[MichiMary]

20 June 2022 at 11:41:19 #827555

We are flying into Zurich and plan to take the train directly to Lucerne for 4 nights because we tend to prefer small towns rather than large cities.

It will be our first visit to Switzerland and is an add-on before making our way down through Italy for a month. We are not into museums or any strenuous hiking but more interested in experiencing the area and seeing the beautiful scenery.

Since we do not want to transfer lodging during our stay, we are wondering how much time to allocate to Lucerne itself and what day trips would be most enjoyable and feasible.

—Is a day trip to Lauterbrunnen a good idea or too much travel time?

–Suggestions for a local mountain trip experience?

We are still trying to figure out the logistics for travel from Lucerne to Bellagio and whether the actual Gothard Express trip makes sense or if it it would be better to follow that general route but “custom plan” it on our own so would love input on that as well. Would it be a good idea to take a boat trip on Lake Lucerne while staying there and then travel more simply via train from Lucerne to Bellagio?

Thank you!

[Anna]

20 June 2022 at 17:43:59 #943448

Hi MichiMary,

Lucerne is a good base to explore the central region. There are plenty of sightseeing and excursion options in the region. Mt Titlis in Engelberg is a popular destination if you wish to experience snow. It’s about 1 hour journey by train from Lucerne. Other mountain destinations close to Lucerne include Rigi, Pilatus and Stanserhorn. In addition to mountains, you can also plan scenic boat trips on Lake Lucerne.

Lauterbrunnen from Lucerne by train takes roughly 2 hours and 20 minutes, so definitely doable as a day trip. If you take the earliest train out, you might even be able to include side trips to Interlaken or any one of the mountain villages in the Jungfrau region such as Wengen, Grindelwald or Mürren.

For more options – things to see and do near Lucerne: http://www.myswissalps.com/lucerne/activities

Regarding your journey to Bellagio, a sensible option would be to take the fast train to Milan from Lucerne via Lugano. In Milan you can take a local train to Varenna then a ferry to Bellagio. For information about tickets to Italy: http://www.myswissalps.com/traintickets/italy. If you have time, travelling on the scenic Gotthard Panorama Express from Lucerne to Lugano would be an unforgettable experience.

Regards,

Anna