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Paris & Switzerland -please advice needed

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We arrive in Paris on 12/25/2024 and plan to visit Switzerland before returning to Paris to spend New Year's Eve. Due to a significant price difference, we had to fly directly into Paris instead of Switzerland.

I'm trying to decide where to spend 12/25 and 12/26. I was considering taking a train to Lucerne and spending a couple of days there before heading to Interlaken for a few days, then returning to Paris for NYE.

Question:
Are these dates in December a good time to visit Lucerne? Will most attractions and restaurants be open during (12/25–12/26)?
If not, are there better alternatives for these dates in Switzerland?

Tentative Itinerary:

12/25: Arrive in Paris and travel to Lucerne.
12/25–12/27: Explore Lucerne.
12/27–12/30: Stay in Interlaken and explore nearby towns (e.g., Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald).
12/30–01/03: Return to Paris for sightseeing and NYE celebrations.

I’d love suggestions or feedback on this plan. Open to changes or other ideas!

Posted by
158 posts

Most restaurants will be open on December 25th, and they are likely to be very busy. It's a good idea to check with specific restaurants in advance and perhaps also see if you need to make a reservation. I usually eat out with my extended family on Christmas Day and the restaurant is always very full.

December 26th is generally quieter, with more restaurants closed.

Stores typically close early on December 24th, around 4:00 PM, and remain closed through December 26th.

Mountain excursions will still be available but may also be quite busy. Here is an example of Christmas at Pilatus

https://www.pilatus.ch/en/discover/christmas

These patterns are not unique to Luzern and are common across most of Switzerland. However, some cantons, such as Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel, Valais, and Vaud, do not observe St. Stephen’s Day (December 26). This means destinations like Zermatt or Montreux may have more things open on that day. Still, this is something I would check on their websites before assuming anything.

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