Day Trips from Lucern

What time of year? It makes a difference as not everything is available or advisable in winter and early spring.

Carolyn , Luzern is beautiful and there are many choices . Here is one : take the lake boat from the Bahnhof Quai to the village of Vitznau , about an hour and a quarter down the lake . From there you will ride to the top of Rigi Mountain on a cog railway with spectacular views from the viewpoint known as Rigi-Kulm . This was the first mountain railway in Europe , built in 1871 . When Mark Twain took this trip he said that being so close to the edge " reminded him of his sins , and to repent of them " At the top you can come down on the little blue train to Arth - Goldau and thence to Lucerne by rail . or back down to the Vitznau pier and the lake boat back . We chose the boat so that we could ride back on one of the restored antique lake steamers ( Stadt Luzern 1928 ) It was a wonderful day . If you would like to actually see a film about this trip , it is part of a 1977 travel documentary entitled " Changing Trains " written and presented by Eric Robson . It is available in four fifteen minute segments on YouTube . Enjoy it !!

Great suggestion and description, Steven! One can also return by way of the cablecar down to Weggis from Rigi kaltbad (very exciting and great views) and then boat back from Weggis. I see on Carolyn's other thread they they will be there in April. The cogwheel railway up Pilatus does not open until May, so Rigi is a better choice for a mountain excursion (I think it is a better choice at any time, but that's just me. Rigi offers wonderful hiking.)

@ Lola , When we came back down from the top , it was a beautiful clear day and started wandering around Vitznau . We bumped ( didn't hurt them ! ) into a lovely British couple from the Channel Islands ( Jersey ) , who suggested walking along the lakeshore promenade back to Weggis . It was one of the lovliest walks my wife and I have ever had . Next day we ran into them again ( They're still OK ) near one of the Heini Konditorei in Luzern . They have been coming there for over forty years !

Kay , Thanks , that really brought back some sweet memories , Steve.

The open air museum in Ballenberg is one of my favourite destinations in the area. It's closed over the winter but re-opens on April 13: http://ballenberg.ch/en/Welcome

I guess I should of said that we will be there April 8-10. Sorry.

Would the trip up to Rigi be covered by the Swiss Pass?

@ David , Yes , the whole trip ( Lake boats, Vitznau Rigibahn ) are covered by the swiss pass . By the way if you go ,try to time the trip to Vitznau or the return to Luzern so that you can ride one of the paddle steamers . I believe there are five of them , and they are a nostalgic part of the trip !

Sorry , one other point . The paddle steamers have a viewing area in the center of the boat where you can clearly see the three cylinder steam engine in operation . If you are interested in engineering , this is a real treat . Watch the video that Kay mentions , it will give a little taste of what it looks like .

Another great day trip is the Golden Round Trip which takes you on the ferry up Lake Luzern to Alpnachstad, then a cog railwy to the top of Mt Pilatus, and finally return to Luzern via gondola...