Interlaken, verdict by verdict

Interlaken sits on a strip of flat land between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, and most visitors use it as a launch pad rather than a destination. Trains and cable cars from here reach Jungfraujoch, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and the Schilthorn, so the town's real draw is how quickly it puts you among the mountains.

The trade-offs are cost and weather. The high excursions are among the most expensive in Switzerland, and a cloudy day can hide the views you paid for, so flexible plans matter more than early bookings. The town itself is practical rather than charming, with chain shops and tour offices along the main street.

Base yourself here if you want the widest choice of trains, hotels and restaurants, or move up into a mountain village like Grindelwald if you would rather wake up with the peaks outside the window.