Lake Lucerne + Mt Rigi or Lake Brienz + Stanserhorn?

Posted by Andy Scott (California) on 07/01/25 11:56 PM

We arrive late night in Zurich and have the next 3 full days + 2 nights before returning to Zurich for flight home. On the first day, we have to decide between Lake Lucerne + Mt Rigi loop, or Stanserhorn followed by cruise on Lake Brienz (or Lake Thun) on the way to Lauterbrunnen (our destination). Both the options above are covered under our SBB Day pass. We are not going to hike more than a short distance, just going to Rigi or Stanserhorn for the views. Also don't know how the cruise on Lake Brienz (or Thun) compares with cruise on Lake Lucerne.

After we arrive in Lauterbrunnen that evening, we will spend the next two days hiking in the Berner Oberland. . Which option of the two above would you choose?

Posted by wynoka54

07/02/25 12:54 AM

224 posts

You cant go wrong with either choice.
I have done both.
The open air Cabrio Stanserhorn might have a slight edge. There is a pretty easy circular hike at the summit (30 minutes), and the restaurant has a revolving restaurant (inner, raised seating- it fills fast).
I think the Lake Lucerne full cruise takes 4 hours, so I bet you are just doing the portion to get to Rigi. Lake Brienz (and the town of Brienz) are my favorites!

Posted by Andy Scott OP

California

07/02/25 04:56 AM

243 posts

wynoka54, you are correct, if we did Lake Lucerne + Rigi, it would just be the one hour boat ride to Vitznau from Lucerne. It sounds like you would prefer the Brienz cruise over the one hour Lake Lucerne cruise?

If we did Stanserhorn on day one and then went to Lauterbrunnen after that, we could take the train to Brienz on day 2 or 3 (after hiking in the morning), cruise from Brienz to Interlaken and return to Lauterbrunnen. We have day passes for all 3 days.

Posted by travelerguy

West Michigan

07/02/25 03:53 PM

461 posts

Also don't know how the cruise on Lake Brienz (or Thun) compares with cruise on Lake Lucerne.

Just my opinion, but the first half hour of the Lucerne cruise was just going past thousands of condos and such, the northern half of Lake Lucerne was much more scenic to me. Lake Brienz was in between. Very scenic, not very populated. It also stops at Geissbach Falls, which is very pretty to see.

Comparing Mt. Rigi to Stanserhorn, I'd pick Stanserhorn, amazing views, very nice outdoor eating.

Posted by Andy Scott OP

California

07/03/25 03:41 PM

243 posts

Thanks, travelerguy! The consensus looks like Stanserhorn over Rigi. We will try to do it on the way to Lauterbrunnen on the first day, or on day 3 on our way back to Zurich.

Posted by Pat

San Diego, California

07/03/25 11:15 PM

6645 posts

The travel times for Rigi and Stanserhorn are much different.
I love the one hour boat ride to Vitnau, which is where you catch the scenic cogwheel train up to the Rigi summit, which takes another 20 minutes. I believe it's an hour between trains back down, (but I'm not sure.) The boat arrival and cogwheel train times are coordinated. It's about a half day excursion.

Stanserhorn takes a total of about 45 minutes from the Lucerne train station to the summit, as it is quite close to Lucerne. One takes the train to the foot of the mountain, then catches a small trolley car upward, to the open air Cabrio cable car. We did this trip as an evening excursion for the sunset. It a much shorter adventure.

We did both on the same day: Rigi in the morning, and Stanserhorn in the evening.
Have a great trip!