We will be in Luzern for four nights in March (before heading to Wengen). We would like to take a day trip...any suggestions? I was thinking Bellinzona, which is about 2 hours by train. We will have a little time in Zurich at the end of the trip, so aren't really considering there. What about Bern? Or, we could train to Lausanne in a little over 2 hours. Any of these ideas stand out as the winner?

Berne, next to Lucerne is the most beautiful city in Switzerland (opinion) but if you havn't seen the Jungfrau i'd day trip to Interlaken and Grindelwald/Lauterbrunnen to see the finest of Alpine Switzerland. You can either drive or train via the scenic Brunig Pass - the Luzern-Interlaken train line is one of the most scenic in Europe as it climbs up and over the Brunig Pass, passing alpine lakes before plunging down to deep turquoise blue lake Brienz, whose shores, girdled by rugged Alpine peaks, it follows to Interlaken, from where you take a toy-like train to Grindelwald, which to me offers the finest Alpine panorama in Europe - that of the Jungfrau peaks that tower several thousand feet above town. About 2.5 hours to Grindelwald from Lucern by rail - some first class cars have observation dome cars (the trains labeled Golden Pass).

That sounds like another great option, thanks for the suggestion, PalQ.

Alg - Another option for a day in the mountains would be Engelberg - from where you can take the Titlis cable car for great views if the sky's clear.

I agree with PalQ about Bern - one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland. It would be a nice day trip.

There's not much point, though, in day-tripping to the Grindelwald/ Jungfrau area from Luzern if you're staying subsequently in Wengen - it's much closer from there.

Hope this helps ...

Steve

I lived in Luzern for 3 years and completely agree with the Bern comments. I have always thought it was a beautiful city, esp. on a rainy day due to the kms of covered sidewalks.

Another suggest would be to go see Einseideln. Here is a blurb I found about it. "This small town is the most famous and most frequented places of pilgrimage in all Switzerland. Einseideln lies at approximately 2'700 feet above sea level and is situated between Zürich and Lucerne and is by the Sihlsee. The Benedictine monastery is a place of pilgrimage and is the most important center for Religion and Belief in Switzerland. It is world famous as a place of pilgrimage and as a place of religious meeting. Einseideln's square hosts and 18th Century church built which also houses the Black Madonna, dating back to the 15th century, of Einsiedeln. Be sure to see the fountain in the monastery square. Around the base, water trickles from 14 spouts, and visitors, to be ensured of good luck, traditionally drink, in turn, from each one. The Holy Chapel is a masterpiece. In spite of the variety and exuberance of decoration the building shows great artistic unity."

You will be getting lots of mountains in Wengen, so this might be a good change of pace.

Cheers,
Jan

Good morning, alg
If a bright sunshine day would pick
the Jungfrau.(do while in Wengen and
perhaps the Schlithorn)..
If a city adventure appeals to your pick Bern for the day. Check out the Kornhauskeller for lunch if open..
If a cloudy or rainy day, stay in Luzern and take the boat for the day
going to Fruelen and return, lunch aboard...
A good half day trip is Pilatus via Kriens, don't know if the Alpnachstad
incline railway will be open this early.....
Have also enjoyed Rigi and Titlis, each
another seperate day trip...
Richard of LaGrange Park, IL>

Wow...thank you for all of the great suggestions. We just picked up a Eyewitness Switzerland guide so I will look into each of the places you have mentioned. Interesting that no one suggested going south to the Ticino area...

I'll jump in here because I love Ticino. If you don't mind a long day, a trip to Lugano would be great. I think the reason why you don't receive a lot of votes for that as your daytrip is because many folks prefer to visit places that look like calendar Switzerland. Lugano and Bellinzona are in the Italian-speaking canton, and the landscape and architecture reflects the same. Even better, if you can stretch your day considerably, is to use the lakeboats to visit Gandria along the shore a bit. By the way, the temperatures should be a bit warmer in Ticino than in central Switzerland. J.

Another vote for Bern, esp. on Friday or Saturday. I would not do Bern on a Sunday because it is VERY quiet that day. But it is such a pretty city to wander in and their art museum is very good--I have become a fan of Anker paintings. Also, in the basement of the museum is a medieval painting of a woman who looks like she is one sharp cookie. The expression on her face is great. I forget the name of the painting (or the woman) but you'll know who I mean the minute you see her!
I would also like to put in a vote for Basel, not mentioned here yet. A superb collection of museums, very interesting cathedral, picturesque old town, excellent shopping and some very good restaurants. Basel isn't usually on the top of anyone's Swiss visit list, but if you do a search here for Basel, you'll get some first hand reports from Fodorites who visited the city. Seeing Swiss urban life might be an interesting alternative to mountain vistas and chocolate box villages.

Apologies and thanks to Swandav2000, I have lifted this from Swandav2000's trip report to Switzerland, with impressions of Basel:

got an early train to Zurich and on to Basel; at the station, I changed about $25 and got about 25 chf. What a gyp! Then I spent a few minutes being confused by the trolley lines but finally found one going to the Rhine. I got off and, unimpressed with the walkway along the river, walked over to the Muenster. I loved the cloister

I got back to the station and met Phil and Ingo at about 12.00. After enthusiastic introductions, Phil took command. He took us at breakneck speed to one of his regular restaurants, where we had a wonderful risoto!! We chatted a bit about our good/bad luck on our trips so far, and Ingo gave Phil a bottle of wine and me a cd.

On to the old city and the Rathaus, where Phil told us about the front section, built in 1898-1901, and the rear portions built in the 1550s. He pointed out frescoes and statues, revealing the details and history of each. He took us inside to the various offices and conference rooms -- it was incredible to imagine that the Basel government ministers and representatives have been meeting in those rooms, within these same walls, walking over those same floors, for four hundred years! Phil showed us the stained glass cantonal shields that each canton gave to Basel when it was admitted to the Confederation in 1501. Then he took us to the room where the ministers and the representatives actually meet, and he took us up a few hundred flights of very narrow, very steep winding stairs inside a tower to see the city?s old town from the heights.

Phil led us around the old city to the Muenster Church, a visible scar and remembrance of the Reformation. First he took us inside and told us the history of the architecture and showed us how the church, originally built in the 11th -12th centuries and rebuilt after an earthquake in 1356, magically blends Romanesque and Gothic styles. He pointed out the artwork that was damaged or destroyed during the Reformation. Then we went up to the upper floor to see the arches and the stained glass windows. Phil pointed out some Romanesque frescoes which partially survived the earthquake -- again, it was utterly fascinating to imagine artists laboring one thousand years ago right on the spot where I was standing. Then we went up a few hundred more flights of steep, narrow stairs within another tower for another striking view. As we were leaving the Church, Phil talked about that favorite medieval theme, the Wheel of Fortune, that is depicted at the Muenster?s entry, and he showed us the hidden evil backside of a statue of a sweet-faced youth. After revealing the secrets of the interior, Phil took us to the Muenster?s courtyard, where he showed us some of the tombs of historic Basel families, and we talked about some more recent events in the area.

After the historical immersion, we stopped at the Café Schiesser right at the Marktplatz to rest our feet and indulge our senses a bit. Then it was time to split up! Phil walked us to the station, and my train was the one to leave first.

My lasting impression of Basel is that, as Ingo said on the SGFTWLS-V thread, Basel is an undiscovered jewel. Its cobbled, winding streets are equally charming as Luzern?s, its shopping could keep you busy for days, and certainly its history is fascinating -- it was a major player in the transition from the medieval world to the renaissance/modern one.