Bern and Lucerne day trip recs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was in the region last summer. Both Bern and Lucerne are small cities and can be easily visited as half day trips plus lunch to cover all the main sights. Both are pretty places. But I wouldn't use them as bases when you have the spectacular Berner Oberland nearby.

If you are open to some hiking, I'd suggest staying in a place like Murren or splitting your time between Murren and another town on the other side of the valley. Lots of hotels and cottages. Do lovely walks up to a mountain hut for lunch and back down. The Piz Gloria is a fantastic mountain peak and much cheaper than doing the famous Jungjaufrau train. There's gorgeous waterfalls in the valley floor.

Regarding Swiss trains, yes, incredibly linked and organized but also very expensive. Since I was doing mostly walking, I got the half fare card and used it for trains and lifts and funiculars every now and then. If relying more on trains within the Berner Oberland there is a separate all inclusive pass that is worth checking out.

If I were planning a trip I might do one night in Bern after landing in Switzerland (assuming landing at Zurich, train to Bern), next afternoon proceed to Murren for four nights, then Murren to Lucerne for 1-2 nights including swimming in the lake, then end of trip.

I loved the Berner Oberland so much that I'm going back this August to do more walks and we're staying in Murren again for a few nights.

Is Murren more easily accessible to everthing compared to Grindelwald? I was reading something about where the daylight hits in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and why some areas may be better than others to stay at but now don't remember wat I read.

And where in Murren did you stay at?

I think Grindelwald has better transportation connections and is a somewhat bigger town (for better or worse). Murren is a small car-free town — very pretty with great views of the mountains but to go anywhere (aside from hiking in the area) you need to go down to Lauterbrunnen.

Lauterbrunnen is in a valley so I think some people don’t like that.

You could also look at Wengen, another small car-free town but I think it has somewhat better connections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Mt Pilatus is the big one from Lucerne.

We were just there and went up Mt Pilatus, and it was completely clouded in. So that was a waste of $300, the cost of 4 tickets to go up to the top.

That said, if it had been a nice day, it would have been wonderful. There are also hiking trails on the mountain plus an alpine slide and zip lining, so lots to do.

We loved Lucerne.

Curious why you didn't check their weather app before going up the mountain?

We had purchased the tickets weeks before so we though we might as well use the, and hope that it was clear up top. It was still glad we did it, though not at that price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Mt Pilatus is the big one from Lucerne.

We were just there and went up Mt Pilatus, and it was completely clouded in. So that was a waste of $300, the cost of 4 tickets to go up to the top.

That said, if it had been a nice day, it would have been wonderful. There are also hiking trails on the mountain plus an alpine slide and zip lining, so lots to do.

We loved Lucerne.

Curious why you didn't check their weather app before going up the mountain?

DP, but if you're going during the busy season you're booking time slots well in advance. So you're just rolling the dice on the weather.

[Anonymous]

Staying in Murren and Wengen this summer, got Airbnbs there. Was having decision paralysis because I liked different aspects of both places so went against general internet advice and am doing three nights in each. We love mountain towns! Will stay on either side of Lauterbrunnen for those days (Murren via ferrata, Schilthorn, Gimmelwald then spend the "transfer" day in Interlaken/Lauterbrunnen, then when in Wengen do Grindelwald/Mannlichen/Kleine Scheidegg/etc. Don't plan on Jungfrau area because so weather dependent and very $$ so I don't really think I will book anything in advance except my via ferrata equipment.

Plan on getting the Swiss half fare card and the Bernese Oberland Pass. It's expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Staying in Murren and Wengen this summer, got Airbnbs there. Was having decision paralysis because I liked different aspects of both places so went against general internet advice and am doing three nights in each. We love mountain towns! Will stay on either side of Lauterbrunnen for those days (Murren via ferrata, Schilthorn, Gimmelwald then spend the "transfer" day in Interlaken/Lauterbrunnen, then when in Wengen do Grindelwald/Mannlichen/Kleine Scheidegg/etc. Don't plan on Jungfrau area because so weather dependent and very $$ so I don't really think I will book anything in advance except my via ferrata equipment.

Plan on getting the Swiss half fare card and the Bernese Oberland Pass. It's expensive.

There is no reason at all to visit Interlaken on the way from Murren to Wengen (it would be far out of your way).

You can drive yourself crazy trying to figure out what the right amount to spend on rail cards is. Often just getting the half fare card is good enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was in the region last summer. Both Bern and Lucerne are small cities and can be easily visited as half day trips plus lunch to cover all the main sights. Both are pretty places. But I wouldn't use them as bases when you have the spectacular Berner Oberland nearby.

If you are open to some hiking, I'd suggest staying in a place like Murren or splitting your time between Murren and another town on the other side of the valley. Lots of hotels and cottages. Do lovely walks up to a mountain hut for lunch and back down. The Piz Gloria is a fantastic mountain peak and much cheaper than doing the famous Jungjaufrau train. There's gorgeous waterfalls in the valley floor.

Regarding Swiss trains, yes, incredibly linked and organized but also very expensive. Since I was doing mostly walking, I got the half fare card and used it for trains and lifts and funiculars every now and then. If relying more on trains within the Berner Oberland there is a separate all inclusive pass that is worth checking out.

If I were planning a trip I might do one night in Bern after landing in Switzerland (assuming landing at Zurich, train to Bern), next afternoon proceed to Murren for four nights, then Murren to Lucerne for 1-2 nights including swimming in the lake, then end of trip.

I loved the Berner Oberland so much that I'm going back this August to do more walks and we're staying in Murren again for a few nights.

Is Murren more easily accessible to everthing compared to Grindelwald? I was reading something about where the daylight hits in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and why some areas may be better than others to stay at but now don't remember wat I read.

And where in Murren did you stay at?

The whole Berner Oberland is well connected if you are moving up and down the same valley. Grindelwald is a bigger town and has direct transportation links to it but while it will have more shops and restaurants it won't have the charm of a village hanging on to the sides of the mountain slopes, as Murren and Wengen do. Very different vibes. Would strongly recommend making the extra connections to Murren or Wengen. As a bonus hotels will be slightly cheaper. Downside is far fewer dining options but Murren has a few that are pretty good, including one delicious Chinese-Singaporean restaurant and the hotels tend to have their own dining room and you can get meals included with your room rates. We stayed in the Hotel Regina in Murren, a delightful old hotel that has very simple bedrooms but a wonderful dining room with great breakfasts and we also dined there one night and it was excellent too. Loved the belle epoque atmosphere.

The cable cars make it easy to go up and down from the valley floor to the villages and it's part of the fun. Walking is also easier than you might think. We took the cable car down to the valley and a short bus to visit a rather spectacular and fun waterfall, and also to take another long walk up to the far valley end before returning the same way. We also walked up to mountain huts for lunch and returned, and took the cable car further up to the Piz Gloria, which was spectacular.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was in the region last summer. Both Bern and Lucerne are small cities and can be easily visited as half day trips plus lunch to cover all the main sights. Both are pretty places. But I wouldn't use them as bases when you have the spectacular Berner Oberland nearby.

If you are open to some hiking, I'd suggest staying in a place like Murren or splitting your time between Murren and another town on the other side of the valley. Lots of hotels and cottages. Do lovely walks up to a mountain hut for lunch and back down. The Piz Gloria is a fantastic mountain peak and much cheaper than doing the famous Jungjaufrau train. There's gorgeous waterfalls in the valley floor.

Regarding Swiss trains, yes, incredibly linked and organized but also very expensive. Since I was doing mostly walking, I got the half fare card and used it for trains and lifts and funiculars every now and then. If relying more on trains within the Berner Oberland there is a separate all inclusive pass that is worth checking out.

If I were planning a trip I might do one night in Bern after landing in Switzerland (assuming landing at Zurich, train to Bern), next afternoon proceed to Murren for four nights, then Murren to Lucerne for 1-2 nights including swimming in the lake, then end of trip.

I loved the Berner Oberland so much that I'm going back this August to do more walks and we're staying in Murren again for a few nights.

Is Murren more easily accessible to everthing compared to Grindelwald? I was reading something about where the daylight hits in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and why some areas may be better than others to stay at but now don't remember wat I read.

And where in Murren did you stay at?

The whole Berner Oberland is well connected if you are moving up and down the same valley. Grindelwald is a bigger town and has direct transportation links to it but while it will have more shops and restaurants it won't have the charm of a village hanging on to the sides of the mountain slopes, as Murren and Wengen do. Very different vibes. Would strongly recommend making the extra connections to Murren or Wengen. As a bonus hotels will be slightly cheaper. Downside is far fewer dining options but Murren has a few that are pretty good, including one delicious Chinese-Singaporean restaurant and the hotels tend to have their own dining room and you can get meals included with your room rates. We stayed in the Hotel Regina in Murren, a delightful old hotel that has very simple bedrooms but a wonderful dining room with great breakfasts and we also dined there one night and it was excellent too. Loved the belle epoque atmosphere.

The cable cars make it easy to go up and down from the valley floor to the villages and it's part of the fun. Walking is also easier than you might think. We took the cable car down to the valley and a short bus to visit a rather spectacular and fun waterfall, and also to take another long walk up to the far valley end before returning the same way. We also walked up to mountain huts for lunch and returned, and took the cable car further up to the Piz Gloria, which was spectacular.

Yes Murren and Wengen are the picturesque mountain village on the side of a mountain but if you want a base to explore the BO then Grindelwald is a pretty good compromise between access and cute town, although Wengen would be a good alternative if you want the car-free village thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Staying in Murren and Wengen this summer, got Airbnbs there. Was having decision paralysis because I liked different aspects of both places so went against general internet advice and am doing three nights in each. We love mountain towns! Will stay on either side of Lauterbrunnen for those days (Murren via ferrata, Schilthorn, Gimmelwald then spend the "transfer" day in Interlaken/Lauterbrunnen, then when in Wengen do Grindelwald/Mannlichen/Kleine Scheidegg/etc. Don't plan on Jungfrau area because so weather dependent and very $$ so I don't really think I will book anything in advance except my via ferrata equipment.

Plan on getting the Swiss half fare card and the Bernese Oberland Pass. It's expensive.

Is Gimmelwald on your list because of Rick Steves? That is one of his more inexplicable raves. I mean it’s a perfectly nice stop if you’ve hiked down from the huts or you want to stay in a hostel but otherwise it’s just a cluster of house and a restaurant.