Too crazy? We would be sleeping in Lucern and start out for Wengen by train early AM. Back to the Lucern hotel by evening. This would happen in mid April. Thanks for any thoughts.
Posted by
4434 posts
The quickest train I see (one way) is two and a half hours.
Some people do long day trips if they think they will never be back or if it is for something really important, etc. But I see no logic in this--there are many gorgeous mountain views near Lucerne.
Posted by
201 posts
Why Wengen? In mid-April walking/hiking paths would be likely be impassible due to mud or snow. Mountain lifts are often closed for maintenance then since ski season is over, From Luzern you could spend a day visiting Mt. Pilatus or Mt. Rigi which are nearby. Other mountains in that region are Titlis and Stanserhorn.
Posted by
Wengen
1708 posts
Easter this year is March 31st. Normally after Easter the Ski season in Wengen winds down, and the place becomes very quiet till the summer season starts. Most of the restaurants, the cable cars will be closed, and I doubt many hiking paths will be open. So yes, this is probably not the time to come to Wengen.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32817 posts
The train from Luzern via the Brünig pass goes through some really beautiful scenery (sit on the right, and stay there but turn around after the train turns around in Meiringen) and one year quite early there was beautiful snow all around for me to enjoy, but April is really early unless you are interested in snow sports in which case it is very late.
In general, not the best time for a visit to Wengen. But scenic from the train...
Posted by
Chicago
2682 posts
As much as I love Wengen, I don’t think it would be worth the effort.
Lucerne has so much to offer so I would spend the time there. Great mountain options--Rigi, Pilatus, Titlis, and Stanserhorn.
But, if you’re set on going to Wengen, it can certainly be done. I would get up early and get on the 6 or 7 am train. I did a 2.5 hour each way day trip from Monteux to Zermatt and it was fabulous. The trains are comfortable, and like nigel said, great scenery.
Posted by
Thun, Switzerland
486 posts
This is something that I would absolutely do - if you want to see Wengen then why not? Two and a half hours one way is no trouble for a day trip, and as people have already said this a a very beautiful train ride!
Realizing what it will be like there (quiet, no mountain hikes, etc.) - as long as this is okay with you, then go for it.
What I love about Wengen is that you have wonderful views down the Lauterbrunnen valley. You can wander some of the walks around the village. Bring along something like Yaktrax to slip on your feet incase you come across icy patches. https://yaktrax.com
I went up Kleine Scheidegg on April 10th this year (looked at the date on my photos) and loved it! Just took the train up, took lots of photos, enjoyed the view, ate lunch and went back down again.
Posted by
OP
Durham
66 posts
Thanks all for the ideas, the realistic ones and the encouraging ones. We visited Wengen for a few days 4 years ago and loved it. The train ride there is beautiful and I sure we could make it a memorable day trip. But we’ve not visited the mountains near Lucern so something to ponder. So many beautiful places in Switzerland, never enough time!