We (my wife, 2 boys 10 and 12 years old, and myself) are finally visiting Switzerland next week and the family is excited! July 9 is travel day to Italy. This post only focuses on the Switzerland leg.
Priminarily our itinerary is:
July 3 — Zurich → Lucerne
🏨 Lucerne (Night 1)
- Arrive Zurich Airport
- Train to Lucerne (~1 hr 15 min)
- Old Town
- Chapel Bridge
- Lakefront walk
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July 4 — Mount Rigi
🏨 Lucerne (Night 2)
- Boat + cogwheel train to Mount Rigi
- Optional swim in Lake Lucerne
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July 5 — Lucerne → Lake Brienz → Wengen
🏨 Wengen (Night 1)
Transit
- Lucerne → Interlaken Ost (~1 hr 50 min)
- Boat to Giessbach Falls (~1 hr)
- Giessbach Falls → Wengen (~1 hr 30 min)
Activities
- Lake Brienz
- Historic funicular
- Walk behind waterfall
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July 6 — Schilthorn Day
🏨 Wengen (Night 2)
Visit:
- Gimmelwald
- Mürren
- Birg
- Schilthorn
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July 7 — Grindelwald First
🏨 Wengen (Night 3)
- Grindelwald First
- Cliff Walk
- Bachalpsee
- Optional zipline, carts, trottibikes
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July 8 — Männlichen
🏨 Wengen (Night 4)
- Männlichen
- Royal Walk
- Easy hiking
- Relax in Wengen
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July 9 — Wengen → Bergamo
🏨 Bergamo (Night 1)
Transit
- Wengen → Interlaken Ost (~25 min)
- Interlaken Ost → Lucerne (~1 hr 50 min)
- Lucerne → Arth-Goldau (~30 min)
Booked Train
EC19
- Arth-Goldau 12:18
- Milano Centrale 14:50
- Duration: 2 hr 32 min
Then:
- Milano Centrale → Bergamo (~50 min)
My questions are this:
1. Is it doable to go to Giessbach Falls en route to Wengen from Lucerne? If so should we get off the train in Brienz or Interlaken? What are pros and cons of each? Are the falls worth a stop with everything else we are packing in?
With us traveling in July what is the best timing and avenues to secure luggage storage if we stop in Brienz?
What is the best app to monitor weather on the day?
On the outbound to Italy I only pre booked the EC from Arth-Goldau to Milano Centrale. Is it ok to buy all the other trains as we go. I am going to buy the Swiss half fare card.
- Anything I should consider changing?