Weekend Getaways From Lucerne

Towering to a height of 2100 mt, the snowcapped peak of Mt. Pilatus dominates the town of Lucerne and is a great place for a day’s excursion. Serious climbers and trekkers will almost certainly find this a rewarding trip but even if you aren’t terribly keen on sweating it out, there are more relaxing ways to get there. There is, for instance, a cogwheel railway on the world’s steepest route that climbs from Lucerne up to Mt Pilatus and both the journey as well as the view from the top is stupendous.

Rigi, dubbed by many as the `Queen of the Mountains’ has on offer great views across the Alps in Central Switzerland. Rigi, like Pilatus, is approachable by cogwheel railway (the first railroad of its kind), and is a great place for a relaxing day, and breathtaking views of Lake Lucerne and the surrounding areas.

Only about an hour and a half from Lucerne, Titlis is one of the most popular resorts in Central Switzerland. Spread out at a height of some 3020 mt above sea level, Titlis is the highest point in Central Switzerland, and besides offering a pretty spectacular view of the surrounding area, also has plenty to recommend itself to visitors. Most highly touted is the Titlis Rotair, a revolving cable car that is pretty much the best way to see the landscape- a region of deep glacier crevasses and snow perpetually all through the year. In case you start feeling hungry, Titlis boasts of another `first’- the world’s highest pizzeria. Titlis can be reached from Lucerne by a combination of train and cable car; take the train connecting Lucerne to Engelberg, then switch to the cable car at Engelberg, which will take you to the summit of Titlis.

The Vierwaldstättersee - Lake Lucerne to the uninitiated - is the perfect excursion from Lucerne. The lake itself is extremely picturesque and all about it, on its shores sit the prettiest little villages and towns of Central Switzerland. The lake stretches for some 39 km into the heart of the mountain territory, and there are plenty of trips to be made using Lucerne as a base. Deep in the hinterland, the furthest away is Fluëlen about 4 hours’ boat ride on the lake from Lucerne. The Lake Lucerne Navigation Company operates an entire fleet of pretty and comfortable steamboats, which operate regular trips across the lake, starting from the quays opposite the Hauptbahnhof in Lucerne.

Along with Pilatus and Rigi, the Stanserhorn must surely rank as one of Central Switzerland’s most beautiful mountains. The Stanserhorn rises above the town of Stans about 20 minutes’ train ride from Lucerne; from Stans, the ride up to the top of the peak (in case you aren’t too keen on climbing!) is a combination of a delightful old-world 100 year old funicular railway and a modern cable car. Once at the top, the panorama opens to one of the most spectacular views for miles around - a vast expanse of alpine scenery that includes 10 lakes and a wild-flower reserve. Remember to take along your camera; this is a sight you can’t afford to miss.