6 night itinerary help: Switzerland in December
A couple is celebrating their honeymoon in Switzerland from December 24th to the 30th and seeks advice on their itinerary. They have planned a mix of Christmas activities, scenic hikes, and snowboarding but want to confirm if their plans are doable with the Swiss Travel Pass and need additional hiking suggestions.
- Visit the Lucerne Christmas Market before it closes at 16:00 and explore the Chapel Bridge and old town for sightseeing.
- You can use the Swiss Travel Pass to cover most trains, boats, and some cable cars; check their validity for your routes.
- Start your hike on the Mark Twain Trail from Weggis for easier access.
- If you're planning to visit Jungfraujoch, leave early as it takes a couple of hours and sunset is at 16:43 on the 26th.
- Consider dropping off your luggage at Grindelwald station to save time before heading to Jungfraujoch.
AI-generated summary-
Hello! My husband and I are celebrating our honeymoon in Switzerland from Dec 24th to the 30th, and we’re hoping to get some advice on our itinerary. We have the following so far:
Dec 24th: Arrive Zurich Airport 11:00am, pick up rental car and drop by the Lucerne Christmas Market at the Train Station, walk around Lucerne (what sites are worth visiting? It looks like most things are going to be closed), check in to our hotel in Ennetbürgen
Dec 25th: Visit Mt. Pilatus or Mt. Rigi R/T via Vitznau on boat and train? (open to other suggestions! Whatever is most scenic and offers the best views of the Alps)
Swiss Museum of Transport + Swiss Chocolate Adventure if weather is bad
Dec 26th: Drop off rental car at Interlaken, take the train to Grindelwald (what do you recommend doing on this day? We are interested in more scenic views of the Jungfrau region and possibly some winter hiking. We are both very active), check in to our hotel in Grindelwald
Dec 27th: Snowboarding, Stay in Grindelwald
Dec 28th: Snowboarding, Stay in Grindelwald
Dec 29th: Explore Jungfrau: Lauterbrunnen/Murren/Schilthorn cable car/ take cable car down to Stechelberg and walk along Lauterbrunnen valley/back to Lauterbrunnen/back to Grindelwald
Dec 30th: Train to Zurich, Depart Zurich 12:40pm
Does this itinerary seem reasonable, and will we be able to do this with the Swiss Travel Pass? My friend also recommended Mt. First and Schynige Platte, but I’m not sure how to fit this into the itinerary. Please let me know if you have any other advice! We are both very active and enjoy hiking and are open to new experiences. Also would appreciate any recommendations for a good raclette restaurant.
Thank you so much for your help, and Happy Holidays! 🙂
-
Hi dasel, and welcome to MySwissAlps!
Your itinerary generally looks pretty good.
>> Dec 24th: drop by the Lucerne Christmas Market at the Train Station
This one is very small (about 10 stands) and closes at 16:00, so make sure you get there well before that!
>> walk around Lucerne (what sites are worth visiting?
Given the timing, I would suggest a stroll across the Chapel Bridge and other bridges, the old town and lakeside promenade on the opposite side of the river from the railway station.
The “City Guide” PDF on the page below has a map with a self-guided walking tour marked. It’s across two pages, so viewing the PDF in “Two Page View” makes it easier to see.
http://www.luzern.com/en/broc hures
Frommers also has directions for a walking tour:
http://www.frommers.com/desti nations/lucerne/walkin g-tours
>> Dec 25th: Visit Mt. Pilatus or Mt. Rigi R/T via Vitznau on boat and train?
You wouldn’t be disappointed with any of these, and they are all scenic, but at different altitudes, which makes a difference to the terrain on top. The following pages will help you decide what you personally prefer, and how to get there:
http://www.myswissalps.com/pi latus
http://www.myswissalps.com/ri gi
http://www.myswissalps.com/ti tlis
The cogwheel train from Alpnachstad to Pilatus won’t be operating, but you can go up and back on the cableway from Kriens.
>> Dec 26th: take the train to Grindelwald (what do you recommend doing on this day?
There is information here to assist you:
http://www.myswissalps.com/gr indelwald
http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfrauregion
>> winter hiking
The local tourist office (and probably also your hotel) will be able to give you advice about which trails are groomed for winter hiking.
>> will we be able to do this with the Swiss Travel Pass?
You can download a map from the link below, showing what is covered by the Swiss Travel Pass.
As explained in the legend on the map, red lines are trains, yellow lines are buses, black lines are cable cars, white lines are boats. Solid lines are free, dotted lines are discounted. Discounts are mostly 50%, but only 25% for transport where you see the number “1” inside circle near the dotted line. There are a few grey lines on the map as well, which indicate transport that is not covered by the Swiss Travel Pass. Dashed red lines on the map are railway tunnels, and are on routes that are free with the Swiss Travel Pass.
http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/validity
>> My friend also recommended Mt. First and Schynige Platte, but I’m not sure how to fit this into the itinerary.
The train from Wilderswil to Schynige Platte will not be operating. It closes for the winter and doesn’t reopen until 26 May next year.
The gondola from Grindelwald to First is operating (last trip down is at 16:15, but check this yourself on the day to be sure). As it is in Grindelwald where you are staying, you can probably fit it in somewhere.
>> Thank you so much for your help, and Happy Holidays! 🙂
You’re welcome! Happy Holidays to you too, and have a wonderful honeymoon!
Alpenrose
Thank you so much for your kind response! This is really helping us with our planning. I had a few more questions after doing some research:
We are interested in hiking on the 25th around Mt. Rigi. We are thinking about the Mark Twain Trail or Rigi Panorama Trail. How do we access the trail if we want to do the ferry to Vitznau and take the cable car down to Weggis. Should we do the other way around and start at Weggis, since the Mark Twain Trail starts in Weggis or take the train to Arth-Goldau – Rigi-Kulm – Rigi-Kaltbad and start the paranorama trail from there? Sorry for all the questions! Open to suggestions on hikes around Mt. Tiltis too. We haven’t completely ruled it out yet.
On the 26th, would it be possible to take the train to Grindelwald from Lucerne OST, drop off our stuff at our hotel, and do the scenic train ride to Jungfraujoch that same day? (if it’s clear) I am not sure if we have enough time. I just realized we are snowboarding for 2 days at Grindelwald so we probably won’t need to take the gondola to First on a separate day.
Thank you so much for your help!!
Hi Dasel,
Start at Weggis. When you’re at the top you can take the train to Arth-Goldau or Vitznau from where you can take the boat. It’s a firm hike; 5 hours of climbing. The Panorama-trail is easier.
Leave early enough from Lucerne should you want to go to the Jungfraujoch. Allow at least two hours to visit the Jungfraujoch. Use the Swiss time table to plan your trip: http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable
>> On the 26th, would it be possible to take the train to Grindelwald from Lucerne OST, drop off our stuff at our hotel, and do the scenic train ride to Jungfraujoch that same day?
As Chantal mentioned, use the timetable to find out how long it will take, and keep in mind that sunset on 26 December is at 16:43. To save time, you might want to leave your luggage in lockers at Grindelwald station and collect it on the way back.
Alpenrose
Hello. You must be in Zurich already at this time. Since you have Swiss Travel Passes already, you may no longer need the rental car. Across the Baggage Claim area is the Train Station. You can both enjoy the scenery when you are not driving. You can take the train to Luzern and check-in at hotel (lots of hotel close to the station), visit local attractions and take cable cars, local buses or trains to places you want to visit. The train to Interlaken Ost is from the same Luzern station, too and onward to Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald. There are luggage storage in Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen if you want to explore the area before you head to Grindelwald. Hope this helps. We have been to Switzerland three times this year and we just use train passes for all transportation. You come to a wonderful magical place for your honeymoom. Take care and God bless on your trip.
- The thread ‘6 night itinerary help: Switzerland in December’ is closed to new replies.
