THE BEST WAYS TO ENJOY RAINY WEATHER

In Interlaken, Switzerland

So you arrived in Interlaken and it looks like you might be in for some rainy weather? Don’t let the bad weather dampen your holiday spirit, there are still plenty of activities on offer to combat the occasional days when the skies turn grey.

INTERLAKEN, SWITZERLAND

Interlaken sits right underneath the backbone of the Swiss Alps. Since this is a mountain town, the weather can range from 35°C (95°F) and sunny to snow on the hilltops in the same month. While the elevation in town is only 550m (1805ft) above sea level, just 20 km further south the ground rises up over 4000m (13,000ft). As a result, this causes some interesting weather patterns which might affect your adventures in ways you didn’t expect.

Here are some tips to help you understand the local weather and enjoy your holiday in any conditions.

WEATHER CHANGES QUICKLY

  • The weather can be bad then completely clear within minutes.

  • A passing storm could mean it rains just for an hour and then returns to sunshine.

  • Even if the sun is shining, yesterday’s weather can sometimes affect activities.

...BUT USUALLY IT'S JUST SUNNY!

DON’T TRUST WEATHER APPS

  • Weather apps like accu weather and international news site weather reports use generic computer models to make their forecasts.

  • Interlaken doesn’t follow those models because of the big mountains around us and a special wind called the Föhn.

  • Even the best, Swiss forecasts are only really reliable a maximum of 2 days ahead of time.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

We’ve found these forecasts to be quite good.

METEOSWISS.CH (website)

SRF.CH/METEO (website)

(For the most accurate forecast, it’s always best to call a local!)

DRESS FOR THE OCCASION

  • Dry feet are happy feet. When you’re digging through the closet, keep the weather in mind.

  • Why not pack a portable umbrella? If you don’t have one, you can just grab one when you arrive.

  • Throw in a light shell jacket. Something you can roll up and stuff in your bag is ideal.

  • Try and choose quick drying materials and don’t forget to cover your bag too!

BE FLEXIBLE

  • Different activities are affected in different ways by the wind, clouds and rain. The more flexible you are with your time in Interlaken, the more chance you have to adapt your program according to the weather.

  • Most companies are happy to rebook your activity if the weather makes it impossible at your original time

  • If you cannot rebook your activity, consider changing to another. There are always wet weather options.

STAY IN CONTACT WITH THE OPERATOR

  • Avoid finding out last minute that your trip is cancelled by calling in advance to check conditions.

  • The pilots, guides and staff are well tuned in to the local weather and will try their best to find a window for your activity.

  • Be prepared that your activity might run when you don’t expect it to, or vice-versa.

BE POSITIVE

  • Interlaken enjoys great continental summer weather with long, hot days and warm nights, but if you arrive during a rainy spell, don’t let that ruin your visit.

  • There are plenty of great activities which are possible in the rain.

  • Be prepared to get wet and have some fun!

  • Some activities are actually better after more rain (eg: rafting).

As you can see there are lots of things to do when the weather in Interlaken isn’t cooperating. If it’s too cloudy to Skydive or Paraglide, why not do a water activity or head to the Adventure Park?

What if it’s too rainy for Canyoning? Explore Interlaken on the Swiss Food and Culture Tour.

Nowhere else has as many options as Interlaken, so get out there and start exploring!

Weather in Interlaken can be different all the time

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain! Hopefully, some of these tips will help you get the most out of your holiday in Interlaken.

ACTIVITY PLANNER

Here is a weather matrix you can use to find alternatives if your first choice of activity is cancelled due to certain weather conditions.

(please note, this is only a guide, there will always be exceptions, your best option is to call a local and find out what is available)

CLEAR SKY /
PARTIAL CLOUD		STRONG WINDHIGH CLOUDLOW CLOUDFOGLIGHT RAINHEAVY RAINSTORM
SkydivingOKCALLOKCALLCALLCALLCALLCALL
HangglidingOKCALLOKOKCALLCALLCALLCALL
ParaglidingOKCALLOKOKCALLCALLCALLCALL
CanyoningOKOKOKOKOKOKCALLCALL
RaftingOKOKOKOKOKOKOKCALL
JetboatOKCALLOKOKOKOKOKCALL
Sea KayakOKCALLOKOKOKOKOKCALL
Ropes ParkOKOKOKOKOKOKOKMAYBE
Bungy JumpingOKCALLOKOKOKOKCALLCALL
Canyon SwingOKCALLOKOKOKOKCALLCALL
Scooter ToursOKOKOKOKOKOKOKMAYBE
Bike ToursOKOKOKOKOKOKOKCALL
Lake CruisesOKOKOKOKOKOKOKMAYBE
Train ExcursionsOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOK
Walking ToursOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOK
Chocolate WorkshopOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOK
City VisitsOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOK

Author

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.