For those who have been to Switzerland, I need your help creating an itinerary. My husband and I are planning are first (and may be only trip to Europe because we'll focus on other parts of the world after this trip). We have allocated 3 nights for Switzerland. What should we do? Stay in Berner Oberland and hope weather is good? or should we just go to Lucerne and do day trips to Mt. Tiltis/Pilatus/Rigi then to Venice via Bernina Express?
We plan to be in Switzerland in the first wk of October? I'm not sure how the weather would be in Jungfraujoch region during that month. I'd appreciate all the feedback. Thanks.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Pretty much all of Switzerland lies between Paris and Venice, so logistically one location is as good as the next. If you wanted to see and hike in the Alps, I would base myself there for a few nights, to maximize your chances of catching good weather.
"We plan to be in Switzerland in the first wk of October? I'm not sure how the weather would be in Jungfraujoch region during that month." Weather should on average be the same no matter where you are in the Swiss Alps. Although nobody can predict a storm this far in advanced, the temperatures should be mild at lower elevations. If I'm not mistaken, October is one of the drier months in the Alps. The Jungfraujoch could mildly cool to cold to Arctic at taht time of year, with the former two being more likely.
Posted by
OP
Los Angeles
11 posts
Thanks for the reply. Would you recommend us going to Jungfrau region or just go to Lucerne and see Mt. Tiltis/Pilatus/Rigi?
Which area would be best in Jungfraujoch region? I've heard a lot of good things about Murren. Thanks again.
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
My first trip to Berner Oberland area (Not Switzerland in gen)was last yr where we stayed in Murren at Chalet Fontana, absolutely fantastic and beautiful. I had been timid about expense but staying at Chalet Fontana was a great find. We never made it to Jungfrau due to weather but we had a great time/beauty in Lauterbrunnen Valley, Wengen, Gimmelwald and Murren. There is no substitue, go now. Weather is always iffy here as we expereinced in July 2009.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16378 posts
I don't know that your weather chances would be better in Luzern versus the Berner Oberland. It could be really nice fall weather, or cold/rainy/foggy in either place.
They are very different in scenery--Luzern is a lovely small city on a lake, with green and gentle Rigi and rugged rocky Pilatus nearby. Neither offers th espectacular snow-covered peaks and glaciers of the Berner Oberland, but for that you could travel to Engelberg an dgo up Mt. Titlis.
However, if it were cold/rainy/foggy, I would rather be in the Berner Oberland than at Luzern, where travel by boat would be unpleasant and the mountaintops shrouded. In the Berner Oberland, the lauterbrunnen Valley is always beautiful, even in the rain. And if you get a good day (which you are quite likely to do) there are few places in the world that are more beautiful.
So I'd vote for Mürren/Lauterbrunnen, especially since it is not far off your path between Paris and Venice. Paris---Basel---Bern---Interlaken---Lauterbrunnen; then you have a choice between going via Spiez---Brig---Milan, or Golden Pass route Interlaken---Luzern---Arth-Goldau---Lugano---Milan.
Another option, if you take the Brig route, would be to stop for a night in Kandersteg, from which you can visit beautiful Oeschinensee.
I have a postcard photo of the lake with golden larches (fall color), and it looks beautiful. We've only been there in summer, but that postcard tempts me to plan an October visit there.
You can check the travel times on the Swiss rail site sbb.ch (or www.rail.ch for English) to see your options.
Posted by
York, PA
300 posts
Having been in Lucerne in rainy weather and the Berner Oberland in good weather, I'd choose bad weather in Lucerne over bad weather in the B.O.