PalenQ

There have posts about lots of tourist buses and crowds there but it wasn't the case when we visited.>

I've never seen a parade of tour buses either right in town that some say is routine but I've seen it crowded in summer as are Wengen and Murren on their own scale. Grindelwald has a pulse at night - Wengen and Murren are much more quiet and that's what some prefer.

To me Grindelwald has the finest views of the Jungfrau Massif of any - with Murren a close 2nd and then Wengen and Lauterbrunnen, stuck deep in a gorge which is nice but not panoramic dreamy views as do the others.

And again in June the average temp in Wengen is about freezing - highs of 34 F and lows of about 28 F - too cold for me to hike and there could be ice. I went to Murren one mid-September and there was patches of ice on the sidewalks right in town.

swandav2000

I'm probably the one who posted about the lines & lines of tour busses in Grindelwald and how much it affected my stay there (with my mom). it was not only the tour busses themselves but the off-loaded day-tripping passengers who flooded the town. The town is just not large enough to absorb a few hundred extra shoppers, who congregated at the shop entrances as a rule.

However, I believe the OP is travelling in late May/early June, when that's not a factor. The tour bus problem arises in July and August, maybe early Sep. Other than those times, I think the town would be normal or normally pleasant.

But anyway, for my money, Wengen has better views than Grindelwald, and I've stayed in each town two times (1 week each, each time).

s

kja

I visited these areas in June of 2013. I found Grindelwald unpleasantly packed with other tourists, but I was only there for a few hours. I preferred the views from Wengen, Murren, and Lauterbrunnen. JMO.

PalenQ

Who stays during the day in Grindelwald - it is a base - I'm never there during the day but using it as a watering hole - well-equipped for whatever one wants and day trip away so I don't care what the town looks like during the day nor do most others.

Been there several times and have yet to see the flood of tour buses around (as several others have concurred with) - indeed most of the town has only narrow access lanes - yes the main drag at the entrance to the town may have some buses ejaculating passengers butmost of the guesthouses on IME are narrow lanes with electric carts taking folks baggages. No doubt there is on the main drag some large hotels with tour buses but if tour buses disgust you then there are zillions of places in Europe as or more affected.

swandav2000

Yes, that's true, Pal; there are zillions of places in Europe that are as much or more affected.

The problem is that Grindelwald is tiny. It simply cannot absorb the number of off-loaded day-tripping passengers, who I saw congregating at the shop entrances. I could not even walk on the sidewalk. Daily. The tour busses I saw were lining the main road, parked there. I don't think the people were overnighting there; as I said above and here, these were day-trippers doing their hour in the town. They were probably sleeping in Interlaken.

Not everyone is on a go-go-go schedule. I travel slowly, and I like to do a few things in the day, then go back to my base to soak up the atmosphere and the views and to people-watch. My mother was in her 70s when we visited together, and she wanted to stay in town and just walk the streets. But this, no, she didn't enjoy.

My experiences & comments could be useful to others. If they're not useful to you . . . fine.

I didn't post my comments here for the op since the op is travelling in May/June; I simply responded to a comment by HappyTrvlr about the tour busses to answer any questions.

s

PalenQ

swandav - yes for folks like you and your mom Grindelwald is a poor choice and Wengen a dream - though there are not many street to perambulate there actually but for relaxing on your hotel balcony or sitting outside - thought the avg temp is about freezing in early June, etc. Wengen is neat.

Others who are active in the day like me don't care what happens during the day when we are away and like the more lively atmosphere at night.

Each to their own and who says what is the best for any given person.

Maybe one reason I failed to see the parade of tour buses is that I am out and about during the day. And I admit to kind of enjoying people watching for such scenes too - all the Asians following like ducks their leader who holds an umbrella high whilst leading, etc.and tourist Kitsch kind of appeals to me too.

I don't doubt your experiences but I think that may just be for peak summer season - cheers!

swandav2000

Well, that's what I said, Pal. On 7 Nov, I said:

"However, I believe the OP is travelling in late May/early June, when that's not a factor. The tour bus problem arises in July and August, maybe early Sep. Other than those times, I think the town would be normal or normally pleasant."

s

tidy

NOt sure how long we will stay there until we know what the weather will be but tentatively May 30th to June 4th. We are in our mid 60s and from Colorado so hike a fair amount. Hope the weather is warmer than what is described but we will make the best of whatever! We will have hiking boots and of course proper clothing for conditions.Not sure which hikes we will take yet but will appreciate recommendations. Probably will hike the east side of Jungfrau, Mannlichen-Kleine Scheidegg and maybe Schynige Platte to First.Of course we want to go to the top of Jungfraujoch. Any ideas. Also, we are high energy so with long daylight hours we will make the most of time.

PalenQ

On your return from the Jungfraujoch trip you can get off at the last station before Kl Scheidegg and hop down on a rocky path to Kl Scheidegg - exhilarating and then walk on a wide track over which mountain bikes whizz all the way to Wengen - I did this hike and it is gently descending with wondrous views over the Lauterbrunnen Valley - also saves some train fare on the most expensive train in the world.

twk

<<thought the avg temp is about freezing in early June, etc. Wengen is neat>>

That doesn't jibe with what I'm finding on weather information. Granted, the closest stations with historic data are Lauterbrunnen and Interlachen, but what I'm finding is that temperatures in this region, though chilly, are not typically around freezing in early June. I'd be interested in seeing any data that sheds more light on the situation.

nytraveler

I'm really surprised that Wengen is that cold in June - since when we ascended the Jungfrau it wasn't that cold even at the top - although it was quite chilly.

I just looked at the weather channel and at the moment it's 40 degrees (F) in Wengen. Why 40 in Nov and zero in June (even if centigrade - so really 32)?

I would check a number of different sites to see what they say for averages - since another site I looked at showed an average much higher and while they anticipated 12 days of rain they also said an average of 6 hours of sun per day.

Seems like checking a number of sites might be a good idea.

PalenQ

Yes avg temp of freezing - 0 C - does seem rather cold for June but Wengen is at a fairly high altitude. If that where accurate it's be a bit too chilly for me - and it could be below average as well as about average. Again I do recall icy street in Murren one mid-September - about the same altitude I think.

PalenQ

If you are moving about every day you may want to check out the Jungfraubahn Pass good on nearly everything that moves in the area - more benefits than a Swiss Pass as it covers more in full. If traveling around Switzerland however the Swiss Pass could be a better deal - not sure you are taking trains however - great info on Swiss trains and transports: www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

So if moving around by public transports a lot there check out the Jungfraubahn Pass! Sold locally - no need to advance order.

pja1

PalenQ, I think the temp. confusion started a few posts back when you posted that "Wengen is cold in early June - highs about 0 F"

We stayed in Wengen in October and had pleasant weather. I recall wearing a sweater and light windbreaker during the daytime.

Paul

PalenQ

pja- I posted a link to Wengen weather June - I know nothing - don't shoot the messenger.
http://www.accuweather.com/en/ch/wen...weather/312402

June 2015 had many days in the low 20s!

PalenQ

Hard to believe but a high of 18 F on June 18, 2015? Or is the Celsius?

That may still be ski season? Bring a sled?

kja

PalenQ -- that link is showing temperatures in celsius (see info in the upper right). For temperatures in fahrenheit:
http://www.accuweather.com/en/ch/wen...weather/312402
In June 2015, the average highs -- in degrees fahrenheit -- were mid- to upper 60s and the average lows about 50.

twk

50s and 60s Fahrenheit is more like what I was seeing (which would be consistent with around 20 Celsius. There are some days warmer than that, and some cooler. As far as the temperature difference due to altitude, when flying, the general rule is that temperature drops 3 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius) for every 1000 feet gained in elevation, so, while I would expect Wengen to be cooler than the valley floor, unless there is a lot of snowpack influencing the temperature, it shouldn't be a huge difference.

I'm going with the 15 day Swiss Travel Pass (we'll be spending 16 days in Switzerland), but might opt for adding the Jungfraubahnen Pass on top of that (it is discounted if you hold a Swiss Travel Pass). I think we may ride the rails and gondolas enough to make it work economically, but, even if we don't, just having the freedom to get on and off without buying tickets (and knowing it won't cost extra to do something that you are contemplating doing) is worth something.

PalenQ

kja - wow - I could not believe it could be so cold.

PalenQ

kja - if C those temps seem to be very hot - over 90 four straight days and many days in 80s - must have been a really hot June. Be sure you have AC in your hotel!