Pranav2803

TripAdvisor for iOS (41,936)
Install
Open In App
Forum / Europe / Switzerland
“Switzerland during Christmas time”
Switzerland during Christmas time

pranav d · 4 forum posts
New Delhi, India
Sep 16, 2017, 6:28 PM
I am from Mumbai – India and planning for December 2nd half trip (Christmas time) to Switzerland (6 nights) and France (5 nights) currently tops my preferred destination. Would be great if you could share some thoughts on below:

1. I am aware that Switzerland would be extremely cold and snowy in 2nd half of December. Me and my fiance are not frightened by the thought of freezing weather but more concerned about the tourist set up that would be during that time. More specifically would we able to see top sight seeing places like Jungfrau, Mount Titlis, etc and visit villages like Grimmelwald, Murren ? Just to give you an idea of our expectation would be to take Jungfraubahn or any other scenic trains going through snowladen mountains under bright blue sky. If in December, it is going to be snowy and damp throughout then we might not be able to see any surrounding peak and valleys and would be disappointed.

2. I read that weather is unpredictable throughout the year but does December basically have damp and foggy weather for most of the days ?

3. Also is there a chance of any avalanches or landslides while doing excursions ?

4. One more thing would like to know is whether during Christmas time, would most of the things like sight seeing places, public transport and eating joints shut ? If yes, then on which days ? does it have a very deserted look and feel around Christmas ?

it would be extremely helpful anyone could throw some light on usual set up in Switzerland during Christmas time. This would be of immense help. Thanks in advance.

kleeblatt

1. Yes, there's a good chance you'll see the mountains if our Decembers continue to be abnormally balmy. However, the weather is unpredictable and you may just be disappointed. You can write to 20 travel forums but no one can foresee the weather in the alps.

2. Fog is not unnecessarily a bad thing since quite often it stays in the valleys leaving the higher altitudes to be clear and the view stunning. However, again, no guarantees.

3. Very little chance of avalanches or landslides in December.

4. Some places might shut down but other places will be busy since the Christmas time is a high season time in the alps. Don't know how Christmasy, decoration-wise, it will be.

PalenQ

If going to Jungfraujoch bundle up - even if balmy down below below freezing usually even in summer up top - and there is perpetual snow and galciers up there you can walk in snow and to the nearby tip of Aletsch Glacier - but play it by ear - I'd base in Interlaken and go when weather forecast is good - forecasts omnipresent in hotels.

The Interlaken area will salve your quest for snowy mountain tops -Pilatus is a mere whimper of a mountain compared to Jungfraujoch

and yes you can take trains and lifts to Murren, Gimmelwald, etc.

You may have a hard time bookingn up in small towns unless booking for a week but Interlaken may have more hotels accepting few day bookings and is a great base - day trip to Bern if weather is funky - for lots on trains in Switzerland and Jungfraujoch area check www.sbb.ch; www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. If traveling around Switzerland much consider a Swiss Travel Pass even if only there six days - for cheap trains to France book early at www.voyages-sncf.com.

Sue81

Hi PalenQ is correct. go to the Jungfraujoch area, it is incredible. I was in WEngen in July and it simply was fantastic, but may be too high up/snowy? in December...could see the Jungfrau, Monch, and edge of Eiger from our hotel room, really amazing spot, esp up on the Mannlichen. (lift up from Wengen to Mannlichen). Forget Pilatus, I've been there and it cannot compare to Murren or Wengen, Gimmelwald area. Dress warm, layers. Swiss Rail is the way to go, can get tickets on line or at Swiss station. Zurich, take lots of $, less expensive in the lovely villages, at least in my experience. Sue

PalenQ

Wengen is always fantastic but yes much higher up than Lauterbrunnen so will be much colder.

PalenQ

Many hotels serve demi-pension or pension meals - half or full board - ask your hotel if they do and then they should on Christmas Day too.

Sue81

OK here I go again. Wengen is amazing, and the half or full board meals are a good deal. We had breakfast and dinner at the Schonnegg Hotel in WEngen and it was terrific, and we thought a pretty good deal. Food was great. However, you would need to check the weather, but it is a lovely little town with the Jungfrau over the village. Sue