Hi,

I am visiting Italy in May and plan to visit Switzerland as well from Milan - I only have 3-4 days for this visit. I need recommendations on the following 2 options my tour is offering:

I have an option of going to Interlaken(1 overnight) ---->next day Jungfrau by train(1 night) ---->next day to lucerne(2 nights).

OR

Interlaken(1 night) -->next day to Schilthorn(1 night)---->next day Train from Interlaken to Engelberg(1 night) --->next day to Mt. Titlis. Train to Zurich with a stop only in Lucerne. Zurich(1 night)

I'm confused with the regions here - is Jungfrau better to see? I like the first one because it allocates time in Lucerne which i hear is beautiful. But the second one allocates time in Zurich which I also want to see! Please help - I just want a taste of the country for 3-4 days, which would be better?

IMO Lucerne is a much better tourist spot than Zurich, which is more of a business city. And the trip up the Jungfrau in unforgettable - much better than Mt, Titlis. But why not define exactly why you are going? Highest mountains? Cute villages? Hiking? boat rides? Museums? That can help you decide.

I can make a couple of comments about your itinerary. I have been to both places: the Jungfraujoch and the Schilthorn.

The trip to the Jungfraujoch is unforgettable on a clear day for two reasons: The views of a high mountain world and the cost! Right now the trip is 180 chf for a normal trip and 156 for the Good Morning ticket. Discounts are available if you have a pass, but for the short amount of time you will be there, the pass will not come close to paying for itself. At the most recent exchange rate, the Jungfrau trip is about $144.

Now what do you see? You arrive under an observation building and ascend to a viewing platform with big windows.
There are also some outside activities such as a dog sled and a walk along a snow track to a climbers/hikers shelter hut about a mile away.

What kind of a trip is it? You make the whole trip by mountain train in 3 stages. From Interlaken Ost, you take the Berner Oberlandbahn train to Lauterbrunnen (or Grindelwald). At Lauterbrunnen you change to the Wenger Alpbahn for the trip to Kleine Scheidegg. There you change to the Jungfraubahn for the last leg of the trip. In all you gain more than 9,000 feet of elevation.

If the day is cloudy, I see little reason to go up there. I have been twice, and refused to go twice because of the clouds. For me, the price was too much for cloud viewing.

The Schilthornbahn is reached in one of two ways from Interlaken Ost. The trip is 105.40 chf via Grutschalp.

Take the BOB train to Lauterbrunnen and change to the cable car that goes up the valley side to a change station called Grutschalp and from there ride a little train to Mürren.
In Mürren, after a short walk, you board the cable car known as the Schilthornbahn.

The other way is to take the Post Bus from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg and board the Schilthornbahn there. You change cars once at Gimmelwald and then go all the way to the top via Mürren.
(I think there is another change in Mürren, but for the life of me I cannot remember even though I have ridden it from Stechelberg.)

The Schilthorn restaurant and viewing platform is not as high as the Jungfraujoch viewing area, but it is high enough to give you a fine overview of the north face of the Berner Oberland range of mountains. The views east, north and west are also nice.

You can see the Jungfrau, the Breithorn, and the Mönch in full view. The Eiger is somewhat of an oblique view, but impressive none the less.

There is a 3rd option which may be operating in May, depending on snow depth. There is a gondola ride from Grindelwald up to a lift station called First, which means ridge in German.
The ride up is impressive. You get a good view from the restaurant at the top and from the surrounding vantage points on some of the trails.

I have not been there in May, so I do not know how snowed in the trails will be. If clear, the path to the Bachalp See is quite nice and not very long.
It will make a big difference whether or not you go in late May or early May because spring is advancing rapidly in May as it creeps up the valleys to the snow line, which in the Alps is year round.

If you have a choice, take either the Jungfraujoch trip or the Schilthorn.
Then spend some time in Luzern. Nice small city, with a great transportation museum that I have enjoyed twice.

Wonderful thank you! What will the weather be like in late May in these areas? Yes I think I will go with the Jungfrau tour. The total tour is for Switzerland is costing me US 350 which is a great deal.

For a first time visit I definitely don't want to miss the alps - will it be cloudy do you think? Is late may a good time? Will I need winter clothing? I'll be in Italy for 10 days before that and plan to take one jacket, light cotton slacks, t-shirts/full sleeves shirts - that's it.

Thanks again!

We were there in Mid-May 2003, and the weather was very changeable in the mountains. We never did get to the Jungfraujoch because is was socked in both days we tried (they have television in the train depot showing what it is like at the top). Even though the weather was bad, we went to the top of the Schilthorn. It wasn't snowing, but the clouds moved in and out so quickly I couldn't get my camera set before the view was again obscured, but it was still worth it for the cable car ride. Views from Murren over the valley were spectacular and clear, although we couldn't see the distant mountains at all.

We also came from Italy and were trying to travel light. We brought silk long underwear, which weighs almost nothing and will keep you pretty warm, and our foul-weather gear, a sort of rain jacket with hood. Actually, atop the mountains it was strangely warm. You should have something to protect you from the sun, including good sunglasses, a hat, and a strong sunscreen.

I'm curious where they will have you staying by the Jungfrau. Interlaken is not a scenic town, but Lauterbrennen, where you change trains for either mountain excursion you mention, is a very pleasant village that is often recommended.

The temperature at the Jungfraujoch itself is going to be cold, but if the sun is out, the warmth of the sun is considerable. (Jackets can come off quickly.) But, in the shadows with a sudden wind, it will suddenly feel like you went from the sun room to the freezer.

Last year, we picked a day that was sunny and warm. I was actually walking on snow in my shirt sleeves and feeling hot.
Another time I was up there the wind was blowing and I had my Polarfleece jacket on under my Goretex jacket with the hood pulled as tight as I could get it, and I had my rain pants on, too, for an extra layer. Had it not been for those extra layers, I would have been cold.

Had it been cloudy as well as weindy, I think I would have been kept in the building.

Fortunately at the "Joch" you do not need to go outside. The train however makes 2 stops as I recall and gives you time to look out the windows cut in the sides of the mountain. The stops also give you a little time to adjust. But if you go, take it easy after you get off of the train to allow the body to adjust. You may feel a little light headed, depending on how well your cardiovascular system distributes oxygen.

A high of 60 in Interlaken in May is normal, which means it will be something like 30 degrees colder at 11,000 feet.

You can figure on a drop of 3.1 degrees F for every 1,000 feet of elevation gain because of atmospheric expansion.

The Schilthorn is not has high, but I was up there once on a sunny day, but the wind was whipping and there was still ice on the viewing platform.
And this was in early September!!!!!
There is an old saying that mountains make their own weather. Moreover, the Schilthorn is the top of the peak and you are exposed to everything, whereas at the Jungfraujoch, the outside activity area is on the north side of the ridges and the wind is cut off if it is from the south, which is the normal flow.

I think there is a good chance the day will be cloudy any time of year. If you are with an organized tour, will it go up anyhow even though visibility is limited? I guess so if you have paid in advance.

Hi travel04-
I went up Jungfrau 1st week of June 03, and it was cold despite a sunny day. You'll need more than a light jacket and light slacks if you want to spend some time walking outside. I was wearing a sweater and fleece jacket and cordoroy pants. Make sure you take an early train up, the trip takes more than 2 hrs and the Alps is known for having the clouds roll in in the afternoon.