Complete Guide to Hiking in Switzerland in May
Swiss Spring Lakes and Mountains · Simplified Snowmelt Hiking in May
Route: Lucerne → Interlaken (Jungfrau Region) → Zermatt, 7 days
Core Value: May is a limited spring window in Switzerland — low-altitude wildflowers bloom, waterfalls have the highest flow, tourists are only one-third of summer, and accommodation prices are halved. The trade-off: some high-altitude routes (like the Stellisee section of the Five Lakes hike) still have snow, so you need to choose routes carefully.
Transportation: Seamless train travel throughout (the pinnacle of the Swiss transport system). Must buy the Half-Fare Card, 120 CHF/month, all trains/cable cars/boats at 50% off.
Day 1 Arrive in Lucerne (stay in Lucerne)
· Chapel Bridge + Water Tower: take reflections photos at dawn or dusk, free
· Lion Monument: Mark Twain called it "the saddest stone carving in the world," free
· Musegg Wall: open April to November, climb the tower for a city view, free
· Optional: Swiss Museum of Transport (interactive, discount with Half-Fare Card)
· Accommodation: hotel in the Old Town, ¥1,300–2,000 (30% cheaper than summer)
Day 2 Lucerne · Queen of the Mountains (stay in Lucerne)
· Mount Rigi: choose the Vitznau–Rigi cogwheel train (operates year-round, fully open in May). Summit at 1,798m, snow-free hiking trails, early alpine meadows turning green, overlooking 13 arms of Lake Lucerne
· Classic route: boat one way, train the other (or vice versa), about 4 hours total
· Cost: with Half-Fare Card, round trip about 35 CHF
· Optional: Mount Pilatus (cogwheel train runs from May, steepest at 48%), but summit at 2,128m is colder with more snow, hiking experience less pleasant than Rigi
Day 3 Lucerne → Interlaken (stay in Interlaken or Grindelwald)
· Train: 1 hour 50 minutes, Lucerne–Interlaken segment is the highlight of the Golden Pass Line, right side window seats offer views of Lake Brienz
· Afternoon: Lake Brienz boat cruise (2-hour round trip), snow-capped mountain reflections + lakeside towns. Half-Fare Card gets 50% off boat tickets
· Accommodation: strongly recommend staying in Grindelwald (30 minutes by train), the dreamy slopes at dawn and dusk with no tourists are much better than Interlaken
Day 4 Jungfrau · Spring Limited Routes (stay in Grindelwald)
· Morning: First hike (open in May!)
· Take cable car from Grindelwald to First (2,168m)
· Hike round trip to Bachalpsee Lake (2–3 hours, gentle and snow-free), early wildflowers bloom by the lake, reflecting Schreckhorn Peak
· Cable car with Half-Fare Card about 31 CHF
· Afternoon: Murren–Gryon Alpine hike (1,600m, snow melted in May)
· Take cable car from Lauterbrunnen to Murren, hike down gently to Grimmelwald, snow mountains + waterfalls + wildflowers + chalets, classic Swiss scenery all included
· This route is stroller-friendly, very easy, wildflower season starts in May
· Optional: Schilthorn (cable car runs year-round), but summit requires heavy jackets
⚠️ Important tips for Jungfrau region in May:
· Jungfrau summit (3,454m) is accessible year-round, but in May it is still icy with no hiking conditions, purely a photo and viewing platform
· Männlichen–Kleine Scheidegg classic panoramic trail opens mid to late May depending on snow, check official website before going
· With babies/elderly: Murren’s low-altitude routes are best, avoid Jungfrau summit (some visitors reported babies experiencing altitude sickness)
Day 5 Interlaken → Zermatt (stay in Zermatt)
· Transport: Interlaken–Spiez–Bern–Brig–Zermatt, about 3.5 hours, seamless train connections
· Arrival: Zermatt bans motor vehicles, electric shuttle from station to hotel (10 CHF per ride)
· Evening: stroll the town, watch the Matterhorn glow at sunset (classic photo spot is the cemetery in front of the church, resting place of mountaineering victims, please be respectful)
· Accommodation: in Zermatt town, May prices are 30–40% lower than winter ski season
Day 6 Zermatt · Five Lakes Hike · Can you hike in May? (stay in Zermatt)
· Harsh truth: the core section of the Five Lakes Hike (5-Seen-Weg) at Stellisee Lake (2,537m) is completely snow-covered in May, trail closed
· May alternatives:
· Gornergrat viewpoint: cogwheel train runs year-round, 35 minutes to 3,089m, over 20 peaks above 4,000m + start of Aletsch Glacier, round trip with Half-Fare Card about 42 CHF. Summit viewpoint is snow-free but trails remain closed
· Riffelsee Lake (2,757m): lake surface still frozen or partially thawed in May, reflection effect reduced, but blue ice scenery is a May exclusive
· Low-altitude hikes: around Zermatt town (1,600m) snow melted, forest trails accessible
· Mindset adjustment: in May, the focus in Zermatt is on the mountains, not the lakes. The Matterhorn’s triangular peak is stunning any season, no need to insist on reflections
Day 7 Zermatt → Departure
· Morning: Catholic church, mountaineers’ cemetery, forest playground (child-friendly)
· Afternoon: Zermatt–Brig–Geneva Airport (about 3.5 hours), or –Zurich Airport (about 5 hours)
🎯 May Hiking Routes · Opening Checklist
Route Elevation May Status Suitable For
Mount Rigi Loop 1,300–1,800m ✅ Fully open, early wildflowers All
First–Bachalpsee 2,100–2,300m ✅ Open Beginner hikers
Murren–Gryon Alpine 1,600–1,800m ✅ Best season (wildflowers + waterfalls) Families/leisure
Männlichen–Kleine Scheidegg 1,800–2,000m ⚠️ Opens mid-late May depending on snow Check official site
Five Lakes Hike (Stellisee) 2,500m+ ❌ Snow closed until mid-late June
Gornergrat Viewpoint 3,089m ✅ Train accessible, no hiking Pure sightseeing
❌ Don’t:
· Expect reflections on the Five Lakes in Zermatt — May is blue ice season, not mirror season
· Attempt to cross snow-covered trails — Swiss trail signs are excellent but above snowline is dangerous
· Stay in Interlaken — unless you love tour buses
✅ Do:
· Buy the Half-Fare Card — two train rides in May pay it off easily
· Stay in Grindelwald — dreamy slopes in morning mist are worth the price
· Bring a windbreaker — Alpine weather in May changes quickly, bring a light down jacket
Budget reference (per person/Euros, low season in May):
· Accommodation (6 nights): €420–840 (Swiss specialty: hostels from €60, 3-star hotels €120+)
· Half-Fare Card: €24 (120 CHF)
· Transport/cable cars: €150–200 (all 50% off)
· Food: €280 (supermarket sandwiches + two proper meals/day)
· Total: €900–1,300
People hiking in Switzerland in May are not there to conquer, but to have it all to themselves. No summer crowds, cable cars always available, snow still melting on lake surfaces, wildflowers just sprouting from brown earth. What you get is not a perfect Switzerland, but a Switzerland yet to be discovered by tourists.