PaoloCast2

My wife and I are planning a trip to Alsace and Switzerland by train. We expect to start in Strasbourg (and Colmar) and then on to Bern, Lausanne, Lucerne, and Zurich – with some day trips out, probably from Bern. We estimate about a 14 day itinerary. Our original plan was to go in late May. When I began reading the forums on weather, we began thinking we’d move the start to early June. Now we’re wondering if mid-September might be a better start date for a better weather. Thanks in advance for your suggestions and comments.

Melnq8

Purely anecdotal, but we spent two weeks in Switzerland in late May, early June this year, and encountered an unexpected heatwave.

Fortunately, it only lasted a few days and then the weather was pretty wonderful, other than a couple of cloudy days.

Personally, I'd choose early June over September in a NY minute, but that's because I dislike crowds, and September will still be pretty busy IME.

swandav2000

Hi PaoloCast2,

And just for contrast I'd go in September... for better weather, more & more mature flowers, and more daytime light. However, I personally would push it even more and go for October, even the last two weeks, in order to avoid the crowds that Melnq8 mentions.

Have fun as you plan!

s

neckervd

Crowds in June or September?
Mostly day trippers at weekends, at places like Strasbourg, Colmar, Wengen/Grindelwald, Titlis or Zermatt. For sure not in the other 99 per cent of the area.

Nelson

I as in the south-western Switzerland area near Mount Blanc from Sept 10-22 this year. The weather was pretty inclement: very wet, windy, and quite cool temperatures. By early October it was lovely, much nicer than when I was there.

So a bit of the luck of the draw at any date it would seem, and be prepared with proper clothing.

Good luck!

twk

It's somewhat luck of the draw, and depends on what you want to do. We went in early-mid June 2016, starting in the Berner Oberland, and that proved to be a week too early that year, as some of the more popular trails (particularly Mannichen-Kleine Scheidegg) did not open until after we left. Most years, that wouldn't have been the case in mid-June, but in late-May, early June, its definitely in play. We enjoyed being in Switzerland before the true peak season (which is probably July and August), and September might be busier than June, but there would be some definite weather advantages (although the long days around the summer solstice are nice to have from a logistical perspective).

Ingo

I'd go in June, longer daylight than in September, and for the blooming wildflowers. However, depends on where exactly you plan to go; it's too early for the highest Alps.

PalenQ

Just a bit about trains - you are traveling a lot on trains in Switzerland and should investigate the Swiss Travel Pass which covers not only trains but lake boats, postal buses, city transports and gives 50% discounts on lifts and trains to many mountain tops - anway check www.sbb.ch - Swiss Federal Railways site for schedules and fares to compare to passes - for good info on Swiss trains - www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com.

I always hype the Jungfrau Region up from Interlaken as the Alpine wonderland many folks have of Switzerland in their minds' eyes - your itinerary has no Alpine dreamlands in it - cities are neat but I'd head for the hills too instead of say Lausanne or Zurich - two fairly modern cities - stay in a mountain village like Wengen or Grindelwald and be eyeball to eyeball with glacier-girdled soaring peaks.

From Colmar take trains to Basel and change there for any Swiss local.

kja

In contrast to Melnq8, I encountered freakishly late sleet and snow at the end of May and into June in Switzerland's Lake Geneva area. By the time I reached the Bernese Oberland in mid-to-late June, the weather was beautiful, but some trails were closed because of recent avalanches that I was told were unusually late. I purposely delayed my trip so that all but a day or so were in June (not May), and am glad I did so. No guarantees, though!

If you haven’t already seen it, you might find some useful information in my trip report:
https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...any-thanks.cfm

Good luck!