Can anyone shed light on staying in Wengen in mid-April? I realize it is shoulder season and many of the optional trams/gondolas close for maintenance, but does the town basically close down? Is it worth staying at that time of year?
Any insight or suggestions are welcome!
Thank you!
No, they don't close up completely -- people live there. I stayed in Murren, which is much smaller, in what was considered shoulder season of late October and it was perfect.
By all means do specific research on if there was something specific you want to do that might be affected by a closure, but there is no overarching reason to avoid the area in off season.
Tell us what you want to see and do, how many days, and the rest of your itinerary to get really detailed advice.
You really can't compare October to April. Yes, they are both "off season" but in October most of the mountain cable cars, hiking paths, etc. are still open, so almost everything is still accessible, just quieter. In mid April it's a different story. Ski season has ended, but weather can be a mix of snow, slush, rain, etc. making for messy hiking and very few of the main attractions will be open. Unless your vision of your trip is to simply go to Jungfraujoch, walk around the town, walk around in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and maybe go to the lakes, I think you might be a bit disappointed with the weather and available activities. Personally I'd only go to Wengen in ski season or mid June to mid October for mountain activities that don't involve skiing. November and April are when locals take their breaks from the busy summer and ski seasons and do a lot of maintenance to transition seasons. If mid April is your only option then you might want to consider staying on the lakes at lower altitude and taking a day trip up into the mountains on a decent weather day.
Thank you! That was exactly what my thoughts were. To stay near the lakes and and travel to the mountains if and when the weather is clear.
That is our only window of opportunity for travel to Switzerland, but I enjoy off season travel wherever we go.
Thank you!
