7121 posts
Welcome to MySwissAlps, Annemi!
I understand it’s hard to choose between the Lucerne region and the Bernese Oberland. It’s doable to pick only one of them as your base, and make a day trip to the other region returning the same evening or afternoon. This base could be Lucerne, as it’s rather close to Zurich. That would save on traveling time on your arrival and departure day, and I think that’s what I would prefer.
Of course picking two hotels in both areas is fine too. It doesn’t really matter how you divide your days/nights in that case; both regions are stunning and have a lot to offer. You can best check the activities in both regions (following the links I inserted) and decide which of them deserves your main focus. Popular towns in the Bernese Oberland are Interlaken for its central location and Wengen, Grindelwald or Mürren for their views. Traveling times from these villages to other regions are longer though.
Depending on your final plans, it’s worth it to look into rail passes. A Swiss Travel Pass (including the Rigi for free) or a Swiss Half Fare Card may suit your needs.
72625 posts
Hi Annika,
Thank you for your reply.
I’m now thinking to change trip to 4 nights, and do 2 nights in Wengen and 2 nights in Lucerne. Will arrive in Zurich at 16h00, and plan to then travel to Wengen to get the travelling for the day out of the way. I note that the train takes about 3 hours, so then I should arrive in Wengen between 19h30 and 20h00. Is this accurate and do-able? Can then have dinner and go to bed, and the next day go up to Jungfrau trainstation and do that circle route. On the next day visit Thun for a few hours, and then take train back to Lucerne in the late afternoon. Then I can spend 2 nights in Lucerne, do the Old Town, maybe a trip on the lake, and also Pilatus.
What do you think?
Bye
Annemi
7121 posts
Hi Annemi,
This sounds good to me. Wengen is indeed a bit over 3 hours from Zurich, so it’s doable to go straight to Wengen and have an early start there the next morning. The links I have your before will help you find activities and hotels. Now all you need is good weather!
7567 posts
You might find that few hours in the old town of Zürich, near the Lindenhof and St. Peters would be enjoyable, too. Perhaps you might have time on the way back to the airport?
See attached map
72625 posts
Thank you to all for your feedback. I am now going to try and figure out which train pass is best 🙂
72625 posts
Hi Annika, please help me. What pass will be the best for the trip set out in earlier post? The 4-day trip.
Thank you
Annemi
15484 posts
Hi Annemi,
The 4-day Swiss Travel Pass that Annika mentioned is the most convenient option for a 4-day trip as it includes much traveling (and museums) without the need to get tickets. Whether a Swiss Half Fare Card works out cheaper depends on what exactly you’ll be doing during the 4 days. You can do the math to be sure. Please click to the Price section on both pass pages to see where to buy.