Alternatives to Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland Swiss Alps

My family visited Switzerland in 2022, and we fell in love with the country.

We stayed in Wengen, a car-less village in the Bernese Oberland region with spectacular views and the sound of cowbells in the fields. I loved the views, the cheese fondue, the quaint villages. You can see my trip report here.

Everyone in my family is dying to go back. We’re planning to attend Wimbledon in London in the summer of 2026, so combining that with a return trip to the Swiss Alps makes sense.

However, being the over-thinker that I am, I wondered if there are equally beautiful mountainous spots in Europe we haven’t yet visited that we should consider instead of returning to Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland. Here are some alternatives.

The Dolomites, Italy

The Dolomites, part of the Italian Alps, look gorgeous. The town of Val Gardena is a popular base for visitors. To get to the area, you can drive from Venice or take a bus from Munich.

Pros of the Dolomites

• The cost of lodging, food, and activities is cheaper than Switzerland
• The area is known for its outstanding food
• Mountain peaks are more unique-looking than the Swiss Alps
• It rains less in the Dolomites compared to the Swiss Alps
• Dolomites are less crowded than Bernese Oberland in Switzerland

Cons of the Dolomites

• Public transportation is not as good as Switzerland, so visiting might require renting a car (although in peak seasons you can get by without a car, see this article)
• English language is not as common in the Dolomites compared to Switzerland
• No car-less villages (like Wengen, Murren and Gimmelwald in Switzerland)

See this video below for a comparison of Swiss Alps vs. Dolomites.

Chamonix, France

The Chamonix resort area of the French Alps is near the base of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps. It’s relatively easy to get to by flying to Geneva, Switzerland and taking a direct bus for a little over an hour.

Pros of Chamonix/Mont Blanc:

• The cost of lodging, food, and activities is cheaper than Switzerland
• The area is known for its outstanding food
• Easy to get to from Geneva (no train transfers involved)
• These nearby ice caves look fantastic
• No car necessary

Cons of Chamonix/Mont Blanc:

• The altitude is higher than Bernese Oberland and the Dolomites, which can make for difficult hiking and high altitude sickness
• No car-less villages (like Wengen, Murren and Gimmelwald in Switzerland)

Zillertal, Austria

I stumbled on Zillertal on a travel message board. Zillertal was the filming location for Ed Sheeran’s Perfect music video. This valley in the Austrian Alps is just over two hours by train from Munich. It looks so dreamy! Check out some things to do in Zillertal during the summer.

Pros of Zillertal:

• We’ve never been to Austria before (while we’ve already visited Switzerland, Italy and France)
• The area has 10 different cable car routes that take you to different view points/hikes
• Hintertux Glacier has snow year-round, and also offers snow tubing, ice caves and more during the summer
• The area is less expensive than Switzerland. The Zillertal Activ Card is an affordable way to experience the region.
• Fewer crowds compared to Bernese Oberland in Switzerland

Cons of Zillertal:

• It doesn’t have any car-less villages (like Wengen, Murren and Gimmelwald in Switzerland)
• According to comments on travel boards, the scenery at Zillertal is not quite as incredible as the Swiss Alps (but it still looks amazing!)

If you are interested in learning more about Zillertal, check out this video for some highlights:

Final Thoughts

It’s always difficult to decide whether to return to favorite vacation destinations or explore a new place. Thankfully, we have some time to decide. Have you been to one of the above locations?