Best time to visit Switzerland

Tania, it would help to know WHERE in Switzerland you plan to visit? The big favourite here is the Berner Oberland, outside of Interlaken. I've found that even in late September / early October, there will often still be snow on the mountain tops, but the lower elevations were still warm and comfortable for hiking. I was in the Appenzell region this year in June, and it rained most of the time I was there (the locals were sure that Ebenalp, which is in that area, was going to get snow!). Due to the weather, I departed a day early and went to Lucerne where there are more "rainy day options". There are never any guarantees with the weather, and this year especially has been "strange". Given your criteria, I'd suggest either late in the spring shoulder season (late May/early June) or late in the fall shoulder season (late September / early October). Good luck and happy travels!

There are ALWAYS snow capped mountains in the Alps...particularly the Jungfrau. So you can go in the spring/summer (late May, June, July, August) and enjoy the fields of wildflowers as well as the snow capped Swiss Alps. Stay in the Lauterbrunnen Valley area. The valley is surrounded by the Alpine villages of Mürren, Gimmelwald, Wengen. It's a beautiful area with dramatic scenery.

"....There are ALWAYS snow capped mountains in the Alps...particularly the Jungfrau...." Not always. My last visit to the region in Sept. 09, the Jungfrau just had a little bit of snow at the very top of the peak. The surrounding peaks were completely bare:( My experience is that the peaks are most scenic mid to late October. This is when is starts snowing again in the higher elevations.

If you would like green meadows dotted with grazing cows and/or wildflowers below those snowy peaks, I suggest you visit the last week of June or early July. The weather is generally nice by then, although you can have the occasional rainy day. There will still be plenty of snow on the high peaks at that time, but the snow should be gone from the hiking trails, at least in the Berner Oberland region.

I was in Wengen in mid July and it was amazing.. snow capped peaks, but lovely green meadows etc. We were told some of the hiking paths were still snow covered in early June , therefore not recommended for use then. It likely does vary a bit from year to year,, but most snow packs are at lowest from late August thru September,, with snow arriving up top by October again.

We had a great trip one May; very green valleys and snow still on the mountains.Everything seemed so fresh. Wildflowers too.

Thank you so much for the replies, I really appreciate it and it helps a lot. To be honest I'm only starting to plan my trip, I don't know where to go yet, but I know I'd love to do a scenic train journey through the mountains, maybe with the Glacier Express which I've heard is the best for natural scenery. I still have to figure out which cities I'd like to visit and how to get there, and back to an airport - I have lots of homework to do! Thanks again! Tania