Lucerne-Interlaken-Montreux for a week, but weather forecast is bad
A couple is gearing up for their trip this weekend from Lucerne to Montreux, but they're worried about the rainy weather forecast. They’re looking for advice on how to adjust their itinerary, especially regarding activities on Mount Rigi and lake cruises, while still enjoying their week.
- Consider visiting Ticino if the weather is better there; it’s accessible by train.
- Upgrading to first class on lake cruises can offer better views, and you can do this right up until departure.
- Visiting the Aeschbach Chocolatier in Root is a great indoor activity if you're in Lucerne and it’s raining.
- The Swiss Travel Pass offers a discount for rides up Gornergrat in Zermatt, so consider that if the weather improves.
AI-generated summary-
I’m getting quite worried now….
After excellent advice from Roger https://www.myswissalps.com/community/thread/people-in-the-know-to-look-at-my-itinerary-in-bernese-oberland-please/#post-2795308 my wife and I have been very excited and all set for our trip departing this Saturday evening for a week from Lucerne to Montreux, via Interlaken.
Sadly the weather forecast is now rain for every day, and I am looking for rainy weather advice.
Sunday / Monday, I had been planning Mt Rigi trip via Vitznau, possibly Stanserhorn, and now I wonder whether it will be poor visibility up there and we should explore ground level places like Weggis or Brunnen from the boat cruiser instead?
Recent snow and rain presumably make the walk from Rigi to Chäserenholz cheese dairy etc a less attractive option to walk in the rain??
Should I upgrade our lake cruises to first class if it’s going to be drizzly? Is that the better idea if wet?
The panoramic train views will presumably look at clouds rather than distant snowy peaks now, and so probably means we will stay second class rather than invest in higher class?
Boats on lakes Brienz/Thun might be drier if upgraded to 1st class? Does one need to do that in advance?
I am sure plenty of people have had wet weeks like that, but I had raised my wife’s expectations about all the views and now suspect we will have to change itinerary a fair bit.
On another question, the Belle Epoque train to Montreux we had been considering first class but we both have a suitcase, and the luggage carriage looks difficult in first class in the photos?
On the panoramic trains and Belle epoque train, we don’t expect we will need to reserve seats, but if we decided to upgrade to first class do we need to do that in advance? Do you have to commit to a specific train time and reserve it, in order to upgrade class?
Grateful for any advice on how to still thoroughly enjoy Lucerne and Interlaken just as much in the wet/cloudy weather suspected………..
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Hello Again
Thank you for your very kind words.
Have a good map of Switzerland in front of you.
Monitor the Weather Forecasts
Keep checking the Swiss forecasts (https://www.myswissalps.com/planning/practical/weather/forecast/).
I have looked at the forecasts for next week. Only Monday looks to be a complete washout weather wise. Sunday looks bad north of the main Alpine chain, but OK in the southern cantons of Ticino and Valais. That kind of situation is not uncommon.
If on Sunday morning you see that the forecast is reasonably good for Ticino canton) (that is the Lugano/Locarno area).catch the 08 18 IC21 train to Lugano; gets there about 10 00. Later go on to Locarno.
Finally return northwards on the Treno Gottardo which leaves Locarno at 33 minutes past each hour. These trains take the old slow route via Airolo. The run takes just over three hours. The trains at 13 33 and 15 33 serve Lucerne. Those at 14 33 and 16 33 go to Zurich, so a change is needed at Arth-Goldau.
Jolly boating weather?
Definitely yes, unless the weather is very stormy.
On all three relevant lakes I would upgrade to first class. The upper decks of ships are always first class only. You do get better views of everything which is going on! Ask the booking office at the landing stage to sell you the upgrades. You can do this until just before departure!
The 10 12 boat from Lucerne does a round trip from Lucerne to Fluelen and back. Gets back to Lucerne at 15 47.
On Lake Brienz (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/boat-lake-brienz/) round trips from Interlaken Ost depart at 10 10, 12 10, 13 10 and 15 10. The round trip takes nearly three hours.
On Lake Thun (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/boat-lake-thun/) the boats are based at Thun. Boats leave Thun at 09 40 and 11 40; they return from Interlaken West at 12 10 and 14 10.
Lake boats usually have restaurants.
Mount Rigi in Snow?
Yes, I have done that – and in late December! And I was only the second person to the summit that morning. (There was one other set of footprints!)
More seriously, I would take short walks on Rigi in the snow, but always stay within sight of the buildings close to the train station.
Mt Rigi: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/rigi/
Alternatives from Interlaken.
The obvious suggestion is to visit the ‘Federal City’ of Bern (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/bern/); almost all the historic sites are close to the station. The Bundeshaus,, built on a promontory above the river Aare, is spectacular. For the (real live) bears take the number 12 trolleybus heading for Paul Klee Zentrum and get off at Bärenpark.
On the way to Bern I suggest you take the number 21 bus along the north sure of Lake Thun to Thun town (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/thun/). From there take a local S4/S44 suburban train which takes a more rural route (via Belp) than the main line.
If the weather is better south of the main Alpine chain, go to Zermatt, changing at Spiez and Visp. At Zermatt, perhaps go up the Gornergrat for great views of the Matterhorn. (50% discount for Swiss Travel Pass holders.)
Zermatt: https://www.myswissalps.com/town/zermatt/
Alternatives from Montreux.
Zermatt or Saas Fee (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/saas-fee/)are also possible from Montreux. The only change is at Visp. The number 511 bus goes every 30 minutes Visp to Saas Fee
Lausanne (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/lausanne/) is a beautiful city built on hills above Lake Geneva. The Swiss Travel Pass is valid on the boats across to Ėvian in France, and these workaday ferries do have a reasonable service all year round. For these ferries take the Mėtro down to Ouchy. (STP is of valid on this unusual line.)
Upgrade on trains to first class?
I do not think this will be necessary. I do not think there will be a lot of people travelling next week. The Easter holidays are over and winter sports have largely (not completely) finished.
I take your point about luggage accommodation in the ‘Belle Époque’ carriages. They are nice to LOOK AT, but they are not 21st century comfort! In particular, no air conditioning!
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/train/classes/
The Freedom to Change your Mind.
As I indicated in one of my replies to your previous thread, I sometimes change my mind as to where I am going while I am on board a train, bus or boat. This is sometimes triggered by a change in the weather, especially if it is from bad to good.
I can recall TWO occasions when heading northwards through one of the long Alpine tunnels the train has come out into unexpectedly fine weather! On both occasions I immediately decided on a trip up a mountain.
Best wishes for your trip.
Roger
Thank you again Roger.
That made me feel more confident and relaxed. Have our swiss travel passes, and I am going to go wherever the weather forecast takes me! Hadn’t contemplated going to Locarno for example, so fingers crossed.
🙂
Hi Chris,
I agree with Roger’s suggestion to check out Ticino if the weather is better there! Here’s a useful guide on what to see in Ticino in one day: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/one-day-ticino/
Another suggestion as a rainy day activity from Lucerne: if you like to know more about Swiss chocolates, you could visit the Aeschbach Chocolatier in Root. It’s about 10 -15 minutes by train from Lucerne on the S1 line. The building is right in front of the Root train station.
Regards,
Anna
thank you Anna for great advice too
🙂
superb advice!
Am on that very train Roger suggested, on the way to a sunny Lugano instead of a drizzly Lucerne.
Train system totally superb, myswissalps.com a total blessing for the great knowledge
Hi ChrisC,
Lugano is fantastic! Here’s a city walk you could do there: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/walk-lugano/
Have fun!
😊
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