[Virgingorda]

11 August 2019 at 5:19:00 #823343

Hello,

Weather forecast says heavy rain on Monday throughout Switzerland it seems (>20 mm). Where can we go to escape the rain and do some sightseeing in our STP?

We’re currently in Gimmelwald and we’ve been to Zurich, Lucerne, Ballenberg, and the B-O region.

It looks like pretty much all the museums in Bern are closed on Monday, and probably anywhere else too.

What to do? We still have until the end of next week in Switzerland.

Thank you!!

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[Removed user]

11 August 2019 at 10:30:29 #919796

Hello Virgingorda,

The weather forecast for tomorrow is for sure not the best with quite some precipitation throughout the country. Additionally, as you have already noticed, Monday is museums-Sunday, so also not a realistic option for you, unfortunately.

Spontaneously I can think of the Mystery Park in Interlaken as an indoor alternative, please check below link for details:
– http://www.jungfraupark.ch/en /

Another option I often choose on rainy days is an SPA/Wellness activity of some kind. You an find local possibilities in the Bern area, e.g. the Bernaqua or the Alpamare in Pfäffikon SZ on the Lake of Zurich, however, both aren’t included in the Swiss Travel Pass.
– http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/details

Hope this provides some inspiration, alternatively you can always ask at the local Tourist Office or at your hotel.

Have a wonderful Monday nevertheless.

Best,
Steph

[Virgingorda]

11 August 2019 at 17:50:57 #919797

Hello,

We’re thinking of just taking the Golden Pass train to Montreux and see Chilling Castle and Charlie Chaplan World and stay in that area tomorrow.

Would the view along the train ride be totally ruined by the heavy rain?

Or we could do a joy ride anywhere in the country.

Thanks

[Removed user]

12 August 2019 at 10:29:48 #919798

Hi Virgingorda,

I assume you’re on the road already. Very nice idea taking the Golden Pass train to Montreux and explore some of that area.

I hope you’ll be able to tell us how you finally spent this fairly rainy day, for future travellers in the same situation. 🙂

Best,
Steph

[Virgingorda]

18 August 2019 at 9:24:58 #919799

Hello,

Below is an update.

First of all, don’t believe in the weather forecast. We used the supposedly most reliable weather app, MeteoBlue, but it was wrong. It said >20 mm in the entire country, but the rain would come down in strong downpours and and stop with sunny skies. Best to do city stuff on days like this, and there are plenty of sites and museums open on Monday.

What we ended up doing. We were already staying in Gimmelwald that day so just took the cable car back up to Schilthorn again (we’d been before on a sunny day, thought it might be interesting to see it when it’s misty) and the rain stopped for a while and the clouds parted revealing the surrounding mountains for a while. But it rained again so we went back inside going through the Bond exhibit while waiting for the cable car to go down.

And took the train out toward Interlaken West. We wanted to take the Belle Epoch train but there were only 2 per day, 11 am and 4 pm. We missed the 11 am one so were waffling what else to do. Almost got off Interlaken but then decided to go to Thun.

At Thun we went to see the Thun Castle. Opened on Monday. Small and at the top you get a nice view of lake and town and walked around town and it also had a small covered bridge with flowers, like the one in Lucerne but without the mob.

We got to Zweisimmen (sp?) a bit early to catch the Belle Epoch train on the Golden Pass to Montreux. Good thing we got there early and found different cars. Don’t sit in the 2nd class dining car. Dumpy seatings with wooden dining tables . We found a 2nd class car with stickers saying reserved for group. We went in anyway, and the conductor said it’s ok to sit there. Beautiful teal color upholstered seats and wood paneling, looking like Belle Epoch era. Worth taking the train for the photo op of the train interior.

But the scenery along this section not any better than what we’ve seen in other sections around Interlaken area.

If you’re in hurry, ok just to take any train. And if possible, take the Belle Epoch train for the nice interior.

We got to Lausanne in the evening so all museums were closed and just wandered around.

—-
If we had done it over, would have gotten out early and taken the 11 am Belle Epoch train to Montreux. Go see the Chillon Castle (much better than Thun) and see other places in Lausanne and do more museums there. It has a lot more to offer . We didn’t have much time in Lausanne, and the next day toured Chillon and hiked a bit around the Lavaux vineyards .

In short don’t be afraid of rainy days on Mondays.

[Virgingorda]

18 August 2019 at 9:27:58 #919800

Another option is Ballenberg Open Air museum which is also open on Monday. We’d gone there on another supposedly rainy day, but again it cleared up.

[Removed user]

18 August 2019 at 15:00:34 #919801

Hello Virgingorda,

Now there’s some fantastic news and input for travellers looking for spontaneous ideas when confronted with bad weather forecast!!!

Well done and thanks a million for sharing!

Happy to hear you were not at all bored nor too disappointed by the weather!

Btw – PERFECT spelling of Zweisimmen!! 🙂

Cheers,
Steph