Best Time to Visit (and When Not To)

The best time is mid-June to late September. That's when most trails are open, the huts are running, and conditions are right for the higher areas. In a good year you can stretch lower hikes into October.

July and August are the most beautiful and the busiest. The landscapes are at their best, but the popular spots get crowded. You can still have a brilliant trip if you plan smarter: visit popular places early in the morning or late in the evening for a quieter experience and far better light, and avoid spots reached directly by cable car during the day.

Domi's note: the best thing you can do is go when most people aren't out, especially for sunrise or sunset. Getting up early is never fun, but the moment on the mountain is worth it, and the light is when your photos really stand out.

Skip the in-between months of May and November. The weather is unpredictable, higher trails can still be snowed in while lower ones are clear, and many huts, cable cars and guesthouses are closed. This guide is built for summer hiking, so stick to mid-June to late September.