We are planning on staying in Zermatt April 15 - 17, 2025. Then travel to Berner Oberland and the Jungfrau Region. As I've researched on the web and read Rick's book on Switzerland, we are thinking about basing out of Muren or Gimmelwald or Lauterbrunnen. We will be traveling via train. Plan to purchase the 1/2 price fare card. We want to ride the cable cars and funiculars. Hike a ittle, ride bikes. Hope to enjoy the spring weather. Where would you recommend basing out of? It looks like Murren may have ok options and Gimmelwald may be pretty shut down at this time. We are thinking the below stops:
Zermatt 3-4 nights - Matterhorn, ski, ice palace
Berner Oberland 3 nights
1-2 nights in Luzern
1-2 nights in Innsbrook
2 nights in Slazburg
We fly out of Salzburg on 4/29
Does anyone have a suggestion on the above. Especially where to stay while in the Berner Oberland. Thank you for your help.
Posted by
San Diego, California
6299 posts
You have chosen some beautiful areas.
However, April is not prime season for the Berner Oberland, as it's shoulder season between winter ski season and summer. (I don't know about Zermatt.) You won't have "spring weather" in April at these altitudes. Many lifts shut down for maintenance and don't re-open until mid-June. Likewise, many hiking trails are not open until June, as they are either very muddy or still snow covered. Have you found lodging open? Gimmelwald is tiny, beautiful, but no commercial areas. Murren and Wengen are the favorite places to stay, but again, not sure about April. Lauterbrunen is somewhat lower elevation, so maybe that's a possibility, but I've never stayed there.
Two nights is one full day, and you have designated alot of time to be on trains. Perhaps reduce the number of destinations so you can actually relax and be present in an area?
Lucerne is a charming town, right on the river and Chapel Bridge. On a clear day, you could take a boat ride to the cogwheel train, and go up to Mt Rigi. It's open all year long and the journey is beautiful. We like the Hotel des Alpes.
Salzburg is magical, but I would be frustrated with only one full day there.
Where are you flying into?
I'll do some Searches and attach the links .
Wishing you a wonderful trip, and safe travels!
https://search.ricksteves.com/?button=&date_range=2y&filter=Travel+Forum&query=Wengen+hotels&utf8=%E2%9C%93
https://search.ricksteves.com/?
Posted by
Switzerland
197 posts
You can see the maintenance schedule for mountain lifts in the Jungfrau region here:
https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/live/operating-info/
Many run 365 days a year. For those that do not, you can click on the ‘+’ symbol to expand the information for that route. Click on ‘seasonal overview’ and you will see when it is not running.
Schilthorn and Allmendhubel info can be found here:
https://schilthorn.ch/de/Infos/cmsfiles/Fahrplan_2025_7.pdf
It looks like Männlichen and Allmendhubel will be closed during your visit, but all other routes are open.
My photos from last year show that there was still quite a lot of snow in Mürren on April 19th. Same with early April photos taken in Zermatt.
You should still be able to do easy hikes like Grütschalp - Mürren, walk the valley floor Stechelberg - Lauterbrunnen, all walks in Wengen, etc. These are open year round. Check current conditions when you are there.
Lower elevations such as Interlaken, Brienz and Thun will have lots of hiking/walking and cycling options at this time of year - complete with spring flowers and probably cows in the fields as well.
Posted by
OP
Montana
39 posts
Thank you. This is very helpful. I will look at all of your links.. we are flying into Rome spending 7-8 nights b Italy before going to Zermatt.. I’ll relook at all our stops. We and to be able to really enjoy wherever we visit. I’ll try to add another night in Salzburg. I tend to try to cram too much in. So it is very helpful to have you suggest reducing where we want to go.