My husband and I will land in Geneva, spend the next two nights in Montreux, then leave out of Zurich on the 15th (staying in Zurich the night before we leave). We're not hikers but the zipline and paragliding sound fun and Murren delightful. But not sure how the weather will affect our plans. Should we stay over in the Berner Oberland or closer to the lake shores of Luzerne? And can anyone suggest good accomodation please? Thank you!
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
Staying in Lauterbrunnen or Muerren is definitely higher on Rick's list than Luzern, in order to be right in the thick of the Alps and the cows. Over three visits, I always considered the Mt. Schilthorn peak to be a highlight of my trip, giving 360-degree mountain views, weather permitting. We send plenty of tour groups there in September, so I wouldn't have much concern about weather at that time.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32740 posts
Nobody knows how the weather will wind up on any given day, but September has generally reliably warm and reasonably dry weather in the Berner Oberland. If you will get weather it tends to either be mist in the morning low down or clouds which rise up with the heat and cause trouble after lunch.
I love staying in Muerren, which tends to have better views IMHO than Wengen and Lauterbrunnen, and is more developed than Gimmelwald, and less developed and has fewer (ok- none) cars and buses than Grindelwald. Prices can even be less than Interlaken.
OTOH, Luzern is pretty cool. I go there too, every year. Not far is Mt Titlis with its revolving cable car, and the absolutely magnificent Vierwaldstaettersee (Lake Lucerne in English). Mt Rigi is also there; the Berner Oberland is not the only place with magnificent views, despite the RS books.