2.5 days in Lucerne in November: which mountain excursions?
Sandy and a travel friend will spend 2.5 days in Lucerne from November 7 to 9. They are looking for tips on visiting Mt Rigi, Mt Pilatus, and Titlis, hoping to combine trips on different days and explore the area’s attractions.
- Check the Swiss Timetable to plan your travel times effectively.
- For your trip, Mt Rigi and Mt Pilatus are accessible, but Titlis will be closed for maintenance.
- You can visit Stanserhorn instead of Titlis as it's operational during your visit.
- Use webcams to check weather conditions on the mountain before your trip.
- You can explore on your own without needing guided tours.
AI-generated summary-
My travel friend and I will have 2.5 days in Lucerne on Nov 7, 8, 9 and would like some suggestions to make the most of our time in the beautiful city. Our thoughts were to spend the first half day in zone 10 with the visitor pass and use the next 2 full days for 1 or 2 Alpine trips each day. The places we would hate to miss are Mt Rigi, Mt Pilatus, and Titlis.
Is it possible to do any 2 of them on one day and one on the last day? If so, what are your suggestions? If we get back by afternoon, we could continue to explore zone 10 or do a Catamaran Cruise on Lake Lucerne.
I would like to know whether we need to join local tours or can we do these more economically on our own. Thank you for your help.
Regards,
Sandy
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Hi Sandy,
I’m afraid you won’t be able to get up to Titlis, as the cable car to the top is closed for maintenance from 4-15 November 2024.
The cableway from Pilatus Kulm to Kriens will also be closed for maintenance until 8 November 2024, but will reopen on 9 November. The boat from Luzern to Alpnachstad won’t be operating. So you can visit Pilatus on 7 or 8 November by getting a train from Luzern to Alpnachstad and then the cogwheel train from Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm. Then you come down the same way. On 9 November, you also have the option of travelling up or down via the cableway between Pilatus Kulm and Kriens.
All modes of transport to and from the Rigi will be operating.
Instead of Titlis, you might enjoy a trip to the Stanserhorn, as the funicular and cable car to the Stanserhorn will be operating during your visit. They will even be operating quite late on Saturday night 9 November 2024, so you could go up in the afternoon while it is still light to see the views, and stay until after dark to enjoy the city lights on your descent (as long as the weather is clear of course!) Sunset will be around 5 pm. You could also stay for dinner in the revolving restaurant.
In order to determine what you can comfortably fit in to each day, use the Swiss Timetable to check travel times. Most people would spend at least 2 hours at the top of a mountain, and longer if you are planning to have a meal or do any walks (weather and trail conditions permitting).
Make sure to check the weather before spending money on a mountain trip, as it would be a waste of time and money if the mountain tops were in the clouds with no views. You can check visibility on top with the webcams:
Rigi
https://www.rigi.ch/en/inform/webcams
Pilatus
https://www.pilatus.ch/en/live
Stanserhorn
https://www.stanserhorn.ch/en/informations/weather-webcam
Everything is easy to do on your own, with no need for a guided tour.
Enjoy your trip, and I hope the weather cooperates!
Alpenrose
Hi Alpenrose,
Thank you for the quick response. If Titlis is closed, I guess, we can focus on Mt Rigi, Mt Pilatus and Stansenhorn. Are all of them weather dependent? Assuming we have good weather, and we keep the 9th open for Pilatus, which 2 can we combine? If we do Mt Rigi on the 8th, can we combine it with Stansenhorn.
The route that you are referring to in your email, which is visit Pilatus on 7 or 8 November by getting a train from Luzern to Alpnachstad and then the cogwheel train from Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm, is this the Golden Roundtrip option?
Thanks
Sandy
Hi Sandy,
>>> we can focus on Mt Rigi, Mt Pilatus and Stansenhorn. Are all of them weather dependent?
Yes. But all mountains might not be in the clouds at the same time, and sometimes the clouds come and go during the day. Check the forecast in the Meteoswiss app for the most reliable forecast (only good 24-48 hours in advance).
In the Meteoswiss app, when you tap the “+” icon to add a place, you can tap on “towns” or “mountains” at the top of the screen and then type the name of the place you are interested in. Having added the place, it will show the weekly forecast, then if you tap a day, it will show how the weather is forecast to change during the day.
Also check the webcams for current conditions on top.
>>> Assuming we have good weather, and we keep the 9th open for Pilatus, which 2 can we combine? If we do Mt Rigi on the 8th, can we combine it with Stansenhorn.
Maybe. They are on opposite sides of the Vierwaldstättersee (Lake Lucerne), so the route between the two is very roundabout. You need to check travel times in the SBB timetable, taking into account how early you start your day, how long it takes to travel from one place to the next, how long you want to spend on top and what time the last transport down from second mountain leaves. Then decide whether that suits you or not.
>>> getting a train from Luzern to Alpnachstad and then the cogwheel train from Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm, is this the Golden Roundtrip option?
No, the Golden Round Trip goes up one side of Pilatus and down the other side as follows:
- Boat Luzern to Alpnachstad
- Cogwheel train Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm
- Cable car and gondola Pilatus Kulm to Kriens
- Bus Kriens to Luzern
It can also be done in the other direction by starting with the bus to Kriens.
However, the boat leg is not operating during your visit, so you would have to do this sector by train instead, and you can only do the cable car + gondola sector on 9 November when it reopens.
Hope this answers your questions!
Alpenrose
Hi Sandy,
You can find information on how to reach Stanserhorn and operation dates here: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/stanserhorn/
To Mt Rigi here: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/rigi/
And Mt Pilatus here https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/pilatus/
Best regards,
Anna
Hello,
Our next destination is Interlaken on Nov 10, 11, 12 with half day on 10th and full days on 11th and 12th. Besides Jungfrau, the places to visit during our stay in Interlaken are:
Grindelwald, Wengen, Montreux Thun, Spiez, Lauterbrunnen, Mürren, Zermatt
Hello,
we purchased a saver day pass a couple of months ago. The date on the pass shows Valid:11.11.2024 00:00 -12.11.2024 05:00. Does this mean the pass is good from 11.11.2024 am midnight and runs all the way through 11.11.2024 through the night and expires on the 12.11.2024 at 5 am? Therefore. it is good for 24 hours + 5 hours? Is this correct?
Thanks
Sandy
Hello,
Our next destination is Interlaken on Nov 10, 11, 12 with half day on 10th and full days on 11th and 12th. Besides Jungfrau which is on schedule for the 11th, the places to visit during our stay in Interlaken are:
Grindelwald, Wengen, Montreux Thun, Spiez, Lauterbrunnen, Mürren, Zermatt
Do you have any suggestions or links that could help us determine which of these are feasible and how best to add them to our schedule for the 11th and 12th?
Thanks,
Sandy
In response to your reply 6, the answer is yes, the Saver Day Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/saver-day-pass/) is valid for the full 24 hours of your chosen day plus the first five hours of the following day.
In response to your reply 7, I am not quite sure what information you are seeking. I can tell you that all the places you list, except Montreux and Zermatt, are close to Interlaken. In terms of journey times by public transport, the furthest away are Murren and Wengen, and they can be reached in about 45 minutes! (And services are generally every 30 minutes.)
(Note that if you are going to Jungfraujoch, you can go up via Lauterbrunnen and Wengen, and return via Grindelwald – or vice versa. Watch the MySwissAlps Youtube video about routes to Jungfraujoch: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/jungfraujoch/#video
By contrast, it takes three to four hours to get to Montreux, and it takes about two-and-a-quarter hours to get to Zermatt, provided you take the fast (but less scenic) route through the Lotschberg BASE tunnel. (The route via Kandersteg and Brig will be a lot slower but much more scenic. Further info about this route is available here: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/lotschberg-mountain-railway/)
Best wishes
Roger
Hi Roger,
Montreux was not meant to be on the list as we will be going to Geneva next and may stop in Montreux if time permits. Zermatt also makes sense to skip.
Jungfraujoch, via Lauterbrunnen and Wengen, and return via Grindelwald sounds like a great idea and exactly what we need to know. That leaves Thun, Spiez, Mürren. Do you have recommendations for any of them for the 12th?
Thank you,
Sandy
Hello again Sandy
I note that from a reply in your previous thread that you will have a half-fare card. I note from your reply 6 to this thread that you have bought a saver day pass for Monday 11th Nov. These passes ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. That means you cannot cancel and ask for your money back.
Sunday Afternoon 10th. Use this for your visit to Murrren (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-guide/lauterbrunnen-murren/). Take the train from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen. Then the cable car up to Grutschalp, and then the train from Grutschalp to Murren. Walk through Murren village to the Schilthorn cable car station. Take the cable car DOWN to Stechelberg and then the 141 bus back to Lauterbrunnen. Train back to Interlaken. (The circular trip from Lauterbrunnen can be done in the opposite direction.)
Monday 11th (NOT a public holiday in Switzerland) You have the saver day pass for this day, so you will want to get your money’s worth out of this pass. (Valid on all Swiss public transport EXCEPT the high mountain lines.) Use this day to explore the Lake Thun area and perhaps the city of Bern (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/bern/). Interlaken is at the east end of the lake, Spiez is on the south shore. Thun (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/thun/) itself is at the west end.
The main line railway runs along the south shore of the lake, and the trains are every 30 minutes. There are some delightful places on the north shore, and they are served by an hourly bus route from Interlaken to Thun. (Unfortunately the boats on the lake run only twice a day in November.)
Fast trains from Thun to Bern run every 30 minutes, and the journey takes about 20 minutes. Bern station is on the edge of the city centre, a UNESCO world heritage site. The impressive government building the ‘Bundeshaus’ is 500 metres from the station.
Tuesday 12th. This is the day for Jungfraujoch, assuming the weather is OK. Use your half-fare card (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-half-fare-card/) to buy discounted tickets. Be warned. Even with the discount, this is going to be an expensive day.
Best wishes
Roger
Hi Sandy,
You can find full list of sightseeing suggestions in Interlaken here: https://www.myswissalps.com/town/interlaken/.
Many mountain attractions are closed in November unfortunately, but you can still visit the alpine villages such as Wengen, Grindelwald and Mürren. And of course, Jungfraujoch is open all year round.
Regards,
Anna
Hi Sandy,
Do use the Swiss timetable to plan and research your journeys, that way you can see what is doable. We have a handy guide, including a video on how to use the Swiss timetable. Here’s the link:
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Hello Roger,
You did not explain why we cannot visit Jungfraujoch on Nov 11th, when we have the Saver Day Pass. Jungfraujoch, via Lauterbrunnen and Wengen, and return via Grindelwald is my plan for Nov 11th. Then, we can use the 12th to explore the Lake Thun area and perhaps the city of Bern (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/bern/).
Thanks,
Sandy
Hello Sandy
You can certainly visit Jungfraujoch on 11th. However I do not think it is a wise use of your Saver Day Pass, a pass which is best used for LONGER trips. On your plan, all you will get from that pass is a free ride from Interlaken to Wengen via Lauterbrunnen, and a free ride from Grindelwald to Interlaken. (You will still have to pay the very high fares for the rides up to the Jungfraujoch.)
Roger
Hi Roger,
What you are suggesting makes sense. We purchased the saver day pass because I found it on internet that saver day pass includes Jungfrau. I dont think we want to visit Bern. We would prefer a day in the mountains most likely. We will have to see what the weather offers and follow your suggestions accordingly.
Thanks, and regards,
Sandy
Hi Sandy,
You can find out where the Saver Day Pass is valid here:
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/saver-day-pass/
Hope this clarifies things for you.
Alpenrose
Hi Sandy,
Do take a look at the link that Alpenrose has provided. You will be able to read all about the inclusions that the Saver Day Pass offers. We have summarised the main attractions. Not all mountain trips are included.
We wish you a lovely trip ahead. The weather is very nice at the moment 🙂
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Hi Yolanda, Alpenrose,
Thanks for the saver day pass information. Once I leave on my trip in a few hours, I will have very irregular access to emails. On Nov 11th, we will be in Interlaken so if you could kindly help me narrow down what is the best most worthwhile thing to do on November 11th. If it works for us, we could just plan to do that.
Thanks for all your help.
Regards,
Sandy
Hi Sandy,
It really depends on two things I think:
- Something included with your Saver Day Pass?
- How far do you think you would like to travel?
If you would like to visit a mountain that’s included with your Saver Day Pass, for example Mt. Rigi (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/rigi/) then it would involve a one way trip of over 3.5 hours. Stanserhorn (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/stanserhorn/ )would be just under 3 hours.
If the weather is nice, why not head to the Jungfrau region anyway. Even if you are not visiting Jungfraujoch itself, all the villages are worth looking around and on a clear day, you’ll be able to enjoy some lovely scenery. Perhaps Mürren or Wengen as mentioned in Roger’s reply earlier (Reply 10)
Here is our Jungfrau region guide for more information and tips: https://www.myswissalps.com/region/jungfrau-region/
Close to Interlaken, though you would need to pay for the train up, you could head up to Harder Kulm perhaps?
All details for an excursion to Harder Kulm here:
Or do you like boats? If yes, a nice way to sightsee is take a boat ride. Lake Thun would be open. More information in the link below:
I hope this gives you a few ideas.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Hi Sandy,
For 11 November, your options are unfortunately quite limited by three things:
- The area of validity of the Saver Day Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/saver-day-pass/)
- The fact that November is off-season in the mountains, so many attractions that could otherwise be recommended, won’t be open during your visit.
- The weather.
Quite a few suggestions have already been made by Yolanda and Roger. As I see it, your choices for 11 November are basically:
- Do the activities that will be good value with your Saver Day Pass.
- Do the activities that are important to you, and suitable for the weather conditions, and accept that you won’t get the best value out of your Saver Day Pass.
The weather forecast (https://www.myswissalps.com/planning/practical/weather/forecast/ ) for the Jungfraujoch will only be reliable 24-48 hours in advance, but as of today, the forecast for 11 November is sunny in the morning, partly cloudy in the afternoon. For 12 November, the forecast is for fog, heavy cloud and snowfall. So keep an eye on the weather in the MeteoSwiss app, and if you really want to see the Jungfraujoch, pick the best day, regardless of whether that will provide you with best value from your Saver Day Pass.
Taking into account the suggestions already made by Yolanda and Roger, this is what I can suggest for your Saver Day Pass day if you are not going to the Jungfraujoch:
- 8:35 Train from Interlaken West to Thun, arriving 9:03
- Explore Thun for a couple of hours
- 11:40 Boat from Thun to Interlaken West, arriving 13:49. This is the only boat that goes from Thun to Interlaken West on 11 November.
For the afternoon, either
- 14:05 Train from Interlaken West to Bern, and spend the afternoon there
- 13:53 or 14:22 Train to from Interlaken West to Lauterbrunnen (with a change of trains at Interlaken Ost) and then follow Roger’s suggested itinerary for the afternoon of Sunday 10 November, in his response #10 above.
Hope this helps further!
Alpenrose
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