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Early Dec in Switzerland: Trains and Christmas markets

Dreaming an early December Christmas markets trip, and especially need help on Switzerland. Want to try some new places. About 15 nights total, probably flying into Frankfurt and out of Zurich, which usually have decent flights from ATL. Have always driven, but think this will work well with trains. Four friends who are more interested in the market atmosphere than the shopping and want to see some beautiful, snow-covered Swiss scenery.

Loose plan:
Stuttgart 2-3 nights, starting close to opening of market on Nov 28. Day trip to Esslingen.
Colmar 3 nights, with maybe a day trip to Strausbourg.
Switzerland 7-8 days, ending in Zurich, mostly to day trip to Einseideln and/or Bremgarten.

Details and questions:
Murren sounds great for 2-3 days, but is it a good option if you’re not skiing? ( I don’t see us snow hiking. We're active 60somethings, but flatlanders.)

The Schilthorn trip sounds good but I realize the weather issues. What are the chances in Dec?

Murren to Interlaken to catch the Golden Pass sounds like a plan. Would you go all the way to Montreaux and overnight? (I don’t like one-nighters, but about 4 hours at a time on a train is about right for me. On any of the big name train trips, we would probably choose a smaller section on an everyday train covering the same tracks.)

I did the Bernina Express in Oct, 2017, (with much help from this site!) and would love to do it again in winter and stay again at the Muottas Muragl, but that seems to take us a long way from Zurich.

Coming from Colmar, we would probably pass through Basel. Should that be a stop?

How would you rank Basel, Luzern, and Zurich in winter? (I generally prefer smaller places.)

Is there a don’t miss Christmas market that you love that I don’t even know about?

Main dilemma:
How to choose a couple of beautiful places and train rides in Switzerland without a crazy pace and too much backtracking! I want to slow it down and enjoy what we see, but I need help from someone who knows Switzerland well! Thank you so much for reading all of this. I don’t expect anyone to solve ALL my issues, but please jump in if you have an opinion on even one of them. (And I have read the RS Switzerland book cover to cover. Too many choices.)

Posted by
11739 posts

I can offer comments on Muerren in winter: it is lovely and you do not have to be a skier! The snow hiking is done on groomed paths and requires no equipment although winter walking shoes are advisable and trekking sticks cam be nice to have. When we went in 2014 we had not adopted trekking sticks yet and did fine, but now that we have "discovered" them we find them practical and reassuring. The walk between Grutschalp and Muerren in snow is delightful and just visiting Kleine Schneidegg and riding the cogwheel railway over to Grindelwald was fun.

Posted by
987 posts

Laurel,
Thank you so much. Your answer moved me one step farther. I had hoped Murren would be a good plan. So far it's Stuttgart>Colmar>Murren>??? We would be in Murren the first week of December. Hoping there will be snow then. Do you think there's any chance of renting hiking poles for a day or two?

I now have about 7 more nights in Switzerland to fill, ending in Zurich to fly out if you have more ideas. Considering some train trips, Lucerne, and the markets of Einseidler and Bremgarten, both of which are near Zurich and will end on the second weekend of December. Thanks again!