Hello,
After staying a couple of days in Bettmeralp, we will be traveling to Luzern. For the most scenic train route, which trains are advisable? We will have taken the Glacier Express route on our way to Bettmeralp. Should we go via Brig or Andermatt to Luzern?
Thanks for your insights.
C
If you go via Andermatt, you will be backtracking on the Glacier Express route. You can still turn this into a great scenic trip if you then go from Andermatt to Göschenen, then Flüelen, then on a boat to Luzern.
The train journey to Flüelen takes about 3:15, and the boat trip (hourly) takes 3 hrs.
Or you could go via Brig, the old Lotschberg railway to Spiez, then to Interlaken Ost, and the Luzern-Interlaken Express to Luzern. Total travel time is 5:30. To find this route, specify "via Kandersteg" (to force routing through the old Lötschberg Railway instead of the base tunnel) and "via Meiringen" (for the Luzern-Interlaken Express instead of the quicker route via Bern).
Given the choice, I'd go through Andermatt, because the boat trip is more "unique", but it is hard to choose!
Thanks for routing hints. I'm still torn!
I’d say Balso has made the best suggestion for a scenic route—via Andermatt and Göschenen over the Gotthard Pass route, then to Flüelen to catch a boat to Luzern. I recall seeing hanging glaciers and nice snow-covered peaks from the train on that route. There is a short tunnel near the top, but the route is mostly over the mountains, not under them.
If you go via Brig, you must plan carefully to avoid the long Lötschberg Basistunnel as Balso explained. And there is still a tunnel between Brig and Kandersteg, so you are going under the main mountains. I seem to recall that older Lötschberg tunnel lasts about 25 minutes. Once you get to Spiez, if you avoid the Bern route, you have a fairly scenic ride along the lakes (Thunersee and then Brienzersee after Interlaken), but to me that is not as beautiful as the alpine views on the Gotthard Pass route. The best part of this route to me is the Brunig Pass after Meiringen, with a waterfall.
Okay, I'm convinced. Will head back to Andermatt and go north. Thanks for the help.
If you don't want to take the boat from Fluelen to Luzern, you can just continue on the train to Luzern in a lot less time than using the boat. Many trains continue direct to Luzern. You may have to change trains at Arth-Goldau.
If you do want to take the boat from Fluelen, you use the "advanced search" function, putting Fluelen in as a stopover, then click on "type of transport". You can then deselect all forms of transport except ship from Fluelen to Luzern. Then you will see the schedule which includes the boat ride.
Thanks, Sam. I think we will continue to Luzern on the train. We will be taking a couple other boat rides on the lake, so I wasn't looking forward to another 3 hours.
I appreciate everyone's help. Thanks for your expertise.
Indeed, if you plan to, say, visit Rigi while in Luzern, the crossing from Luzern to Weggis or Vitznau is enough! No need to do the whole thing from Flüelen.
