ishani

hi, my husband and i are planning a trip to switzerland in the first week of november. Lucerne is going to be our base . where can we go for exciting activities.

nytraveler

Well November is really the off season in Switz - with many hotels and transit options closed for renovation/repairs before the upcoming ski season.

Lucerne is large enough that there are plenty of hotels and restaurants open and the sights of the town (bridge, lion monument, town walls) can still be seen, although the weather will be chilly/cold, the days short and the skies often grey. However, trips into the mountains and on the lakes can be limited. You need to google each of the options to see which things will be open and how often they will run in the off season including:

Steamers on lake lucerne

Cog railway or cable car up Mt Pilatus

Transit up Mt Rigi

Transit up Mt Titlus

You can always visit some of the smaller villages by train but rain/fog can make that sort of depressing. You are only an hour by train from Zurich which has a cute old town and a couple of museums that you can visit.

Or take a day trip to Bern for similar.

simpsonc510

Switzerland in November/December is an annual event for me (us). It typically includes Lucerne for at least a day or two. Weather will most probably be chilly, yes. But you might have sunny skies, which will make the chill more tolerable. I think Lucerne is a terrific base for touring.

There is a very interesting transport museum, if you like looking at all kinds of trains, planes, etc. We can spend hours there.

Mt Titlis is awesome! It has many ski slopes so I would think the sky trams would be running. Obviously it is better on a sunny day. We were there in March of this year, but will not be planning to visit Titlis on next month's Switzerland trip. We had full sun in March and it was beautiful.

I would want a hotel that is somewhere around the old town area. Lucerne is great for walking if weather cooperates. We have stayed at a number of them. A big splurge is the Grand National on the lake. A more reasonable option would be the Ibis Styles, the Ambassador or Hotel de la Paix. There are hotels along the river, but we've never tried them because we always have a car, and the parking is much more convenient to the hotels I have mentioned above.

Enjoy your trip!

PalenQ

Look into the Berner Oberland Pass and see if it includes all those nice things the two posters above talk about - not sure if it does or not - a pass you can buy locally - the other pass would be a Swiss Pass consecutive for 4 days - a Saverpass for two traveling together but the B O Pass may be better deal.

For lots of great info on Swiss trains, boats, etc check www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

You can take one of Switzerland's legendary iconic special Scenic trains - the Golden Pass between Lucerne and Interlaken - going up and over the Brunig Pass then along the shores of idyllic Lake Brienz before terminating at Interlaken-Ost where you can take trains in a few minutes up to places like Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen for the most aswesome Alpine experience in Switzerland IMO and IME. Longish day trip but well worth it.

simpsonc510

Pal, I was going to suggest a day-trip to Interlaken, and did not realize that it would be on a scenic train. That's even better! We always have a car, so I am not familiar with all of the scenic trains/routes.

I would enjoy that scenic train to Interlaken myself! Must keep it in mind for next March. No time this Nov/Dec trip.

bvlenci

All of the trains between Lucerne and Interlaken follow the same scenic route. Brienz is a nice little lakeside town, too, and there's a little mountain steam train that starts from there. I don't know if it runs in November.

nytraveler

I think the most important thing is to look at the web sites of the various outdoor activities - to see which are open and for what hours - when you will be there. Don;t just turn up assuming that they will be operating.

neckervd

Travels in so called "scenic trains" through fog and rain are not particularly interesting.
Titlis cableway: closed from November 2nd - 13th