Need help choosing the best, economical activities for my Swiss trip
A traveler named RAPJAP is planning a trip to Switzerland in a few weeks and is overwhelmed by the choices of funiculars and cable cars to experience. They want recommendations for the best options to see while visiting Lausanne, Lucerne, and Interlaken, while also being mindful of their budget.
- Invest in a Swiss Travel Pass for more flexibility and savings on public transport and some mountain excursions.
- Consider a combination of the Swiss Half Fare Card and the Berner Oberland Pass for additional coverage on mountain trips.
- Be flexible with your plans and check the weather to adapt your activities as needed.
- For scenic views, use regular trains instead of the Glacier Express to save money and enhance your journey.
AI-generated summary-
Hello, just joined, loving all the info so far. I have done MANY hours of research on all the things we should do while in Switz when we come over in a few weeks. Have made lengthy notes on every funicular, cable car, chairlifts, must do train trips etc. Can someone please recommend maybe the best one of each, can’t afford to do them all? Stoosbahn, Mt Titlis Rotair, Harder Kulm, Wengen Mannlichen, the Schilthorn, or Pfingstegg. We’ve got a reasonably flexible few days, hoping to see Lausanne, Lucerne, & Interlaken 1st & then the Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald areas for maybe 3 days. There are just some many that all look like great fun, it’s hard to choose which ones we should prioritise,
without breaking the bank.
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Hello RAPJAP
Welcome to MySwissAlps.
All regular visitors to Switzerland will sympathise with your difficulties. Switzerland is a wonderful country, and you are spoilt for choice.
It would help if you told us how long you are spending in Switzerland, and what hotel bookings (if any) you have already made.
Please get out a map of Switzerland.
You will see that Lucerne (in German called Luzern) is right in the centre of the country. (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/lucerne/)
For what it is worth, my own personal view is that, assuming this is your first visit to Switzerland, stay in (or near) Lucerne, Lucerne is a wonderful centre for exploration, provided you invest in a Swiss Travel Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/). The Swiss Travel Pass gives you the complete freedom of the world’s best public transport system. All modes of public transport are included. The only lines and routes which are excluded are those which simply go up high mountains. On those lines the STP usually gives you a discount.
The boats on the lakes are included within the STP. And (unusually) SOME of the mountain lines near Lucerne ARE FREE with the STP.
(Note that Interlaken is a just under two hours train ride form Lucerne. Lauterbrunnen is 22 minutes from Interlaken. Grindelwald about 35 minutes from Interlaken.)
Best wishes
Roger
Hi RAPJAP,
I agree with Roger, you are spoilt for choice and the wish list just gets larger and longer 😉
Having a rail pass can definitely makes things a little lighter on the purse. As explained in his reply, the Swiss Travel Pass covers all modes of transport, making it super practical as you are traveling around Switzerland. You can essentially hop on and off. Majority of mountain transport is not included, though, but will be discounted. Some mountain excursions are also included.
Perhaps take a look at our Swiss Travel Pass guide, all the inclusions are explained, there is also a video you can watch too.
Another option is the combination of the Swiss Half Fare Card and the Berner Oberland Pass. They offer a lot of coverage for mountain excursions, including some on your list. Having the Swiss Half Fare Card would allow you to purchase the Berner Oberland Pass at a discounted price and it would also allow you discounted travel, when outside of the Berner Oberland Pass network. See the links below for further details.
- Berner Oberland Pass: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/berner-oberland-pass/
- Swiss Half Fare Card: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-half-fare-card/
As for choosing which activities. Take a look at a few of the sample itineraries in our planning section for inspiration. They are all designed to enjoy at a doable pace. Here’s the link:
This link maybe of interest too: https://www.myswissalps.com/blog/budget-mountains/
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Hi RAPJAP,
Switzerland is beautiful and there is an abundance of things to see. I was there for two weeks at the end of July 2025. I learned some things that may be helpful.
Follow Roger’s advice and get the STP (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/) . We did and it was amazing to just go and not have to worry about buying tickets. Another reason is, even with the best plan you will need to pivot with the weather. There is no sense going to some of mountains if they are covered in clouds or it is raining. Secondly, the STP covers some things- like Rigi, etc. It will also cover other activities- there is a list available. I wholeheartedly loved having the STP as it gave us the flexibility to change plans at any given moment.
I also had a plan for what my “ideal” trip would be. However, the weather and rain kept us from doing the things I had planned. So I would suggest having several items to do on a day- sun and rain activities in the locations you choose. Look at the weather and plan the day. If it is cloudy up top, go down.
Otherwise, dress for the weather and just go. You will get to see a tenth of what you want but anything you see will be beautiful!
Hello again RapJap.
I agree with everything Dorrie is saying, except please bare in mind one thing I said in my previous reply, ‘The only lines and routes which are excluded [from the STP] are those which simply go up high mountains. On those lines the STP usually gives you a discount.
When I visit Switzerland I always invest in a Swiss Travel Pass. During my stays I usually go up just one, maybe two mountains not included within the STP. On my most recent trip to Switzerland, April 1st to 12th this year, I had a vague plan to go up two mountains not included in the STP. The weather was fabulous. I went up seven ‘non-STP’ mountains! For all seven I did, of course, have to buy tickets.
I did also take a day excursion to Milan. So I had to buy tickets for the (quite short) Italian sections of that journey.
Best wishes
Roger
Hi Dorrie,
Thanks for your helpful contribution.
Glad to hear you enjoyed your trip. I think the key here, is to be flexible 🙂
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Hi guys, firstly would like to thank Roger, Yolanda & Dorrie for all their helpful info, I meant to reply much earlier, but then my son changed his his plans, which in turn changed ours. He’s been In Amsterdam for last 5 months & finishes up work end Sept. He’s now joining us for a week rather than 3 days before we fly home. We got a 5 day Global Eurail pass coz we doing Netherlands, Germany, Prague, couple of other places & also a 10 day German Eurail Pass, so have already spent $$ just getting around. With a bit of jiggling it looks like we’ll have 2 days left to us on the Global, so now thinking of doing Lausanne to Lucerne on the Golden Pass Express & then Luzern-Interlaken Express using 1 of the days. He flies into Zurich & will get train to Lucerne & meet us as hotel. Then I thought we might all do a day trip using the last day of Global pass, Lucerne to Andermatt on the Gothard & maybe change to Glacier Express to Brig, Visp or all the way to Zermatt. That does seem like a really long day, given we’d have to then get back to Lucerne. Obviously he will have to buy himself a ticket, but it seems like a lovely way to finish the week off before long flight back to Aust. Thoughts?
Dear RAPJAP,
Thank you for sharing your updates.
Based on your revised plan, I would take the GoldenPass Express train from Montreux to Interlaken Ost, then change to the Lucerne-Interlaken Express to Lucerne. From Lausanne, you can take any train to Montreux and the journey is less than 20 mins. You can find further information on the GoldenPass trains here: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/goldenpass/
For the day trip to Andermatt and Brig, consider just using the regular trains to travel from Lucerne to Andermatt (2 hours) and Andermatt to Brig (2 hours). You will see the same views but this will give you more options in terms of connection and there is no need to book your seats in advance on the scenic trains. From Brig to Lucerne, it will be another 2 hours of rail journey via Bern. It’s a doable day trip but will require you to spend at least 6 hours on the train. If you prefer a quicker option, consider going to Lugano (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/lugano/), which is just 2 hours by train and you could make side trips to Locarno or Bellinzona which are located along the route.
Please note that the Eurail Global Pass is valid on Swiss trains but not on buses, boats and trams. You can find useful information on how to use the Eurail Global Pass in Switzerland here: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/eurail-global-pass/
Hope this helps.
Anna
Thanks so much for that Anna. I hadn’t realised it was quite that far, going via Andermatt. I had read someone’s review that said prettiest part of that Glacies Express route, was the bit between Visp & Andermatt, that’s why I was trying to do it that way. Can you recommend any other round trip, probably from either Lucerne or Interlaken, that’s got lovely mountain & countryside scenery, that takes around 3-5 hrs, with maybe a nice town to hop off & wander around for a bit, & then catch another train back to our hotel in the afternoon? How is the scenery on the way back going via Bern? Really don’t want to waste a day of the Eurail pass.
Note that the reply below was written without knowledge of Anna’s Reply 7. I would agree with everything she is saying, including Lugano as an alternative trip.
However, in your reply 8 you say you read the ‘prettiest part of that Glacier Express route (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/glacier-express/#directions), was the bit between Visp & Andermatt,’ I strongly disagree. In particular Disentis to Andermatt is absolutely spectacular. One of the best train rides in the Alps! In my reply below, I refer to a trip I made in 1971. Disentis to Andermatt was the absolute top experience of my first visit to Switzerland.
Hello Again
I will concentrate on the last two paragraphs of your reply 6. Everything you say before those last two paragraphs is FINE!
The crucial point is that last day trip.
You should you use the last day of validity on your global Eurail.
Your son should buy a SAVER DAY PASS for the day in question. To get the best price he should buy it on line NOW! The Saver Day Pass will give him the complete freedom of the whole of Swiss Public Transport; only lines which simply go up mountains are excluded.
Indeed the SDP’s validity is much better than Eurail. With minor exceptions, Eurail is confined to trains. The SDP includes buses, trams and boats.
Suggested trip for that final day in Switzerland
This is roughly based on a day trip I made from Luzern on the last day of my very first visit to Switzerland in 1971! (No, that is not a mis-type!)
If you follow this itinerary you will follow part of the route of the Glacier Express, but you will not be travelling on the Glacier Express itself.
If you were to use the Glacier Express you would have to reserve seats and pay a hefty supplement. (I think it is 49 CHF per person.)
My itinerary involves using the ordinary Inter-regional and Regional trains. These are ordinary Swiss trains which run hourly, and take people to work, school, shops, appointments, leisure activities etc. etc.
The times I give are specimen timings; basically these timings repeat themselves every hour. (For example, you could leave Luzern at 07 35 and do everything am hour earlier.)
(Note that most people will agree that the route of the Glacier Express EAST of Andermatt is more scenic than that west of Andermatt.)
Specimen Timings
Catch the 08 35 IR75 bound for Konstanz via Zurich. Sit upstairs on the right hand side of the train. Get off this train at THALWIL at 09 14. Through the subway from track 5 to track 4.
Catch the 09 21 IR35 train bound for CHUR, arrives there 10 48. Sit on the left hand side of the train. Go the front of this train to find spare seats.
At Chur through the subway to track 12. Catch the 10 55 RE7 bound for DISENTIS, arrive there at 12 11. (If possible, sit on the right hand side of this train.)
At Disentis, straight across the platform to the connecting 12 14 train to Andermatt, arriving there at 13 22. (Preferably, sit on the left.) I suggest a lunch break.
At Andermatt, you have a choice. You could return to Luzern via Göschenen and Arth-Goldau. Leave Andermatt at 50 minutes past each hour. The journey to Luzern, including one or two changes, takes one hour 51 minutes. Or continue as follows.
Catch the 14 37 R43 bound for VISP, but you get off at BRIG at 16 33. Sit on the left hand side.
Walk inside the main station, and catch the 16 45 IC8 bound for Romanshorn. You get off at BERN at 17 53. Sit upstairs on the right hand side of the train.
Walk through the subway from track two to track ten and catch 18 00 IR15 to Luzern, arrive 19 01. Sit upstairs on the right. If the weather is good, you will have a view of the distant Alps immediately after leaving Bern station.
Best wishes
Roger.
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