My husband and I will be arriving in Luzern, traveling up from Venice on a Monday in June. We have a full day in Luzern on Tuesday and will be going on to Murren on Wednesday. We would like to go up to Mt Pilatus and also Rigi (free with our Swiss Pass). Is it possible to do both these sights in one full day, or can we fit one in on Wednesday before heading on to Murren? I was hoping to boat across the lake from Alpnachstad (after seeing Pilatus) to Weggis or Vitznau, connecting to Mt Rigi, but the website for lakelucerne.ch does not show available routes between these locations. We would appreciate any feedback or recommendations! Thanks.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17442 posts
I suggest you choose one or the other, rther than trying to do both in one day. You'll want to spend time at the top and enjoy the views, rather than rush through it. Rigi offers a variety of ways to do a loop, up by train from Vitznau and down from Rigi Kaltbad to Weggis, both accessed by boat. You can also explore the villages themselves. Pilatus offers a more rugged mountain, and also a choice of ways to go up and down. It would seem a bit duplicative to do both.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
You'll see plenty of Alpine scenery in Muerren so while in Lucerne or Weggis take time to see the lake country and the medieval town center of Lucerne.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33854 posts
Good advice so far. I've not done Pilatus yet but will this year. We love the Rigi side and running up and down the Vierwaldstaettersee by boat. It is to die for. Rigi, for me, is completely different to BO. Last time up we could not see our hands in the fog at the summit of Rigi, though...
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17442 posts
Nigel, we arrived up on Rigi on a foggy day like that. We went for our hike anyway. Every now and then a hole would open in the fog, below us, and we could catch a tantalizing glimpse of the lake thousands of feet below. And the sound of cowbells drifted up from the pastures on the lower slopes. It was magical.
Posted by
OP
Jenison, Michigan, USA
8 posts
Thank you to everyone for your wise replies. I need to realize that we can't see and do everything! My daughter and I actually did Pilatus 6 years ago. It was very foggy at the top, but that only set a magical background to the alphorn concert that we enjoyed while there. The clouds cleared as we took the cog back down to meet up with the boat and it was a wonderful experience. There too, we loved seeing and hearing the cows with their bells clanging as we descended. I guess I just wanted my husband (who has never been to Europe) to see everything I have. At this point, I think we will plan on Rigi but can always change our minds at the last minute. We want to save time to enjoy the beautiful town also.