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Luzern / Lucerne - A perfect day itinerary in winter Dec? Lake Cruise

Hi all!

I have about 1.5 days in Luzern / Lucerne with my family of 8 (with elderly and kids). This is our first time in Switzerland.

Any suggestions for a day itinerary to explore/enjoy the area? Is a Lake Lucerne cruise winter (19 December) a fun (not too cold) activity to do?

RS recommended this website but I am not sure which tour / route to choose - https://www.lakelucerne.ch/en

Also is Jungfraujoch a must-do that we should do a day tour / trip from Lucerne? But a guided tour on Viator is about $400 per pax!

Thanks!

Best,
Wendy

Posted by
5639 posts

First, Viator is a third-party broker. If you want a tour, go directly to a tour company. Viator may cancel your reserved tour a few days before, if they can't find an available company. You also save money going directly to the tour company.

However, for Lucerne , there is no need for a tour. You can check the boat schedules and decide how long you want to go out and cruise. Even in winter, the countryside is beautiful. Just ride out to a stop, and catch the next boat back.

We were in Lucerne for the Xmas markets a few years ago, and decided to go up to Mt. Rigi. We took the boat to the Vitnau stop, (1 hour), and the cogwheel train was coordinated to take us up to the summit. If you have great weather, it's a fantastic trip. For us, it was cloudy at street level, but the train took us above the clouds, to bright blue skies and fresh powdery snow. We were above the tree line and above the clouds. I can't describe how thrilling the experience was! (You should be able to find a live camera feed online, to see how clear the summit is, when deciding whether to go.)
This was a half-day trip for us.

Enjoy this beautiful country. Safe travels!

Jungfraujoch is a major expedition if you're staying in the Berner Oberland. It would make for a very long day for you, and a gamble with the mountain weather.

Posted by
33930 posts

no tour is required for Jungfraujoch.

It is very easy - train from Luzern to Interlaken Ost, train up to Lauterbrunnen and follow the crowds. But it expensive even without a guide (not needed), and with 5 hours on the train back and forth between Luzern and Lauterbrunnen plus about that on the train to Jungfraujoch and time there it is an awfully long day, much longer than I would want for a day trip.

If you want the Jungfraujoch you need to be closer to Lauterbrunnen than 2 and a half hours away.

Plus the cost

Posted by
33930 posts

sunrise to sunset is 8:08 to 16:42 (4:42pm) in Lauterbrunnen on the 19th of December, 2 days off the shortest day of the year. It will be dark much earlier in the shade.

Do you want to be returning from your Jungfraujoch adventure in the dark, or wouldn't that matter?

Posted by
1632 posts

For the Lucerne boat trip, I suggest you take the full route with stops. There are lots to see, including Mt Rigi.