Switzerland Travel―3 Day Travel Itinerary in Lucerne

Video 1.  Lucerne, Switzerland part 1

Video 2.  Lucerne, Switzerland part 2

Figure 1. Museggmauer (Iconic old city wall) offering views from the top

Figure 2.  Kornmarkt to Kapellplatz in Lucerne Old Town

Figure 3. Southside of River Reuss (watch video 2)

Lucerne

Luzern: German
Lucerna: Italian
Lucerne: French and English

Lucerne is a gorgeous Swiss city that sits at the foot of the Alps. This is the perfect kind of town to explore in a couple of days. The city center is compact with just a few key places to visit. The best things to do are to wander the old town, eat, drink, shop, and enjoy the views of the lake from the shores or cruises.

Video 3.  Lucerne Excursions: Rigi, Bürgenstock, Pilatus, Switzerland

Figure 4. Side Trips to Mt. Rigi (watch video 3)

Side Trips to Mt. Rigi

Lucerne → Weggis → Mt Rigi → Vitznau

Mt.Rigi is one of the most popular Swiss mountains for holiday-makers and is often referred to as the "Queen of the Mountains" by the locals. It's a mountain for all seasons.

• Mt. Rigi is free of charge with a valid Swiss Travel Pass 
• Home of Europe’s 1st Mountain Railway (since 1871) 
• Mt. Rigi Railways are open 365 days a year 

Rigi Royal Round Trip

Rigi Royal Round Trip is the most entertaining way to visit the Rigi, Queen of the Mountains.  On this outing, the journey itself is the destination. Combine different means of transport and enjoy the varied views. For this half-day or day trip, you board the boat in Weggis. Relax on deck on the short trip to Vitznau. Admire the views of Lake Lucerne and the surrounding mountains and villages.

In Vitznau, climb aboard the Rigi Railway, Europe's first cogwheel railway, which takes you up to Rigi Kulm with its 360-degree panoramic views at alt. 1797 meters. You take in the awe-inspiring snow-covered alpine chain, 13 lakes, the Swiss Central Plateau – even the distant Black Forest and Vosges mountains.

You can take the railway or walk for about an hour from Rigi Kulm to Rigi Kaltbad. In Rigi Kaltbad you have the possibility of visiting the Rigi Kaltbad Mineral Baths and Spa, going for a walk or relaxing over a meal.

The Weggis - Rigi Kaltbad terminus is adjacent to the spa complex. You float in the cable car down to Weggis, after which it's a short walk to the village square.

Figure 5.  Side Trips to Mt. Pilatus (watch video 3)

Side Trips to Mt. Pilatus

Mt. Pilatus is a jagged mountain that overlooks Lucerne. Cable cars and a cogwheel railway whisk visitors to the top, where you can go hiking, ride Switzerland’s longest summer toboggan, and take in the view from a handful of viewpoints. There is so much to do on Pilatus that you can spend a full day there.

Below is the suggested way of visiting Mt. Pilatus in video 3:

• Lucerne → Burgenstock → Alpnachstad → Pilatus → Kriens 

Lucerne → Burgenstock (Boat)

• Lucerne → Kehrsiten-Bürgenstock
• From 07:15 to 23:15 hourly connections
• Kehrsiten-Bürgenstock → Lucerne
• From 07.45 to 23.45 hourly connections
• Travel time 25 min each way

 Alpnachstad → Pilatus (Cogwheel Train)

• The cogwheel train from Alpnachstad to the top operates from mid-May to 17 November 2019. 

Pilatus → Kriens (Cableway)

• Take cableway (Timetable) from the Pilatus top to Kriens
• The cableway from Kriens to the top does not operate from 21 October to 8 November 2019.
• The valley station in Kriens near Lucerne is easily reached via Autobahn A2. Public transportation will also take you to Kriens. From the Lucerne railway station, Bus no. 1 will take you to the stop Kriens, Zentrum/Pilatus. A five-minute walk will have you at the valley station of the Panorama Gondolas.

References

1. Lake Lucerne Boat Ride 
• Lake Lucerne Timetable
2. Paragliding Lake Lucerne
3. The best practical travel tips for Europe (good)
4. Swiss Travel Pass 2019 review: Is it good value or not?
5. SWISS PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM
6. Lake Lucerne region - Day trip and hiking suggestions
7. How to Visit Lucerne and Mt. Pilatus in One Perfect Day
8. Lucerne Bus Map (pdf)
9. Mt. Rigi Hiking Trails 
10. Luzurn Farmer's Market (see video 2)
• Every Tu and Sat from 6 am to 1 pm (normally ends at 12 pm though)
11. VAT: HOW TO GET IT BACK AND SAVE ON SHOPPING IN SWITZERLAND

Switzerland Travel―Train Service Basics

Video 1.  How to Train in Switzerland: Zurich Airport to Wengen (Jungfrau Region; YouTube link)

Figure 1.  Train route from Wengen to Bern

Figure 2.  Departure Schedule Board at Bern Main Station

Getting around Switzerland by train is easy. All you really need to know is

• the destination, 
• departure time and 
• track (or Gleis) from where your train is leaving, 

and you are good to go. There are additional timetables above the tracks and on schedule boards along the platform for quick reference. Do double check to make sure your departure track hasn't changed. It happens not very often, but it can due to repair or extra scheduled trains.

Train Service Identification

If you Google search (Fig, 1) or look at Schedule Board at a train station (Fig. 2), you could find symbols such as IC, IR, etc.  What do they mean and how do you know which train to board?

Based on [1], here are what the train service symbols stand for:

• S-Bahn (S) and S-Bahn Nightline (SN), (RER in the French part of Switzerland) 
• is a network of trains in cities and agglomerations (commuter trains). Unstaffed but controllers show up once in a while. Validate your ticket to avoid a penalty. Bicycle transport possible.
• Regio trains (R) 
• stop at all stations within a region, sometimes though only on demand (push the red button next to your seat.) Not staffed. Validate your ticket BEFORE you enter the train. No seat reservations possible. Bicycle transport possible.
• RegioExpress (RE) 
• are express trains within a region. Same as above, but only stop at certain stations (stop on demand not possible). No seat reservation possible. There's room for bicycles.
• InterRegion (IR) 
• run throughout Switzerland from region to region. Similar to Regio but, as the name implies, run between regions. Bicycles have to be loaded onto special market coaches, but not all IR trains offer this service. Watch for bicycle pictograms on timetables.
• InterCity tilting trains (ICN) 
• are air-conditioned, have a restaurant coach (no class difference) and minibar. Special wheelchair spaces in both classes, as well as business sections and quite zones (no music or mobile phones) in first class. Self-load coaches for your bicycles for which you need a reservation between March 21 and October 31.
• InterCity trains (IC) 
• are air-conditioned express trains between cities with restaurants and minibar. Business and quiet zones in first class. When not otherwise marked, you can load your bike into special marked luggage and bicycle compartments.
• InterCityExpress (ICE)
• high speed, air-conditioned with restaurant (same for both classes) and snack bar. Seat reservation not necessary, but recommended during commuter times. Wheelchair reservations possible in the second class. Bicycle transport not possible.
• EuroCity (EC)
• International air-conditioned trains, usually with the restaurant. Seat reservation for passengers with or without wheelchair possible in second class (but not mandatory). Bicycle can be transported if not marked otherwise.
• CityNithgLine (CNL)
• International trains with sleepers, couchettes, and reclining-seats. Breakfast included according to the sleeper category. Normal ticket prices plus the price for the mode of transport you choose. Compulsory seat reservations. Bicycle transport possible with reservation.
• EuroNight (EN)
• International trains for night travelers only, including breakfast in the chosen category. Reservation is compulsory. No bicycle transport possible.
• RailJets (RJ) 
• are air-conditioned high-speed trains that offer an additional class - the so-called Premium Class. With bistro. Onboard service at your seat possible in first and premium class. Quite and family areas (with theater). Wheelchair passengers can reserve a seat in first class with a second class ticket. No bicycle transport.
• TGV 
• is a French high-speed train. Seat reservation compulsory when traveling internationally. Wheelchair reservation possible in the first class. You can take your bicycle with you but need a reservation for it. Self-service loading.

Figure 3.  Train connection from Kloten to Lucerne using SBB/CFF/FFS Timetable

Swiss timetable

Using Swiss Federal Railways (German: Schweizerische Bundesbahnen, SBB; French: Chemins de fer fédéraux suisses, CFF; Italian: Ferrovie federali svizzere, FFS) website, the national railway company of Switzerland, you can find train connection schedule one line.  For example, to search for the connection from Kloten to Lucerne using below search criteria, the search result is shown in Figure 3.

Kloten → Lucerne
Travel route: Wed, 26.06.2019. Arrival 13:00.

Must know about the Swiss timetable:

• The advanced timetable includes all modes of transportation, not just trains;
• The timetable shows the fastest route unless you specify a via-location;
• It shows ticket prices too. 
• A rail pass often saves you money.
• Note that Swiss Travel Pass covers most of train, bus, or boat rides in Switzerland; however,  it doesn't cover all of them.  
• For example, it covers rides from Lauterbrunnen up to Mt. Schilthorn; however, it doesn't cover rides from Wengen up to Jungfrau Region (refer to jungfrau.ch for more information).^[5]
• Apart from rail stations, you can also enter addresses in the "from" and "to" fields;
• It shows schedules until early December. 
• It will be updated around mid-October to include schedules until early December of the next year;
• Use the basic timetable for a quick search for trains between major towns.
• Avoid rush hours (check out Occupancy Rate)
• For example, if you choose IR 16 or IR 17 in Figure 4, it would be least crowded for both 1st and 2nd classes.
• Note that if you hold a Swiss Travel Pass with 2nd Class booking, you need board on the car (or carriage) with "2" label on its sides.  On the platform, it will probably show which sections are for 1st class (e.g. "A", "B", "C") or 2nd class (e.g., "C", "D", E").  So, wait on the correct sections of platform based on your booking class.
• The % sign in a black triangle in the left corner (see Figure 4) means Supersaver fares are available. You can ignore it. With a Swiss Travel Pass, you don’t need a ticket.

Figure 4.  Train connection from Bern to Zurich HB

References

1. Switzerland Train Travel Tips
2. Swiss Timetable
3. SBB CFF FFS Lockers
• Rail Service 0848 44 66 88Link opens in new window.
• CHF 0.08/min. (daily 24 hours)
4. myswissalps forum (good) 
5. Swiss Travel Pass vs. Jungfrau Travel Pass
6. VAT: HOW TO GET IT BACK AND SAVE ON SHOPPING IN SWITZERLAND

Switzerland Travel―Visiting Bern

Video 1.  Bern, Switzerland's Picturesque Arcade City (YouTube link)

Video 2.  Switzerland Travel―Visiting Bern's Clock Tower (YouTube link; 07/31/2019)

Video 3.  Switzerland Travel―Visiting Bern Old City (YouTube link)

The Zytglogge (Clock Tower), Parliament Building and Bear Park are just three of the countless sights Bern ⭐has to offer. Read [1] for more information for your visit of this Swiss unofficial capital.

10 Top Attractions

Based on TripAdvisor, it states that below attractions are the top 10 in Bern:

1. Old City (video)
2. Gurten
3. Rose Garden (Rosengarten)
4. Clock Tower - Zytglogge (video)
• This prominent landmark has for centuries kept time for Bern's residents and puts on an elaborate show each hour (visit 5 mins before the hour).
5. Cathedral of Bern (or Cathedral at Munsterplatz; video)
6. Bernisches Historisches Museum - Einstein Museum
7. Barenpark (video)
8. Aare River
9. Zentrum Paul Klee (Paul Klee Center)
10. Federal Building (Bundeshaus; video)

References

1. Bern Attractions
2. Things to do in Bern (TripAdvisor)
3. VAT: HOW TO GET IT BACK AND SAVE ON SHOPPING IN SWITZERLAND
4. Switzerland Travel―Visiting Bären Park in Bern 
5. Switzerland Travel―Visiting Mürren Flower Trail 
6. Switzerland Travel―Visiting Lion Monument and Glacier Garden of Lucerne 
7. Switzerland Travel―Visiting Church of St. Leodegar in Lucerne 
8. Switzerland Travel―Visiting Mt Schilthorn near Mürren 
9. Switzerland Hiking―from Murren to Gimmelward 
10. Switzerland Travel―Visiting Trümmelbach Falls in the Lauterbrunnen Valley 
11. Switzerland Hiking―from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg 
12. Switzerland Travel―Beautiful Scenery along the Reuss River 
13. Switzerland Travel―A Side Trip to Mt Pilatus from Lucerne 
14. Switzerland Travel―A Side Trip to Mt Rigi from Lucerne 
15. Switzerland Travel―Visiting Chapel Bridge in Lucerne 
16. Switzerland Travel―Visiting Jesuit Church in Lucerne

Switzerland Travel―Visiting Wengen

Video 1.  Jungfrau, Grindelwald and Wengen, Switzerland, in One Day

Figure 1.  The round trip taken in video 1 from Interlaken to Jungfrau 

Video 2. Schilthorn, Gimmelwald, Mürren, Trümmelbach Falls, Lauterbrunnen Valley, Interlaken

Figure 2. The round trip taken in video 2 from Lauterbrunnen to Schilthorn  

Figure 3.  Visiting Schilthorn from Lauterbrunnen (or Wengen)

Lauterbrunnen

You can use Lauterbrunnen (or Wengen) as your home base for visiting nearby mountains Jungfrau or Schilthorn (Figures 2 & 3).

Video 3. 

Figure 4. Wengen ― the gateway to both Lauterbrunen Valley (Right) and Grindelwald Valley (Left)

Wengen

Getting up into a car-free village gives one a much more “old Switzerland” feel. You can't go wrong with either Mürren or Wengen. We^[2] prefer Wengen because we like the views better from there (jaw-dropping), it is slightly larger, therefore, has more amenities (food stores, restaurants, shopping), is easier to get in and out of so is better as a base, and we think it has more of the quintessential Swiss mountain village "vibe" than does Mürren.

Nice walking trail in red and cable car in blue

Murren

• Famous Hotel Alpenruh with a beautiful Terrace.
• Walking trail from Murren to Gimmelward; then take cable car downhill; then take a public bus from Stechelberg to Lauterbrunnen
• Trümmelbachfälle (Trummelbach Fall) is on the way from Stechelberg to Lauterbrunnen

Video 4. Mürren, Switzerland: Exploring the Swiss Alps by Bike

Video 5.  How To Do The Swiss Alps | 2019 Travel Guide | Jungfrau Region

References

1. Lauterbrunnen, Bern Region
2. Best Base for Jungfrau Region
3. SBB Community (Swiss Travel Pass)
4. The best practical travel tips for Europe (good)
5. Swiss Travel Pass 2019 review: Is it good value or not?
6. SWISS PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM
7. Trail Guide (Männlichen - Kleine Scheidegg)
8. Switzerland Rail Passes and Train Tips (Rick Steves)
9. Airtime Paragliding
10. VAT: HOW TO GET IT BACK AND SAVE ON SHOPPING IN SWITZERLAND
11. Paragliding-Jungfrau

Switzerland Travel―Visiting Zurich

Zurich's Old Town extends about five blocks in from both sides of the river and stretches for about a mile. The right bank of Zurich, or east side, of the river has the larger cluster of old buildings and is considered the prime district for visitors. Much of your day can be devoted to exploring its many little side alleys and shops. Zurich is one of Switzerland's great cities for walking.

From ZRH to Zurich Main Station (Hauptbahnhof)

Figure 1. Train ride from ZRH to Zurich Main Station 

Figure 2.  Scenic Map provided by Hotel Alder

Figure 3.  Suggested clockwise walking tour from Main Train Station to  East Bank first and then West Bank

Figure 4. Suggested meandering walking tour going through side alleys and landmarks

Walking Tour

As suggested by Dennis Callan in his video below, you should take a clockwise walking tour from main train station towards old town (i.e. East bank of Limmat River) first.  On the way back, you will finally visit the modern side of Zurich (i.e. Bahnhofstrasse).

Figure 5. Migros/COOP Supermarket and Restaurants

Foods

For more than a century, one family has helped transform the way Europe eats. Haus Hiltl (location near main train station) is the worlds oldest vegetarian restaurant. Combining Indian, Asian, Mediterranean and Swiss influences, Haus Hiltl’s boundary-pushing menus have introduced generations of Swiss and Europeans to a rich ratatouille of vegetarian options. Diners line up at the 100-dish buffet to savour the homemade vegetarian and vegan dishes from around the world.

If you don't want to pay too much for foods, simply look for MIGROS or COOP supermarkets. These are Swiss biggest food markets which also happen to have some restaurants in many cities and the food is generally very good and quite cheap.

Figure 6.  Dishes at Hiltl (Photo from BBC Travel)

References

1. VAT: HOW TO GET IT BACK AND SAVE ON SHOPPING IN SWITZERLAND
2. 2 Days in Zurich Switzerland: The Best 2 Day Zurich itinerary