dac

When would be the best months to visit Switzerland? We want to avoid crowds and like 60/70 daytime temps. We usually travel in Europe in April/May or Sept./Oct.
Also, would it be better to travel by rail around the country or rent a car? We would be interested in visiting small towns rather than big cities. Thank you in advance for your help.

suze

Depends on the part of the country. The climate along Lac Leman (for instance) will obviously be very different than up high in the mountains.

I don't think you'll find "crowds" at any time in most of the small towns. Excepting maybe certain events like Montreux when the Jazz Festival is going on.

Train travel within Switzerland is extremely efficient and a fun way to get around, but I have never rented a car so can't make an intelligent comparison.

It can get very warm or even hot in the summer months (at least along the lake, Geneva, Lausanne, Vevey, Montreux is the area I know) so you probably wouldn't want to go in July or August.

swandav2000

Hi dac,

As suze suggests, the "best" months depend very much on your destination. If you'll be in the mountains, I think early Sep would be best for foliage & temps; mid June best for flowers & temps. If you'll be in the valleys or the lakes (Geneva or Ticino), October would be best for foliage & wine fests; May for flowers.

Personally, I favor rail travel over car. I've rented a car twice in Switzerland and regretted it both times. Some towns in the mountains don't allow cars (Wengen, Muerren, Zermatt), so your rental will essentially sit for the duration. Check the rail schedules to your base at www.rail.ch.

Let me know if I can help further.

s

bob_brown

If you want to visit the Berner Oberland or the Zermatt area, I strongly recommend the first two weeks of September. But, you need some fall back planning if the weather turns lousy. One cannot predict the weather, but I have experienced better weather early in September than I have in the 4th week of September.

This year, I rarely needed a long sleeved anything during the day, except above 8,000 feet which I reached only rarely this year. (Long story as to why not farther and higher -- surgery recovery to be brief.)

The Berner Oberland features views of gorgeous mountains with the transportation facilities to reach viewing points. There are all kinds of mountain cable devices and trains to take you higher in comfort.

The Zermatt area has some facilities, too, and frankly the mountains around Zermatt are higher and more dramatic, but they demand much, much more physical effort to see them fully.

I like both areas, but I think most visitors to both regions will agree that the area around Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen has a few more facilities.

If you are in either area, a car is not of much use, unless it rains and you want out of the mountains for the day.

I did not rent a car this year; instead, I relied on the trains, buses, and mountain cable facilities for transportation.

I spend most of my waking hours where cars cannot go.

Surfergirl

I love Switzerland in late September -- weather's still a bit iffy in April/May.

While I prefer rail everywhere in Europe, including and perhaps especially in Switzerland, driving a car there is a breeze, and you do get the plus of being able to tool around the small towns and stop where you like.

From a purely economic standpoint, it would be cheaper to take the train, unless you have at least 3 in the car. The gas is horrendously expensive.

TopMan

Mid-to late September is a wonderful time ALL OVER Switzerland unless you are absolutely determined to see snow covering everything. Fewer tourists, the weather is still wonderful, lower prices in hotels sometimes...go for it.

porna

Hi all,

And what 's about visiting Bernese Oberland and Zermatt area in April?

Pls advise with many thanks.

bettyk

We've been to Lucerne several times in May, the last time being in May 2002. The first day was quite warm and sunny, then it rained a little and turned cooler. Nothing too extreme, but we did need our jackets.

scheraulei

I just got back from the Lake Geneva area and other cities and resorts nearby. I was there Sept 2-12. Every day was hot and it was warm in the evening. Sunset didn't come until 8:30. The temperature may actually have only been in the 70's but it felt warmer. And I came back with one fabulous tan (which I still have 2 weeks later.) One day I went up in the mountains to Les Diablerets and it started out warm but was cooler starting at 4 as the sun set behind the mountains. It only rained late on my last night and early the next morning. If you study travel books, they will tell you that this area of Switzerland has a lot of rainfall and that one of the biggest rainy seasons starts late Aug - early Sept. But this year it didn't. However if you look at weather.com it shows that now a couple weeks later, the weather is in the 60's but very unstable. One of the hotel staff told me one day soon it will start raining and may possibly not stop until February! So you take your chances, at least in western Switzerland, starting in September. Personally, I hate rain and I planned to always be outside walking and hiking during my time there, so I was very blessed that it didn't rain. But if you don't mind rain and/or you plan to be indoors a lot, go for it re: going in the fall. Spring I can't tell you about. Traffic didn't seem to be a problem in small towns but I have always heard that countrywide, parking is difficult to find. Also the parking spaces are much smaller than US spaces and that's one reason that virtually all the cars you see are very small. If you don't mind very small cars and are a master at parallel parking, you could try it. But the easier thing to do would be to use the public transportation. All forms are clean, efficient, and there are both smoking and non-smoking sections (or only non-smoking.) I love the Swiss rail system. Go to myswitzerland.com or the sbb site to study the various discount passes you can buy. If you decide to use the train, and you will be there more than a few days, the passes will save you a lot of money and the Swiss Pass and Card are valid on busses, subways and boats as well. Have fun! I miss it soooo much already.

Traveler863

Agree with other posters, mid-Sep is probably your best bet. If you are doing small towns vs. big cities a car is more convenient, however the train system is excellent. Its a matter of which you prefer. With a car you'll be able to stop along the way and soak up a beautiful sight and drive some of the spectactular pass roads...keep in mind some of the best are not open until June and close again by late Sep/early Oct. Susten is one of my favorites. As someone mentioned some of the towns are car free and your rental will just sit but that is a toss up as to whether you want to try and combine a rental car and train. If you do that, arrange it so you are only picking up your rental car once...if you do multiple pickups and dropoffs it gets more expensive and if that is the case you are probably better off just letting the rental sit for a few days here and there. Driving is very easy in Switzerland and the roads are excellent. There is a good website that gives current road conditions, (construction, pass status, etc) at: www.tcs.ch A great road map is Freytag & Berndt's Alps region. Enjoy your trip.

crefloors

I was in Lucerne in the latter part of Sept. several years ago..and of course like anyplace else the weather changes from year to year, but it was just delightful. No jackets needed during the day. It cooled off a bit at night but we slept with our window open and i was sitting out on our balcony at night drying my hair...didn't have the right plugs...I think it's because there was not a breath of wind..it was just beautiful...the black of the lake with lights around the shore, the stars and just as calm as could be. One of my best memories.