Explore Lucerne and Rigi in 1 day
A traveler named Tmalave is planning a stopover in Switzerland with two nights in Zurich before taking the Bernina Express. They want advice on visiting Luzern for a day on a tight schedule, focusing on a specific itinerary that includes key sights and hiking options.
- It’s a good idea to visit Rigi Kulm first to enjoy the hike and avoid missing transport back to Zurich.
- Start your day early by taking the train from Zurich to Arth-Goldau then switch to the cogwheel train to Rigi Kulm.
- After your hike, take a different cogwheel train down to Rigi Kaltbad and then the boat to Luzern for sightseeing.
- Regular trains between Zurich and Luzern run late, so you won’t be rushed in the city.
AI-generated summary-
Hi all, I posted this on another forum, but was wondering if I could get more information.
We are stopping over in Switzerland on our way from Paris to Milan. We are staying two nights in Zurich and we leave on the third day on the Bernina Express. I am well aware that this is very little time, but its what we have to work with. The plan so far:
Arrive in Zurich HB at 2:50 pm
Get to hotel and check in
Walk around the lake and see the old town until dinner time
Dinner and RestTrain to Luzern and this is where my questions lay. We will have a saver day pass for this day. I am wondering if something like this is feasible:
Arrive in Luzern and see: Historic Wooden Bridges, Lion Monument, Old town.
After lunch (~1:00 pm) take the ferry to Vitznau, and then cable car and train to Rigi Kulm
Walk down to either Kaltbad or Schneidegg
Train back to Zurich (Depart around 6:30 pm)I have several questions:
1) For Luzern is this a reasonable itinerary?
2) What order should I see the listed sites in order to avoid backtracking if I am arriving by train from Zurich?
3) Have any people in the over 60 crowd done the hike from Rigi Kulm to Schneidegg and can tell you how you found it ? No mobility issues, just not as young…
4) Finally, anything I might have missed and any food suggestions?
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Hi Tmalave,
Yes, it’s definitely possible to explore Lucerne and do an excursion to Rigi in one day. I recommend you do the mountain excursion first so you can do a bit of hiking and still have plenty of time to catch the boat or train down. Mountain transportations don’t usually operate after 5 or 6pm. So start the day by taking the train from Zurich to Arth-Goldau then switch to the cogwheel train to Rigi Kulm. The walk down from Rigi Kulm to Rigi Kaltbad is fairly easy. I have done it with my kids (youngest aged 5 then) and I think it took us about 2 hours with plenty of stops for pictures and a picnic. From Rigi Kaltbad, you can take a different cogwheel train down to Vitznau, then switch to the boat to Lucerne. I think this is a more sensible route. Once in Lucerne you can take your time to explore the city. Regular trains between Zurich and Lucerne operate until midnight.
Regards,
Anna
Hi Anna, How to get to Rigi Kulm from Lucerne? Thx, IB
Hi,
To get to Rigi from Lucerne, take the train to Arth Goldau. The train journey takes about 30 mins with one train change at Rotkreuz. More details here: http://www.myswissalps.com/rigi/gettingthere
Regards,
Anna
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