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Wanted feedback on the Switzerland portion of our September trip! Wengen/Lucerne

Hi! We're doing an anniversary trip starting early next month, first half of it in Switzerland. Wanted to hear if any of these things in each day need to be cut out or re-arranged due to things I might not have thought of. We are wanting a mix of light to moderate hiking (really want to do Augstmatthorn ridge), some time on lakes, some nice overlooks, one or two high altitude viewpoints, either cycling or paragliding or ziplining of some sort, trying the typical fondue, chocolate, tourist stuff in the towns.

We will have the half fare card and then likely the BO pass (unless the weather looks bad then will probably not buy this since even maximizing travel every day it about breaks even with just the half fare card alone for this trip).

Day 1: Land in Zurich 8am. Train to Wengen. Arrive by around 1pm ish. If weather is good, do Manlichen panoramic walk (1.5hr). Hang out in Wengen, fight jetlag, get groceries, get a drink, hotel sauna.

(Days 2-5 are in order of days with the best to worst weather not necessarily by date. )

Day 2 (biggest day, best weather): 7am train then bus to Lombachalp, hike shortcut up to Augstmatthorn then to Harder Kulm (about 5hr total). Finish around 2pm. Either eat a meal at harder kulm then take 5/6pm boat on lake Thun for a sunset ride vs skip eating and head straight down to catch 3pm boat onto lake Thun, spend time relaxing in either Spiez or Thun/Oberhofen and lakefront parks, train back to Wengen in evening.

Day 3: Schlithorn/Piz Gloria. Train to Murren around 8am ish, head up and eat meal at Piz Gloria vs just get coffee, Birg thrill walk, then back in Murren around 1pm. Light hike around Murren/Gimmelwald. If time, do something in Lauterbrunnen on way back. Can also just go up Schlithorn in afternoon if weather better then.

Day 4: Grindelwald. If haven't yet done Manlichen walk, do this in AM from Wengen. Train into Grindelwald by late morning. Gondola up to First, hike Bachalpsee (2hr total), then ride Trottibikes down to Grindelwald, should be done by late afternoon.

Day 5: Flex/rainy day. Trummelbach falls in Lauterbrunnen, make fondue, eat chocolate, hang out at hotel sauna, etc. If we magically have another sunny day, would likely do a day trip to kandersteg (2hr each way) for lake Oeschinen and lake Blausee.

Day 6: Early train to Lucerne (2.5hr). If time/ weather good, could visit Mt Pilatus. Nice dinner in town.

Day 7: Hang out in Lucerne, see bridge, old town. Train to Italy leaving at 4pm.

Let me know if you would cut things out, add things, or switch priority order of things for weather!

Thanks!

Posted by
1088 posts

*I’m assuming you’ve seen some social media posts of Augstmatthorn and have fallen in love, but there are more convenient options that are just as great. Especially with jet lag it’s not exactly easy to get up and going super early for a huge hike and the combo of multiple trains and buses is not going to be fun. I also think you’re underestimating how long that whole Day 2 plan is going to take. The ridge hike up at Schynige Platte is a much simpler logistics option with views just incredible of the lake and mountains along the ridge (Daube/Oberberghorn/Loucherhorn)
You do a simple train from Wengen > Lauterbrunnen > Wilderswil and then take the open air scenic cog train up to SP. The views are amazing up there and it’s a hiking paradise. Harder Kulm is a tourist trap, the food isn’t good and in general I think you’ll find that hike is not a great option from Wengen.

*If you go up to the Schilthorn in the morning, you can’t just have coffee. It’s a required brunch reservation and I’d skip it. You get the views by going up, no need to sit in the actual restaurant.

Posted by
11 posts

Very true.. especially if that's our first day there and have gotten 2 hours of sleep, making 5 connections at 7am and a big hike and being out late could be pretty rough. SP does look nice and would save several hours to get those ridge views. And that's good to know about Piz Gloria!