kleeblatt

OK. I've finally done it. I've been to Zermatt/Matterhorn Express and Berner Oberland/Jungfraujoch.

Zermatt / Matterhorn Express
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Pros:
- Closer to Geneva
- Better weather than BO
- Great raclette
- Zermatt is tourist heaven
- Matterhorn express brings you right onto the glacier. You'll see people skiing in the morning and lots of mountain climbers.
- You might get a gorgeous view of the Matterhorn along with other gorgeous mountains
- From Zermatt, it's 3 different gondolas all the way up
- the top restaurant has reasonable prices and feels like a mountain restaurant
- gorgeous mountain scenery
- Matterhorn express is cheaper than Jungfraujoch
- easy train connections from Täsch
- summer skiing available

Cons:
- Farther from Zürich
- drier scenery... not as much green
- Zermatt downtown shopping mile is a tourist rip-off. It doesn't feel like Switzerland. I got the Swiss feeling once I got nearer to the Mountain Express gondola.
- You'll see lots of gravel next to the glaciers and mountains
- for drivers, you might run into traffic jams down at Visp
- less cows and green pastures


Jungfraujoch/Berner Oberland

Pros:
- gorgeous mountains
- towns more authentic (not as kitschy as Zermatt)
- greener scenery
- more Swiss feeling
- much easier access from Interlaken and from Zürich
- nicer architecture (imo)
- easier driving
- more cows and green pastures

Cons:
- worse weather than Zermatt
- Jungfraujoch is more expensive
- Jungfraujoch restaurant smells like a curry house
- You won't see skiers up at the Jungfraujoch
- hard to decide on where to book accommodation
- doesn't have one base like Zermatt
- no summer skiing

I found there were more international tourists at the Jungfraujoch than at the Matterhorn Express.

For those who have been to both, how would you compare them?

kleeblatt

No Swiss experts?

Melnq8

I've done both. I'm thinking...

scatcat

I am doing both in September, so I'll get back with my answer to this question.

Melnq8

Just to clarify schuler, by Matterhorn Express do you mean Furi-Trocknersteg-Kleine Matterhorn?

justshootme

Done both, mountains are mountains.

Melnq8

I think I answered my own question, so here's my list:

Zermatt/Matterhorn Express

Pros:

- Highest skiing on the European continent
- You can ski into Cervina, Italy
- Zermatt doesn't completely shut down in the low season
- Zermatt has a couple of grocery stores, a great chocolate shop, several good bakeries, and a few wash and fold laundromats
- The accommodation choices are endless
- You can get just about everywhere on foot
- Really pretty at Christmas
- Variety of pubs and resturants
- Great hiking

Zermatt/Matterhorn Express:

Cons:

- Entirely too busy/touristy in the high season(s)
- It can be noisy, lots of clubs
- Too much ongoing construction
- Time consuming to reach
- All the hikes go UP
- Zermatt is expensive!
- Have to dodge skis and ski poles during the season
- Cable cars, cog trains, gondolas very busy during ski season
- Feel like a captive audience sometimes

Jungfrau/Berner Oberland:

Pros:

- Loads to see and do
- Easy to get around via train, funicular, cable car, foot
- Quaint small villages
- Deserted during the low seasons
- Endless hiking options
- Cowbells!
- Authentic
- Great sledding
- Slower pace
- Free internet in my favorite Wengen pub
- Villages very quiet at night
- Scenery forever
- Wildflowers

Cons:

- Lack of self service waschsalons
- It can be difficult to find lodging and restaurants in the low season
- Lots of flies in the spring
- Spray on manure in the spring - potent stuff!
- Tourist madness at the train stations

Who am I kidding? It's all good.

bob_brown

The view from the Klein Matterhorn (which is what we are talking about here)on a clear day is incredible.

One can argue that the view from the Jungfraujoch is equal, but not really.

The day we were at the viewing building. with the Matterhorn in the immediate foregound, we could see all the way to Mount Blanc in the west and all of the Mischabel Range to the east which is high enough to stop the view.

Any time I am looking at a scene so awesome that the Matterhorn itself blends into the scene and seems to lose significance, I know I am seeing an incredible sight.

One thing about the Klein Matterhorn, it is situated behind a knob that blocks the view of Monte Rosa. So what? All you need is right in front of you, east, north, and west.
To the south you look into Italy.

Both are worthwhile visits, hence I see no need in trying to pick one over the other. Take the first at hand.

Ingo

Schuler,

(and others) I personally don't care much for Zermatt (the town). Overbuilt, overdevelopped IMO. I always feel trapped there. Too much concrete, barely covered by wooden panels. That aside I am also not a fan of being at the floor of narrow valleys with very steep slopes - I much prefer the wide valleys like the Upper Engadine or the sunny terraces half way up the mountains like Guarda, Soglio or - Wengen.

Besides I would always pick the Gornergrat over Kleinmatterhorn. First, it is right in the centre of the peaks and glaciers while I feel at the edge at Kleinmatterhorn. The view from Gornergrat is IMO more impressive because it includes the gorgeous Monte Rosa, Lyskamm, Castor and Pollux and their glaciers.

The views from Jungfraujoch are IMO not *that* gorgeous. What I dislike there is that it is totally overrun by tourists. What I love is that you can actually hike to Mönchsjochhütte - very nice. And the ride up via Wengen - Kleine Scheidegg is amazing, very much greener as you pointed out.

Oh, btw, I prefer cog-trains over cable cars. As long as I get a seat ;-)

Ingo

PS: Happy Nationalfeiertag to you Swiss Folks!