We hate to break it to you, but your trip to the Jungfrau Region probably won’t be 100% sunshine and blue skies. We hope we’re wrong — but when the clouds roll in, don’t let a little rain dampen your day!
Here’s how to make the most of cloudy or drizzly weather, including:
- 5 tips to outsmart the weather
- which destinations to prioritize when you have a clear forecast
- 22 ideas for activities that are enjoyable even when the clouds and rain roll in
- which town we’d want to stay in if the weather was uncooperative
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5 Tips to Outsmart the Weather
No matter where you’re heading in Switzerland, let’s start with 5 tips to help you outsmart the weather.
1 | Use the MeteoSwiss App
First, check out the app for MeteoSwiss, Switzerland’s national weather and climate service. They specialize in the specific weather patterns of Switzerland, which means their forecasts are way more accurate than your phone’s weather app (no offence).
You can search for forecasts by destination and see the minutes of sunshine or rain per hour. That means you can strategically plan your day to get out early before the rain or wait until the skies clear in the afternoon.
2 | Utilize Webcams
Have you ever gone up to a mountaintop just to find yourself inside a giant white cloud with absolutely zero views? Been there, done that, not fun. That’s why you should check the live webcams before you hop on a cable car or gondola!
The best place to find these is on the specific destination’s website, such as www.schilthorn.ch or www.jungfrau.ch. For example, if you’re heading to Männlichen, you’ll go to this website, click on “live” and then “webcams.” Now click “Männlichen” and voila, a live view from the top!
3 | Check the weather and webcams at multiple destinations
Here’s a little secret: just because it’s raining in Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald doesn’t mean it’s raining in Brienz or Thun. Within the Jungfrau Region, the Alps and the valleys and the lakes create crazy weather patterns, so check out the forecast and webcams in multiple destinations before making your plans for the day. Even heading just one valley over could give you completely different weather!
So don’t make any assumptions here — it could be foggy in the valley yet sunny in the mountains, or cloudy on the peaks while there are blue skies above the lakes.
In fact when we’re planning to go into the mountains, we like to check the weather at night before going to bed, and then check the forecast and the webcams again in the morning to make sure nothing has changed. This way we wake up with a plan, but leave room to pivot just in case.
4 | Get outside no matter the weather
But don’t wait for the perfect weather. Get outside anyway, especially if you only have a few short days here! The weather can be unpredictable, which means the clouds might be higher than you think, and the rain can stop as quickly as it starts, and sometimes visibility is better than expected. So if you just get outside, you’ll often be rewarded with pockets of beautiful weather that you would have missed if you stayed inside. (Although this is not a recommendation to go stand on a mountain ridge in the middle of a thunderstorm…)
5 | Pack smart (think: layers)
Pack strategically so you can fully enjoy your time, even if the weather puts a little damper on things. Personally, we always stash a rain coat in our backpacks. This is perfect for rain, obviously, but also wind or if it’s a bit chillier than expected. And if you know it’s going to be a wet day, maybe throw in an extra pair of socks or a set of clothing just in case. Because as the Swiss say, there’s no such thing as bad weather — just bad clothing!
By the way, if you’re not sure where to even begin packing for your Swiss vacation, check out our free Swiss Packling List for all 4 seasons.
1-Week in the Jungfrau Region — no matter the weather!
We’re just getting started, but if any of these tips have been helpful so far, leave us a comment and tell us. That lets us know that you’re learning something valuable, and helps other travelers find this info too!
And if we haven’t met, we’re Jana and Brett, Aplins in the Alps. We’ve spent years traveling this country in sun and rain and wind and snow, and now we live near Interlaken where we produce videos and travel guides with the goal of helping you travel Switzerland with confidence — no matter the weather!
More than 4,000 travelers have purchased one of our Guides to the Jungfrau Region and we’re often asked how to adapt them if the weather doesn’t cooperate. So here are some thoughts.
On those special days with nothing but endless blue skies, prioritize these places:
- First, Mürren. It’s no secret that this has been one of our favorite spots in the whole area for so many reasons since we honeymooned here in 2012. It’s a car-free alpine village packed with traditional architecture, great cafes and restaurants, and endless hiking trails. Oh, and the views are pretty awesome too. It also pairs perfectly with a 4-minute cable car ride to the farming village of Gimmelwald, or a ride up to the Birg Thrill Walk and the Schilthorn with its revolving restaurant.
- Next is Männlichen. This ridgeline hands down has the best views of the big 3 peaks, the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. Not to mention Jana’s favorite playground in the region and one of the best panoramic walks for all ability levels.
So if we had just two sunny days here, we’d make a beeline to Mürren and Männlichen.
But if some clouds roll in but they stay pretty high in the sky — or you’re blessed with even more sunny days — pick these destinations next:
- First is Grindelwald First. This overlooks the wide green valley of Grindelwald, but also has a hike to an awesome alpine lake (which is one of our favorite picnic spots), a cliff walk, and a handful of adventure activities.
- Next is Jungfraujoch. Technically the train ride goes through the mountain and most of the activities are inside, but it’s the highest peak you can ride to in the area, and actually the highest train station in Europe, and has some pretty spectacular views of the longest glacier in the Alps. Oh, you can even walk along that glacier to the highest manned mountain hut in Switzerland!
- Third, head to Schynige Platte. It’s a one-hour panoramic train ride to reach the top, and then you’re perched on a ridge between the snowy peaks and teal lakes. You don’t need clear skies to gaze down into the valleys and lakes, or meander through 800 plants in the alpine flower garden. There are a handful of great hiking trails up here, but we also like to linger on the restaurant’s terrace while listening to live alphorn music.
But what if the weather is truly terrible, with constant rain and clouds so low that you can’t see anything?
Don’t fret, you won’t have to sit inside your Airbnb or hotel all day long. Try some of these ideas instead:
- First, head to the lakes. Interlaken is sandwiched between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, both of which have great boat rides and walking trails that are nice no matter the weather. In particular, we like the walk between Giessbach and Iseltwald, between Oberhofen and Thun, or along the vineyards in Spiez.
- Visit waterfalls, which are guaranteed to be gushing with water on a rainy day, right? In fact, here’s a fun throwback to the third video we ever filmed about the 3 Waterfalls Hike along Lake Brienz.
- Tour some castles. Lake Thun is actually dotted with a handful of impressive castles. Our favorites are in Spiez, Thun, and Oberhofen.
- Walk through the valleys or along the lakes. Since these are at lower elevations, you don’t have to worry about missing out on the views. And you’ll often still be surrounded by traditional houses, farm animals, or blue water right beside you.
- Eat from the local farm fridges. These self-service refrigerators and shops sell local cheese, sausage, milk, eggs, jam, sirop, and handmade crafts. The best are definitely all over Grindelwald (once you venture out from the main street in town), but there are some good ones in Gimmelwald, Lauterbrunnen, and Wilderswil too. And just to keep picking on ourselves a little bit more, you can go back and watch the second video we ever filmed to discover farm fridges for the first time with us.
- Explore the villages or do some souvenir shopping. We’d rather be hanging out in the mountains when the sun is shining, so wait to spend your time popping in and out of shops until the weather is uncooperative. This is the perfect time to explore the actual villages and towns more deeply, which leads us to our next rainy day recommendation…
- Eat. I mean, yes, you need to eat every day. But you can linger longer over a warm drink in a cafe, a pastry in a bakery, a beer in a brewery, or a multicourse meal in a classic Swiss restaurant. Our Jungfrau Region Guides have pages of foodie suggestions but we’ve had so many emails from you all about how much you loved this video about our favorite cafes in the area.
- Speaking of eating, eat chocolate. The Swiss eat the most chocolate in the world, at 25lbs (11.3kg) per person per year. So head to the grocery store to make your own DIY Swiss chocolate taste test like we did.
- And for yet another option, we’d take a day trip. Within one hour of Interlaken, you can visit the bear sanctuary in the city of Bern, or take a 2-hour panoramic train to our favorite Swiss city of Lucerne, where you can walk along the historic wooden bridges or the city walls.
Okay, now here are just a few more specific rainy day recommendations that we can’t keep to ourselves:
- If you’re going to Grindelwald, consider walking through the gorge or climbing on a giant spider web at Grindelwald Glacier Canyon. If the weather isn’t great but we want to get outside, we often ride up to Bort and then walk back down to Grindelwald through the stunning rolling hills and farms! And if it’s cloudy but not raining, enjoy the toboggan run or fly line adventures at Pfingstegg.
- In Lauterbrunnen, known as the Valley of 72 Waterfalls, you can go to Trümmelbach Falls (which are Europe’s largest waterfalls inside of a mountain gushing 20,000 liters of water per second). Or play “eye spy waterfalls” as you walk along the valley. You could even rent bikes to explore as far as Interlaken.
- For a day in Interlaken or Wilderswil, you could visit the Unspunnen castle ruins dating from the 1200s. Go to the St. Beatus-Höhlen Caves to see a stunning waterfall and take a cave tour. Or sample local beer and spirits at Rugenbräu. Almost every time we have family and friends come visit us and the weather is drizzly, we take a walk to the brewery and linger over a refreshing drink!
- And if you’re near Brienz, plan a visit to Giessbach Falls and the historic Giessbach Grandhotel, head to the Traufer Wooden Cow Museum to discover how the famous wooden Swiss cows are made, step back in time to see life through the centuries at the Ballenberg Outdoor Museum, or stop at the Woodcarving Museum to watch wood carvers chisel away or to buy a cuckoo clock.
Where to Stay to Make the Most of Any Weather
So where should you stay in the Jungfrau Region to make the most of the unpredictable weather? Maybe you aren’t picking your lodging solely based on this, but it’s helpful to consider, especially if your trip is just a few days long.
- Places like Mürren, Gimmelwald, and Wengen are a dream in beautiful weather, but could be kind of a bummer if it rains. Bad weather might bring an unusual peacefulness to these villages, but there won’t be a lot to do. And you’ll find yourself farther away from some of the better rainy day options.
- Lauterbrunnen would be okay in bad weather. The valley itself is gorgeous even when clouds set in, and at least you’d be closer to most of the rainy day options we mentioned earlier.
- But the best places to stay when the weather is less than ideal would be Interlaken, Grindelwald, and Wilderswil. The first two have plenty of cafes, restaurants, and shops to keep you busy, and Interlaken and Wilderswil get you closest to the lakes and day trips that might offer better options for a rainy day.
For a deeper dive into where to stay, read this blog next, which gives our ranking of the top 7 villages in the area. Or if you’re ready to start planning your trip, check out our best-selling 1-Week Guide to the Jungfrau Region. And we’ll see you in Switzerland!