Lausanne, Lucerne and Lauterbrunnen tips
A traveler named Phillip is planning a trip to Switzerland with his family for about a week, starting in Lausanne and continuing to Luzern and Lauterbrunnen. He's looking for suggestions on boat trips, scenic train tours, and must-see attractions in each area to make the most of their stay.
- Take a scenic boat trip on Lake Geneva from Lausanne to Vevey, then enjoy a walk through the Lavaux vineyards.
- Consider using the Swiss Travel Pass for free or discounted access to many attractions, including the Castle of Chillon and Mount Rigi.
- In Lauterbrunnen, don't miss a visit to Murren for stunning views and the peaceful atmosphere.
- Using public transportation is highly recommended for travel between cities; the train offers beautiful scenic views.
- Explore interesting towns like Montreux for the Freddie Mercury statue and the Chocolate Train experience.
AI-generated summary-
Hello,
My family and me (4 adults) are going to Switzerland.
We are Staying in Lausanne for 3 nights – but i need help to plan what to see for the 3 nights.
We will arrive from France the 11th of July 2021 in the evening.
What boat trip should we take, what do we want to see, what cities do we need to see – what about scenic train tours?
After this we are going to spend 2 days in the Luzern area – same here, what do we need to see?
After this we are rounding up with 3 days in Lauterbrunnen – what do we need to see here?
Hope you can help me 🙂
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Hello, Phillip,
I’ve only ridden through Lausanne, but I understand it’s beautiful. In that area I’ve enjoyed the boat trip across the lake to Yvoire, France and exploring the vineyard covered slopes to the east of Lausanne, in particular St. Saphorin. If you don’t want to walk or drive the area there’s a little train tour that my family enjoyed. The nearby Castle of Chillon is free with the Swiss Travel Pass and the best “play fort” I’ve ever been in.
For Luzern my favorites are walking along the city wall and enjoying the views (walk down St. Karliquai that runs along the Reuss River–don’t miss the often overlooked Spreuerbrucke (bridge) that’s original and often overlooked by it’s more photographed cousin up river) until you get to the round tower right before the Geissmattbrucke (bridge). On the backside of that tower you’ll see the steps leading up to the wall that you can walk along, even exploring some of the watchtowers. The views overlooking the city and to the alps beyond are fabulous. The Lowendenkmal (Lion monument) is beautiful, but often crowded with tourists. Near the Denkmal is the delightfully quirky Gletscher museum (glacier museum) full of geographical stuff, relief maps, dioramas, a mirror maze, and other neat things. I loved going up the lesser traveled Stanserhorn on the double decker cablecar (also free with the Swiss Travel Pass). The views are just as beautiful as the Pilatus, obviously a lot cheaper, and fewer people. This year I’m doing Mt. Rigi and the Felsenweg along the Burgenstock.
If you go from Luzern to Lauterbrunnen by train (which to me is the only way to travel in Switzerland–that is, public transportation) take the train over the Brunig Pass, it’s one of my favorite scenic train rides. Be sure to sit on the right hand side of the train and watch for the wooden animal carvings along the way.
The Lauterbrunnen area is my absolute favorite–my favorite village is Murren; quiet and car free it sits atop the cliff overlooking the Lauterbrunnen valley with the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau in the background. The walk from Murren to Gimmelwald is peaceful and beautiful. You can catch the cable car back up to Murren or down to Stechelberg where you can either walk the valley back to Lauterbrunnen or catch the bus. As far as mountains there go, I did the Jungfrau years ago–it’s expensive and crowded with tourists but I can say I did it. Access to the Schilthorn is in Murren; it’s cheaper and if the weather is good the views atop are spectacular. Plus you have the kitschy 007 museum. I also LOVE, LOVE, LOVE walking the Mannlichen ridge atop Wengen with the north wall of the Eiger staring you in the face, but beware–if you walk all the way to Kleine Scheidigg the train there to anywhere is a specialty train that costs extra. You can either walk half of the ridge and turn back or be prepared to fork over some extra francs. Or walk down the mountain if you’re fit for it. The Swiss Travel Pass gives you free travel for almost all of these areas, the gondolas to the Mannlichen and the Schilthorn are a reduced rate with the Pass. It’s worth it. There are travel monitors all over this area with webcams of these mountain excursions so you know the conditions before you go up (and pay the freight). I would highly recommend staying up the mountain as opposed to Interlaken. My choice is Murren, though once I stayed in Wengen.
Hope this helps, enjoy your trip! I take off in 4 weeks.
Laurae
Hi Phillip Hela,
great to hear that you are coming to Lausanne (http://www.myswissalps.com/lausanne). In Lausanne I strongly recommend the Olympic Museum and the harbour in Ouchy. There is also a cathedral in Lausanne where you have a beautiful view of the city. Try this city walk: http://www.myswissalps.com/hiking/lausanne.
Regarding the boat trips on Lake Geneva (http://www.myswissalps.com/boatlakegeneva), Yvoire (France) is charming but might be a bit touristy. My fav round trip is the following:
- from Lausanne to Vevey by steam boat
- from Vevey to Chexbres by train (you need to walk to the train station or you can take a bus in Vevey)
- from Chexbres walk down to Rivaz (lovely walk through the Unesco heritage Lavaux vineyard)
- from Rivaz take the train back to Lausanne
Here is an other option for a walk in Lavaux: http://www.myswissalps.com/hiking/lutry-epesses
From Lausanne, Montreux is a must to see town in my opinion, there you can walk on the Promenade, visit the Chillon castle and also Rochers-de-Naye is wonderful if you would like to go to the mountains. Here you’ll find more information about these places and even some other tips: http://www.myswissalps.com/lausanne/activities
From Montreux to Lucerne (or Interlaken) take the Golden Pass: http://www.myswissalps.com/goldenpass. Wonderful train route. But every route in the Jungfrau region is amazing too. From Lauterbrunnen you have plenty of choices to see and do: http://www.myswissalps.com/lauterbrunnen/activities.
And from Lucerne you can visit 4 mountains tops: Pilatus, Titlis, Staserhorn and Rigi and not to mention that the city itself is adoring too: http://www.myswissalps.com/lucerne/activities.
Are you going to have a rail pass? Swiss Travel Pass (http://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass) or the Swiss Half Fare Card (http://www.myswissalps.com/swisshalffarecard) would be a great option for you I think.
Do you already know where you are going to sleep? On these links you can also find hotel and rental suggestions.
I hope this helps, let us know if you have further questions,
Take care,
Ildiko
ps.: as you are coming from France, have a look at this one too: http://www.myswissalps.com/traintickets/france
Hi Phillip Hela,
It may make sense to switch your order of Luzern and Lauterbrunnen. If you take the Goldenpass line, as suggested by Laurae and Ildiko, you will practically pass by Lauterbrunnen on your way from Lausanne to Luzern. So you might as well stay there first and continue to Luzern later.
Phillip,
I would like to add a little to the info already listed.
In Montreux there is a connection to Freddie Mercury and Queen, not sure if this is of interest to you.
There is a statue of Freddie Mercury down on the waterfront promenade that gets a lot of attention. The Montreux Casino has the Queen Studio Experience which is a free exhibit of Freddie Mercury and Queen with memorabilia from the studio, its archives, Queen’s personal effects, handwritten compositions, videos, etc.
Queen use to own a recording studio inside the Casino where they recorded 6 of their most popular albums. They have recreated they studio.
Also in Montreux you can take the Chocolate train which is an excursion train that takes you to Gruyeres (cheese factory) and Broc (Cailler-Nestle chocolate factory) and then back to Montreux.
I have enjoyed the Mt. Rigi ‘Classic Round trip’, MySwissAlps has a page on it.
http://www.myswissalps.com/rigi
Another good day trip from Lucerne is to Engelberg (Mt. Titlis)
http://www.myswissalps.com/titlis
Have a good trip and be sure to do a trip report when you get back.
Steve
Hi there,
just a short addition to Steve’s advice, as he mentioned the Chocolate Train: http://www.myswissalps.com/chocolatetrain.
Gruyeres (http://www.myswissalps.com/gruyeres) has a charming medieval old town with interesting museums like HR Giger Museum and the Tibet Museum.More information about Maison Cailler and Maison du Gruyère can be found here: http://www.myswissalps.com/maisoncailler and http://www.myswissalps.com/lamaisondugruyere.
Ildiko
Hello all,
Thanks for all your help.
We are driving in a car – does it make any difference?
Hi Philip Hela,
I agree with Arno. It probably makes sense to travel to Lauterbrunnen first then Lucerne, even with the car.
You can find tips about driving here: http://www.myswissalps.com/car
Regards,
Anna
Hello Anna,
Its because we are going to Como, Italy after our trip in Switzerland.
On the map, it looks like Lauterbrunnen is closer to Italy.
Hi Philip Hela,
Stopping over in Lauterbrunnen or Lucerne first, I think either option is possible. However, it’s more straightforward and faster to drive from Lucerne to Como because of the motorway.
Let us know if you have further questions.
Regards,
Anna
i am going to Mürren next April and great thanks for the hands-on information.
This is THE type of pointers i need and appreciate as a tourist. Straight to the
point with details and with so much warmth. Thanks a million.
Sorry. i forgot to mention my reply was only meant for Laurae – for his kindness of giving hands on info with details.
Glad you appreciate the contributions Mo Mo!:-)! If you have any questions for your own holiday in April, please feel free to open a new thread. We’ll be happy to help you out!
Dear Annika,
It is so warm and kind of you to offer your help. Great thanks.
STP in addition to SBB and the Sightseeing Express Trains and Gondola etc.
is rather complicated for a new tourist. To make us feel uneasy is –
just refer us to various URL links without some hints.
Am glad you are not like that.
To us, we have read up a lot on the relevant websites before we approach your team. Therefore, i am very touched when you offer to help. Please keep this spirit up. A lot of people are like me – have done our homework but still need help. It is the same if you visit my country the very first time.
My tentative plan is :
APRIL 2022 . Solo travel
:: DAY 1 – 3 (Stay ZERMATT)
Train : Zurich airport to Zermatt. (any buses ?)
Gornergrat. Glacier Express. Maybe Klein Matterhorn. Hiking.
:: DAY 4 – 7 (Stay GRINDELWALD)
Train : Zermatt to Grindelwald.
Jungfraujoch. First Cliff Walk . Hiking
:: DAY 8 – 10 (Stay Murren)
Train / cable car / bus Grindelwald to Murren.
Schilthorn . Hiking
:: DAY 9 – 11 (Stay ?? can’t decided yet)
Train Murren to ??.Meisingen ?
Meisingen Postbus 4 Passes tour (do we buy the ticket on the bus ?)
Is it worth staying in Meisingen ?
:: Day 12 – 13
Train from ?? Meisingen ? to Zurich
Overnigfht Zurich. Fly off the next day evening.
I would be most grateful if you could advise me on the following
My interests : i love small little unspoilt villages with stunning high mountains around.
Do only very safe and easy hiking as i am a retiree.
1) does my proposed travelling plan make sense ? Any suggestions to amend or add or change?
2) the SBB prices are very complicated to us. Our small country has only tubes. No trains.
Please advise – shall i purchase STP Pass (how many days) or Flex STP, or Half Fare Card ?
Or just buy saver price and buy online 6 months before when SBB prices are out and available ?
3) i love Postbus. From my schedule above, any parts i can take Postbus rather than train ?
Shall i include the Meisingen Postbus trip during my Grindelawld days ? Or just stay in Meisingen and do the trip.
My stay in Switzerland is Apr 1-13, 2022. Much that i would like to see more, but the train fare is really very costly. Therefore i made the plan above after many weeks of research. Please feel free to comment. You are expert. Your advice is so important.
Dear Annika, thank you once again for offering to help me. Am really moved. Thanks again.
Thanks again. And again.
Warmly,
Mo Mo
Hi Mo Mo! Sure, I’ll be happy to help you out! Would you please open a new thread and post your questions there? This one’s about Phillip Hela’s plans, and according to the forum rules (http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/rules) you’d best create a new thread for your own plans and questions. You can do so by going to http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/rail and clicking the blue button ‘Post a new thread’. Let me know if that doesn’t work for you.
Thanks, Anniker.
i meant Glacier Paradise. Not Glacier Express. Sorry for the
carelessness.
As STP and SBB are super complicated, and i have read reviews
that buying Half Fare card works better as it is more economical.
It is very complicated to find out the actual train fares in order to
make comparison.
So i need someone who is in the know to help me.
Am only interested in high mountains. Not lakes. So no Lucerne.
Thanks Anniker. You have tried to assist me.
Thanks.
Mo Mo
Hi Mo Mo, please find my replies to your questions in the previous thread. As you can read there, I don’t recommend the Swiss Half Fare Card for your plans, but let’s continue in your own thread :-).
We are in Lausanne, leaving soon, but of our 3+ weeks in Switzerland we stayed 10 days in Lausanne mainly because we have family here but we also just love it here. We’re staying in Hôtel du Port in Ouchy which I highly recommend. It’s where the beauty and the action is! We wake up, awe at the view out the window, and go for a walk along the beautiful promenade or swim across from the hotel from the pedestrian dock swim area on the lake to start the day. Yesterday there was a wonderful market out front all day too. We take out the paddle boats with a slide on it and it’s a lot of fun slipping into the cool and clean waters (we’re traveling with 2 teen girls who love to swim). There’s a large playground and chess/checkers sets too. During the day we go to fantastic Bellerive pools park on the lake (one bus ride away or a 15 min walk), we shop in Lausanne near the cathedral (Metro stop Lausanne Flon is convenient) and visit markets there and we went up to Tour de Sauvabelin and Olympic Museum. Day trips: town of Gruyeres (must see!!), a walk in Lavaux vineyards, Château de Chillon, Levay les Bains thermal baths, and a boat ride across to Yvoire France. Our family took us to eat on most occasions but my favorite local restaurant (near Hôtel du Port) was the regional specialty Filet de Perche in lemon butter sauce with pomme frites and a salad at Brasserie Riviera in Ouchy. Money saver tip: get breakfast and snacks at the Coop express around the corner in Ouchy (or wherever you’re staying).
Side note: Our two favorite spots and hotels the whole vacation (and we’ve been ALL over Switzerland from Zurich to Lausanne to Bernese Oberland to Zermatt to Locarno), has been Hôtel du Port Ouchy and to Arenas Resort in Wengen that has awesome thermal baths downstairs and an amazing buffet breakfast in the coolest town in the world with direct access to cable cars and funiculars going right up to the most beautiful places in the world. Wengen has a fun Central Park area with chess, tennis courts, mini golf ski style (rent gear from the tourist office there), an outdoor pool nearby, shops and restaurants. You don’t even need to buy the high ticket excursions to Jungfrau… just hop on a cable car from Wengen up to Männlichen and take a breathtaking easy 1.5 hr walk to Kleine Scheidegg. You won’t regret it. I highly recommend you add Wengen to your itinerary even if it means reducing days elsewhere.
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