Which quiet trips Lake Brienz/Lake Lucerne after Zermatt/Grindelwald?
A traveler is planning an 8-day trip to Switzerland in July, spending 3 days in Grindelwald and 3 days in Zermatt, with 2 extra days to explore nearby scenic train rides. They seek advice on the best short train or funicular rides around Lake Brienz or the Lucerne area, prioritizing experiences that aren't too crowded.
Consider the Gornergrat for stunning views; it's highly recommended and accessible with a 50% discount if you have a Swiss Travel Pass. For the Lucerne area, the Pilatus and the Stanserhorn are popular scenic options, especially if you go early in the morning to avoid crowds.
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Hi
we’re planning a short 8 day trip in Switzerland in July, we’ll do 3 days in grindelwald & 3 days in Zermatt, then we have 2 days left, and we can’t decide which would be the better train/funicular rides to do – lake brienz train ride or pilatus or stoos- we don’t want to do anything too long, max 3 hrs time. n don’t want to do anything that gets too crowded either. Which train/funicular excursions would u say are the best around lake Brienz or Lucerne area.
Thanks so much 😊
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Frankly all the places you mention are going to be crowded in July.
Then I guess we should just go with the best scenic options n best experience – which ones would u recommend, thanks so much 😊
I have been visiting Switzerland for over 50 years, Provided you have got a pass which gives a 50% discount, Gornergrat is tremendous value for money. I rate it number one of all Swiss mountain rides. To avoid the crowds, get the 08 00 train.
To the Jungfraujoch, the first cable car from Grindelwald Terminal is at 07 15, and this presumably connects with the train at Eigergletscher departing at 07 45. I gather that early morning trains have (purely RELATIVELY) cheaper fares.You mention Pilatus. I would not recommend it from Grindelwald. Longish train ride to Alpnachstad of nearly three hours and with changes at Interlaken and Giswil. No chance of missing the crowds. Stoos is impossible from Grindelwald.
Both Pilatus and Stoos are easy day trips from Lucerne/Luzern or even from Zurich. My most recent visit to Pilatus was an afternoon trip in LATE SEPTEMBER from Zurich.
Thankyou so much, we’ll definitely be doing the Gornergrat while staying in Zermatt, we have 3 days there n 3 days in grindelwald( doing jungfrau & schilthorn)
we have 2 extra days when we’re looking at staying near Lucerne, so around Lucerne or lake Brienz we wanted to know what are the best funicular/train rides that don’t take too long, max about 3 hrs. There are so many options to choose from – we can’t do all so wanted recommendations on the best ones to do, we’re looking at1. lake Brienz scenic train
2. pilatus
3. stoos
4. cabrio open gondola
5. Schynige Platte steam rail
which ones would u say are the best 2 out of these
Note, I am assuming you will have a Swiss Travel Pass, ‘STP’.
1 I think you mean the Brienzer Rothorn rack railway, which is steam worked. 50% off with STP. Possible from both Grindelwald and Lucerne. BUT VERY BUSY. RESERVATION ESSENTIAL IN JULY.
2 Easy from Lucerne. Circular tour. Trolleybus from Lucerne to Kriens, short walk to cable car up Pilatus. Down by train from Pilatus to Alpnachstad Boat (or train) back to Lucerne. Or do it the other way around. Bus, boat and train free with STP. 50% of the mountain lines.
3 Stoos Train from Lucerne to Arth-Goldau. Bus to funicular. Funicular up to Stoos. ALL FREE with STP. Exciting, but the least scenic of the five.
4 I think you must mean the Stanserhorn, Train Lucerne to Stans, then quaint funicular, then open top cable car. ALL FREE with STP. But the free travel (also much used by Swiss residents) makes this line very popular. Go very early in the morning is your only hope of avoiding a long queue.
5 Schynige Platte is a vintage ELECTRIC railway going up from Wilderswil. near Grindelwald. 50% off with STP.
Top two from Lucerne? Pilatus, and provided you can get up early, Stanserhorn. If you are not an early riser get the boat to Vitznau and go up the rack railway to Rigi. All free on STP. Rigi railway has modern trains which seem to be able to swallow the queues. Possible to do a circular tour by going down to Arth-Goldau, and then train to Lucerne.
Thankyou so much 😊
we’ll have the Swiss 50% saver pass, as we have a rental car so we can drive up to most of the train/funicular starting stations wherever possible
so in terms of scenery n something unique to do, you’d recommend Pilatus and which other one?
thanks so much
In all seriousness, I wish you had said you were having a rental car. In Switzerland it is rather unusual for visitors to rent a car. The modern cable cars usually do have extensive car parks, but the long standing cog-wheel and funicular lines do not. Moreover a big part of the fun in the Lucerne area is the boat ride to get to places like Alpnachstad (for Pilatus), Vitznau (for Rigi) and Kehrsiten for the Burgenstock (where the recent conference on Ukraine was held).
I am forced to change my recommendations. Yes, go up Pilatus, but go up from Kriens on the cable cars. The other recommendation is now Titlis (about 10,000 feet up) at Engelberg. Both these lines have car parks.
I note that you are visiting Zermatt. I hope you realise that you will have to park at Tasch 3 miles (5 Kms) from Zermatt, and use the shuttle train to get to the village.
Hi Nayonne,
Welcome to MySwissAlps.
Perhaps you could spend the remaining 2 days halfway between Lucerne and Brienz. Maybe Lungern or Meiringen. You will be close to the Aareschlucht, Lake Lungern and the Hasliberg and Sorenberg mountains. These are popular with the locals but not so with tourists.
I think anywhere near or around Lake Lucerne (https://www.myswissalps.com/region/lake-lucerne/) is also a good idea.
Regards,
Anna
On reflection I would support Anna’s suggestions. She is talking about a very attractive area, which compared to the resorts you and I have been talking about, will be relatively less crowded!
Sorry about that, we’re driving in from France so have our rental car with us.
Didn’t realize I should’ve mentioned it at the start. Thanks again for all your help 😊
Thanks so much Anna, I’ll check these out 😊
Hello Nayome.
Thanks for the clarification regarding renting-a-car.
Swiss Public Transport is the best in Europe. I am British and have been visiting Switzerland most years since 1971. I have met many Swiss residents who stress ‘You do not need a car in Switzerland’.
Parking is going to be difficult and expensive in historic places like Lucerne itself, Berne and Brienz.
I can think of two important places in Switzerland, the Rutli Meadow on Lake Lucerne and the Giessbach Falls on Lake Brienz, where the only powered transport access is by BOAT.
I hope you have a great holiday in France, Switzerland and wherever else you are visiting. And if you are going to the Mediterranean, I hope the weather is not too hot!
Best wishes
Roger Sexton
Thankyou 😊
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