Suggestion for Swiss stay in Lucern and Interlaken

Hi,

we will be travelling to Europe from 1 to 20 Dec 16. We will be arriving in Lucern from Paris on 11 Dec and going to Interlaken on 13 Dec. Afterwhich on 15 Dec we will heading down to Milan. We are travelling with a family of 2 adults, 2 teens and an infant.

We have already book our accomodations in Lucern and Interlaken and planning to go to Mt Titlis from Lucern and Jungfrau via Grindelwald (by car so that we are able to see the best out of Grindelwald) from Interlaken.

Hope to get some ideas to improve our itinerary during our stay in Switzerland. What are the best transport options? Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Yati

I think it is better to go by (BOB-)train from Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald (back site of this train) look around in Grindelwald and go by (WAB-)train to Kleine Scheidegg. From Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch (nice, only when the weather is very good) and back to Kleine Scheidegg.

Go by (WAB-) train from Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen, look around and go by train to Lauterbrunnen.

From Lauterbrunnen you can go easy back by (BOB-) train to Interlaken Ost.

When you have spare time, you can go from Lauterbrunnen (station on the other site of the street) to Grutsalp to mountain village Mürren and back.

Hi swissdec2016, welcome to the forum!

I agree with Brahms that train rides are more convenient in this area than using a rental car. You might just as well do the entire trip by train, as Switzerland has an excellent public transportation system. Please study myswissalps.com/carver sustrain to decide for yourself.

Make sure to check rail passes. Even if you'll be doing the main transfers by car, a Swiss Half Fare Card will come in handy. If you opt for more intensive train traveling, a Swiss Travel Pass or a Swiss Transfer Ticket Combi may be worth considering. Here's how to calculate your options: myswissalps.com/train/ ticketspasses/practica l/chooserailpass. The Swiss portions of your train trips from Paris and to Milan will also be covered or discounted, depending on which pass you choose, so you only need additional full-fare tickets to and from the Swiss border in that case:

• myswissalps.com/traint ickets/france
• myswissalps.com/traint ickets/italy.

These links may be helpful too:

• myswissalps.com/lucern e/activities
• myswissalps.com/titlis /gettingthere
• myswissalps.com/interl aken/activities
• myswissalps.com/jungfr aujoch/gettingthere

<<"and Jungfrau via Grindelwald (by car so that we are able to see the best out of Grindelwald) from Interlaken.">>

Hi Yati-

I don't understand your statement. You will see the same sights from the train or the car...the road parallels the train tracks, a far as Grindelwald, the scenery is nothing to get excited about on that route, and everyone can look at whatever there is to see if no one has to concentrate on driving.

You cannot drive further than Grindelwald. Cars are not allowed.

Slowpoke

Hi

Thanks for all the feedback and suggestions. Will explore by train then and possibly buy the swiss travel pass.

Hi Brahms

Didnt' quite understand on the abbreviations...BOB/WAB. and what do you mean by "back site of this train"?

From your suggestions to go via : "Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald (back site of this train) look around in Grindelwald and go by (WAB-)train to Kleine Scheidegg. From Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch (nice, only when the weather is very good) and back to Kleine Scheidegg. Go by (WAB-) train from Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen, look around and go by train to Lauterbrunnen. From Lauterbrunnen you can go easy back by (BOB-) train to Interlaken OST."

Is this the only route and if there is not enough time for us, can we go via : Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald and train to Kleine Scheidegg. Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch and back to Kleine Scheidegg, then to Grindelwald back to Interlaken OST?

Appreciate your advise. Thanks!

Hi Yati-

WAB (Wengener Alp Bahn) and BOB (Berner Oberland Bahn) are the names of two sections of the route Grindelwald -Kleine Scheidegg - Wengen - Lauterbrunnen.

There is only one train line. It is continuous, with a side branch up to Jungfraujoch.. The names are from history; perhaps they are separately owned today, but I think not. For all intents and purposes, they are one company.

Please use this map and zoom in to see the rail lines:

map.search.ch/?pos=646848,163712&z=8

A good reason not to use a car is to go up one way, then down the other, allowing you to see all of the viewpoints..

For example - this circular route:

Start at Interlaken Ost (IO) - train to Grindelwald(GW - train to Kleiene Scheidegg (KS)- train to Jungfraujoch - train back to KS- train to Wengen and onward to Lauterbrunnen(LB)- train back to IO.

Or, do it in the other direction.

If you drive to GW or to LB to park, then you have to come back there to get your car. Then you miss one half of the most scenic part.

This timetable can help you understand the timing:

www.myswissalps.com/ti metable

Please read the first (instructions) page. The timetable is full of information, in multiple layers of detailed menus.

Slowpoke

The BOB-train has two parts. By depart from Interlaken Ost the front coaches go to Lauterbrunnen, the last coaches on the end of the train go to Grindelwald. Folow the signs on the platform.

Thanks Arno, Slowpoke and Brahms, will definitely consider taking via train then to get the most of the view. We have basically confirm our itinerary for the trip to Jungfraujoch.

Would like to have some suggestions for trip to Mt Titlis/Pilatus from Lucern. It will be great to be able to plan our route for this trip too. Btw, which of this mountains, do you recommend?

Thanks again.

Hi, just to update that we have already purchased the Swiss Travel Pass. Thanks for all the helpful advice.

Was thinking to visit the Schaffshusen waterfall or is it the Rhine Falls as an alternative to Mt Titlis. Is it possible for us to travel from Lucern to Schaffshusen?

TIA

Hi Yati-

Referring to your last posts -

When you have in mind specific places to visit, the best way to answer questions about how to get there and what to see or do is to first search this website by name. Thus, searching for Pilatus returns:

www.myswissalps.com/pi latus

Likewise:

www.myswissalps.com/ti tlis

www.myswissalps.com/lu cerne

www.myswissalps.com/rh inefalls

That link gives details on the travel options for the falls.

For Schaffhausen, you should be sure to use the correct spelling.

If you search for Schaffhausen, the response will list individual threads in the forum, and also links for Rhine Falls. Schaffhausen is an interesting old town, particularly for the Munot and the Rhine Falls, but it does not have enough different tourist attractions to generate its own web page within My Swiss Alps, in the manner that Lucerne or Titlis do..

<<"Is it possible for us to travel from Lucern to Schaffshusen?">>

Yes. It is possible to travel to most places in Switzerland by train, lake boat, bus or cableway. Walking is also considered a legitimate form of public transportation.

To understand how long it takes and what the route(s) can be for any destination, please use the Timetable that I linked to in my previous message.

First, check the link for Rhine falls, which will explain how to get there and name the specific rail stations; there is more than one option.

If you have furtehr interest in Schafhausen, you could try the Switzerland Tourism web site:

www.myswitzerland.com/ en-us/home.html

and search for Schaffhausen.

Slowpoke