October in Zermatt or Lauterbrunnen

To me, a month just in Zermatt would be a bit too long. Although it has enough shops/restaurants open year round, you don’t have a lot of bad weather options and it’s a single, somewhat isolated village. A lot of the hiking is also at even higher elevations. In Berner Oberland, you have more access to different elevations and locations to work around the weather and options for day trips if the weather doesn’t cooperate at all.

Weather in October in BO would say generally mid 40s-50s during the day in the mountain towns, can go to freezing at night. Lauterbrunnen itself is in the valley and can be a little warmer. Early in the month you may even get a 60+ degree day or two. Zermatt is normally cooler, especially at night.

I was in Murren (above Lauterbrunnen) last October and there was enough open, though we cooked at home a couple nights--eating out every night would be pretty expensive. Agree with the earlier post that a month in Zermatt might be too long. A week there and the rest in the BO would be nice.

hopper18, valadelphia: Good points. I think I will just look at Lauterbrunnen. The Airbnb monthly rates are so good that it makes me just want to "park it" somewhere for an entire month like a base camp. The Jungfrau Summer Pass will still be in effect so that would minimize transportation cost. I do want to spend some time in Interlaken but other than that I have not researched day trips from Lauterbrunnen. I look forward to any other suggestions anyone has.

May I ask what interests you in Interlaken? Besides being a useful transportation/shopping hub, I personally don't find the town itself that attractive.
The Jungfrau Summer Pass will cover you in the mountains (definitely max out your use on that!) and to/from Interlaken, but if you'll be in Switzerland for a month, I'd also suggest getting the Half Fare Card https://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/inspiration/international-guests/swiss-halffare-card.html

You'll get a 100 franc discount on the Jungfrau Summer Pass, and it will also give you 50% off any other travel you do for a month (from/to airport, day trips etc). This would be handy for boat journeys on the lakes, visiting Bern for a day, etc. If of interest to you, Ballenberg open-air museum is also worth visiting and a nice day-trip.

hopper18: Not a lot but a few things I want to see such as Harder Kulm, Beatus Caves, the Panorama Bridge, cruise on the lake, walk the town since I've only passed through twice. With only a few restaurants in Lauterbrunnen and only a 30-minute train ride into Interlaken, I thought it might be easy to go there for a few meals. Maureen had some good adds I need to research. Good information on the trains. Seeing snow in Zermatt, though quite a distance, has me concerned for the weather. Cold is good. I like 45-55 but not much cooler and certainly not with snow and rain. I would have preferred September or even August, but I have a full calendar then.

Fair enough. There are some nice walks around there and it has its practical advantages, but I’m not a big fan of the town itself (there is a Hooters between a luxury hotel and a watch/fashion shop on the main street…not really my scene). Hüsi Bierhaus is a decent option in town for pub grub and beer if that might interest you. Also, the youth hostel right at Interlaken Ost train station has a surprisingly decent restaurant attached that is very good value. They offer a dish of the day plus veggie option for 14.50 or a reasonably priced a la carte menu, plus cheap beers and wines. Open year round for lunch and dinner.
I wouldn’t worry too much about snow, especially at lower elevations, maybe a few days here and there but usually doesn’t stick. I’ve been hiking in shorts in Gimmelwald in early October (2021) and been to Harder Kulm as late as Thanksgiving in blue skies and warm enough to eat outside. As I wrote before, that’s one reason I advised against Zermatt where most of the hiking is high up, fewer options. The valleys can get fogged in, but usually it’s nice and sunny up above so just check webcams before you go out. Rain is always a possibility though, so definitely have a few backup options ready for non-outdoorsy day trips.

Well, I'm all booked up, September 30 to October 28 in Wengen. I've got four nights after that which I will spend in Zurich looking around, though I might spend one night at the Grand Hotel Giessbach. I have one more question that I bet you folks can answer and it's a train question. I'm going with the Jungfrau Summer Pass and I intend on getting the 1/2 fare card first. My assumption and question is probably pretty obvious: I can buy the 1/2 fare card anytime, but I should wait until the last minute before buying my Jungfrau Summer Pass or any other tickets because my half fare card is only good for one month after I first use it. Am I correct on this?
I've never used a forum like this before a trip, but I can clearly see what an advantage this is. You folks that replied were a great help. Thank You..!

Literally just back from 3 week trip to Switzerland. 9/5-9/26. We stayed 3 nights in Zermatt & 5 nights in Lauterbrunnen, and I can tell you that if we were to plan our trip again, I’d knock off half our other stays & spend as much time as possible in these two locations. Especially if you’re goal is to hike & see the mountains. In Zermatt we were in a hotel & in Lauterbrunnen an Airbnb. We did several meals using the Coop & Migros grocery stores. Have a wonderful trip!!

End of season this year in the Lauterbrunnen valley is october 23. Till then all cable cars etc... wil be open. After that it starts getting quieter, but that has its appeal too. Wengen should be a bit warmer than Lauterbrunnen during daytime as it has more sun. We had temperatures well over 20 today. But remember that this time of the year the temp drops quickly once the sun has set, so if you go out in to town bring a jacket.

After 23d the Wengeralpahn will still be operating, so you can still go to Wengeralp, Kleine Scheidegg etc...

One tip: There exists a Jungfrau Summer Pass, which is valid the whole summer, and which includes unlimted travel to the Jungfraujoch and the Shilthorn!. And towards the end of the season they often have a special where you can get it at a reduced price. If they do this again this year I do not know, but that would be a good deal.