes me proud to be British!!

Icing on the cake? Init!

Ha, ha. Hilarious.

I would say put the guy in a car and drive him around to see:
1) a castle
2) a chocolate factory
3) a lake
4) a mountain
5) a house covered with elaborate carvings, red or lace curtains, cow bells and flower boxes
6) a cable car
7) hot chocolate and fondue

Switzerland is in fact boring. But so stinkin' adorable. Stick with your strengths.

All guaranteed to tickle your anglo visitor. Oh, and liberal amounts of beer. The social lubricant of champions.

Exactly. Brits fall into places after enough beer.

If we're going on stereotypes, another thing to remember is that Brits like to be reminded that their way of life is superior to those practised by all the other (inferior, naturally) nations on earth. This is the main reason why Brits are so fond of travelling.

So show the guest things about Switzerland that they can respond to with superiority - "We don't/do have that in Britain, it's much better back home."

You could start by showing them a lake and pointing out how much smaller it is than the North Sea, and casually mention that Switzerland has no navy to speak of.

You can take it from there, I'm not going to do all the work for you

Hands up all those who bring back food and other items from their home countries? I don't think this "It's better back home" syndrome is restricted to those from the UK.

There's more snow in Scotland than the Swiss alps at the moment so perhaps he'll mention that

Absolutely true, but I didn't want to be the one to say it