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First time to Swiss Alps

Good day! I did a lot of research on where to go to find the best swiss alps view.
I found we can go to Zermatt/Lucerne/montblanc... but it still confuse me.. looking for some answers below :)

-trip date is may 14-16 2017, are we gonna see snow covering the alps on these days?
-which area to book hotel if we want to have the swiss alps view? we were hoping to book one night close to alps and the second maybe anywhere nearby (or both nights nearby alps if prices are reasonable for us)
-we are coming from paris - is advisable to book train paris-geneva or paris-interlaken, etc (not really sure) we will skip zurich as we just really want to enjoy the alps.
-from Switzerland we will be traveling to venice next.

thank you in advance :)

Posted by
1450 posts

You will definitely see snow at the higher elevations in May. Check out this webcam to see what it's like in real time.

For great Swiss alp views I would recommend staying in Lauterbrunnen, which by train is about 20 minutes south of Interlaken. High alpine peaks have it surrounded.

ETA: Gimmelwald got snow mid-April today!

Posted by
7209 posts

Definitely do not stay in Interlaken. Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Murren are all MUCH MUCH nicer and they are right in the middle of the alpine grandeur.

Posted by
2 posts

Thanks for the info :) If it's correct, we will take a train from Paris (NOrd) transfer in De lyon and arrive in Interlaken. Then from Interlaken will be able to take trains going to Lauterbrunnen?

Is it easy train ride from Lauterbrunnen to go Zermatt? so to see the Matterhorn?

And next day we were hoping if it's doable to go Jungfrau from Lauterbrnnen?
thank!

Posted by
35 posts

I agree that Lauterbrunnen area is the place to see and be surrounded by mountains... We were there back in 2013. Staying in the little village of Gimmelwald up on the mountain near Murren. Gimmelwald is my best place on this earth! True fact - I fell in love with it...
There are different routes you could take to get there. I just checked and good easy way with only two train changes is Paris Gare de Lyon to Basel to Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen in 6hours. Then if you wanted to stay in one of the mountain villages its easy to get to from there either by cable car or train.
From Lauterbrunnen to Zermatt is just under 3hrs by train but with three changes. This would be a big day if your wanting to do it in a day, then return to Lauterbrunnen in the same day!
Lauterbrunnen to Jungfrau is do-able and should be done. The train to Jungfrau actually has to depart from Lauterbrunnen...
Hope this info is of use to you... :)

Posted by
7175 posts

I would head from Paris to Zermatt first up.

TGV 9765
Dep 09:17 PARIS GARE DE LYON (France)
Arr 12:15 GENEVE (Switzerland)

TRN 1721
Dep 12:30 GENEVE (Switzerland)
Arr 14:53 VISP (Switzerland)

RE 245
Dep 15:08 VISP (Switzerland)
Arr 16:14 ZERMATT (Switzerland)