[Anonymous]

24 June 2019 at 2:20:00 #822450

Hi Experts,

We are family of three from Australia. We are in the process of planning 3 week holiday through central Europe ending with Switzerland during end March to April. Due to time commitments we could only be in Switzerland during 13-April – 19-April.

Can someone please advise whether time too early to travel if we are keen to see the nature and scenery? We are planning to allocate 5-6 days for Switzerland.

Thanks in advance 😊

Asanka & Vish

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[User]

Reply 1 of 11 • 24 June 2019 at 7:18:40 #915964

Hello Asanka & Vish and Welcome to MySwisAlps,

Switzerland is the same country with the same nature throughout the year but of course the seasons do affect the scenery up to a certain degree. However you will find beautiful nature at whatever time of the year. Have a look at below link:
– http://www.myswissalps.com/be sttimetovisit

The higher altitudes in the Alps will be a little harder to reach, or closed, but lower destinations will offer you their beauty, no question. Do you have any ideas of where you want to head to?
– http://www.myswissalps.com/ge ttingstarted
– http://www.myswissalps.com/pl antrip/doityourself/sa mpleitineraries

If you share a little bit more about your ideas and skills, interests, etc. it will be easier to support setting up your itinerary.

Happy planning and get back to us anytime.

Best,
Steph

[User]

Reply 2 of 11 • 24 June 2019 at 10:30:23 #915965

Hi Steph,

Thank you very much for your prompt reply. I am pretty open with where we want to go. We have amazed with the pictures from Interlaken, Jungfraujoch, Lauterbrunnen, Chur, and Lake Oeschinen. We would like to get it right since we are coming all the way from Melbourne.

Can you please advice on; Should we delay the trip to the October or 3rd week of April is good ? If we should continue, what are the recommended places given that we are coming from Salzburge side. WE would like to see the nature, scenery,and scenic hikes.

Thanks Again

Vishwa

[rockoyster]

Reply 3 of 11 • 24 June 2019 at 10:35:34 #915966

Hi Vishwa,

If you want to do any hiking at higher altitudes then April is not a great time. Still winter in the Alps and just edging to spring at lower altitudes. I would suggest you shoot for late September/October if that is possible.

In the meantime here’s a little inspiration – http://www.myswitzerland.com/ en-au/experiences/summer-autumn/listicles/spect acular-views-with-minimal-effort/

[User]

Reply 4 of 11 • 24 June 2019 at 12:49:45 #915967

Hi Rock

Thanks for the prompt reply. When you say higher do you mean we wont be able to do much around areas like Interlaken, Jungfraujoch, Lauterbrunnen, Chur, and Lake Oeschinen?

Vish

[User]

Reply 5 of 11 • 24 June 2019 at 19:26:48 #915968

Hi Vishwa –

If you look up the names of those places in Wiki, for example, they usually tell you the altitude.

This map is a sure bet for altitudes, though it has more detail than you may need, and the search function will get you to the places.

map.geo.admin.ch/?topic=swisstopo&lang=e n&bgLayer=ch.swisstopo .pixelkarte-farbe&catalogNodes=139 2,1538,1396,1430,1436& layers=ch.swisstopo.sw isstlm3d-wanderwege&E=2637596.1 7&N=1159950.01&zoom=5& layers_visibility=fals e

The altitudes and weather vary greatly in in places you name, even the ones close to each other, like Lauterbrunnen and Jungfraujoch.

In general, in April, if it is above about 1000 meers, it is still winter, and may still have snow on the ground at places such as Lauterbrunnen in a deep valley. Attached image is from June.

At lower altitudes, where Spring has arrived in mid April, there can be plenty of rainy wweather, as well as beautiful days.

http://www.myswissalps.com/be sttimetovisit

Slowpoke

Slowpoke

Attachments:

1. 

   57296c2b-8536-4d1a-a5c9-5083e6053831.jpg
   

[User]

Reply 6 of 11 • 25 June 2019 at 2:41:03 #915969

Hi

April will be a wonderful period if you want to see white virgin beauty (snow covered), end of winter n beginning of spring.

All mountains will be open unless there is a snow storm,

We did 20 days Switzerland in end march 2019 n enjoyed every place. No where our trip was hampered by weather.

[rockoyster]

Reply 7 of 11 • 25 June 2019 at 3:00:11 #915970

All mountains will indeed be open in March but mid to late April tends to be when several cable cars close for a week or two for between season maintenance.

[User]

Reply 8 of 11 • 25 June 2019 at 3:13:58 #915971

Thanks Rock. Still in confusion whether to book the tickets for April or delay to July. Our problem is April too early if we are keen to see the nature and scenery (specially in Switzerland). Start of July going to be too crowded specially in Prague and Vienna (since we are coming through there)

[User]

Reply 9 of 11 • 25 June 2019 at 5:16:30 #915972

Hello Asankaenator,

Is there any chance of finding a compromise around Mai/June?!

That would give the snow in Switzerland quite some time to melt, allowing you to explore the regions as you wish..
– http://www.myswissalps.com/we ather

Best,
Steph

[User]

Reply 10 of 11 • 25 June 2019 at 7:07:43 #915973

Hello there,

I am planning to travel for 10days with my wife and 4 year old daughter during the month of May.

What cares should I have to take for my daughter. Do i need to carry baby stoller for her. She can walk and run. She does not even fit in stroller.

Please do guide us

[User]

Reply 11 of 11 • 25 June 2019 at 7:42:57 #915974

Hi Asanka and Vish –

Rockoyster is, as usual, succinct, and correct. If you really want to take transport up into the high mountains April, some form of transportation will often, but not always, be available for each specific place. If you decide on some specific places you can search for the names, and thus schedules for maintenance shutdowns, in a few ways.

You can search in MySwiss Alps, which provides dates when services are shut down:

http://www.myswissalps.com/ac tivities/naturalsites

You can search by name on the Internet….for example, Schilthorn, which will lead you to their site were you can find have information on transport availabilities, timing, and options

You can use the SBB timetable and check a specific date for travel between wto sites…such as Interlaken Ost (IO) and Lauterbrunnen. IO is not on a high mountain….it s between mountains.

http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable

That page gives essential tips – check it out because it will be useful whenever you travel – and links you to the SBB website:

http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.htm l

Best of all is to pick a time of year when you can have nice weather, easy travel around the country…which is scenic almost everywhere… snow on the higher mountains, and clear easily accessible places to walk among and between the higher mountains on trails ranging from really easy even for children, and fairly level, to very hard.

That means between mid-to-late June and late September….even early October.

Late June and September avoid a lot of the high tourist density of July and August.

September is the month which, on average, has the best weather.

Since my own interest are in both the lower altitude countryside and also the high Alps, I travel in two seasons.

1.- Late May or early June for country regions such as the Emmental, while skipping the Alps.

2.- Then, in early to mid-September, the Alps, with some time in the lower altitude regions.

I do avoid the Jungfrau Region during weekend of the Jungfrau Marathon, typically around September 7th.

http://www.jungfrau-marathon.ch/en/

Slowpoke