Lugano-Lucerne: Gotthard Express or direct train
A traveler is planning a family trip in Switzerland with limited time. They are unsure whether to take the scenic Gotthard Express, which takes 5.5 hours, or a faster 1 hour 40 minute train that runs through the Gotthard base tunnel. They want a memorable experience for their first time in Switzerland, especially with their two young children.
- The Gotthard base tunnel is faster but less scenic; consider the Treno Gottardo for a more scenic route taking about 3h15 with one change in Bellinzona.
- If you wish to include a boat ride, take the train to Brunnen, which is just a short walk or bus ride away from the boat pier.
- The Gotthard Panorama Express offers a longer journey that includes a scenic boat trip, but you may want to split the journey for the kids' comfort.
AI-generated summary-
Hello, we have limited time in Switzerland. I note that the Gotthard Express is a 5.5hour route (Lugano to Lucerne), but it looks like an SBB train runs from Lugano to Lucerne for 1hr 40mins. Is this still a scenic route? Does it run along different tracks? (map routes look so similar..). We have two children aged 5 and 8yrs and feel the 5.5hr trip is too long, but the adults want a scenic experience given first time in Switzerland. I know we’d be missing the Lucerne boat cruise if we didn’t do the Gotthard Express. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
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The 1 hour 40 minute route is through the Gotthard base tunnel – it is the world’s longest railway tunnel at 57km, but the train is fast so it goes through quite quickly. When the train is not in the tunnel, the line is scenic (like 98% of Swiss railways!).
There are regular trains over the old Gotthard mountain route called Treno Gottardo which do not need any reservations and go direct to Luzern or Zurich. From Lugano change in Bellinzona into a route IR26 service. This takes longer than 1 h 40 but much less than 5 h to get to Luzern. Input From Lugano to Luzern VIA Airolo into the journey planner
The ‘Gotthard Panorama Express’ (not ‘Gotthard Express’) includes a 3 hour boat journey from Fluelen to Luzern, hence the long journey time overall from Lugano.
Hello Tiffhauser,
Yes, it could be challenging for the children to last so long on the train. The quicker route (via the Gotthard Base Tunnel) is less appealing in terms of scenery but time wise, an advantage.
As mentioned above, if you are not able to travel the entire Gotthard Panorama Express trip, you can take the regional “Treno Gottardo” over the Gotthard mountain route. This would take approximately 3h15, with only 1 change in Bellinzona. The rest (Bellinzona-Lucerne) is a direct route. More details on this can be found in the below link, scroll to “Regular trains and boats versus the official Gotthard Panorama Express”.
A shorter boat trip option, if you did want to experience a boat trip – you could get off the train in Brunnen and do the remaining section Brunnen-Lucerne by boat?
I hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Yolanda, I wouldn’t recommend Brunnen as a place to switch to the boat as the railway station is inland and an inconvenient bus ride (at best) between the railway and the landing stage.
Hi Tiffhauser,
I think it’s doable to reach the Brunnen boat pier from Brunnen train station. It’s a one minute bus journey, plus a 2 minute walk. Alternatively a 9-minute walk itself from the station to the pier. See attached pdf for timetable details and details for the 9-minute walk here: https://map.search.ch/Brunnen,Bahnhof..Brunnen-See-Station-Stop?mode=pedestrian&zoom=15
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Hi Tiffhauser,
I did the walk from the shipping pier to the station of Brunnen myself and find it not challenging at all, assuming you’re not traveling with large pices of luggage. It indeed takes under 10 minutes as Yolanda mentioned, and it allows you to see some of Brunnen which is actually quite nice. If time allows you could hop into the Victorinox visitor centre/shop on the way. The display of all sort of pocket knives is fun, but you’d have to consider whether it’s something your children might like.
Thank you everyone for your replies! Such helpful information. I greatly appreciate it.
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