Weggis summer holidays

Holidays in Weggis

Mark Twain called Weggis the ‘loveliest place’ he’d visited... and we’re inclined to agree. Known as the ‘Riviera of Central Switzerland’ and with a type of rose named after it, this is a seriously pretty village on the shores of lovely Lake Lucerne. If you’re not relaxing with a glass of Eggisbühler as you listen to one of the daily concerts, go for a scenic walk, hike or bike ride; the climate causes the area to bloom with hundreds of species of flowers throughout the summer. Take the old cog railway up the Rigi for cracking views of lakes and mountains and get a boat across the lake for a sight of the Rigi itself, which looms over the town.

Highlights: • Spot the ‘Elephant stone’ • 46km hiking trails • Lovely village park

Weggis Walking

Whether you’re looking to do a scenic stroll or a mountain hike, the quaint village makes a great base. We love an early morning walk around Weggis: after a quick marvel at the traditional Luzerner farm houses, amble through the fields filled with cherry and apple trees, smell the beautiful Weggiser roses in the green houses and watch the Swiss Brown cows grazing in the fields. The trail to Hertenstein runs along the lakeside across a level promenade and with benches and shady trees along the way, there’s plenty of opportunity for a picnic. If the weather’s nice, pack your speedos: there’s swimming at the Lido Weggis or the Rachmaninow beach. If you’ve packed your poles, the two Nordic walking trails on the Hertenstein peninsular have superb views of the lake and surrounding mountains - both 4.2km and 5.5km trails start and finish at the Thermoplan-Arena in Weggis. The Weggis to Rigi Kulm hike (a route once taken by Mark Twain), is 10.4km and takes about 4 hours. The trail was originally used to get to the peak before the construction of the train line, and a huge wow factor is the glacial rocks hidden throughout the forest in Felsentor.

Weggis Cycling

Weggis’ position in a sweet-spot of mountain and lake landscapes gives some great variety to its cycling. We love the circuit around Mount Rigi, following the shorelines of Lakes Lucerne, Lauzersee and Zug. Mostly flat, with a slightly hillier section close to Arth, it’s a brilliant route for families – complete with a pretty rest-stop at Küssnacht to pop into before the home straight. For awesome views back to Weggis, cycle to Gersau to catch the ferry over to Beck Ried. There’s a gentle path along the water’s edge you can follow towards Kehrsiten, where a steamer brings you back to the north shore. It’s possible to ride a mountain bike up to the summit of Mount Rigi and then back down, although at times you may have to contend with walkers going the other way and it can get a bit hairy. The cycling routes around the mountain are very steep in places - one way round this is to rent an E-Bike in town: the little engine makes light work of the hills in no time!