[Anonymous]

11 August 2018 at 17:42:53 #817818

Hello

We will be arriving in Basel via Viking Cruise Dec 7, 2018 and planning to travel from Basel to Lucerne stay a night or two, go to Lauterbrunnen and fly out of Zurich Dec 11th. I was planning on renting a car our of Basel and return in Zurich. (Wife was thinking one night in each city) Driving my car ok that time of year?

Any Recommendations? Thanks Cliff

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[Snowman]

Reply 1 of 13 • 11 August 2018 at 22:52:54 #893969

There is no obstacle to your project. I just wonder why so many people are attracted by Lauterbrunnen which is at the bottom of a valley. Lucerne is overwhelmed by tourists but in early December that should be allright.

[User]

Reply 2 of 13 • 12 August 2018 at 7:46:11 #893970

HI Cliffrussell and welcome to MySwissAlps!

The roads are pretty well maintained in the winter here – although you never know with storms of course. We always recommend traveling by train though in Switzerland – much simpler and easier than driving we think. You can relax and enjoy the views on the train; and this is especially true in the winter!

Have a read through our car vs train travel page here to get further details: http://www.myswissalps.com/ca rversustrain

Lucerne is a nice, popular town and I’d recommend it over Basel. I like Lauterbrunnen as wel but Wengen is probably the most popular village on our forum (it overlooks Lauterbrunnen and the valley so the views are as good as it gets). Murren is also a nice town with great views but a little more out of the way for a short stay perhaps.

Have a read about each town and what to do there here:

• http://www.myswissalps.com/lu cerne
• http://www.myswissalps.com/mu rren
• http://www.myswissalps.com/la uterbrunnen

If you go by train, you’ll want to find train schedules to plan out your trips: http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable and have a look at a rail pass for the 4 days: http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/ticketspasses

A Swiss Travel Pass would, I think, make a lot of sense: http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass

[User]

Reply 3 of 13 • 13 August 2018 at 1:19:05 #893971

Based on the information we seen. Looks like we will try the rail system. (Driving from Basel in Dec 7 to 10th don’t know road conditions) We plan to stay one night in Lucerne-7th, Murren-8th (based on your comments) and then to Zurich- 9th. We fly out of Zurich on 10th. Can you drag a suitcase around rail system fairly easy?

It was recommendation from a friend who told us about Lauterbrunnen, As far as places or activities to go any recommendations?

We are very excited about spending time in Switzerland after our River trip ends in Basel. Thank you for the information.

jBests, Cliff

[User]

Reply 4 of 13 • 13 August 2018 at 16:41:29 #893972

It is always hard to pick a town to stay in, but three hotels in 3 nights might be more moving around than you want.

One idea could be to stay in Lucerne for 2 or 3 nights and make day trips to Murren and Lauterbrunnen (or vice versa) but you may find it just fine. Use the Swiss railways timetable to find trains schedules between town. The schedule is only available until Dec. 8 (but it won’t change much on the 9th). http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable

You can definitely take luggage on the trains without trouble (the less you have the easier of course).

You can find our suggestions on what to do around each town through the links I gave you on my previous post. Click the “what to do” tab.

[User]

Reply 5 of 13 • 14 August 2018 at 2:35:41 #893973

Thanks again Lucas

We decided to just stay 2 night in Lucerne, and do an excursion to Murren or Lauterbrunnen, Any particular destination you recommend and rail options. Golden Rail?

Still planning of taking rail from Lucerne to Zurich and stay there before heading home.

Thanks for sharing your expertise. I’m a skier and wife is not. Love to hit it.

Bests, Cliff

[User]

Reply 6 of 13 • 14 August 2018 at 7:31:53 #893974

I’d take the Golden Pass route (one part of the entire route) between Lucerne and Interlaken on your way to Lauterbrunnen. All direct trains on that route are on the Luzern – Interlaken Express – very scenic.

In early December, Titlis or Jungfraujoch will be your best bet for skiing

• http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfraujoch
• http://www.myswissalps.com/ti tlis

Or we may get a good early snowfall and there will be lots of options!

[User]

Reply 7 of 13 • 14 August 2018 at 18:15:19 #893975

Lucas

I just got off the phone with a friend of mine who stayed in Lauterbrunnen for 2 nights. Given the time of year, is there enough to see there? Are the waterfalls flowing that time of year. We will be staying in Zurich one night (city like Lucerne) before we leave too. So the big question is it best to stay 2 nights in Lucerne (do excursion to Lauterbrunnen) or stay 2 nights in Lauterbrunnen.

Maybe even get off rail in Lucerne (have lunch) then head for Lauterbrunnen the first day. We can see Murren and other areas we understand via gondola. Any suggestions?

Bests, Cliff

PS 3 day swiss rail pass the way to go?

[User]

Reply 8 of 13 • 15 August 2018 at 2:36:48 #893976

Lucas

My wife and I are juggling where to stay 2 nights- it either Lucerne or Lauterbrunnen. Having a hard time deciding. Lot of things to do around Lucerne. Going out to Lauterbrunnen and back seems doable (4hours plus on train) day trip vs the Titlis Tour (5.5 hours) . Its also my birthday when our first night- Dec 7th and wife wanted to take me on night dinner cruise.

I do like the idea of staying 2 night at one place. Is the train ride to Lauterbrunnen in one day best option compared to other things we could see nearer to Lucerne. Gather is going to be cold too.

[User]

Reply 9 of 13 • 15 August 2018 at 6:33:19 #893977

Hi Cliff,

Yes, I do get the impression a larger town might suit you better. Lauterbrunnen and the Jungfrau region (http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfrauregion) is best used as a base in the summer for hiking or in the winter for skiing / snowshoeing etc.

From late October to mid December it is pretty quiet there (same with early April to mid-June).

I think you’ll be happier in Lucerne, with a day trip to the region to see Lauterbrunnen and Murren perhaps.

Lauterbrunnen shouldn’t be too cold (it isn’t too high up yet) but Murren might be at their elevation yes. And in December the weather could be get cold for sure anywhere. The waterfalls will not be at their most spectacular either in the winter.

[User]

Reply 10 of 13 • 16 August 2018 at 18:51:20 #893978

Lucas

Just finish a conversation with a friend who lived in Switzerland. They recommended that we take the rail from Basel to Grindelwald and stay there for 2 nights. Said you take a private train (said the rail pass did not cover it). Maybe it does now. What you think? It suppose to be very scenic and lots of things to do.

We could even stop by Lucerne on the way to or back.

Bests, and thanks Cliff

[User]

Reply 11 of 13 • 17 August 2018 at 6:35:46 #893979

Hi Cliff,

Some rail passes to cover the trip to Grindelwald yes. The Swiss Travel Pass does, as do the local rail passes: Jungfrau Travel Pass and the Bernese Oberland pass.

You can see their coverage areas on these links:

• http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/validity
• http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfrautravelpass/valid ity
• http://www.myswissalps.com/re gionalpassberneseoberl and/validity

Yes, Grindelwald is a very scenic town – all are in that area I think!
you can read more about Grindelwald here: http://www.myswissalps.com/gr indelwald

and a trip I made there last month with some pictures are noted here: http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/jungfrau-region-as-a-day-trip-from-zurich

[User]

Reply 12 of 13 • 29 August 2018 at 3:55:50 #893980

Lucas

We made reservations for 2 nights in place in Grindelwald. Our Viking trip get to Basel Dec 7th in morning. We like to take the Golden Pass Route to Interlaken. But first we need to take a train or rail from Basel to Lucerne. Do you know the times it departs Lucerne? (Thinking we could have lunch there before departing.

Also, we will be traveling from Grindlewald to Zurich on Dec 9th – how long will take to get there and quickest route? We like to check into Swissotel in Oerlikon (which very close to rail that goes to airport) then go to old part of Zurich.

The 3 day swiss pass I gather we should pre- purchase.

Bests Cliff

[User]

Reply 13 of 13 • 29 August 2018 at 18:53:10 #893981

Hi Cliff,

You can use my timetable link from an earlier post to check departure times. Here it is again: http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable

That will show you all the information needed to plan trips between any town or mountain etc.

The schedule is only set until Dec.8 so you’ll need to wait until October sometime before they release Dec. 9 (and for the entire next year). But the schedule will not change much at all.

Yes, It would be more convenient to buy the Swiss Travel Pass online. It can be emailed to you and printed at home (saving you time at the airport train station and giving you a copy to print out again in case you lose your pass). http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/price