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Last Minute Scrambling - Lucerne?

Posted by (North Myrtle Beach, SC) on

I'm looking for some advice for the last day of my summer holiday. After a day and night in Lucerne, my plan was to spend my final day in Switzerland revisiting the Zurich Old Town area - and then heading for the airport. I've just learned that the Zurich Ironman competition is taking over the town on that day. The crowds will be horrendous and the streets will be blocked off. So, I'm looking for another option.

I could stay in Lucerne for that extra day, but am not sure what to do with it. Or I could go somewhere (?) else between there and the Zurich Airport. I'm touring the Lucerne old town area the day before. I suppose a boat ride might be nice, but I don't think I want to go up another mountain, considering I will have just spent four weeks in the Berner Oberland at high altitudes.

I would really appreciate any suggestions for a final Sunday near or around the Lucerne area.

Posted by
27211 posts

Both Bern and Basel can be reached in about an hour. Schaffhausen is just over 1-1/2 hours away from Lucerne.

There's nothing wrong with a lake trip, but I found that about 2 hours was plenty long enough. Beyond that it got repetitive.

If you want something more active, what about a lowland hike in the vicinity of one of the lakes?

Posted by
5690 posts

As usual, acraven's ideas are spot on. I've been to both Basel and Bern and I think both are perfect for a day trip. Basel has an absolutely beautiful and unique town hall. Basel is on the Rhine and the views behind the Munster are lovely. If you cross over the Rhine, the views of Basel's old town are spectacular. Where Basel is very colorful, Bern is more sedate. However, Bern has a really interesting clock tower, amazing fountains including the "baby eater", and interesting below ground level shops and restaurants accessed by cellar doors. We traveled to Bern especially for the huge Einstein exhibit that is in their history museum. You also can see Einstein's house, but it was closed when we were there.

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