Altitude in Switzerland?
 

Hello,
DH & I would love to go to Switzerland and spend time in the smaller towns/villages but I'm not sure about the altitude. We are both bothered if over about 7ooo feet. Regardless how many days we take ascending, etc. we still have problems. So we try to stay below 7k unless it's for a short time - such as a day trip. The prolonged exposure is what gets us. Do you know of a website that has the altitudes listed or do you know what they are? Thanks in advance...

You can easily Google this information---just put in the village and "altitude". Most of them, even the higher villages inte Berner Oberland, are 5000 feet or less. For example, Mürren is around 1640 meters: Wengen is 1275 meters.

It is the peaks, like the Schilthorn, that are ar higher altitudes.

Enzian is giving you very good advice.
I go regularly to Lauterbrunnen which is at a very comfortable altitude of less than 3,000 feet.

Even the valley-side villages of Wengen and Mürren are at elevations of 4,265 and 5,415 respectively.

The Männlichen, the ridge that towers over Wengen to the east, reaches an elevation of 7,300, but I think you would know that you were ascending steeply when you started to ride the cable car upwards.

Grosse Scheidegg, the pass between Grindelwald and Meiringen rises to 6,435. It is in a scenic location and can be reached via Post Bus from Grindelwald. There is a very pleasant restaurant there with a delightful sun terrace.

All of these high places can be visited for a few hours before returning to lower elevations in virtually all of the villages.

Even Zermatt, which is surrounded by huge, high peaks is in a valley where the elevation is about 5,300 - 5,400 feet,

The Grimsel Pass, which is a spectacular highway pass, peaks out at about 7,100 feet. The Hotel Grimsel Hospiz is below the top at about 6,500 feet.

If you look up elevations, they may be in meters. You will need to convert meters to feet to get the data in our terms.

You could visit the towns along Lac Leman outside Geneva. They are very beautiful but not up in the mountains.

The Lake Geneva idea is a good one. The lake is very nice and the cities such as Lausanne are pretty and upscale.

There are many lake trips you can take all over Switzerland.

Luceren is also a great area for touring. Access to several peaks (7,000 plus) for day trips, but the city, lake and many surrounding villages are under 2,000 feet.

Hello TAW,

A couple years ago, I took my parents (then 73 and 80) on their first trip to Switzerland. We stayed in Grindelwald and Zermatt, went up to Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn, Matterhorn Paradise, etc.

Dad had his apprehensions about the altitude as well (his heart, breathing, etc.)

But he had absolutely no problems going up and down the hills on trams, trains, gondolas, or hiking.

Now when we stayed in Breckenridge, CO, that was a different story altogether. Much higher for sleeping. His chest tightened the first night, so we had to move downhill.

Happy travels!

TAW:

Switzerland's highest village that is inhabited all year round is tiny Juf in canton Graubünden (around 25 inhabitants). Its altitude is 6975 ft. All mountain resorts are lower than this, so you will be safe and comfortable.

Enjoy your trip.

Phil.

Most of Switzerland is in the valleys or plains. You may want to avoid Tibet or Nepal.

DH (dope husband) and I have never been bothered by this altitude. Just have to get use to it.