Oberurnen Travel Guide

City Village in Glarus canton, Switzerland

High in the Glarus valley, Oberurnen offers hiking routes into limestone ridges, pastureland trails and alpine dairy farms. Travelers stop for mountain walks, local cheese, and the quiet of riverside lanes before catching trains to larger ski resorts.

Costs

USD 140-200 per day

Swiss price level for essentials and lodging.

Safety

Very safe

Very safe mountain village with low crime.

Best Time

May-September

Late spring to early autumn for hiking and lake views.

In This Guide

Why Visit
Best Things to Do
Bucket List
Best Time to Visit
How to Get There
How to Get Around
Where to Stay
Where to Eat

Local Time

5:02 AM

GMT+2

Weather

47°F

Partly Cloudy

Population

1,932

Infrastructure & Convenience

Good regional rail/bus links, highly walkable, clear signage.

Popularity

Small, quiet community popular with nature-seekers.

Known For

Alpine views, Linth valley, hiking, historic church, mountain farming, Walensee proximity, local dairy products, cycling routes

Oberurnen sits in the Linth valley and offers quick access to the Walensee and Kerenzerberg pass.

Why Visit Oberurnen? #

Tucked into the Glarus valley, Oberurnen serves as a peaceful base for accessing alpine trails, the Linth river corridor and nearby towns like Näfels. Outdoor options range from gentle riverside walks to challenging climbs toward the Glarus Alps, and local guesthouses offer regional specialties such as raclette and rösti after a day on the trails. Geology buffs also use Oberurnen to reach the Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona, while quiet village streets make for relaxing pre- or post-hike stops.

Best Things to Do in Oberurnen

All Attractions ›

Lake Zurich

Swiss lake adjacent to the city of Zurich

Lake

Gutenberg Castle

Medieval hilltop castle overlooking Balzers village

Castle

Walensee

Deep alpine lake surrounded by steep Swiss cliffs

Lake

Glarus Alps

Swiss alpine range known for rugged peaks and valleys

Mountains

Säntis

Iconic peak in Alpstein massif with weather station

Mountain

Glarus thrust

Geological thrust fault displaying Alpine overthrust examples

Tomb

Einsiedeln Abbey

Baroque Benedictine abbey and major Swiss pilgrimage site

Temple

Tödi

Alpine peak in the Glarus Alps, popular among climbers

Mountains

Oberurnen Bucket List

Don't Miss

Oberurnen village centre - Small village with traditional houses, local church and peaceful alpine ambiance.
Nearby hiking trails - Well-marked paths leading into surrounding hills and forested slopes.
Local guesthouses - Family-run lodgings offering regional meals and personal hospitality off main routes.

Hidden Gems

Small mountain dairies - Operators producing cheese and dairy products available directly from farm.
Village woodworking shops - Craftsmen maintaining traditional carpentry skills visible in local workshops.
Quiet forest clearings - Secluded picnic spots reached by short woodland walks from the village.

Day Trips

Walensee lake shore - Scenic lakeside drives, boat services and water-side walking routes within reach.
Glarus town - Cantonal capital with museums, shops and a compact historical centre nearby.

Best Time to Visit Oberurnen #

Go between late spring and early autumn for hiking, cycling and pleasant valley temperatures. Winters are snow-prone, excellent for nearby slopes but cold and short on daylight.

Winter

December - February · -6 to 2 °C (21 to 36 °F)

Snowy, crisp winters suit nearby ski days and cozy village cafés; expect icy roads and early nightfall, plus hearty food.

Spring

March - May · 2 to 14 °C (36 to 57 °F)

Spring is chilly at first, then pleasantly warm-ideal for quiet hikes and waterfalls swelling from snowmelt and fewer tourists overall.

Summer

June - August · 13 to 26 °C (55 to 79 °F)

Warm summers with long daylight, perfect for alpine trails and lake trips; occasional afternoon storms add drama and cool evenings.

Best Time to Visit Oberurnen #

Climate

Oberurnen's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -2°C to 24°C. Abundant rainfall (1352 mm/year), wettest in July.

Best Time to Visit

JulyAugustSeptember

Temperature & Rainfall

Temperature Range

30°

Warmest Month

-28°

Coldest Month

Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coolest month with highs of 3°C and lows of -2°C. Moderate rainfall (76 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

41 Poor

Comfort

0°

Feels Like Cold

0°C

Temperature

-2° – 3°

87%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

76 mm

Rainfall

1.8 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.1

UV Index

Low

8.8h daylight

February

February is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of -2°C. Regular rainfall (88 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

41 Poor

Comfort

2°

Feels Like Cold

2°C

Temperature

-2° – 5°

85%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

88 mm

Rainfall

2.0 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.3

UV Index

Low

10.1h daylight

March

March is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 1°C. Regular rainfall (86 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

55 Acceptable

Comfort

6°

Feels Like Cold

6°C

Temperature

1° – 10°

83%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

86 mm

Rainfall

2.3 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.5

UV Index

Moderate

11.8h daylight

April

April is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 4°C. Regular rainfall (97 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

55 Acceptable

Comfort

9°

Feels Like Cold

9°C

Temperature

4° – 14°

78%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

97 mm

Rainfall

2.3 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.9

UV Index

Moderate

13.5h daylight

May

May is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 8°C. Significant rainfall (113 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

59 Acceptable

Comfort

14°

Feels Like Cool

14°C

Temperature

9° – 19°

78%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

113 mm

Rainfall

2.1 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.3

UV Index

High

14.9h daylight

June

June is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 11°C. Significant rainfall (156 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

61 Good

Comfort

16°

Feels Like Cool

16°C

Temperature

11° – 21°

77%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

156 mm

Rainfall

2.0 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.6

UV Index

Very High

15.7h daylight

July

July is the warmest month with highs of 24°C and lows of 14°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (171 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

73 Very Good

Comfort

19°

Feels Like Mild

19°C

Temperature

14° – 24°

77%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

171 mm

Rainfall

1.9 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.6

UV Index

Very High

15.3h daylight

August

August is mild with highs of 23°C and lows of 14°C. Significant rainfall (157 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

69 Good

Comfort

18°

Feels Like Mild

18°C

Temperature

14° – 23°

78%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

157 mm

Rainfall

1.8 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.3

UV Index

High

14.1h daylight

September

September is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 10°C. Significant rainfall (112 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

63 Good

Comfort

15°

Feels Like Cool

15°C

Temperature

10° – 19°

81%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

112 mm

Rainfall

1.7 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.9

UV Index

Moderate

12.4h daylight

October

October is cool with highs of 14°C and lows of 6°C. Regular rainfall (95 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

53 Acceptable

Comfort

10°

Feels Like Cool

10°C

Temperature

6° – 14°

82%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

95 mm

Rainfall

1.6 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.4

UV Index

Low

10.7h daylight

November

November is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 2°C. Significant rainfall (105 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

41 Poor

Comfort

5°

Feels Like Cold

5°C

Temperature

2° – 8°

85%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

105 mm

Rainfall

1.8 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.2

UV Index

Low

9.2h daylight

December

December is cold with highs of 4°C and lows of -1°C. Regular rainfall (96 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

41 Poor

Comfort

2°

Feels Like Cold

2°C

Temperature

-1° – 4°

86%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

96 mm

Rainfall

1.8 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.1

UV Index

Low

8.3h daylight

How to Get to Oberurnen

Oberurnen (in the Canton of Glarus) is best reached by rail from Zurich with a short local-bus or taxi transfer for the final leg. The SBB network and PostAuto regional buses form the practical public-transport backbone for the valley.

By Air

Zurich Airport (ZRH): Zurich is the principal international airport for Canton Glarus. From Zurich Airport take a train to Ziegelbrücke or Glarus and then a regional bus or train to Oberurnen-total journey typically 1h15-1h45 depending on connections. Single fares from Zurich to the Glarus valley generally range around CHF 20-40.

St. Gallen-Altenrhein (ACH): A small regional option with limited services; transfers to Oberurnen require a longer rail/bus combination via St. Gallen and then road transport.

By Train & Bus

Train: The nearest rail stops for Oberurnen are Nieder‑/Oberurnen or nearby stations on the Zürich-Ziegelbrücke-Sargans lines (check SBB/S25 services). From Zurich HB the regional train+bus transfer takes about 1-1.5 hours.

Bus: Local PostAuto buses link Oberurnen with nearby towns like Glarus and Näfels; they are useful for short local trips and connections to the rail network.