Books - Reading and Reference

ere are the most useful books we've found for visits to Switzerland. We've collected and used over the years virtually every travel book covering Switzerland in English, including one from the 19th century.

Fodor's 2001 Switzerland - Without doubt the best all-around guide to the country. Shortcomings as in most guidebooks, especially on sights and activities, but the single most-comprehensive resource in print.

Let's Go 2001 Austria and Switzerland and RIck Steves' Germany, Austria and Switzerland 2001 provide decent coverage of the country at the budget level.

Michelin Green Guide : Switz

We never leave home, or our hotel room, without a pocket phrase book and pocket dictionary. Depending on where you'll be in Switzerland, these are our recommendations: (if you only want to pack one set German is spoken in about 70% of the country)
Berlitz German Phrase Book and Dictionary
Langenscheidt's Pocket German Dictionary German-English English-German
Berlitz French Phrase Book and Dictionary
Larousse Pocket French/English English/French Dictionary/Larousse De Poche
Dictionnaire Francais-Anglais Anglais-Francais
Berlitz Italian Phrase Book and Dictionary
Mondadori's Pocket Italian-English English-Italian Dictionary

The Bernese Alps - Switzerland - A Walking Guide Reynolds - Cicerone Press (ISBN 1-85284-074-9) - The most extensive collection of walks. The best source for walks available in the US. Companion books for the Valais and other regions. Available from the Adventurous Traveler Bookstore.

Switzerland's Mountain Inns: A Walker's Complete Vacation Guide - Lieberman - Written by folks who know these mountains. Whether you're planning a serious hiking trip to Switzerland or are just a Switzerland- or mountain-fan with an itch for some armchair travel, you'll find this an enjoyable and informative book. As well, you might want to plan your vacation around stays in these unique and delightful mountain inns which run from sumptuous to the Spartan.

Karen Brown's Switzerland Charming
Inns & Itineraries 2001 - interesting itineraries and selected inns personally inspected by the author. Her choices with which we have familiarity are excellent; be aware that while these are not five-star selections, they are far above average in price.

Switzerland by Rail - Lambert - This is a helpful guide to getting around the Swiss (and European) rails and includes many suggested excursions in detail. If you'd like to try the Swiss public transport system about which you've heard so much favorable, but are perhaps afraid to try? Get this book ... you'll feel like a pro in no time at all.

Daytrips Switzerland: 45 One Day Adventures by Rail, Bus and Car (Daytrips Series) - Renouf - A guidebook with a 'twist' ... namely the notion that setting up base in one or just a few spots and then daytripping to others is a better use of one's time than moving around every day or so. We agree. This book is well-organized to help you plan trips using this concept. Useful whether you're moving about by car, rail or otherwise.

Insight Guides : Switzerland - APA Publications - In-depth essays on the several Swiss regions, written by experts on each region. More for learning about the country than a travel guide. No longer in print; used copies may be available.

Off the Beaten Track Switzerland - Loveland, Marshall, & Sale - distributed in US by The Globe Pequot Press - For those "who value personal discovery above prescribed experience." An interesting series, most useful to armchair travelers and those who want deep background on the areas they will visit. No longer in print; used copies may be available.

or those interested in rambles among the wonderful mountains, the following are the most useful titles after the Reynolds' series cited earlier:

Jungfrau Region - Hiking Guide Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Mürren, Wengen (title #3081) published by Kümmerly & Frye in Bern (ISBN 3-259-03081-6) - the most authoritative and comprehensive guide (in English) to hiking in the area. Unfortunately not available in the US, but K & F may supply to a phone request. It may be found in Swiss bookstores, usually in German but often in tourist areas in the English edition cited. Worth the search.

Walking Switzerland-The Swiss Way- : From Vacation Apartments, Hotels, Mountain Inns, and Huts - A good introduction to hiking Switzerland while staying at huts and hotels along the way.

Walking in Switzerland - Lindenmayer - Lonely Planet - Comprehensive coverage of walks throughout Switzerland. While quite useful the author and Ed and Julie do not always see eye-to-eye on the selection of better walks in areas we know well.

White Spider: The Classic Account of the Ascent  of the Eiger - Harrar - The north wall of the Eiger (Eiger Nordwand) was one of the last of the Alps conquered and still represents the classic climbing challenge in Europe. Over 50 have died attempting this climb.  Harrar, the real life hero of the recent popular movie, Seven Years in Tibet, recounts not only his experiences on the first successful climb of the Nordwand but provides details of most of the preceding attempts as well as later ones.  First published in 1959 and often reprinted, this is a new reprint from October, 1998. After reading the account of the second failed attempt with Toni Kurz dying while dangling from a rope on the cliff face almost within reach of rescuers, you'll never view mountain climbing in the same way. This is the stuff of legends, and makes climbing Everest seem a cakewalk by comparison. If you wait until after your trip to the Oberland to read it you'll wish you'd  read it before.

As one of our readers said after reading the book,

"Got my copy of this on Wednesday and finished it last night (Thursday). I really enjoyed this book and it gave me a brand new perspective on the Eiger. I cannot believe that after two weeks in Muerren last year we never made it to Grindelwald or Kleine Scheidegg. Obviously, they are at the top of the list for this years trip. When we were there last year I had no idea of N-S-E-W and thus had no idea viewing the mountains as to which face I was seeing. I have rectified that by buying a compass for this year's trip."

The Railfan Guide to Switzerland - Drury - Think of the country as "Switzer Land", a theme park for railroad enthusiasts. And if you're not a railroad enthusiast, this is the best place to start a new hobby. Whether new to enjoying railroads or an old hand, this guide is invaluable in getting the most out of your time on and around Switzerland's railroads