A3M

Hi,
Planning a family trip to Switzerland. Will be based in Luzern. Want to visit the top of europe. Please advise on route from Luzern and what we need tobe equipped with. Have the swissrail pass already.
Thanks!

nytraveler

Take train to Interlaken and then ascend via cog railways from there. Not sure how much of the $200 plus per person cost the Swiss pass cover - you need to check.

The key issue is to determine if the top of the mountain is clear - the website or call to train station should tell you. There is NO point in ascending if the top is wreathed in clouds - since you will have trouble seeing your hand never mind any of the sights. (We had to wait 3 days for a day clear at the top.)

There is always snow at the top and it will be cold there. You need layers so that you can add as you ascend and remove as your descent. I wore a tee, long-sleeve shirt, cotton sweater and jean jacket and was warm enough at the top. Do not go up in shorts and sandals as one young couple with us did - they have to leave as soon as they got there.

Also look at the website to see the different activities at the top - and which ones you want to do.

neckervd

The Jungfraujoch Ticket - Connecting ticket for Swisspass holders; from Grindelwald to Jungfraujoch and back to Wengen or vice versa costs 131 CHF/136 USD.
Lucerne - Interlaken: the Bruenig cog railway is more scenic than the itinerary via Berne (same journey time: 2 hrs)

michele_d

Dress in layers. Long pants are a must. It can be freezing and windy on one side of the observation tower and sunny and calm on the other. This is exactly how it was for us last May.

The side with the activities seems to be sunnier than the opposite side. If you get cold just pop inside and grab a snack or hot chocolate and enjoy the view from the huge windows.

It really is the experience of a lifetime. Hope you can do it.

swandav2000

Hi A3M,

I wonder if you realize that this journey is going to be 4h30 in each direction -- meaning about 9h inside a closed-up, moving vehicle in one day? And even if the weather is clear at the Jungfraujoch when you depart Luzern, it may well be clouded over by the time you arrive 4h later!

With so many mountain peaks closer to Luzern it seems like a waste of time and money to head to this one mountain saddle. It seems to me that you are being too susceptible to that "Top of Europe" marketing! Instead, I would head to Pilatus or Titlis.

If you are bound and determined to see the Jungfraujoch, then you should base yourself somewhere closer -- Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, or even Thun, Spiez, or Bern.

Have fun as you plan!

s

tipsygus

Absolutley agree with Swandav, I would want to stay in Wengen or Lauterbrunnen with Thun and Spiez as back ups, I think Bern is too far away especially with weather conditions that can change very quickly.

michele_d

I third that recommendation to stay in Lauterbrunnen or Wengen. It is beautiful up there.

A3M

Thanks much for the tips. Super confused now... how does Lauterbrunnen compare to Jungfrau...

michele_d

Jungfrau is the destination at the top of the mountain that you take the train through the mountain to get to. There are not accommodations at the Jungfrau to stay overnight. It is strictly a day trip.

Lauterbrunnen and Wengen are small towns below the Jungfrau. You can stay there overnight before you visit the Jungfrau. The train ride from these towns is about two hours one way to the Jungfrau.

A3M

Have decided against Jungfrau. Will do Titlis and Pilatus.
Need advise on cheese walks, chocolate factory and vineyards to visit in close proximity to Luzern. Thanks!

nytraveler

Cheese walks?????

We visited a dairy making gruyer - in gruyere - good for about 30 minut

A3M

Yes, nytraveler... have been reading about hikes to cheese farms... read about Musenalp... wondering if anyone can offer practical advise. Like you did with Jungfrau!

neckervd

Which Musenalp do you mean?
Musenalp UR
http://www.top-of-uri.ch/_pages/Chlital-Musenalp.htm
http://www.musenalp-isenthal.ch/musenalp_de.php
or Musenalp NW?
http://www.maria-rickenbach.ch/musenalp.php
http://www.musenalp-nw.ch/index.php/musenalpbahn1
There are cheesemakers at both Musenalps, but there is no cheese making demonstration for tourists (and nobody will speak something else than Swiss German at these remoted places, even unknown by most Swiss people).
Chocolat factories:
http://www.cailler.ch/en/maison-cail...opening-hours/
http://www.interlaken.ch/en/offers-a...nterlaken.html

A3M

Thank you neckervd. I checked the sites. Yes i did mean the same Musenalp. I found them in the cheese excursions in myswitzerland.com and you are right, all info is in german so i am stuck.
The chocolate factory is in Broc and since we are based in Luzern, doesnt seem feasible to go there all the way, unless there are other activities or places close by. Any advise will be great!
Thank you.

neckervd

Broc is close to Gruyeres castle, medieval city and cheese diary. Shuttle trains from Broc to Gruyeres every hour; 20 min journey.
http://www.chateau-gruyeres.ch/e/mul...spectacle.html
http://www.la-gruyere.ch/en/navpage-...FR-120085.html
http://www.lamaisondugruyere.ch/inde...=142&Itemid=56
The train ride Lucerne - Broc takes 2 hrs 25 min; trains every hour from 6am until 5pm, last departure from Broc to Lucerne at 19.36.

Gruyeres can also be reached by Golden Pass Panoramic Express via Montbovon, Lucerne dp 6.55 - Gruyeres ar 11.58
Gruyeres dp 15.59 - Lucerne ar 21.04
http://www.goldenpass.ch/default.asp?Language=EN

A3M

Thank you. Seems like quite a long journey
May have to skip chocolate factory...

mokka4

A3M:
The cheese and chocolate tours are popular in western Switzerland (area Broc and Gruyere), as you have noted.
I agree, not worth the time to travel there.
Inquire in the main Luzern Tourist Info Office, about any mountaintop festivals which may be going on at the time or any possibility of viewing cheesemaking on the alp--if anyone would know if its possible, THEY would!



http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic..._Oberland.html

mokka4

The closest chocolate factory "tour" in the area that I am aware of is in Zurich (under one hour by train from Luzern).

http://www.zuerich.com/en/Visitor/to...ch-summer.html

mokka4

Or, I found an all-day guided tour leaving Zurich for the Appenzell area with cheese and chocolate opportunites, but then you sacrifice the time in and around Luzern (ieilatus and Rigi).
If you care to rread my Trip rport from this area last October, click on my name in blue and search for the title under "BRUNNEN".
Happy travels!
http://www.viator.com/tours/Zurich/Switzerland-
Mountains-Cheese-and-Chocolates-Tour-from-Zurich/d577-3885SW313BS

neckervd

At Broc, you can see how chocolate is PRODUCED, at Zurich, you can see how it is SOLD, that's the slight difference.