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More time in Lucerne or Wengen?

Posted by on

Planning our Northern Italy 🇮🇹 and Switzerland 🇨🇭 trip in early September 2026. From Varenna, our itinerary so far:

Day 1: AM train to Lucerne, PM explore Lucerne, (overnight in Lucerne)

Day 2: Mt Pilatus (overnight in Lucerne)

Day 3: AM train Lucerne to Wengen; Lauterbrunnen and waterfalls (overnight Wengen)

Day 4: Grindelwald first (overnight Wengen)

Day 5: Schilthorn, Murren (overnight Wengen)

Day 6: Do a hike in the morning, like Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg via Panorama trail; PM train Wengen to Zurich (overnight in Zurich because we have early flight the next day)

Day 7: Fly home

Does it make more sense to stay in Lucerne the second night (Day 2) and use the morning of Day 3 to take the train to Wengen OR just stay 1 night in Lucerne, and travel to Wengen later on Day 2?

Posted by
1062 posts

"Explore" can mean different things to different people, so perhaps you should outline the other activities you want to engage in in Lucerne. If you go on to Wengen on Day 2 you will really have only one full day in Lucerne, which has a lot to offer. It takes 2.5 to 3 hours to get to Wengen from Lucerne so it will either be an all-evening trip or an all-morning trip.

Posted by
1144 posts

Go to Wengen earlier - you'll need the extra time as weather buffer for your list of activities.

Posted by
2982 posts

I’d spend more time in Wengen. Though as pointed out by JJR, spending an extra day in Lucerne is not a bad option. Just not the best IMHO.

Posted by
1726 posts

We spent 4 nights in Wengen in 2024 and didn’t want to leave. Just sitting on a bench at the end of town, overlooking the Lauterbrunnen Valley is an incredible experience, in my opinion. Not to mention waking up to cow bells…..priceless.

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