Headed to Switzerland for 1st time in mid-April. Most likely 3-4 day trip based out of Zurich. Very interested in seeing the "mountains" but thinking Berner Oberland might be to far of a trek for that short of time (especially in April). Suggestions for more easily accessible mountains? Best areas to visit in mid-April? Also open to favorite daytrip from Zurich. Thx in advance!!!
Posted by
Los Angeles
4853 posts
I did the Schilthorn as a day trip from Bern, so it's certainly possible. In fact, the Swiss have arranged train, bus and cable car schedules so it's imminently doable. Just depends what you mean by "see" the mountains, because you can also see them from the shores of Lake Zurich and Lake Lucerne. So the latter might be a nice day trip combined with a short cruise.
Posted by
OP
California
9 posts
Thanks for your tips! What I really meant is I'd like to experience the mountains and the guide made it sound like Berner Oberland (BO) was a must! However I've spent more time reading this forum and it sounds like BO in April is not the best idea (mud, weather, cow manure). So maybe I'm looking for any additional mountain towns or train rides that would allow us to return from Switzerland and feel like we experience the Alps:).
Posted by
Bern, Switzerland
1043 posts
However I've spent more time reading this forum and it sounds like BO
in April is not the best idea (mud, weather, cow manure). So maybe I'm
looking for any additional mountain towns or train rides that would
allow us to return from Switzerland and feel like we experience the
Alps
Well if you are going to be on a train, the mud etc... will not matter will it? The weather could be a different matter, but then again you can have a bad weather day anything of the year. In other words don't get to hung up about the weather. Yes of course, depending on the time of the year the experience will be different, but the Alps very rarely fail to impress!
Provided you are willing to take the early morning trains out of Zurich and return after dark, you should be well to undertake plenty of excursions into the mountains. For example the 8:02 out of Zurich would have you on the Gornergrat, looking out at the Matterhorn in time for lunch at 12:09! There would be plenty of time for that, plus a stroll around Zermatt before heading back to Zurich in the evening.