Switzerland in September - Zermatt/Matterhorn

I'm not sure what everyone has said, but...

In my opinion, unless you are climbing ( esp. the Matterhorn) or possibly staying in a hut in the mountains with a great local restaurant and incredible Matterhorn view (and I mean perfectly framed view and Michelin food) then I would skip Zermatt. There is a climbing museum and climbing graveyard that were cool to see but the shear number of people (and this was during the day in September 14 or so in 2014) made the feel more like Bourbon street on a Friday night but admittedly fewer strip clubs and drunks. SO many people, jeez. More than the Montreux Jazz Festival--seriously.

Go big, go mountains! And skip Zermatt this time. Maybe hit Mt Blanc instead, Chamonix.

September is the best month of the year for hiking. You have a better chance of seeing the mountain during this month than any other. Go for it.

Personally, I think the hikes on the slopes above the town are some of the most spectacular in the country. Even better than the Berner Oberland, in my humble opinion. You go to Zermatt to hike and see jagged mountain peaks towering above you like nowhere else, not for the town itself...I would also argue that's the reason to visit Murren as well.

Tom & Cabalist;
Thank you both for your responses. Two different points of view. There will be 6 in our group. One has been to Zermatt - loved it. Since we're there a short time would like to make the best of our time . 4 days - could use advise on what to do each day. Will head home from Zurich.

I just watched a show on Zermatt yesterday. They said on the show that the town of Zermatt has more days of sun than any other town in Switzerland. The surrounding mountains block most of the clouds from reaching Zermatt. I was in Zermatt in September many years ago and we had perfect weather. If you are going to spend four days there, you better like to hike. The hiking trails were very good. You can take cable cars up and walk down.

A couple of things...

1. Arriving via train or air?

2. Continuing via car or train?

3. By four days, do you mean:
   A. I arrive on Sunday night and check into the hotel and will be spending Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in Switzerland leaving on Friday morning.
   B. I arrive on on Monday morning and will be spending the rest of Monday (after checking into the hotel), Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in Switzerland leaving on Friday morning.
   C. I arrive on on Monday morning and will be spending the rest of Monday (after checking into the hotel), Tuesday, and Wednesday, in Switzerland leaving on Thursday morning.

4. What activities do you like?

5. If travelling by train will you have any discount cards or fares? Some can describe these fares and discounts in detail (you can find some info on that via the search function).

Joy the same concerns - weather not cooperating; little to do in town - would seem to apply to any of the mountain destinations in Switzerland. The difference to me between Zermatt and BO is that Zermatt is a bit more of a higher-end tourist destination with lots of glitz and glamour, and BO/Muerren is much more low key. Nothing undesirable in either destination.

Yep, Swiss weather. Unpredictable everywhere, really.

I do like the mountains in the Mattertal and have spent my time on the side of the Matterhorn (OK, the Hirli) in a small, aluminum 'tent' with winds and snow howling outside and a 5-year old inside with me and my wife. :) That being said, I have seen mountains just as pretty in many other places in Switzerland.

Grindelwald is a great base for hiking, especially lower altitude hiking. Wengen is a great place with lifts to hiking in a beautiful valley (on the other side of the mountain from Grindelwald). They are about 25 mins away (car) or an hour (train) apart. People typically prefer one or the other but they are just different areas. I LOVE the hike from Grindelwald, past the Berghotel Grosse Scheidegg, through Scwarzalp, to Rosenlaui. The view you have throughout the hike is the best there is and it is a low-altitude hike to-boot!

Luzern is another great place to go where you can stay on the Vierwaldstaettersee, take boats out to other mountains, and cogwheels and cable cars to their tops. A spectacular region and opportunity!

Appenzell is not to be missed and the food and hiking combined with the scenery and even-tempered weather make it hard to beat.

Saas Fee is better than Zermatt (not going to argue this with anybody, but it is my strongly held opinion) and just one valley over in the Saastal. Also car-free, with a place to park your car right outside the town but up in the mountains unlike Taesch, just different.

I would choose one and go. Spend all 4 days there and do a day-trip or two (or 3 if you are in Luzern!) while you are there.

We had an incredibile Chamber-of-Commerce-beautiful 4-night stay in Zermatt in late September last year. Also had 7 perfect days of weather in the BO same trip. Great hiking in both locations, although more "easy" trails (relatively speaking) in the BO. You cannot miss. Both are terrific!

Responding to cabalist' post of 3/27/16.

Sorry for slow response - busy with bridal shower for daughter.

Thanks for your clarifying questions.

1. Will be disembarking from river cruise in Basel early Sunday morning.

2. Sunday will be continuing via train to destination to be determined.

3. Four days included Sunday as travel day from Basel. Check into hotel, spending Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday enjoying Switzerland, leaving Zurich on Thursday morning.

4. Activities: Non-serious hiking, and walking. We walk 5 miles per day. Sight seeing. Chocolate, fondue, Cheese stores. Mountain views. Cable cars. Where do we go for lunch in an igloo?

5. Good question about discount cards. For that short time, would a Swiss Pass be good to have?

Thank you, cabalist and all you other very helpful folks. Any ideas will be very appreciated.

Joy
Palatine, IL

Lunch in an igloo-----

This is a winter activity---they need lots of snow to build the igloos. Various places in Switzerland, such as Adelboden:

http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/fondue-party-in-an-igloo-on-the-engstligenalp.html?iPadCover

And "iglu dorfs" are built in ski areas such as Davos and Zermatt, but only in winter!

http://www.iglu-dorf.com/en/

Firstly, what time are you flying out (flying, right?) of ZRH Thursday morning?

If you want to go to Zermatt you can take the cable car up to Schwarzseerestaurant ( schwarzsee-zermatt.ch ) and eat lunch. You can hike around the Schwarzsee afterwards in the shadow of the Matterhorn.

I like Grindelwald for ease of access (it is a little bigger) with day trips into the other valley via train (and bus, anyone know?) and trips around town via a free bus (get your card from your hotel). It is just really convenient. We have done the other side a couple of times and it was beautiful but for us more expensive. Mountain views are the norm, stay at Alpenblick. Reasonable prices, good breakfast, friendly folks, the bus stops AT Alpenblick.

I like Appenzell and Ebenalp in particular. Easy access from the valley (if you choose to stay there, but I would advise otherwise) to many huts and restaurants high on the ridges. Some with 360 views and others perched on summits with weather needles next door. If you want to hike a little go here, and stay at Aescher-Wildkirchli. Good Roesti amid other things. Just do it. Train stops at Wasauren then take cable car up to Ebenalp. Hike down from there, then through the bear cave...

I like Luzern and the Veirwaldstaetersee. Great town (fun at the end of 'terms' as it is a college town--fun to see how they do it :) with a great history and parks and public spaces. Good food (great for gluten free). Great daytrips to mountain tops via boat/railway/cable car. Really. Co-op at the train station (as well as a harder to find Migros) and a Co-op and Migros in the old town area. End of July is Switzerland day and everything goes nuts. Luzern is a good place to be for this :)

And if you have some sort of train card then you probably get discounts to the railways/boats/cable cars that I mentioned in each of the areas.

There are many beautiful places in Switzerland, REALLY beautiful.

Some 'from-the-hip' times (anyone who uses the trains more than I do please chime in):

Basel > Zermatt 3hrs 19mins
Basel > Appenzell 3hrs 30mins
Basel > Luzern 1hr
Basel > Grindelwald 2hrs 40mins

Great advice given by cabalist. I cannot think of anything to add.

Only Zermatt has the Matterhorn. All of Switzerland is beautiful, and rainy and crowded. The crowds in town are easily avoided by spending the day out on the hills, ride the train up and hike down. Go early for a great day and a discount for first train.

We skiied Cervina this trip but the top of the Matterhorn stayed hidden in clouds, more days will increase the likelyhood of a clear view. This iconic mountain is best seen from Zermatt. We did have a room with a mountain view, really nice.

Heading home today and dreaming of my next trip. 😊

Definitely choose Bernese Oberland as : Rick's tips suggest
Top of Europe is so worth doing: Jungfrau web cam get the 7:07 train from Lauterbrunnen to avoid the crowded tours from Interlaken.
Lots of wet weather trips from Lauterbrunnen eg. day trip to Lucern, Water falls inside the mountain in Lauternbrunnen, Beatenberg caves easy train and bus trip from Lauterbrunnen and more, but be cheery, Spet is a great month :)