Visiting Switzerland first time for 5 Days over Easter Period
 

Hi all,
We are travelling to Switzerland in April 2010 over Easter holidays for 5 days from 31st March 2010 to 5th April 2010 with my wife and Son ( 3 and Half Year old).
Since we are travelling first time and specially with a young child, I could do with a bit of advice from you wise people about which part to travel etc. which suits my young family.
I am planning to Book the Flight & Hotels and thinking of taking out the Swiss Flexi Pass 5 Days, which should cover the normal train travellings.

I am open to ideas to either to stay at Interlaken/ Montreux/ Lucerne. Or if you guys suggst otherwise.

Now I would like to know which peaks to visit and what other excursions to see.


Thanks alot for listening

To me the Interlaken area - the Jungfrau Region if you have it (a k a Berner Oberland) is the essence of the wondrous Alpine Switzerland etched in our minds' eyes - a Valhalla of snow-girdled peaks, mountain trains, thrilling aerial cable ways and scintillating views from hotel balconies. Perfect place to spend the whole five days. As for Swiss Pass yes they are an incredible bargain IMO and greatly ease traveling with a child (who gets a free pass) - no queueing for tickets, etc. For loads on Swiss trains and passes i always highlight these superb sites: www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.sbb.ch - Swiss Railways web site; www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.seat61.com;www.ricksteves.com

Peaks to visit? Well in Interlaken region you have two Uber famous ones - the Jungfrau and the Schilthorn- a tiny train climbs up to the Jungfraujoch station, the highest in Europe - up top is a sea of ice and snow -you kiddo can even do a dog sled ride i believe -but there is also an ice grotto -series of caves in the ice and awesome views of Europe's longest glacier - the Aletsch -which runs down from the Jungfrau summit for miles and miles - this is no doubt the single most popular mountain peak for tourists in the Alps

I would suggest staying in Wengen. It is a beautiful car-free town that is very centrally located. From it, you can easily get to the Schilthorn, the Jungfrau and the amazing Lauterbrunnen Valley. We were just there this past summer. Stayed at the Hotel Caprice which we loved. We were also in Lucerne, which is lovely, but my entire family fell in love with Wengen!!!

I love Vevey/Montreux, but it's right on Lac Leman (lake), not up in the mountains (though you see mountains in the distance). It's only about an hour outside Geneva so is very easy to get to, if you are flying in.

Hi vikasvaish,

I'd also suggest Wengen in the Berner Oberland. We spent 4 nights there and never wanted to leave! We did the Jungfraujoch trip. It's spectacular. Actually, we thought the views from Kleine Scheidegg were spectacular also. Kleine Scheidegg is actually the "starting point" for the Jungfraujoch trip.

If you're flying into/out of Zurich, and depending on the time of your flight (late am/early afternoon), you could spend your last night in Lucerne and train to Zurich airport in about an hour.



Paul

I walked down from Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen and if looking for a really easy downhill stroll this is it - overlooks the deep Lauterbrunnen Valley the whole way

We too enjoyed five glorious days in Wengen last year - but in early July when the walk down from Kleine Scheidegg was a sunny ramble wearing a t shirt top.

Now - I am guessing that this is not how things will be at Easter - which is early April this year?
We will be in Europe at this time and whilst Wengen is tempting I am worried that it won't be suitable for walking - and we will not be equipped with the gear for deep snow walking as per a trip report on this forum last year.

Any suggestions about this - especially from Palenque - we live in South Australia - and love the Alps - but don't have gear for freezing weather.

Also - we travel at least once a year to Europe - so Wengen can wait until a summer trip - just something we started pondering after reading this thread.

IME April weather here and any place north of Italy can be very varied - could be brilliant and 60s or snowing or icy - i went to Murren one early September day once and there was ice on the paths even in town and the temp did not get above freezing - Murren probably is a bit higher than Wengen but not than the walks above Wengen. That early September also the famous 3 Passes Bus Tour was scrubbed due to the passes being blocked by snow - not likely but not all tha unusual i was told.

Even Grindelwald, lower than Wengen i think, had ice around it and temps were below freezing during the day. Only down in Interlaken was the weather rather balmy.

Many thanks - I thought this might be the case - we have spent quite a bit of time further north in April and that has been our experience - so I am not about to plan walking in this.

Looks like we think about a few days of eating, walking and art visits in and near Bologna and then move on as the mood takes us - after the Easter rush!

Any suggestions about this - especially from Palenque - we live in South Australia -

well yes 'Put another shrimp on the Barbie!'

Mmm - well it will be prawns for lunch - but not on the BBQ!

Lovely cool day here - expected top of 30C - thanks for the greeting.

love - it may top 30 here too - F, that is!

The Geneva area gets a lot warmer weather than does the Jungfrau Region - warm breezes up the Rhone Valley perhaps- but i think it would rarely have any snow or icy problems.

The Jungfrau region can not be beat for dramatic scenery, but April still means some snow in places. So just keep that in mind. I was in Zurich just before Easter last spring and skipped the area (my favorite destination anywhere) and met my wife in France because I thoght it was too early. Zurich was pretty chilly. We flew out of Geneva and spent one night in Chamonix so I could get my Alps fix. It was probably 55 degrees in the valley with great views of Mt. Blanc. You just never know about the weather in the Alps especially that early.

Even in summer the weather in the Alps IME is really unpredictable - fair weather can quickly give way to days and days of clouds and rain - even in July and August - the point is that if you are in the high Alps and want to do the Jungfraujoch train, see the Matterhorn, etc. if the weather is clear when you arrive do not think that the next day or days may be just as nice- take advantage of optimal weather IME