Dolomites vs Swiss Alps

[Anonymous]

Thinking of summer 2026 - which do you prefer? We'd like to rent an AirBnB among the mountains in one of these locales. Not huge hikers, but would enjoy long walks and just soaking up the scenery - not necessary to do any particular activities. Thanks for any suggestions!

[Anonymous]

Depends on your budget. Switzerland is expensive, Dolomites will be cheaper. I absolutely loved our two weeks in Switzerland last summer but we are big hikers.

[Anonymous]

Yes, budget is a big factor.

A gin & tonic in the swiss alps might be $35. A sausage might be $50. One sausage plate.

[Anonymous]

We were in the Bernese Oberland last summer for about 10 days, mainly hut to hut hiking with a few hotels in the mountain towns.

We actually did not find Switzerland that expensive, which may be bit of a shocker. The mountain huts were inclusive of breakfast and dinner. The hotels always included breakfast. The local coop (supermarket chain) had excellent sandwiches and pastries for lunches on the trail and were quite cheap. And when you're hiking you're not really spending money, right? It wasn't a cheap vacation but we were expecting to be spending more money and it turned out not to be the case. Do make sure you get the half fare pass as that gives you 50% off almost all train/bus/cable car in the country.

I think, logistically, it's slightly easier in Switzerland. You could book an apartment or hotel in Murren or Wengen in the BO and do plenty of day hiking trips up to a mountain hut or berghaus for lunch, returning to either town at the end of the day. The valley floor has sights like the Trummelbach falls (amazing) and cable cars up to Piz Gloria peak. Lucerne and Bern are both pleasant one night stopovers on the way to the BO.

I've also been to the Dolomites. The mountains in Switzerland are higher and that much more dramatic. But the Dolomites are gorgeous as well. Do strongly recommend staying in huts or berghauses or refugios up in the mountains, not just hotels in the valleys. Food is perhaps also better in the Dolomites, which has a strong Austro-German influence in the cuisine, but we still ate well in Switzerland. If you went to the Dolomites, you could probably combine it with a few days somewhere in Northern Italy like Verona or Lake Garda and in checking at flights, flights to Milan right now are cheaper than flights to Zurich.

Hiking in both areas is very easy with signs everywhere and different levels of trails. Make sure you are comfortable with the higher grade trails with more exposure. All in all, while I loved the Dolomites, if you really want Alps, Switzerland hands down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, budget is a big factor.

A gin & tonic in the swiss alps might be $35. A sausage might be $50. One sausage plate.

I was just there earlier this month and never saw prices this egregious.

[Anonymous]

The food is much, much better in the Dolomites - if that factors into your decision

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for your suggestions, and a big thanks to 21:17 for that incredibly detailed post!
OP

[Anonymous]

Dolomites- I prefer the Austrian-Italian cuisine.
I also like to combine, say Val Gardena or Badia, with the lake region, Verona and, yes, Venice.
Highly recommend Hotel Cappella in Corvara. Excellent value

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The food is much, much better in the Dolomites - if that factors into your decision

+1
But stay longer, do both. Por que no los dos

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were in the Bernese Oberland last summer for about 10 days, mainly hut to hut hiking with a few hotels in the mountain towns.

We actually did not find Switzerland that expensive, which may be bit of a shocker. The mountain huts were inclusive of breakfast and dinner. The hotels always included breakfast. The local coop (supermarket chain) had excellent sandwiches and pastries for lunches on the trail and were quite cheap. And when you're hiking you're not really spending money, right? It wasn't a cheap vacation but we were expecting to be spending more money and it turned out not to be the case. Do make sure you get the half fare pass as that gives you 50% off almost all train/bus/cable car in the country.

I think, logistically, it's slightly easier in Switzerland. You could book an apartment or hotel in Murren or Wengen in the BO and do plenty of day hiking trips up to a mountain hut or berghaus for lunch, returning to either town at the end of the day. The valley floor has sights like the Trummelbach falls (amazing) and cable cars up to Piz Gloria peak. Lucerne and Bern are both pleasant one night stopovers on the way to the BO.

I've also been to the Dolomites. The mountains in Switzerland are higher and that much more dramatic. But the Dolomites are gorgeous as well. Do strongly recommend staying in huts or berghauses or refugios up in the mountains, not just hotels in the valleys. Food is perhaps also better in the Dolomites, which has a strong Austro-German influence in the cuisine, but we still ate well in Switzerland. If you went to the Dolomites, you could probably combine it with a few days somewhere in Northern Italy like Verona or Lake Garda and in checking at flights, flights to Milan right now are cheaper than flights to Zurich.

Hiking in both areas is very easy with signs everywhere and different levels of trails. Make sure you are comfortable with the higher grade trails with more exposure. All in all, while I loved the Dolomites, if you really want Alps, Switzerland hands down.

We spent our Switzerland trip the same way as you - lots of hiking, hotels with breakfasts and eating at coop - food prices at coop were similar to the USA. I just don’t think the average dcum would be okay with that kind of vacation lol. They’re going to want restaurant food every night with drinks and apps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were in the Bernese Oberland last summer for about 10 days, mainly hut to hut hiking with a few hotels in the mountain towns.

We actually did not find Switzerland that expensive, which may be bit of a shocker. The mountain huts were inclusive of breakfast and dinner. The hotels always included breakfast. The local coop (supermarket chain) had excellent sandwiches and pastries for lunches on the trail and were quite cheap. And when you're hiking you're not really spending money, right? It wasn't a cheap vacation but we were expecting to be spending more money and it turned out not to be the case. Do make sure you get the half fare pass as that gives you 50% off almost all train/bus/cable car in the country.

I think, logistically, it's slightly easier in Switzerland. You could book an apartment or hotel in Murren or Wengen in the BO and do plenty of day hiking trips up to a mountain hut or berghaus for lunch, returning to either town at the end of the day. The valley floor has sights like the Trummelbach falls (amazing) and cable cars up to Piz Gloria peak. Lucerne and Bern are both pleasant one night stopovers on the way to the BO.

I've also been to the Dolomites. The mountains in Switzerland are higher and that much more dramatic. But the Dolomites are gorgeous as well. Do strongly recommend staying in huts or berghauses or refugios up in the mountains, not just hotels in the valleys. Food is perhaps also better in the Dolomites, which has a strong Austro-German influence in the cuisine, but we still ate well in Switzerland. If you went to the Dolomites, you could probably combine it with a few days somewhere in Northern Italy like Verona or Lake Garda and in checking at flights, flights to Milan right now are cheaper than flights to Zurich.

Hiking in both areas is very easy with signs everywhere and different levels of trails. Make sure you are comfortable with the higher grade trails with more exposure. All in all, while I loved the Dolomites, if you really want Alps, Switzerland hands down.

We spent our Switzerland trip the same way as you - lots of hiking, hotels with breakfasts and eating at coop - food prices at coop were similar to the USA. I just don’t think the average dcum would be okay with that kind of vacation lol. They’re going to want restaurant food every night with drinks and apps.

Oh and one more thing to add - I’ve spent over 3 weeks in Switzerland in 2024 - went in summer and was there last month. It’s the restaurants that are going to kill a budget. I didn’t find lodging anymore expensive than what you’d find in the USA - in fact I thought some places were cheaper and a better value.

It’s the eating out and drinking that kills a budget in Switzerland. So if you’re okay with grocery store meals and hotel breakfasts it can definitely be affordable. And don’t knock the Coop pre made food - it’s really good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were in the Bernese Oberland last summer for about 10 days, mainly hut to hut hiking with a few hotels in the mountain towns.

We actually did not find Switzerland that expensive, which may be bit of a shocker. The mountain huts were inclusive of breakfast and dinner. The hotels always included breakfast. The local coop (supermarket chain) had excellent sandwiches and pastries for lunches on the trail and were quite cheap. And when you're hiking you're not really spending money, right? It wasn't a cheap vacation but we were expecting to be spending more money and it turned out not to be the case. Do make sure you get the half fare pass as that gives you 50% off almost all train/bus/cable car in the country.

I think, logistically, it's slightly easier in Switzerland. You could book an apartment or hotel in Murren or Wengen in the BO and do plenty of day hiking trips up to a mountain hut or berghaus for lunch, returning to either town at the end of the day. The valley floor has sights like the Trummelbach falls (amazing) and cable cars up to Piz Gloria peak. Lucerne and Bern are both pleasant one night stopovers on the way to the BO.

I've also been to the Dolomites. The mountains in Switzerland are higher and that much more dramatic. But the Dolomites are gorgeous as well. Do strongly recommend staying in huts or berghauses or refugios up in the mountains, not just hotels in the valleys. Food is perhaps also better in the Dolomites, which has a strong Austro-German influence in the cuisine, but we still ate well in Switzerland. If you went to the Dolomites, you could probably combine it with a few days somewhere in Northern Italy like Verona or Lake Garda and in checking at flights, flights to Milan right now are cheaper than flights to Zurich.

Hiking in both areas is very easy with signs everywhere and different levels of trails. Make sure you are comfortable with the higher grade trails with more exposure. All in all, while I loved the Dolomites, if you really want Alps, Switzerland hands down.

We spent our Switzerland trip the same way as you - lots of hiking, hotels with breakfasts and eating at coop - food prices at coop were similar to the USA. I just don’t think the average dcum would be okay with that kind of vacation lol. They’re going to want restaurant food every night with drinks and apps.

Oh and one more thing to add - I’ve spent over 3 weeks in Switzerland in 2024 - went in summer and was there last month. It’s the restaurants that are going to kill a budget. I didn’t find lodging anymore expensive than what you’d find in the USA - in fact I thought some places were cheaper and a better value.

It’s the eating out and drinking that kills a budget in Switzerland. So if you’re okay with grocery store meals and hotel breakfasts it can definitely be affordable. And don’t knock the Coop pre made food - it’s really good.

Transportation costs are also insanely high in Switzerland. Every train, cable car, funicular is going to cost you. Get the Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card if you’re going to move around a lot.

[Anonymous]

slight detour on the OP, but I have many questions on the different fare passes in Switzerland and there aren't that many Switzerland threads here. We are staying 6 nights in Murren/Wengen, by way of Zurich/Lucerne--I THINK we are best served by the BOP and the Swiss Half Fare passes combined. Any thoughts?

[Anonymous]

We've done both, and our family preferred the Dolomites. Switzerland (as well as the French Alps) are lovely, but we had quite a bit of rain/cold last summer there; whereas, the weather in the Dolomites was fantastic. Also, as others have said, the food in the Dolomites is better too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:slight detour on the OP, but I have many questions on the different fare passes in Switzerland and there aren't that many Switzerland threads here. We are staying 6 nights in Murren/Wengen, by way of Zurich/Lucerne--I THINK we are best served by the BOP and the Swiss Half Fare passes combined. Any thoughts?

The slightly infuriating aspect to planning a Swiss vacation is figuring out all the various travel passes. The BOP gives you free travel within the BO for all trains and cable cars, but double check if it excludes specific trains like the train up the Jungfrau. And check if the BOP includes to/from Zurich/Lucerne. Depending on how active you are within the BO, the half fare card may be better if you are only using transport a few days and hiking the rest of the time. I looked into both options and concluded just getting the half fare pass was better because we only needed it a few days out of the entire trip as we were walking the rest of the time and it covered all the cable cars/trains we needed, including the cable car up the Piz Gloria (which we learned from the internet is a good and cheaper alternative to the much more expensive Jungfrau train).

I googled quickly and it seems like your approach to get both passes may work best:
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g188078-i653-k14790938-BOP_and_Half_Fare_Card-Bernese_Oberland_Canton_of_Bern.html

But it also comes down to how often you intend to utilize the passes.