Tour packages or self touring Switzerland in April
A traveler named Annerei is planning a trip to Zurich next week for four days and is wondering if it's cheaper to explore on their own or buy tour packages for destinations like Mt. Pilatus and Jungfraujoch. They seek advice on whether to purchase packages in Zurich or back in London, along with suggestions for must-see places around Zurich.
- Consider buying the Swiss Travel Pass for unlimited train travel and potential savings on transportation costs.
- Check the weather ahead of time before visiting high-altitude destinations like Jungfraujoch and Mt. Pilatus, as conditions can impact visibility.
- Instead of staying in Zurich, consider using Lucerne or Interlaken as bases for easier access to attractions and fewer travel hassles.
AI-generated summary-
Hi, we are going to Zurich next week and I was wondering if it’s cheaper to do our touring or do tour packages?
Also, is it cheaper to buy tour packes in Zurich or the country I am from (London)?
We want to go to Mt Pilatus and Jungfraujoch. As we only have 4 days there, we have limited time.
Can you also also suggest any place worth visiting around Zurich?
many thanks!
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HiAnnerei1396 –
Welcome to My Swiss Alps!
<<“I was wondering if it’s cheaper to do our touring or do tour packages?”>>
It depends. ;-(
For what you have stated, it is easy to do it yourself. I don’t know about tour packages, because I have never used one. I go to take pictures, and set my own schedule.
There are many kinds of tour packages, at varying cost. You can figure out transport costs (if you do it yourself), from the timetable. The instructions page is important.
http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable
Note that ticket costs given in the timetable, as they first appear before you dig into the system to buy tickets, are 50 % discounted, because almost all Swiss have a half-fare discount card.
There are rail passes, too:
http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/ticketspasses
Here is a start:
Good general information about traveling in Switzerland:
http://www.myswissalps.com/ge ttingstarted
Here is where to learn how to use the SBB timetable, which is the basis for setting up your own0 tour. You have a fairly limited goals, so you can certainly do it yourself, easily:
http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable
To help you understand something about the destinations.
For your stated destinations:
http://www.myswissalps.com/zu rich
http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfraujoch
http://www.myswissalps.com/pi latus
Mid April is low season in the high alps. What you have stated will not be affected, but many other tourist facilities in the high Alps will be shut down for between seasons break.
Slowpoke
Hi Slowpoke, just wondering if early May is also considered the low season ?
Thank you Slowpoke!
If it’s a low season, does that mean you wouldn’t recommend going there at Mt pilatus and Jungfraujoch in April?
Hi Linda-
<<“Hi Slowpoke, just wondering if early May is also considered the low season ?”>>
Yes. http://www.myswissalps.com/be sttimetovisit. The reason is tha the snow is still on the ground, at high altitudes, but it is not good for skiing and still prevents hiking.
Trails that were groomed for Winter hiking generally are not maintained starting March 31 or April 1., as the snow melts. At lower altitudes, say Lauterbrunnen, they may be clear of snow or muddy. This season has been a bit warmer than usual, so trails may clear a bit earlier. But, for a general rule, over the last many years, the trail from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg at about 2230 to 2050 meters, does not become open for the full length until June 15, plus or minus a couple for weeks. Part of it opens earlier.
No good skiing snow, lots of trails not open, and Spring weather with more cloudy and rainy days means few tourists. So, many but not all hotels and restaurants take a break.
The Jungfrau cograil railroad runs all year. Schilthorn has a maintenance period in April – 23rd to 26th this year.
http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfraujoch
http://www.myswissalps.com/sc hilthorn
Slowpoke
Thanks for the info. Fingers crossed for the first two weeks in May then 🤞
Hii Annarei-
<<“If it’s a low season, does that mean you wouldn’t recommend going there at Mt pilatus and Jungfraujoch in April?”>>
Please read my reply to Linda, above.
The Jungfrau cograil railroad runs all year. Schilthorn has a maintenance period in April – 23rd to 26th this year.
http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfraujoch
http://www.myswissalps.com/sc hilthorn
Pilatus is also open all year, but the cograil from Alpnachstad does not run before sometime in mid-May, as a rule, so access is by cableway from Kriens. The peak is at 2119 meters, much lower than the Jungfrau or Schilthorn.
http://www.myswissalps.com/pi latus
So, you can certainly visit those mountains. The only precaution is to check the weather ahead of time, because other wise, the scenic vistas may consist of the insides of clouds.
Local tourist offices,as well as train station staff in the areas will know the weather in detail.
http://www.myswissalps.com/ab outswitzerland/nature
I like:
http://www.meteocentrale.ch/e n/europe/switzerland/w eather-pilatus/details/S06659 0/
Slowpoke
For Pilatus in particular, the tourist info office in Luzern main sation is very helpdful.
Slowpoke
Read also my reply to AnnaRei
Hi Slowpoke!
thank you so much for you input. It’s been a great help.
last question, would you recommend any excursions or places to visit from Zurich this time of year?
Hi Annerei,
Zurich is not in the high mountains so there won’t be many limitations for day trips in April, if any. You find lots of options on the Zurich page Slowpoke linked to in his first reply.
<<“last question, would you recommend any excursions or places to visit from Zurich this time of year?”>>
In addition to Arno’s comment, I might add:
http://www.myswissalps.com/lu cerne
Lucerne is quite close to Zürich by frequent trains. It can be quite nice in April;
So can Bern, which works well on rainy days. Too early for a lot of flowers in the rosegarden, probably.
See pictures
However, you have not mentioned if you have specific interests.
Some recommendations would depend on those.
Hiking? Art Museums? History Museums? Country Villages? Historic old towns? Scenic train rides? Gourmet restaurants? Local wines?
Slowpoke
With regards to interest, I am happy to try/experience/see everything Switzerland has to offer, except maybe skiing or any sporting activities.
My original plan was to visit Basel or Bern the day we land in Zurich (around 10am), then next day Mt. Pilatus and Lucerne, then the next would be Jungfraujoch, then the last day to tour Zurich itself.
But I am not sure if this is feasible.
Our hotel and airport is in Zurich.
HiAnnerei-
Zurich is not a good base for your plans.
A map suggest that Luzern might be the best for your first or last day, too avoid backtracking:
For art museums, Winerthur and Zürich are well equipped, as is Luzern.
Basel is probably the city with the best art museums, but its not a given.
I’d consider basing in Luzern, and, if you don’t mind changing hotels, may a night in Interlaken. Or, base in Interlaken and return to Zürich via Luzern.
Check out travel times in the timetable that I linked in my first post. You’ll see that the longest day is travel to Jungfraujoch, because of the slow mountain trains at the end of the journey.
Bern and Basel are readily accessible from Luzern – one hour fast trains. Bern is one hour or less from Interlaken Ost (IO) but Basel is 2 hours from IO.
Everyone has there own prioroties, but, If I were making your trip, I’d skip the Jungfrau, do mountains near Luzern, such as Titlis, and go to Basel and Bern. Or, even skip Basel.
Slowpoke
If your return flight is after about midday, you could easily get there from Luzern on that morning……
Sadly, I won’t be able to make cnages on my hotel booking mainly because it doesn’t refund the money.
so Jungfraujoch wont be worth going to then at this time of year? Would you suggest Interlaken and Grindelwald? I would love to see the nature. I really love mountaneous views.
Hi Annereei1396,
Don’t worry if you are bound to staying in Zurich. Either all links provided up to now in this thread will help you find the best way to your destinations or alternatively you can consider guided tours from and to Zurich.
– Mount Titlis from Zurich
– Jungfraujoch from Zurich
– Grindelwald and Interlaken from ZurichThey are normally bus tours including all mountain transportation.
I work for one of the tour operators providing these tours and know from experience that it’s an absolutely valid way to explore Switzerland, especially with limited time available.Hope you find this supportive.
Best,
Steph
It’s worth going to, for most people, unless the weather is cloudy at high altitudes.
(The weather comes in layers. Attached image shows an example taken one day at Männlichen, when the valleys were cloudy and there was sun at high altitude. If you had been at Interlaken, all you would have seen would have been clouds.)
Quite a few think it is overpriced…..all a matter of personal preferences.
I was just trying to get you a day with less than 8+ hours of train rides.
Slowpoke
Attachments:
Hi Steph,
Thank you for the info. Is it cheaper to buy the tour packages online or wait till I’m in Zurich to buy them?
Hi Annerei-
The tour package looks like a good deal, if you are comfortable riding a bus instead of a train.
I’d be concerned about locking in before you know the weather situation. Do they give you your money back if the Jungfraujoch is shrouded by clouds?
If you travel o your own, you can save a good deal of money at the last minute, if you choose to not go up.
Slowpoke
Hi Annerei,
I don’t think I’ve ever seen tour package prices change based on the date of purchase. They can sell out though, so waiting until the last moment may or may not work out. On the other hand it’s good to keep an eye on the weather as Slowpoke says, if you are flexible in your dates for these day trips.
Hi Arno-
It is certainly true that a tour can sell out, and that is unpredictable. And, if a travel group is involved, a lot of seats may sell out together.
However, unlike August, when there are waits to get the train up to the Jungfraujoch at the busiest times, in April, at least there is little chance of a wait to catch the train at Kleine Scheidegg stations. Tourist density is lower.
So. I’d wonder if the tour company has any ability to add seats if demand is high.
Seems unlikely, but not impossible. Perhaps Steph has a better perspective than mine to offer?
Slowpoke
Hi Annerei,
As Arno says the tours don’t usually change in price (local promotions excluded) but they can sell out due to high demand.
Normally, should online vendors sell out the local tourist office also sells tours, so do many hotels and the tour operators themselves also have offices at the departure points selling tickets.
So you’ll be fine.
Best,
Steph
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