Travel tips needed for 7 days in Luzern

Two popular daytrips from luzern are the boat/cogwheel train/cablecar round trips up Pilatus and Rigi, two mountains near Luzern on th elake. Depending when you are there in May, you may miss Pilatus, as the cogwheel railway is so steep they cease operations until early to mid_may, depending on the conditions. Opening date for 2013 has not been set. Rigi makes a great daytrip, especially if you enjoy walking. Take to boat to Vitzmau and catch the cogwheel train to th etop (Rigi Kulm) from there. Or get off earlier and walk partway up. There is a hotel with restaurant at the top. Then take the trail (or walk) down to Rigi Kaltbad. There are nice level walks around there. Catch the cablecar that takes you steeply down to the lake at Weggis, and ride a boat back to Luzern from there.

Thanks, Steven-I'll check out that video, and look into the lakeside path between Vitznau and Rigi for our next trip. For more things to do on Rigi, check the website www.rigi.ch under Summer Activities. Here is a link to one page, offering "Dinner between Heaven and Earth" in the cablecar that goes up from Weggis to Rigi Kaltbad. You have appetizers on the way up, dinner on the way down (they must load it on the cablecar at Rigi Kaltbad). http://www.rigi.ch/en/navpage-GroupsRIGI-GroupsClubsWVR-52166.html

Anyone else have suggestions for Kevin? I don't know Luzern all that well.

Rigi's exquisite and definitely worth the stop.

What sort of activities will the flex pass cover? Free entry?Discounted entry? Local bus fare?What sort of train travel will the flex pass cover during the stay? Free train trafel?Discounted train travel? Thanks.

Kevin-the answers are in a chart on the Switzerland page of the Railpass section. Briefly, "All "covered" services start use of a travel day on a flexipass, but discounts do not." Museum entry is "covered", so you get free entry to museums only on a day when you are using the pass to travel by train and boat (a "covered" day). Rides on lifts (cablecars, cogsheel trains that are tourist attractions) are discounted 50% whether you are using a covered day or not. A "covered" day gives you unlimited free train and boat rides within the transport system (between villages) on that day. You choose the day and write it in the little box on the pass. On "non-covered" days you still get 50% off lifts, as well as 50% off train and boat rides, but no free museum entry. Just remember that the first time you use the Flex pas it will count as a "covered" day whether you plan to or not. So don't use it just to go, say, from zurich to Luzern or Geneva to Lausanne; that would be a waste of a covered day. When you are using a covered day, just write the date in the little box before you board the first train of the day-no ticket required. To travel on a non-covered day, or to ride a cablecar, show your pass at the ticket window and you will get 50% off. I don't think these passes cover city buses but they do cover Postbuses (which travel between villages that are not connected by trains).

Rigi is indeed great!! We made the trip this past October and enjoyed every minute of it . One other suggestion : When we returned to Vitznau , we walked along the lake ( most of which was on a beautiful promenade ) back to Weggis . We then took one of the antique paddle steamers back to Luzern . That was as big a thrill as the train . For all three of you , go to youtube and punch up " Changing Trains " written and presented by Eric Robson . ( its in 4 15 minute segments ) one part is devoted to Rigi . Its an armchair travelogue made in 1977 about " a world of railways that are already gone " After thirty five years , it was one of our motivations to go to Luzern !! See the transport museum , The Rosengart collection ( if you like fine art ) and above all spend time wadering a very beautiful city .

Thanks again. One more detail-cash. Can I withdraw cash from the ATM's with my credit card or will I need a debit card? Is there any advantage of using one over the other? To this day I have never owned or used a debit card and I hear nothing but horror stories regarding identity theft with debit cards but not so much with credit cards.

I don't know about using a credit card to withdraw cash; I have always used my debit card in ATM machines and have never had any trouble. Used it in Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Norway, Denmark, and the UK, on many trips over many years. There are certain standard precautions which people can advise you on. But as for identity theft-the only time we have had a card number stolen and used was my husband's credit card-after he handed it to a waiter at a very popular restaurant here in Seattle. Next day we got a fraud alert with 3 unauthorized charges on eBay (which we have never purchased from). the bank reversed the charges and cancelled the card. If you have never used a debit card it is hard to get started, I know. But hopefully others will respond and assure you that it is as safe as other methods, or safer.

Kevin , you don't want to use a credit card for cash withdrawals . Any time you do , you will be borrowing money and will be immediately subject to the onerous rate of interest the bank charges ( 20 - 30% , in many cases and worse than the vig ! ) For cash withdrawals you should have a checking account tied to an ATM card with a four digit PIN . That will allow you to withdraw cash at the best possible rate . I don't use it as a debit card for purchases because , like paying cash , once the transaction is made , you have no recourse if a problem arises . You have to judge when and where to use cash and when to use a credit card. Rick's books go into more detail about this .

"... I don't use it as a debit card for purchases because , like paying cash , once the transaction is made , you have no recourse if a problem arises ..." There is recourse: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre04.shtm

Learn something every day ! Thanks , Michael , I didn't realize that these protections applied to debit cards !

Kevin, The others have provided lots of great suggestions. These are a few of the things I'd consider..... > Trips to Mt. Pilatus / Rigi, as Lola suggested (depending on whether they're operating at that time). > Cruise on the lake > Museum of Transport (it's awesome - I spent the better part of a day there on my last visit). > Walking Tours - check at the T.I., which is in the rail station, as I recall (the tours are sometimes in German, but the Guide on my tour was providing both German and English commentary). > Take a walk through the Park and see the famous Lion of Lucerne, which Mark Twain called "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world" (from A Tramp Abroad). > Day trips: Interlaken and Berner Oberland (2 hours each way) or Bern (1 hour each way). > Walking - walking along the river and seeing the unique needle valve arrangement, browsing in the posh stores or seeing some of the beautiful Churches. It shouldn't be hard to fill in seven days in Lucerne. Happy travels!

7 days in Luzern is too many. Enjoy the medieval city, ride on a boat on Lake Luzern, go to Rigi or Pilatus...then get out. There are too many other places to see like Bern, Gruyere, Mürren, Wengen, Jungfrau and that's just scratching the surface. Rhine Falls just outside of Zurich (which is an hour from Luzern) is also a nice diversion. Don't hold yourself up in Luzern. Paris on the other had - definitely 7 slow days would be fabulous!

We absolutely loved Luzern , but Tim hits the nail on the head , particularyly about Paris !!

That is pretty harsh. Maybe they have a good reason to spend a week in Lucerne, like an apartment they got a good deal on. Or maybe family there, or other good reason. Besides in May it is a better choice than Murren, which will likely still be muddy. And I would take a trip up Pilatus or Rigi over the overpriced and crowded Jungfrau trip (with 45 minutes in a tunnel each way) any day. Or if they want a mountaintop experience with nearby glacier go to Titlis. Lucerne is a beautiful city with historical significance. Watch Richard Bangs' "Adventure with Purpose" show on Lucerne and Basel to understand the place in history of these cities along the route traveled by the Romans: http://www.smarttravelstore.tv/product/DVD-SWC/RICHARD_BANGS Besides, Mark Twain loved it there.

Wow!! I am so thankful for ALL of your suggestions and helpful hints. I wish I would have discovered this website 10 years ago. Our travel rewards program allows us to fly first class for free and get free 7 day stays at first class hotels, but there are certain limitations so we try to work around them. We really enjoy taking our time wherever we stay and one of the things we enjoy the most is getting to know and visit with the people we encounter. Soaking in the people and the culture is probably the most enjoyable part of our travels. And I have been learning the french language for several years which really helps a lot. I will incorporate ALL of your suggestions into our planning. Thanks again. Kevin