We will be based in Wengen June1 - June6th. I chose that area because of the BO and all it has to offer. However, for some reason I have a burning desire to see the Matterhorn as I feel I would be missing something huge in my visit to Switzerland. I do understand that the trip to Zermatt is 3 hours and the view of the Matterhorn is very much weather dependant. I don't want to regret not going there, however, it will eat up and entire day as it would be a day trip and I need to feel confident that it is a "must see". For those of you who have been to both areas, what is your opinion? Thank you!!
Posted by
Chicago
8163 posts
Just monitor the weather in Zermatt each night before each day that you may want to go. I successfully saw the Matterhorn on a day trip from Murren which is next door to Wengen just from monitoring the weather over 3 days.
Posted by
OP
30 posts
Great point Periscope. At least we get to see some great scenery I would assume and visit a new city. Thanks for the perspective!
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17417 posts
On the day you decide to go,you will want to get an early start, and take the fastest route to Zermatt so you arrive before conditions change. This is the direct train from Spiez to Visp using the deep Lôtschberg Base Tunnel. Note that beyond Spiez this route is NOT covered with the Berner Oberland Pass (it is with a regular Swiss Pass).
The SBB.ch website or app should automatically route you this way is you buy your tickets online.
For your return, you can take your time and use the slower regional train from Brig to Spiez via Kandersteg. This route IS covered with the Berner Oberland Pass, from Brig to Spiez and on back to Wengen.
You can see the two routes on these maps, one showing the Swiss Travel Pass validity and the other the Berner Oberland Pass validity area.
https://www.berneseoberlandpass.ch/assets/Uploads/Geltungsbereich-Berner-Oberland-Pass-2024.pdf
Depending on the time of day, you might like to get off the train in Kandersteg to have a look around the village.
You could even ride the gondola up to beautiful Oeschinensee—-but be sure to find out the time of the last gondola down, or you will have to walk. (It is actually not a bad walk, as long as it doesn’t get dark).
https://www.oeschinensee.ch/en/
You could even have an early dinner in Kandersteg before catching a later train back to Wengen. It would make for a long day, but a good one.
Posted by
Nashville, TN
612 posts
You will get various opinions on this and not really any one "correct" answer. I personally think the Matterhorn is a bit overrated as an "absolute must see". Of course it's a beautiful mountain, but so are the mountains all over Switzerland. If you feel like for you personally that you'd always feel a "what if" then sure, go for it. I personally would not spend a full day of logistics getting there and back from Wengen, especially because the weather could look fine in the morning when you leave and it could cloud over by the time you get there.
Posted by
Los Angeles
4853 posts
Seems to me if you're in the BO there is more than enough to do there, and you chose it for some reason.
Posted by
El Dorado Hills, CA
69 posts
Everyone has their own perspective of what is a "must see" in Switzerland. On my first trip to Switzerland, I visited Zermatt for the day because I had to see the Matterhorn. I grew up in the shadow of the Matterhorn (Disneyland). It was everything I had imagined and more. While I love the BO and the Montreux area, Zermatt and the Matterhorn is Switzerland to me. I have since visited all the areas several more times over the past 30 years.
The train ride from Visp to Zermatt has fantastic scenery.. terraced vineyards, rushing rivers and forested gorges. Also look for the black noise sheep and the black neck goats in the pastures on the left hand side of the train. It is a "Heidi" moment to me.
Have fun.
Posted by
OP
30 posts
OMG The Heidi movie has stayed with me since childhood. Zermatt it is. Thanks!!
Posted by
Fort Myers, FL
1880 posts
As a couple of others have said, check the weather for the next day and if clear in Zermatt, GO. Did that from Bern and saw the Matterhorn on a clear cloud free day. Well worth the travel.