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Switzerland or France First? Mid-June to Early July Trip – Advice Needed!

Posted by (San Francisco) on

Hi everyone!

I’m planning a trip from mid-June to early July that includes both Switzerland and France, and I’d love some input on which country to visit first.

My original plan was to land in Zurich and spend about a week traveling around Switzerland, then head into France for about two weeks. This itinerary gives me the flexibility to extend my stay in Paris for a few extra days if I want.

But I’m now reconsidering the order based on weather.
I was in Paris in mid-July a few years ago and remember it being really hot. On the other hand, I read that last June was very rainy in Switzerland, which makes me wonder if I should flip the order and visit France first, then Switzerland. The downside is that ending in Switzerland would mean no flexibility to extend time in Paris, since I’d be flying out of Zurich.

I haven’t booked accommodations yet, so I still have some flexibility.

Has anyone traveled this route during this time of year?
How did the weather affect your plans? Would you recommend starting in Switzerland or France?

Thanks in advance for your insights!

Edit:
In Switzerland, I’m planning to visit Geneva (2 days), Zermatt (2 days), and Appenzell (2 days), and I might spend a day in Mürren as well. I’ve already been to Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen before, but haven’t seen Grindelwald or Mürren, so I’m hoping to explore a bit more of that region this time in case we don't get good weather in Zermatt and decide to leave a day early. I’ll be renting a car and I want to keep the itinerary fairly flexible - so depending on the weather, I might adjust my route or change how long I stay in certain places. That means I’ll likely need to make some last-minute cancellations or rebookings for accommodations, which I’m okay with. I just want to leave some room to make the most of the good weather days!

That said, please let me know if this is a bad idea. During my last trip, I was able to find accommodation in Interlaken just a day in advance - but that was off-season (early November), so I’m not sure if the same approach will work in late June or early July (depending on whether I visit France first, or Switzerland).

Posted by
8360 posts

Do Paris first since you have been there before and more likely to go there again.. Last year one of the great high altitude trails from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheindig in the Berner Oberland did not open until late June because of soggy muddy conditions from melting snow and rain. It is never hot at higher elevations though you can get sunburn easily.

Posted by
34778 posts

If you are departing from Zürich and getting the car there, presumably you will return it there? Otherwise you may have to pay a huge international drop fee. And the car will have the Swiss mandatory Vignette (CHF 40 if you have to get it on arrival from France) - but it probably won't have the Crit'Air French sticker for environmentally polluted areas such as Strasbourg.

Taking the car over the border is easy but can be a hassle or a way to spend extra time and energy.

You are aware that villages above Lauterbrunnen are car free? And so is Zermatt?

Posted by
29 posts

Thanks Nigel. If I fly in to Zurich, I was hoping to return it in Geneva before crossing the border. And if I fly into France first, I was hoping to rent a car in Geneva, and then return at the Zurich airport. Will that work?

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