Lucerne, Interlaken & Panoramic Train Day Trip from Basel

Lucerne's Chapel Bridge and Water Tower

Lucerne's emblem is the Chapel Bridge, a covered wooden footbridge first built in the 14th century across the Reuss river where it leaves Lake Lucerne. It is considered the oldest covered wooden bridge in Europe, and under its roof hang triangular painted panels from the 17th century showing scenes from the city's history. Much of the bridge was rebuilt after a fire in 1993, and beside it rises the stone Water Tower, once part of the town's defences.

This Lucerne day trip from Basel reaches the city in about an hour by train, and the station is just a few minutes from the bridge. Your guide brings the story of the medieval city to life as you cross the river, with views of the lake, the Jesuit Church on the opposite bank and, on clear days, Mount Pilatus rising behind the rooftops.

Lucerne old town and the Lion Monument

North of the river, the old town is a maze of small squares framed by houses with painted facades and wrought-iron signs, such as the Kornmarkt and the Hirschenplatz. Above them, the medieval Musegg Wall still runs along the hill with its watchtowers. A short distance away, the Lion Monument is carved directly into a sandstone cliff: a dying lion that honours the Swiss Guards who fell in Paris in 1792, one of the most moving memorials in Switzerland.

Is Lucerne worth visiting? It is one of the most beautiful small cities in Europe, combining a lake, mountains and a preserved medieval centre within a compact area. Plan around 2.5 hours here, including time for lunch; Lucerne has a few halal-friendly restaurants, and your guide can point them out.

The panoramic train over the Brünig Pass

In the afternoon you board the Lucerne–Interlaken Express, a panoramic train with large windows that links the two towns in about 1 hour 50 minutes. Leaving Lucerne, it runs along an arm of Lake Lucerne, then past Lake Sarnen and the bright turquoise Lake Lungern, before climbing with the help of a cogwheel section to the Brünig Pass at just over 1,000 m.

On the far side the line drops into the Bernese Oberland and follows the shore of Lake Brienz, with waterfalls, wooden villages and snowy peaks ahead. Your seats are reserved, so you can relax and enjoy the views. Many travellers consider this one of the most beautiful train journeys in Switzerland, especially in spring, when the meadows are green and the mountains still white.

Interlaken between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz

Interlaken, whose name means between the lakes, lies on a flat strip of land between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. From the Höhematte, the large central meadow, you look straight up the valley to the Jungfrau at 4,158 m, often snow-white even in summer. Elegant 19th-century hotels line the main avenue, and across the Aare river the small old quarter of Unterseen keeps its traditional houses.

Your guide shows you the town centre and the best viewpoints, with free time for photos, a coffee or shopping for Swiss watches and chocolate. Interlaken is the gateway to the Jungfrau region and has several halal-friendly restaurants. If you are wondering how to get to Interlaken from Basel, the direct return train takes about 2 hours via Bern, which is how this day ends.

Starting from Basel and the best time to go

Basel sits on the Rhine where Switzerland, France and Germany meet, and its main station is one of the country's busiest rail hubs, with fast trains to Lucerne and Bern. The tour meets right next to the station, so it is easy to reach from any hotel in the city by tram or on foot. The one-day pass included in the tour covers all trains for the day, so you never need to buy a ticket.

The best time for a Lucerne and Interlaken day trip is from May to October, when days are long and lake views are at their best. Winter brings snowy landscapes along the Brünig line and festive markets in Lucerne, with shorter daylight. The tour runs in most weather; mountain views are never guaranteed, but the towns and lakes are enjoyable even on cloudy days.