We’re thinking of a 3-4 night stopover in Switzerland on a train trip from France to Italy. This would be in early May (around 4-8 May).
We came across Kandersteg and wonder if it is a good choice. I realise that the cable cars aren’t operating at that time of year and it’s pretty much off season. We are content with a relatively small town, with a railway station, where there are walking trails from the town. Preferably a place not overrun by tourists, although I did have a thought that they might be less in any case if cable cars aren’t available. Hotels and restaurants aren’t important, we would most likely choose self catering accommodation (need a supermarket in the town for that).
Does anyone have thoughts on Kandersteg or recommendations for somewhere else?
Thanks.
Posted by
Citizen of the World
3182 posts
Kandersteg is somewhat isolated and really small with just 1,200 residents. May is a bit too early for hiking. Even though you can hike up to Oeschinensee, your options beyond that are quite limited.
I would recommend staying in Lauterbrunnen because there will be a lot more options available such as exploring the local waterfalls and the scenic panoramas from the towns of Wengen and Muerren.
Posted by
Nashville, TN
1054 posts
At that time of year I’d recommend staying on a lake. That way when the weather is not nice in the mountains you still have pretty scenery and activities. Look at places on Lake Thun where you could still visit the mountains or perhaps Lake Luzern.
This would give you a mix of lake, mountain, historic sites, shopping, restaurants and train service.
Posted by
NW England
818 posts
I agree, that early in May nothing is guaranteed with the weather, any heat will be in the air from the sun and as soon is it goes cloudy it will go cold - especially at altitudes like Kandersteg. The big question hanging over this plan is how reliable will the Simplon railway to Milan be next year, it's had a few years of seemingly sporadic major work sites and line closures which means no trains from Switzerland to Milano during such work. Whereas the Gotthard route is much less prone to these things and has an hourly direct service to Milano.
On Lake Thun you have a choice of Thun or Spiez that meet your thoughts but would be a pain if the Simplon trains were not running. Luzern is better placed for Gotthard line trains afterwards, it's not small by Swiss standards but not really large - but if you want to walk straight to a train may be too big.
Interlaken is where Lake Thun meets Lake Brienz and in early May won't be overrun with tourists like it is in main season. Reaching the Gotthard line is via Interlaken.
For size, walking and weather there are a lot of places in the region between Basel (where Paris -Zurich trains enter Switzerland) and Luzern but I'm not sure how common short stay self catering is.
Posted by
OP
Australia
110 posts
Thank you, I will take a look at those suggestions. I think I’m somewhat looking for a unicorn place given the time of year we are going - somewhere with walking trails into a reasonably natural environment that can be taken directly from town.
And thanks Another Steve for the railway information - very useful.
Posted by
Switzerland
289 posts
somewhere with walking trails into a reasonably natural environment that can be taken directly from town.
Kandersteg does fit this description! Having lived through many spring seasons in the Berner Oberland I can tell you that it is very beautiful!
You certainly can have poor weather, but that can happen at any time of the year! For there to be snow on the ground in Kandersteg in May would be very unusual indeed.
You can see all of the hiking routes around Kandersteg on the link below. Look at the map and zoom in to Kandersteg. All of the yellow lines are Wanderweg hiking paths. I have hiked several of them and it would be highly unusual for any of them to be closed due to weather! It is the higher mountain hiking trails that close down seasonally (shown in red on the map).
You can hike from Kandersteg to Blausee. There is an international Scout camp in Kandersteg and they have a wonderful description of the hike with lots of pertinent information. You can see that this hike can be done all year round.
https://www.kisc.ch/programme-adventure/blausee-hike
Thun is a lovely city, and like every location in Switzerland there are a lot of hiking trails, but to go directly from your door onto to a selection of natural hiking trails (not along the roads)…it’s not exactly like that. If you add in a bus ride, then of course a lot of opportunities open up. Spiez would be the same.
Posted by
214 posts
FWIW, Oeschinenseebahn started transporting up this year on May 10th...
I stayed in Kandersteg for two weeks several years ago and did not regret it!
We must have had a grocery store because we did self catering Ferienwohnung as well.
Posted by
OP
Australia
110 posts
Thanks for the detailed reply SwissNomad. Very much appreciated.
We may try Kandersteg after all :)
Posted by
Switzerland
289 posts
You are welcome Ethel, if you like cycling that will be a possibility as well. You can cycle down the valley and put the bike on the train to bring it back up (you don’t have to go all the way to Thierachern, just as far as you want. On the map you can activate the train stops to see where a good location will be). It is a scenic route through farmland and small villages.
https://schweizmobil.ch/en/cycling-in-switzerland/route-64/stage-1
We must have had a grocery store because we did self catering
Ferienwohnung as well.
Yes, there is a little Coop there, also a great bakery
I have had delicious schnitzel and fries here, view of the mountains, river and church with nice outdoor seating