Four mountain pass route from Meiringen in May
User MM is planning a trip to Meiringen for a few days in May and is asking when the four passes round trip starts operating. MM is looking for specific details about trip options and schedules.
- The four passes round trip from Meiringen operates from June 28 to October 5, so it won't be available in May.
- The Rosenlaui bus service starts limited operations on May 17, with increased frequency from May 29, check the SBB timetable for details.
- For a scenic experience, the bus to Bussalp offers beautiful views but its operation also begins on May 17.
AI-generated summary-
Thinking of spending a few days in Meiringen in May next year. Anyone know when the four passes round trip from Meiringen commences
Many thanks
MM
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Hello Lambey
Welcome to MySwissAlps.
By ‘the four passes round trip’ do you mean the journey which goes from Meiringen via the Grimsel, Nufenen, Gotthard and Susten passes? If yes, then table 12.682 of the draft Swiss Timetables says that this round trip runs from 28th June to 5th October. This is a surprisingly short season. I am disappointed! I fear you will be too.
Kind regards
Roger
Thanks for the disappointing news.
Is the draft timetable available online so I can then check if and when the busses to Rosenlaui and Englestalp are running
Thanks again
Colin Lambert
I will try and let you know tomorrow
Roger
Hi Colin,
It’s a shame the Postbus trip over the Grimsel, Nufenen, Gotthard and Susten passes won’t be operating in May. You probably realise that is because the passes are closed over winter due to metres-high snow cover, and it takes weeks of work to clear the roads in spring. You might be interested in this 6-minute video showing what’s involved in clearing the Susten Pass road to make it passable and safe again each year:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d91yjs7UdE8
The Rosenlaui bus runs a limited number of services from 17 May 2025, but the frequency increases from 29 May. The online PDF is here:
https://www.oev-info.ch/sites/default/files/fap/2025/pdf/31.164.pdf
This service is also shown in the normal SBB online timetable:
The Meiringen – Innertkirchen – Engstlenalp bus doesn’t start running again until 14 June 2025.
I don’t know whether this will interest you, but if you are going to Grindelwald, the bus up to Bussalp is a magnificent scenic ride winding up the mountainside, with wonderful views from the top, where there is a restaurant. You can do hikes from there if trail conditions are suitable at the time. May might be a bit early though, as it’s at an altitude of 1800 metres above sea level. There’s a short video here:
https://grindelwald.swiss/en/map/detail/bussalp-94e24abc-1d38-43f9-b255-c391e47f1fd5.html
More info on Bussalp here:
This bus runs from 17 May 2025. You can find it in the normal SBB online timetable, or the PDF file is here:
https://www.oev-info.ch/sites/default/files/fap/2025/pdf/31.126.pdf
If you have any follow-up questions, please specify the exact dates in May that you will be visiting, as May is a time of transition in the alps, and knowing your dates will help us to avoid making suggestions that won’t be possible during your stay.
I hope you will be able to come back some time to do the bus trip over the four passes of the Central Alps. I have done it twice, in September 2016 and again in September this year, and it still ranks as one of my all-time favourite things to do in Switzerland. I also did the trip over 3 passes in 2019, which includes the Furka Pass. That was wonderful too, but the logistics aren’t as straightforward, as you have to change buses.
I hope this helps!
Alpenrose
Hi Alpenrose, Hi Colin
Thank you Alpenrose for your fantastic reply. You have just saved me a lot of work!.
Colin. You have all the answers you need in Alpenrose’s very comprehensive answer. I would emphasize her paragraph:
If you have any follow-up questions, please specify the exact dates in May that you will be visiting, as May is a time of transition in the alps, and knowing your dates will help us to avoid making suggestions that won’t be possible during your stay.
Very best wishes
Roger
Hi Roger and Alpenrose
Many thanks for your replies which were very helpful – the video of clearing the snow was impressive.
We are arriving on the afternoon of 14 May and leaving in the morning of 18 May so will will just catch the Rosenlaui bus.
We are then moving to Lauterbrunnen so will not be travelling in that direction from Meiringen. We have visited the Hasliberg many times as walkers but now we are in our mid 80s and are on a nostalgic non-walking visit.
Our very provisional plans look like (in no particular order)
- Rosenlaui or Schwarzwaldalp
- A trip into the Hasliberg to either Magisalp or Kaserstatt
- Train trip to Sarnen for a stroll by the lake to the next railway station or a cruise on the lake
Many thanks for your help
Colin
Hi again Colin
You made me feel very young! (I am in my mid-seventies.) I do not think there are any boats on Sarner See! I would suggest a ‘gentle stroll’ by the lake to Sachseln station. The Luzern-Interlaken expresses do nowadays stop at Sachseln.
Best wishes
Roger
Hi Lambey,
The mountain passes are usually inaccessible to commuters outside of the summer season.
You can find the opening dates here: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/car/traffic-info/
Regards,
Anna
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