I'm planning a trip to Switzerland with my girlfriend and we really want to make the most of the mountain landscapes and charming villages. We're torn between spring and autumn, but we're not sure which season is best for hiking and photography. Any advice?
Swiss trains run well year-round, but autumn is really the best time for what you're looking for - the landscapes are incredible with the colors, the air is clear for photos and hiking is less demanding than in summer because of better weather conditions. Spring is nice too with flowers and all that, but a lot of mountain trails are still closed because of snow, especially in April. I'd say mid-September through late October if you really want to maximize great photos and villages without too many tourists.
Autumn is clearly the best choice for what you're doing, but one thing people often forget about: cable cars and lifts start closing progressively from September onwards in some areas, so if you're aiming for high-altitude hikes or villages accessible by cable car, you've gotta check the specific schedules before you leave! Spring is nice too for the villages and fresh air, but you're still risking closed roads and mountain snow depending on your itinerary, and honestly it's less reliable for photos with the weather changing all the time.
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