I'm in the planning stages of a trip to Switzerland in late June. I'd like to spend a couple of nights in Bern and a couple in Lucerne (among other places). The way my dates fall, I'll be in one city on a Monday through Wednesday and the other on a Friday through Sunday, but I'm not yet sure which one I'll see when. Is one particularly better than the other as a weekend as opposed to a weekday destination?
Posted by
Houston, TX
219 posts
It depends on what you want to do there.
Luzern:
Almost all the shops are closed in the Old Town of Luzern on Sundays (except the Victorinox store).
The Rosengart Collection museum in Luzern is open daily, as is the Transportation Museum.
The lake ships run daily.
You can visit the nearby mountains, like Rigi, Titlis, and Pilatus, any day of the week.
Bern:
The Einstein Museum in the Bern Historical Museum is closed on Monday, as is the Paul Klee museum in Bern.
I haven't visited Bern on a Sunday, but I found most stores in Switzerland to be closed on Sundays, except convenience stores attached to train stations.
Posted by
OP
Maryland, USA
533 posts
Thanks - this is helpful.
Posted by
Medford, OR, USA
5837 posts
The Swiss are pretty civilized and one of the happiest countries in the world.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunday_shopping#Switzerland
Federal labour law in Switzerland generally prohibits the employment
of staff on Sundays. The law provides for exceptions for very small
shops, shops in certain tourist areas as well as shops in major train
stations and airports. The latter provision was adopted in a 2005
popular referendum in which it was opposed by labour unions and
conservative Christian groups. Moreover, the cantons may allow shops
to open on up to four Sundays a year.
.