I'm good at doing research for my travel adventures, which includes reading helpful tips and advice from Forum members of course, but for the first time in a long time I am (very) indecisive about a decision I need to make, so my question is "What would you do?". Next month I will be staying 4 nights in Wengen and 4 nights in Murren. Afterwards I was heading to Lucerne for 2 nights, which recently became 3. Last September I did spend 4 nights in Murren and 2 in Lucerne, and I am back this year to accomplish what I ran out of time for last year.
My dilemma: I have an opportunity to spend 2 extra nights in Murren, but that would leave me with only a partial day and one night in Lucerne. Last year we wanted to go to Mt. Rigi or Mt. Pilatus, but the weather did not cooperate on the one full day we had, so we visited The Swiss Museum of Transport instead (which was great!). This year, with 2 full days, I planned one of the mountain visits, leaning towards Mt. Rigi, plus a half day at Stanserhorn, then a quiet afternoon and evening of strolling and views from my balcony room, plus stocking up on souvenirs to bring home before leaving early the next morning.
So just when I decide I'm keeping the 3 nights in Lucerne, I revert back to "but I can have 2 more nights in the mountains" to "but then I'll miss out on Lucerne"...hence, my dilemma and indecisiveness. Thank you for any advice and opinions you can give me in making a decision, and sticking with it!
Posted by
West Michigan
461 posts
Sounds like a good plan. Lucerne is nice as a base, the train station is convenient to the water and the boat docks. What my wife and I like doing is taking a boat from the wharf around to Vitznau, then take the cog railway up to the top of Mt. Rigi. Then either go back down to Vitznau, and take the next boat back to Lucerne, or go down the other side of Mt. Rigi to Arth Goldau and take a train to Lucerne. That would give you one more mountain day. Enjoy your trip!
Posted by
TX, USA
5558 posts
Hmmm, no wrong answer so I understand the indecisiveness. I might say take the opportunity to spend at least one full day in Lucerne to do the Mt. Rigi trip you missed last time. It’s a nice varied day, especially if you do as travelerguy described going up one way and down the other.
Posted by
SF Bay Area
1136 posts
Last year we had 3 nights Wengen, 3 Mürren, 3 Lucerne. A 4-4-3 plan sounds great to me, but only you know how you would spend the extra days in Mürren.
Posted by
San Diego, California
6642 posts
No wrong decisions here! Enjoy!
Posted by
Markham, Ontario, Canada
20 posts
You have named something that you want to do in Lucerne (Mt. Rigi, and Stanserhorn), so you're going to regret if somehow you couldn't do it this trip (don't have the time or the weather). You haven't named anything that you'd missed if you don't have 2 more nights in the mountains. Maybe that suggests you should give the extra time to Lucerne this year?
I have just come home after 10 nights in Berner Oberland and 2 nights in Lucerne. This was my first trip to Switzerland and I wanted to maximize the mountain time. I heard the 'call' and so my decision was easy and the outcome satisfying.
There was a moment when I was looking at the mountains and I thought to myself, "“The things that give me the greatest satisfaction in life are: firstly, I married my wife*; secondly, I have my children and their family; and thirdly, I have visited these mountains in Switzerland.”
Hope you'll hear your call. If not, know that you'll have a wonderful time either way.
*She died 9 years ago
Posted by
OP
Texas
20 posts
Thank you everyone for your replies to my question, they have helped me greatly as well as to stop agonizing over a decision and to just make one. And the winner is...I am going to Lucerne for 3 nights. :o)
Posted by
Chicago
3776 posts
If you need some ideas for your time in Lucerne:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2St3R344S04
I’m a big fan of Rigi and Stanserhorn. So, I would make those top priority if the weather is good.
I was pleasantly surprised by the city walls on my last trip.
If you need more ideas, just click on my name and you can find my trip reports for my Switzerland trips.
Have a great trip!!