Train/plane Lucerne to Salzburg

[armzie]

Hi guys!

My friend will be in Switzerland in April - they are a bit stuck because the train from Lucerne to Salzburg is about 6 hrs! Any ideas on stops they can make in-between, or even better any flight suggestions? They only have one night in Lucerne AND Salzburg, which doesn't give much time if you take the train travel into account...

Thanks!

p.s Herrbert, I am counting on you ;D

[herrbert]

I can't find flights between these cities. Maily because Luzern hasn't got an airport, so if they would like to fly this part thy should head to Zürich first, and need to take an expensive flight. (Swiss Air of Austrian Airlines)

I presume, that taking a train to Zürich, show up for check-in, the flight itself, bagageclaim, and getting to the center of Salzburg, will take about 4 hours in total, so the train is not that much slower, and for sure a lot cheaper.

The can take a train to Innsbruck and spend some time there before going to Salzburg.

[madamtrashheap]

Without stealing Herrbert's thunder , the train Luzern to Zurich is around 1 hour, but it would be false economy to fly on this route, as Herrbert points out. The scenery is spectacular (stupid mountains make the journey long ) so that's a bonus.

You could also consider spending a night in another country - Leichtenstein. It does involve taking a train from Zurich to Schaan-Vaduz then a bus to the capital Vaduz (there is no train station in Vaduz directly) then bus from Vaduz to Feldkirchen (Austrian border) to catch the train on to Salzburg from there. It might be too fiddly, but it's an alternative place to stop along the way.