Welcome back to the ultimate Switzerland adventure guide! And if you’re new here, welcome and thanks for being here. Get ready to follow along as I give you all the tips and tricks to visiting different regions of this picturesque country. In this blog, you’ll discover the best things to do in Lucerne and Meiringen, so get your most comfortable shoes on, cause we’re off on our next adventure!

If you are trying to find information regarding stay and transportation, head on over to my Zurich blog for my thoughts and travel tips!

Meiringen

Aare Gorge

On my fourth day in Switzerland, I caught the very first train leaving from Wengen and rode it for 2 hours to reach Meiringen. Once we reached our final stop, my group and I decided to walk to the entrance of Aare Gorge, stopping to browse at local shops on the way. The walk was about 30-40 mins which gave us an opportunity to take in the serene surroundings of the early morning and a much needed coffee stop. However, if you’d rather just cut to the chase, you can change trains from the Meiringen station to one that reaches any of the two park entrances, Aareschlucht West or Aareschlucht Ost. Once you made it to the ticketing office, you can purchase admission to just Aare Gorge or a combination ticket that includes entry to Reichenbach Falls. We opted to purchase the combination ticket with round trip ride on their railway for 18 CHF (about $21 USD). TIP: Be sure to hold on to that ticket if you purchased the combination one; you will have to present that same ticket to enter both sites.

The walk through Aare Gorge is very easy and handicapped-accessible. If you brought along your furry four legged bestie, it is also dog-friendly! On average, the trail will take you about 45-50 mins to walk through, but if you’re anything like me, and “ooh” and “ahh” at everything in site, it could take up to 1.5 hours. After our tickets were secured, we began our canyon walk at the East entrance, Aareschlucht Ost. TIP: It doesn’t matter which entrance you start at, both pathways will provide the same views and lead you through the same 1,400 meters elevated walkway attached to the side of the mountain. Which entrance to begin at will just depend on where you get dropped off or parked your car.

Overall, Aare Gorge was breathtakingly beautiful. With every twist and turn through the trail, there was another magnificent view to gaze at, all the while watching the powerful river flowing beneath you. The water below is normally an ice glacier blue, but when we visited, it was brownish due to the rapid pace of the river stirring the sediments. Nonetheless, it was still beautiful. Along the way, you’ll also get to stand between two splitting canyons, view multiple waterfalls, and even find hidden military fortresses embedded in the mountains. When you’ve reached the end of the trail, you could stop by one of the cafe, gift shops, or walk straight to the train station to bring you back to your starting point. This was definitely one of my favorite activity that I did on my trip and worth the long train ride out to experience. I highly recommend a visit to Aare Gorge to everyone.

Reichenbach Falls

Less than a 15 mins train ride from Aare Gorge, you can visit the infamous Reichenbach Falls. Take a ride on the historic railway that brings you up 110 meters (360 ft) to the viewing platform and a mini Sherlock Holmes museum. (Seriously, it’s just one room.) This is a must do if you’re a Sherlock Holmes’ fan, as this is the actual waterfall that Holme’s and his arch nemesis fought to their “deaths” in. You can even find the exact spot on the waterfall that Holmes fell from!

Once my group and I reached the top, we stepped onto the platform and took in the majestic view of the waterfall and the great overview of Meiringen’s nature. If you’re up for it, there is even a trail that you could take that will bring you around and on top of the waterfall! We didn’t do the trail since we were really tired and hungry at that point. But if you did, don’t forget to share your experience below! The falls also allows dogs on the trail and on the railway, however, keep in mind that neither is disability friendly.

Overall, I would definitely recommend visiting Reichenbach Falls if you’re already in the city and visiting Aare Gorge, but I wouldn’t encourage you to travel this far just to see Reichenbach Falls alone.

Lucerne

After our time in Meringen, we hopped on the train to make our way to Lucerne. This 2ish hours transport was the most beautiful scenic ride that we went on. Truly, it was so picturesque and breathtaking to watch; no amount of pictures or videos could do it any justice. TIP: Be sure to sit on the right side of the train, in the same direction that it is heading towards. This will give you the best views of the lakes, mountains, and inner towns. This train ride is included in the Swiss Travel pass and is a great opportunity to catch up on lunch.

When we finally reached Lucerne, we went straight to the old town center. And wow, it was so much more charming than I could have ever imagined. The cobbled stoned streets and old building structures made you feel like you were blasted to the past. We then made our way to Chapel Bridge and strolled along the walkway, taking in the fresh flowers that lined the bridge. We also stopped to look at the interior paintings that have survived since the 17th century and a few gift shops situated within the walkway. Chapel Bridge is a must do when visiting Lucerne, there is no way that you could go to this city without visiting one of its historic and iconic landmark.

After our time wandering around the old town center, we decided to visit Museggmauer (Musegg wall). This 13th century wall was once used to protect the country from any outside invasions. Today, with 9 of the 30 towers still standing, you can visit this historic landmark for free! Climb up the towers to see its infrastructure, tower clocks, and an overview of Lucerne. It’s definitely a great way to take in the city’s history and a great spot to just stop and observe.

Continuing our Lucerne landmark tour, our next stop was a visit to the Lion Monument. This monument is a carved out structure of a dying lion that commemorates the Swiss soldiers killed during the French Revolution. The structure itself was so intricate and powerful, it left me feeling some sort of grief as I stared at it. I found myself interpreting certain aspects of the monument and in such awe of every detail. This is definitely a must see!

Right by the Lion Monument, you can visit the Glacier Garden, which is free to visit if you have the Swiss Pass. This hidden gem takes you through Earth’s history and its rock formation as well as the Ice Age era. Wonder through The Sandstone Pavillion and The Rock World exhibits to learn more about the glacier potholes and the land formation of Lucerne. Then take a short break to take in the beauty of Alpine Park. And finally, get lost in their mirror maze; it really is a trip on your mind and eyes. The Glacier Garden wildly exceeded all of my expectation, you wouldn’t have known it had so much to offer just from the look of it. By the end of our visit, I was extremely happy that we took the time to discover it and highly recommend trip to for everyone of all ages. It definitely won’t disappoint!

Lastly, no Swiss trip is complete unless you try some Swiss chocolate. So before we left Lucerne for the day, we stopped by the Sprungli Chocolate store. If you can’t make it to this location, don’t worry, there are several other stores around Switzerland. Sprungli chocolate is a bit pricey but definitely worth it. I will say that it is hands down the BEST chocolate that I have ever had. I bought a caramel milk chocolate slab and a raspberry chocolate slab, and OMG, it was to die for! The milk chocolate was rich and velvety, balanced by the saltiness of the caramel and actual hazelnuts for a nice crunch. The raspberry slab was light and sweet, made from white chocolate with the taste of fresh raspberry combined. YUM! I am already trying to figure out any ways to get my hands on them again. Hopefully sooner than later…

Overview

I had the best day in Meiringen and Lucerne. It is definitely some of my favorite cities that we visited in Switzerland and where I made some of my favorite memories. There was so much to do here and is more city-like compared to other regions in the country. If you’re trying to decide which areas to stop by on your Switzerland trip, Lucerne should definitely be on the top of your list!

Other Helpful Tips

1. If you have time, take a boat tour on the lake in Lucerne, which is included with the Swiss Pass. Just be sure that you are getting on the right boat before boarding. There are boats that are 30 mins long and will bring you back to your starting point and others that are 2 hrs long that will take you to another city.
2. Bring a raincoat to Reichenbach Falls.
3. Stop by the local COOP store before leaving Meiringen for some affordable lunch. To save you some time, you can eat it on the train. Just be sure to clean up after yourself.

Continue your Switzerland Adventure:

Check out my other Switzerland blogs:

• How to Spend the Best Day in Zurich
• The Ultimate Day Guide to Lauterbrunnen
• The Best Day Guide to Jungfraujoch & Grindlewald
• Best Things to do in Interlaken

As always, thanks for being here!

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