Berner Overland area in late April & Thoughts on Zermatt

Sounds like a lot of one night stands to me. Can you cancel the booking in Geneva and go straight to Montreux from the airport? It is only 1 1/4 hour on a direct train, 2 every hour. Spend 3 nights there, then go to Zermatt for your one night stand, then 3 nights in the Berner Oberland, then the last 2 in Luzern. Go direct from Luzern to Zurich airport for the flight home. Skip Bern and Zurich. Now you only have 4 places to stay with longer time at 3 of them.

Should be fairly nice in Montreux, it will still be ski season in Zermatt, but there will be plenty to see and do up the mountain even if there is still a lot of snow. Berner Oberland will be getting into mud season, but the waterfalls should be in full display, and as in Zermatt, lots to do if there is still snow on the ground. Yes, ski season here will have just ended, so hoteliers take there vacation before the summer season starts. Luzern is at a lower elevation so should be good as well.

Note that the Schilthornbahn will be closed for maintenance April 23 to 26 between Muerren and Piz Gloria.

I have been to Switzerland many times as it is at the top of my favorite countries. However, I have never been there in late April so I will let others comment on the time of year.

You have listed 5 cities in between Geneva and Zurich. Assuming you are arriving from the US, you will lose one day in the beginning from a long flight and lose another on departure day. So, you have 7 days to see 5 cities. If folks here tell you late April will be okay weather, I would spend 3 days in Berner Overland and see Lucerne and Bern two days each. I would leave Montreux and Zermatt for another trip. I would choose Lauterbrunnen for this trip as you can then access Wengen and Murren easily. Light hiking is available throughout the area. Enjoy.

Thank you for your replies. Good points. We are travelling from Canada and arriving at noon and planned to stay our first night in Geneva and then head out early the next morning in the direction of Montreux. We had thought we'd just spend the day in the Montreax area and then take the Golden Pass train to Bern (via Spiez) where we would spend our second night. From there Zermatt and Berner Overland area dependant on weather.

I would say that you land at noon, you have a very good chance of being in Montreux by 2 pm, 3 pm for sure. You have to wait until about that time to get into a hotel, Why not get that short stretch over with. Then you can kick back and relax, listen to "Smoke on the Water" and visit the statue of Freddy Mercury on the water front.

Some hotels and B&Bs along Lake Geneva give out a free Riviera Pass to their guests. It's a rail pass that gives you free run of the local trains and buses and some sights such as Chateau Chillon. It could save you a day or two on your Swiss Pass which might let you opt for the shorter (and cheaper) duration pass.

The B.O. in late April will likely have a mix of spring days and snow days. The Gimmelwald webcam shows snow on the ground today, April 13, which is appropriate since Winter Is Coming tomorrow. This regional webcam shows Maennlichen is covered in snow.

Thanks for all the tips and suggestions on our itinerary. And good idea on the rail pass!

Thinks may be different in a week or two - I was up in the mountains last week the day after Mürren received 30 cm of snow in the afternoon and it snowed all night.

Most paths in the town were mostly clear with some ice and and slush - daytime temp was about 10 degrees C, and I got lovely warm feelings from the views that I have loved so much for so long.

A couple of days later I was on Lake Maggiore just south of the Alps and got sunburned.

I was in Bern and there was still a little snow even on the Gurten.

Yesterday I was driving through snow in Alsace and Lorraine, and last night had a heavy frost.

Three weeks ago this was late spring weather - we currently have late winter / early spring weather.

One advantage was the dung spreaders hadn't started in the Berner Oberland because of the snow.

The views, as always regardless of the season, from Mürren are incomparable.

Your hotel in Bern may give you a "Bern Ticket" just for staying in Bern. Valid on all buses, trams, electric buses, trains, elevators, funiculars (2!!) and battery buses in the two central zones of Bern, as far west as Westside, and including the Gurten. The arcades and fountains in Bern are good fun, but do not let Bern - lovable city that it is and one I love, was just there for nearly a week - distract you from the countryside and Alps which is probably why you are going to Switzerland.

Be prepared for sticker shock...

Thank you for all the assistance and great ideas. We may check our bag for five or so hours at the Geneva train station and walk a little around Geneva before heading towards Lausanne to spend the first night there.