Does this sound like a good travel plan?

Plan 2 is the winner.

I would choose Plan 2.

Plan 2- the first day is a really long on jet lag, Zurich to Luzern, then Luzern to Interlaken Ost, and onto Murren. You'll need to be alert for at least one train change to Interlaken Ost, and then the three changes up the mountain. I sure hope you have light luggage.

Can you consider going from Murren to Basel on the day you get on the boat? Will probably take 3+ hours. Or- add another day?

Safe travels and enjoy your trip!

I see from Cissy’s other post that the trip is next June. What time are you supposed to board the boat in Basel? It may well be possible to get there from Muerren the same day, so you can stay in Muerren on Wednesday as well.

As for the jet lag issue and Plan 2, I don’t think it is a big problem. They will want to be outside and active during the day to help adjust their personal time clocks. Heading straight to Luzern makes good sense because there are hourly trains that depart from the Zurich airport that go directly to Luzern with no change at the Zurich main station. So that makes it easy even if one is a bit woozy from the flight. A direct train departs the airport station at 7:15 am, giving them ample time to deplane, go through arrival formalities, buy train tickets, maybe stop in the small grocery at the station to pick up snacks, etc., before boarding the train. Then enjoy the 1-hour 10 minute ride to Luzern. They can stow their luggage in a locker at the station (we did this 15 years ago) and head outside to explore and maybe find a light breakfast.

I wouldn’t spend the whole day in Luzern though; I suggest having lunch there (we found a nice little cafe/wine bar with outside tables near the river for this) and then heading to Muerren in time to arrive there around 3 or 4 pm, the hotel’s check-in time. Settle in, take a refreshing shower, maybe a brief rest, and head back outside to explore until dinner time.

At least that is the type of schedule that works for us on our arrival day in Europe. We aim to get to bed around 9 pm local time, then usually sleep a good 10 hours, and wake up on Day 2 ready to hit the ground running.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/switzerland/swiss-travel-pass-25-off-purchase-from-nov-11-dec-11

Pls note above-this is a great sale for Swiss rail.

Awesome suggestions. I’ll look into boarding time for the boat. We will grab those discounted tickets for the rail travel. This is all so much good information. Really, thank you all for helping. 😁❤️😁❤️

Just wanted to throw another idea out there. If you decide to spend that first night in Lucerne, you could then spend the first half of the next day with the boat and train combo up to Mt. Riggi (this journey will be covered at 100% if you purchase the discounted Swiss Travel Pass). Then, later that afternoon, you could travel to Murren if you like. Mt. Riggi was one of my favorite things when I was in Switzerland in Sept. The views from both the boat and train were incredible.

Arriving in Zurich, then heading to Lucerne, then later heading to Murren, seems like a lot of travel for that first day. But, I know your time is limited. I can’t recall if you mentioned how much luggage you will have. That should be a factor when you consider how many train changes your journeys have. Will you be able to easily handle your luggage on and off the trains and find space for the luggage once on the trains. We travelled with 24 and 26 inch suitcases and there were a couple of train connections we had to run with our luggage to make. Of course, there’s always a later train, but that adds to the journey time. And we had difficulty finding room on some of the trains for the suitcases. We never saw any of the nice big luggage racks at the end of train cars that I have seen in pictures.

Edited to add: Before you decide on an option, I suggest downloading the SBB app (or looking on the SBB website) and put in your start and end points so you can look at the journey and see how much time and train changes are involved. You’ll see that there are different options. We learned quickly to pick the one with less train changes as that was easier for us.

I’ll download it tonight. Thanks!

I think you’re trying to see too much. From Zürich Flughafen airport I would go to Mürren (3h 15m) but does require four transfers. This is Switzerland’s highlight and should not be rushed.
While visiting the Berner Oberland ride the Schilthornbahn cable car from Stechelberg to the Schilthorn peak and visit the Piz Gloria restaurant. You can also ride the Jungfraubahn train. If you’re interested in hiking work your way to Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg or go to Gimmelwald. I would go to Basel from Mürren.

Appreciate the advice and travel tips!! Love this forum!!!!

We did exactly as Lola suggested in 2019 — deplane in Zurich, direct train to Luzern, stash the bags in a locker at the train station, walk around town and brunch in Luzern, then train to Muerren, arriving 3:00 or so. Check in, shower, short hike from Muerren, early dinner, early bedtime. It was perfect and I’d do it again.

Definitely use the SBB app to plan your travel. Even though it looks intimidating with all the transfers, you will find when you get to Switzerland that it is super easy and seamless — you will just flow from one train to another.

Even in our jet lagged state (and I am terribly thick that first day), getting to Muerren was very easy,; the multiple changes were simple to navigate.

Just make sure to pack as light as you can: fewer, smaller bags make switching trains easier. But we had no trouble even with our luggage and my disabled son in a stroller, so you’ll be fine.

Have fun planning! Switzerland is amazing, and Muerren is especially breathtaking. Stay there as long as you can; you won’t regret it.