Adverse weather plan in Luzern

  • Paul McH
    Participant
    38 posts
    17 April 2026 at 15:14:31 #2796302

    I am trying to come up with some alternative activities for our trip to Luzern in case of bad weather. So far I have got local boat trips and walks round Luzern in case of low cloud.  I have just added  the Voralpen especially if there is better weather that way. Thinking of Rhine Falls if the weather is better in the north. What would be the best train route, please?
    Is the weather likely to be changeable enough between the areas to make these trips feasible, please?

    Many thanks, Paul.

  • Roger Sexton
    Participant
    1597 posts
    Reply 1 of 1 • 17 April 2026 at 17:04:45 #2796303

    Hello again Paul

    Are you INVESTING (I use that word deliberately) in a Swiss Travel Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/)?

    Luzern is bang in the centre of the world’s best public transport system.  If you own an STP you can get to almost anywhere in Switzerland on a day excursion.  The only significant exception is the Bernina line to Tirano, which would take about fourteen hours to get there and back….

    Though Switzerland is a small country in area, the existence of the mountains does mean that the weather can be very different from one area to another.  In particular, the weather north of the main Alpine chain can be very different from that south of the main chain.

    About four years ago the weather in Ticino canton was poor, so I headed back north on the Treno Gottardo, which takes the old (1882) line.  Coming out of the old Gotthard tunnel at Goschenen the weather was much better. Ninety minute later I was on my way up Mount Rigi on the cog-wheel train from Arth-Goldau; (remember the Rigi lines are free with the STP).

    We all know that bad weather usually ‘clears from the west’.  If the weather in Luzern is bad, but the forecast indicates that good weather will later in the day be spreading from the west, the IR15 train is waiting for you.  Every hour, on the hour, the IR15 leaves Luzern bound for Geneva (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/geneva/), via the historic towns/cites of Bern, Fribourg, Romont, Lausanne and Nyon.

    To get to the Rhine Falls (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/rhine-falls/) you go to Schaffhausen via Zurich.   After you are finished with the Falls, go on to the medieval town of Stein am Rhein.  Return from Stein am Rhein via Winterthur and Zurich.

    If you take the Voralpen Express (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/voralpen-express/) to St Gallen, later take the tram-train which goes from St Gallen to Appenzell.  Return to Luzern via Gossau and Zurich.

    Best wishes for your detailed planning.

    Roger

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