DrShpilkes

Planning girls trip in mid-May. Already did the Berner Oberland, now planning 6 night stay with Lucerne as base. Hoping for day trips to Bern and into the mountains, then scenic train to Lugano and surrounds for a few days. What is best route back to an airport to return to NYC area? Considering high speed train back to Zurich, or private transport to Milan. Could also go directly to Lugano for first few days and then wind way back to Zurich. Would appreciate input!

PalenQ

Six days to me seems a bit long to base in Lucerne - there are some neat day trips like to Engelberg for Mt Titlis and Mt Pilatus and places like Bern (to me on of most underrated cities in Europe) - Lucerne itself is small with not too much in specific to see except its lovely self on its lovely lake - do a lake boat trip to Fluelen and take the train back - Mt Rigi is another day trip so if you do all those I guess six days would be sweet.

I even day tripped from Lucerne to places like the Rhine Falls (near Schlaffhausen) and to Einselden (famous pilgrimae monastery), etc. Mt Rigi is yet another sweet day trip from Lucerne - take a boat to Vitznau and mountain train to the top for one of Switzerland's most celebrated vistas!

Consider going the the Engadine and St Moritz area for one of Switzerland's premier Alpine wonderlands - lots of neat excursions into high mountains and you can take the famous Bernina Pass train line to Italy and onto Milan via Lake Como if you want - the rail line to me is the most scenic in Europe.

Locarno and Lugano seem nice but exciting to me at least - modern cities for the most part - pleasant but not the dreamy type of Switzerland most folks are looking for.

But anyway if taking trains in and out of Lucerne every day and relocating to southern Switzerland take a good look at Swiss Passes - not ony cover all trains you will be taking it seems you are taking and they also cover 100% lake boats and the mountain railway to Mt Rigi and Engleberg and the Bernina Pass railway and give free entry to 470+ Swiss museums and sights like some neat ones in Bern and Lucerne - check out the Paul Klee Museum in Lucerne, raved about for its unique architecture as well as contents.

For lots of great info on Swiss trains and passes, etc. check out these IMO superb sites: www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.rickstevee.com and www.seat61.com.

PalenQ

If you are in Lugano or Locarno and wish to get to Malpensa Airport in Milan by train it is a snap - take the short train ride from Lugano to Milan Central Station and take the new airport express train right to the terminals.

DrShpilkes

Thank-you both...very helpful. Perhaps we will explore the Bernina Pass option, rather than Lugano.

kja

I could easily be mistaken, but I think mid-May is not optimal for the Engadine. I changed the timing on my trip to Switzerland to make sure I got there a bit later (mid-June).

PalenQ

mid-May is not optimal for many Alpine resort areas because that is a down time between the winter and summer seasons - some gondolas and mountain trains use that time for repairs, etc so check out what you want to do before hand to see if it is running, etc.

Great for getting hotels however - though may are closed due to the lack of customers some will always be open at bargain rates often.