Lucerne as a base in Dec
 

Good afternoon

Please provide feedback re: using Lucerne as a base to visit the following areas during Advent/Christmas Markets:

Lake Konstanz Region
Interlaken & Bernese Oberland (Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Murren, Grindelwald)
Lake Zurich & Lake Zug Region

Thank you!

Several years ago a spent a few days in Lucerne at the beginning of December and found it fine. I would go to the villages in the Oberland, lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, Murren and Wengen, these will still be between seasons or just starting the ski season. For Zug and Lucerne things may be a little quieter than the summer.

Sorry I should have said I would not go to Lauterbrunnen etc.

Interlaken & Bernese Oberland (Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Murren, Grindelwald)>

Maybe for just a day but just go to say Grindelwald and maybe take a cableway or train to higher climes-but it takes about 2 hours each way Lucerne - Interlaken.

Interlaken itself could be a good base if you want to explore the Jungfrau Region.

If doing a lot of trains check out the Berner Oberland Railpass- valid in Lucerne and Interlaken areas not only on trains but many cables as well. www.swisstravelsystem.com and also some nice resources on where to go by train in these areas at www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

I'd put Lake Zurich way behind Lake Lucerne for exploring by boats which run limited schedules at that time of year I believe.

When going between Lucerne and Interlaken be sure to take the awesome Brunig Pass route -part of the Golden Pass scenic train route- about as quick as mainline route via Bern and much more scenic:

https://www.google.com/search?q=brun...w=1745&bih=864

and on that train be sure to reserve a seat in a panoramic observation car - seat reservations not mandatory but suggested for that - just a few bucks extra.