Lucerne to Salzburg Overnight Train

It departs at 21:54 and arrives at 07:58. Unfortunately there are a few transfers (Lucerne -> Basel -> Karlsruhe -> Munich -> Salzburg). Around here, we say, "That's not a night train - it's a nightmare." I would NOT do it.

In my mind, it's at least one step less crazy to take the night train that departs Zurich at 21:40, arrives to Salzburg at 3:22, and departs Salzburg at 4:36, so you have to get off by 4:30 (unless you have the very good luck that they unhook that car and leave it there.

But I also think the daytime ride from Zurich to Salzburg through Austria provides worthwhile scenery.

I was literally reading that page on this site when a notification popped up and I saw your response.

There are only three transfers and the first transfer takes place only 1 hour and 5 minutes after we board from Lucerne so that isn't terrible. I anticipated being awake at 22:59 anyway. The next one isn't great because it arrives at 01:27 and leaves at 02:11. However, it's almost another four hours before we stop in Munich at 06:02. Leave Munich at 06:23 and get to Salzburg at 07:58.

To me, the only bummer is the second stop. Would it be nice to get a full night's sleep and not have to make that transfer? Absolutely.

We're going to have a pretty low-key time in Salzburg the next few days so I wasn't worried about missing out on a great sleep. Maybe I will look into the Zurich to Salzburg option like you mentioned.

I am concerned that you are getting off an overnight train trip where you will barely be able to nap then renting a car for a considerable day trip. I think you will also miss some great scenery. A few hours in Luzern will be rather meaningless. Take the 13:32 to Salzburg and be fresh for your day trip to Hallstatt.

oh dear.

Info about the scenery from Zurich to Innsbruck which is part of the way to Salzburg. Seat 61

The sane option is to skip Luzern.
The insane option, but less gruelling that what you're asking about, is to take the Zurich-Vienna overnight train to Linz (arrival ~5 AM), and backtrack to Salzburg which you could reach by 8 AM. More comfortable than getting off at Salzburg at 3.30 AM. But you'd have to pay me to do this.

I missed the picking up a rental car part of the equation. You might as well pick up the car in Linz, if you choose the overnight train.

timothysain, you dont say how many nights/days you will be in Mürren. I strongly suggest that you take your trip up the Schilthorn on any of those mornings or afternoons when the weather on top is good. Don't put it off to the last morning. If you can manage that, you can head for Salzburg earlier in the day.

My time in Murren is filled up with paragliding and bike rides. Schilthorn I'm sure would be nice, but it isn't the first thing I want to do while I'm there.

A little more info about why I was considering the overnight. I'm in my mid 30s and my mom is late 60s. We're both very capable of being on the go and doing things. We are regularly spending 14-16 hours a day out on these trips doing things. Neither of us are foodies so that doesn't interest us. Museums are fun but I'm not about to spend 10 hours in the Louvre. My mom wants to see as much as possible and that's what I'm trying to make happen. It was even getting to a point where I was having to tell her, "I'm not so sure we can make that happen." I have a rental car for the sole reason of taking it from Salzburg to Hallstatt and back. I will technically have the rental for 24 hours but in reality I'll be using it for closer to 12 hours because I'll return it that day. I have already done this trip to Hallstatt before and it's a simple, pleasant drive that's a little over an hour. I'm a teacher flying from California and have about a 16 day break during late September and early October and am using every single day for travel and then an extra one. I expect to be exhausted when I return home from Europe. Sitting idle or moving slowly does not suit what we want to do.

I understand this is not ideal for all travelers but for me it isn't an issue.