Hello everyone, my fiance and I will be flying into Zurich for our honeymoon on October 21st this year. We want to spend our time exploring the Alps. Mainly interested in hiking, scenic train rides, general sightseeing but open to pretty much anything. After reading through this forum and a few other sources, I understand that some of the activities and accomodations are shut down this time of year and that weather can be unpredictable. Would it be unwise to show up without having booked anything for lodging, transportation or activities? That way we could be as flexible as possible with closures and weather. Please let me know what you think or if you have any recommendations we are very flexible. As of right now we are planning to spending time in the Berner Oberland, Engadin area, Salzburg and the Dolomites.

Thanks in advance for any input it is very much appreciated

We often visit Switzerland in late Sept/Oct (and this year we'll be visiting the Dolomites during that time); it can be a challenging time to visit.

Generally speaking, many cable cars in Switzerland shut down around the third week of October; however mountain railways to inhabited villages operate year round. So, while you'll be able to reach the BO villages of Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Murren, etc, you won't be able to say, take the Mannlichen cable car from Wengen after Oct 22. However, you can still reach the Jungfrau, which is open year round, except when it closes for maintenance.

https://www.interlaken.ch/en/experie...chen-cable-car

https://jungfrauregion.swiss/en/service/operating-status/mountain-railways.html

https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/live/operating-info/

It looks like most of the cable cars in the Engadine close between 10/18 and 10/20.

https://www.engadin.ch/en/mountain-r...tain-railways/

Many hotels will close around then as well, when staff take a break between the summer and winter seasons.

Cable car closures in the Dolomites vary; those around Val Gardena tend to run a bit later.

https://www.valgardena.it/en/summer-...lomites/lifts/

There's certainly no need to book transporatation or activities in Switzerland in advance, but keep in mind that you can save a bundle by purchasing Saver Day Passes and Super Saver Passes on the Swiss Rail site in advance (SBB). Do read the fine print though as these are day specific and in the case of Super Saver Passes, train/bus specific.

You'll find plenty to do in/around Salzburg. The Untersberg cable car runs year round with the exception of when it's closed for revisions in spring and late fall. I just checked the website and the closure dates for late fall have yet to be determined:

https://www.salzburg.info/en/sights/...car-untersberg

I wouldn't advise just showing up with no accommodation bookings; at the very least book a few nights at the beginning of your trip and then perhaps book as you go. Having said that, I've never done it that way, as I'm a planner; not having accommodation booked would stress me out, but that's just me.

Be aware that in October, the sun stays often behind the mountains in early morning and late afternoon.
So avoid shady places like Lauterbrunnen, Saas Fee, Kandersteg, Taesch, Glarus, etc.
As Mel told you, most gondolas beyond inhabited places don't run after mid October..
Exceptions:
Chamonix - Flegere: until Nov 3rd
Chamonix - Aiguille du Midi: until Nov 3rd
Chamonix - Montenvers/Mer de Glace (train): until Oct 31st
Col du Pillon - Glacier des Diablerets: until Oct 31st
Montana - Arnouva - Cry d'Er: until Oct 27th
Leukerbad - Rinderhuette: until Nov 3rd
Leukerbad - Gemmipass: until Nov 10th
Albinen - Rinderhuette: until Nov 3rd
St-Luc - Tignousa: until Nov 5th
Vercorin - Cret du Midi: until Oct 27th
Wiler - Lauchernalp: unti Nov 3rd
Zermatt - Sunnegga: until Oct 31st
Zermatt - Matterhorn Glacier Paradise: open all the year round
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise - Breuil/Cervinia (Italy): open from Oct 26th until May 5th
Zermatt - Gornergrat (railway): until Nov 1st and from Nov 8th until Nov 2025
Saas Fee Mittelallalin revolving Glacier restaurant: until April 27th Blatten – Belalp (Aletsch Glacier), until Oct 27th, then only 3times daily on weekdays
Betten – Bettmeralp: all the year round Moerel – Riederalp: all the year round Fiesch – Fiescheralp: all the year round Brig – Simplon Pass (bus) : all the year round Andermatt – Oberalp Pass (railway) : all the year round Punt Muragl – Muottas Muragl : until Oct 27th Pontresina – Alp Languard : until Oct 27th Pontresina – Bernina Pass (railway): all the year round Davos – Schatzalp : until Oct 27th Scuol – Motta Naluns : until Nov 3rd
Zernez - Pass dal Fuorn (bus): all year Ortisei – Seceda : until Nov 3rd Santa Cristina – Col Raiser : until Nov 3rd Ortisei – Alpe Siusi : until Nov 3rd Bruneck – Kronplatz : until Nov 10th Engelberg – Titlis ; until Nov 3rd Grindelwald – First : until Oct. 27th Grindelwald – Kleine Scheidegg (railway). All the year round Lauterbrunnen – Wengen – Kleine Scheidegg : all the year round Kleine Scheidegg – Jungfraujoch: all the year round

I would book hotels jus 1 day ahead, after hving consulted weather forecasts (via booking com).
The Swiss Canton of Valais is usually the most sunny area whereas Salzburg is often colder and wet (usually rainy).

neckervd
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It sjhould of course beBe aware that in October, the sun stays often behind the mountains in early morning and late afternoon.
So avoid shady places like Lauterbrunnen, Saas Fee, Kandersteg, Taesch, Glarus, etc.
As Mel told you, most gondolas beyond inhabited places don't run after mid October..
Exceptions:
Chamonix - Flegere: until Nov 3rdChamonix - Aiguille du Midi: until Nov 3rd
Chamonix - Montenvers/Mer de Glace (train): until Oct 31st
Montana - Arnouva - Cry d'Er: until Oct 27th
Leukerbad - Rinderhuette: until Nov 3rd
Albinen - Rinderhuette: until Nov 3rd
St-Luc - Tignousa: until Nov 5th
Vercorin - Cret du Midi: until Oct 27th
Wiler - Lauchernalp: unti Nov 3rd
Zermatt - Sunnegga: until Oct 31st
Zermatt - Matterhorn Glacier Paradise: open all the year round
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise - Breuil/Cervinia (Italy): open from Oct 26th until May 5th
Zermatt - Gornergrat (railway): until Nov 1st and from Nov 8th until Nov 2025


Saas Fee Mittelallalin revolving Glacier restaurant: until April 27th

Blatten – Belalp (Aletsch Glacier), until Oct 27th, then only 3times daily on weekdays

Brig – Simplon Pass (bus) : all the year lound

Moerel – Riederalp: all the year round

Moerel – Bettmeralp: all the year round

Fiesch – Fiescheralp: all the year round

Andermatt – Oberalp Pass (railway) : all the year round

Punt Muragl – Muottas Muragl : until Oct 27th

Pontresina – Alp Languard : until Oct 27th

Pontresina – Bernina Pass (railway) : all the year round

Davos – Schatzalp : until Oct 27th

Scuol – Motta Naluns : until Nov 3rd

Ortisei – Seceda : until Nov 3rd

Santa Cristina – Col Raiser : until Nov 3rd

Ortisei – Alpe Siusi : until Nov 3rd

Bruneck – Kronplatz : until Nov 10th

Engelberg – Titlis ; until Nov 3rd

Grindelwald – First : until Oct. 27th

Grindelwald – Kleine Scheidegg (railway). All the year round

Lauterbrunnen – Wengen – Kleine Scheidegg : all the year round

Kleine Scheidegg – Jungfraujoch: all the year round

Sorry!