scottie51

My wife and I will be in Lucerne for two days in mid April 2015. We taking one day to explore Lucerne itself and one day to schedule a day trip into the Alps.

We are looking for suggestions for both days. Since this is our first visit to Switzerland we are very interested in the best sightseeing in the Alps and the must see locations in Lucerne. We don't mind using tour companies or doing it solo. We are both mid-50's and in fairly good health... however not really interested in too much hiking. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

nytraveler

Lucerne has plenty to do in the town - any guide book will have info.

For trips into the Alps you need to understand that there may well still be significant snow on the tops of mountains (esp Pilatus) and I'm not sure when the lake steamers start running or how many trips a day they make in April - or how early and often the cog railways or cable cars run. I think you will need to google to see you options depending on your specific dates. (We have done trips here in June of July and there is always some snow on the mountain - but by then Pilatus had not much - although Jungfrau has a ski school all summer.)

swandav2000

Hi scottie51,

I would discourage you from using a tour agency for a trip into the Alps -- you need to have clear skies for a visit to the peaks (or else you'll spend a lot of money to stand inside a cloud). Unfortunately, weather forecasts for mountains are totally unpredictable and are only accurate about 12 hours ahead of time, maybe sometimes 24 hours. So, if you sign up for a tour, there's a good chance that it will be cloudy on the day of the tour.

It's a much better idea to do the trip on your own. When you wake up and see clear skies, that's when you head up to the peak.

As to which mountain area to see, that's a totally subjective decision. You should read up on all of them and look at photos, and then see which one attracts you the most:

www.pilatus.ch
www.titlis.ch
www.rigi.ch

The good news is that the lake ferries run all year round, as they are part of the transport system between the lake towns. There may be a reduced schedule in April, but they'll be running. You can get the schedules at this site:

http://www.lakelucerne.ch/en.html

Have fun as you plan!

s

Dukey1

If you are willing to get an early start you can easily do the trip to Engleberg and Titlis in a half day.

Ingo

As the others said, mid April is quite early for the Alps. This time of year is best for the blooming meadows/spring flowers around the lakes. I'd encourage you to hop on a boat and do a cruise on the lake with occasional hop off/on in towns like Weggis, Vitznau or Brunnen. Depending on the weather and how the current snow situation is, you might want to take a cog-train (Vitznau) or cable car (Weggis) up to Mt. Rigi.

Otherwise, if you want to see snow, go to Engelberg and Mt. Titlis.

All this is easily doable on your own. No tours needed.

scottie51

Thanks so much for the insight and recommendations. The lake trip sound promising. Will the view from Rigi (weather permitting) give a good perspective of the Alps range?

PalenQ

Will the view from Rigi (weather permitting) give a good perspective of the Alps range?>

Yes from a distance - this is one of the most celebrated lookout places in Switzerland - giving a sweet lateral view of the spiny Alpine ridge of central Switzerland from a distance.

Mt Rigi ain't that high itself so is a small Alp - to get there take a boat to Vitznau then the mountain railway to Rigi Kulm, the summit and best place for views - heard the incessant Alp Horns being traditionally played there and then for variety take the aerial cable way back down to the lake at Weggis for boats to the northern tip of the lake - Fluelen, from where trains will take you quickly back to Lucerne or take a boat from Weggis back to Lucerne

but the southern tip of this fjord-like arm of Lake Lucerne is neat so consider going all the way to Fluelen - make a nice nice whole day of it.

for lots of info on Lake Lucerne boats and trains and Mt Rigi check out these IMO superb sources: www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

You may want to read up on Mark Twains's Tramp Abroad and his famous ascent of Mt Rigi by foot back in the days before trains and cable ways took you there easily - he especially loathed the sound of the Alp Horns at the summit!

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/on-the-t...cerne/28380660

china_cat

Rigi is beautiful, with great views. We did the trip taking the boat from Lucerne to Viznau, train up, then train partway down, then the cable car to Weggis where we got on the boat back to Lucerne. We had lunch in the cafe on the top of Rigi, and I think the whole trip took us from about 9 to 3 or so. You could probably do it faster, spend less time on top perhaps, or take the train in one direction.

If you'd like to see a few photos from Rigi, here's my blog entry about that particular day:
http://switzerlandbytrain.blogspot.c...5/mt-rigi.html

simpsonc510

I second the idea of a boat ride on the lake with a stop or two, getting off, looking around, having lunch, etc. and then catching the next ferry. I was in Brunnen, but by car, having lunch outside at a lake side hotel (forget which one) and watched the boats pull up to the dock. I thought at the time that a boat ride from Lucerne to Brunnen would be delightful. I have not done it yet, but it is on my to-do list!

scottie51

Thanks for all the great info... I am am now leaning towards the boat to Viznau, train up to Rigi, down to Weggis via cable car, boat to Fluelen and then either the train or boat back to Lucerne.

Just to add.... this should be a great end to our European vacation. We start in Amsterdam... Then we take a 7 day Rhine river cruise that ends in Basel. From Basel we are extending the trip to Lucerne.

Thanks to all for the great information and tips.

mokka4

We explored this same area in October 2012. I have pics at
https://brunnen13.shutterfly.com
my trip report of our stay in Brunnen with hikes on Mt. Rigi and Lake Lucerne boat trips can be found by clicking on my name as well. Enjoy, I'm certain you will!

Percy

There is lots to see in Lucerne
but if you want to get a flavour of being up in the mountain, then as mentioned Titlis or Rigi would be fine.

and you will sit at an open air table along the River Ruess and have some Swiss Hot Chocolate and Swiss Pastry and people watch.

PalenQ

Mt Titlis in Engleberg will fulfill your dreamy picture of dreamy ice-bound Alps soaring thousands of feet above you much more IME than Mt Pilatus, more of a solitary Alp without the glaciers, etc.

scottie51

Again, thanks for all the info... One additional question: Are there "tour packages" that combine all the activities or do you purchase each activity separately. In other words, what's the most cost effective and flexible method for the round trip(boat and up the mountain) Thanks in advance.

tipsygus

I would suggest you do the activities independently, it's easy to buy the necessary tickets, train and boat and then if the weather is not suitable for one trip you won't have wasted money.
There is a travel centre in the station as you leave the platforms it's located by Platform 1 the staff there are ery helpful

Ingo

Buy everything independently. Pre-booking not necessary. If you plan to do excursions from Lucerne only on one day, the Tell Pass is not a good option, I am afraid. It's only available from 2 days onward, for 170 CHF per person (but it would cover all your boat/cable car etc. rides.

In case you spend more days in Switzerland, check out Swiss Pass or Swiss Flexi Pass. www.swisstravelsystem.ch

Also, the boat company on Lake Lucerne has special offers:
http://www.lakelucerne.ch/en/special...rundfahrt.html

PalenQ

Pre-booking not possible for individuals on the boats (I think but not 100% sure) - they always seem to accommodate everyone and not possible on Rigi trains or cable ways - could book Fluelen to Lucerne trains probably but that would be a waste of money - you will have no problems IME of just hopping on any of those conveyances.

mariburr

Anxious to hear if you did this or what suggestions you have; for us; doing it next April; after Rhine Cruise? Basically we want to do the same thing as you suggested: but having hard time finding information on it.
I am now leaning towards the boat to Viznau, train up to Rigi, down to Weggis via cable car, boat to Fluelen and then either the train or boat back to Lucerne.

Did you buy all your tickets when you arrived? At train station? Thought I had read; you couldn't do lake boat tour in April but you sound like you were doing it. Would love any suggestions you can share and approximate how much money you should have for this day (just for the tours/trips; not hotel meals etc. Sincere thanks.

greg

mariburr,
Rick Steves Switzerland guidebook has a write up on how to do Rigi and different ways to pay for it. If you don't want to buy the book, you can usually find it at your library. Either have a pass or I think you can buy them at TI at the Luzern train station, the day before during their office hours, since you would probably have to start your loop before the TI is open. However, this exposes you to risk since you have to buy tickets more than 12 hours before your trip for the day you are not quite sure about the weather or the cloud coverage. If you could not buy tickets, you have a very short window, especially between getting off boat at Viznau until the cogwheel train departs, to buy tickets at the Viznau train station.

swandav2000

Hi mariburr,

Here is a link to some information from the folks who run the transportation at Rigi:

http://www.rigi.ch/Travel-Information/Getting-there

And here is a link to information on the Majestic Round Trip:

http://www.rigi.ch/Adventures/Majest...tic-Round-Trip

Have fun as you plan!

s