4 day Swiss itinerary help – driving from Brussels
A traveler is planning a trip to Lauterbrunnen from Thursday to Sunday, traveling with their 65-year-old mother. They are looking for advice on an itinerary that avoids high altitudes, as she wants to prevent any breathing issues while still enjoying sights like lakes and local attractions.
- Harder Kulm is closed for winter; consider visiting Mt. Niesen for great views instead.
- The Trümmelbach Falls are open in November; visiting them before heading to Mürren is possible and recommended.
- For a day trip, Lucerne is a fantastic option with plenty to see and do.
- Check if you can check in early to your hotel, as many are less busy this season.
AI-generated summary-
Hello and thank you for allowing me to create this kind of post
I am going to Lautterbrunnen, from thursday 1 to sunday 4th and I am doing my itinerary, I am going with my mother which is 65 years old and hence the reason to ask here, as I am trying to figure out some daily things to do which are not very difficult for her, she is afraid of going up too much in height due to breathing, she is not sick but she just wants to avoid having breathing problems, so I figured out an itinerary, but I would love your feedback.
We are driving from Brussels, and driving all night, the idea is to arrive at 8AM to Interlaken, find some breakfasts (its migros open for breakfast?), then take the the funicular to Harder Kulm, I guess we will be there 1 hour and then go back, to find lunch in Interlaken (Migros seems to be cheap and great).
The checkin in the hotel its at 3, so probably we can do a small walking around Interlaken, and then drive to Lautterbrunnen, After checkin at 3, we will walk around Lautterbrunnen on thursday.
2nd day: Friday, go at 8AM to the Trummelbache falls, and then go at 10.40am to Interlaken Free Walking Tour, (here, I dont know if I will make it on time for the departure of the tour), or maybe I should go to another place, Murren? How many hours in Murren?
Is Murren in the same way as the falls, to do both at the same time?
3rd Day. Satursday: (Not sure what to do on satursday, maybe Lucerne?)
4th Day, Sunday, checkout early, and go to Bern, do a walking tour there, take many pictures and then drive back to brussels.
Thank you!!!
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Hi Levm38,
Your mother should be fine under 2500 meters. Avoid Jungfraujoch (http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfraujoch) and Titlis (http://www.myswissalps.com/ti tlis) and you shouldn’t have any issues at all. http://www.myswissalps.com/ac tivities/naturalsites/ mountains
Harder Kulm is unfortunately closed now for the winter season. You’ll be able to find some take away breakfast food at Migros yes.
Trümmelbachfälle closes in early November (weather dependent I think) so it is probably open on Nov.1, but maybe not.
You can visit Trümmelbachfälle on the way to Mürren yes. Directions to Mürren can be found here. You can park at Lauterbrunnen or Stechelberg before you need to get on a gondola to reach Mürren. http://www.myswissalps.com/mu rren/travel
Lucerne and Bern are both nice towns to enjoy. Have a read through our pages here for more details:
<<“thursday 1 to sunday 4th “>>
What month and what year?
Slowpoke
tomorrow, november2018
Hi Levm38-
<<“We are driving from Brussels, and driving all night, the idea is to arrive at 8AM to Interlaken, find some breakfasts (its migros open for breakfast?), then take the the funicular to Harder Kulm, I guess we will be there 1 hour and then go back, to find lunch in Interlaken (Migros seems to be cheap and great).
The checkin in the hotel its at 3, so probably we can do a small walking around Interlaken, and then drive to Lautterbrunnen, After checkin at 3, we will walk around Lautterbrunnen on thursday.2nd day: Friday, go at 8AM to the Trummelbache falls, and then go at 10.40am to Interlaken Free Walking Tour, (here, I dont know if I will make it on time for the departure of the tour), or maybe I should go to another place, Murren? How many hours in Murren? Is Murren in the same way as the falls, to do both at the same time?”>>
.Those two days have more time in them than you will fill with your suggestions. Some people walk from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg ( or vice versa) and there is a bus route along the way which helps if you change your mind and want to ride.You have already planned time in Bern, which is very good for photos. Try to get up to the Rosegarden, either by climbing up from the Nydegg Brücke or taking a couple of trams to the entrance back side. Good views from up there. There surely won’t be many roses at this time of year.
Slowpoke.
Luzern would be a good day trip. About one hour by car, and a nice old town. Don’t fall asleep driving the Brunig Pass. If you get behind a slow truck ( Lorry) the drive can be slow.
Interlaken is a nice town, but not much of a scenic destination. It’s primary value is as a good base, because of the connections to the main Swiss train network, as well as the line into the valley, to Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald and beyond. Lots of stores and hotels. Many close on Sunday, as do some restaurants at this time of year.
This link:
http://www.myswissalps.com/be rneseoberland
and especially the link contained within it:
http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfrauregion
can tell you a lot about the specific towns. Look under “where to stay.”
Mürren, Lauterbrunnen and Wengen are small villages, and Grindelwald is a bit larger and more spread out. Grindelwald is more commercial, and less “quaint.” Views toward the mountains are good, but my own opinion is that Wengen offers much nicer views, as does Mürren.The views from Mürren and Wengen are particularly nice, and Lauterbrunne has a different apperal,as it is down on the valleyt floor. But,I don’t hink you’ll fill a day with Lauterbrunnen and Mürren, although yo might use half a day if the weather is clear, so that you can see the high mountains. You might consider going all the way up to Kleine Scheidegg by train, because at about 2000 meters, the altitude usually is not problematic. Especially true if you don’t do strenuous exercise, which might cause you to pause to catch your breath. Walking around or riding the trains usually gives no problems. Climbing hills could be slow, but I’m not suggesting that.
On you first day, you may well be able to check in before 3 PM. This is definitely between seasons…that’s why Harder Kulm is closed. Most hotels are not very full. The cableways to Schilthorn close for between season maintenance on November 12th. Check with your hotel. You might be able to check in early and catch a nap.
This very detailed map will show you altitudes:
This one is simpler and shows train lines clearly:
map.search.ch/?pos=641048,164288&z=32
The lines show up nicely at zoom level 32.
Slowpoke
what about this?
1. Arrive to Interlaken on thursday morning, What are good places or spots for some nice pics in Interlaken? Or maybe I should stop by on my way in another city? would love to take some nice pics above the lakes, but Harder Kulm is closed, so where to stop for the pics?
2. Friday, Trummelbache Falls first, go down to the bottom, take transport to Murren, and go down the other side in, Stechelberg, then Grindelwald take cable to: Maennlichen
3. Satursday, Day Trip in Lucerne, (to check what I can do there)
4. Sunday, checkout, go to Day trip to Bern (to check what I can do there), and then go back home
Thanks a lot, you both have been already very helpful
I don’t have time to check the schedules for you, but I am 99.9 % certain that the cableways to/from Männlichen and Wengen or Grindelwald are not running.
Take the cog-rail to Kleine Scheidegg, maybe? Altitude is about 300 meters lower than Männlichen.
Can’t think of a place to pictures above the lake – Schynige Plate and Brienzer Rothorn are surely closed. Alol the mountain transport except the cog railway to Kleine Scheideg closes in late October. Maybe from Spiez or from the castle in Thun…if open, there are a few views of the lake from the upper stories.
You can go up on the Rigi at Luzern. Lower altitude than Männlichen
http://www.myswissalps.com/ri gi
Pilatus, at 2119 meters is a bit lower than Männlichen.
http://www.myswissalps.com/pi latus
Slowpoke
In Interlaken your best bet now would be Mt. Niesen: http://www.myswissalps.com/ni esen which is open until Nov.12
You’ll find more to see and do in Lucerne though: http://www.myswissalps.com/lu cerne/activities
Hi Lucas-
Thanks for the reminder. I had forgotten about the Niessen, and it does have good views of at least the Thunersee.
Slowpoke
Yes, I often overlook it as well – not sure why! 🙂 It does seem to be less well-known in general.
I was in Harder Kulm and it was open, amazing views, on my way to the hotel in Lauterbrunnen
Hi Lev and thanks for the update!
I checked their website and they have indeed extended their opening season to Nov.25 (originally it was set to close on Oct.25).
Hi Lucas…
Don’t have time to check, but does that mean that any other cableways have extended their open season?
Slowpoke
I did a quick check of 4 or 5 other mountains and didn’t see any changes on their closing dates.
We note members should always check the timetable to confirm just in case a mountain make changes like this. If the timetable gives a connection to a mountain then one is good to go.I don’t think these changes happen regularly. Adding a month like that is quite the scheduling change. I wonder if the funiculars aren’t good in dealing with snow generally but they are confident of a mild November.
Is Niederhorn open? Good views of Lake Thun from there.
Or drive to Beatenberg – or take funicular from Beatenbucht to Beatenberg. Even if gondola to Niederhorn isn’t running there is a seat by the talstation with view of lake.
The road between Thun and Interlaken follows the lake shore and is a pretty ride. Thun is an interesting small city to explore – but again most shops and cafes will be closed on Sunday. The Co-op on the station will be open in Thun and in Interlaken- the bigger supermarket won’t be.
Maggie
The Niesen has fantastic (dare I say the best, Maggie ?) views of the Thunersee, Interlaken and the Brienzersee beyond, and also the Eiger, Mönch, and the Jungfrau (see attached photo I took on October 9). You get to the top on two funiculars. The last day it is open this year is November 11th and it will remain closed until the 21st of April.
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