Digistar Users Group Meeting 2022

Plan your trip & additional activities

Travelling

Getting there

Be sure to check out visa requirements and the like before travelling to Switzerland (link and travel check)

By train
Thanks to its central location, Lucerne railway station (Bahnhof Luzern) can be reached easily from nearly every other city in Switzerland using the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS)). There are hourly trains from Basel, Olten and Zürich Airport (ZRH Switzerland's main airport) and half-hourly trains from Zürich, and two direct trains every hour from Berne. There is an hourly service from Bellinzona in Ticino, and Pfäffikon and St. Gallen in the North East. The "Zentralbahn" branch of the Swiss Federal Railways also provides hourly trains between Interlaken and Lucerne during daytime.
Zürich is the main transport hub in the country and is a stop on many international train services and overnight trains from all over Europe. It is advisable to buy a supersaver Ticket online or via app a couple of days before your arrival if available - those will be limited to a specific train but will save you quite a bit of money. See here for FAQ.

The SBB website allows you to buy tickets for your entire journey including the local bus and commuter trains and provides timetables and connections covering all available public transport in the country as well as many international connections even down to a local level.

By bus
There are no intercity buses in Switzerland as the train system provides ample connections to many destinations in Switzerland. To make trips to the countryside in the mountains where there are no trains, refer to postauto.ch Buses are available from some nearby places, such as Rotkreuz.

By boat
Lucerne sits at the northwest end of the Vierwaldstättersee (Lake Lucerne), one of the most beautiful waterways in Switzerland. For travel information from Schwyz, Flüelen, Weggis, and outbound points see the schedule at the Schifffahrtsgesellschaft Vierwaldstättersee.

By car
Due to the dense public transport network it's not really necessary to rent a car for your travels in Switzerland, especially when staying in the major towns and cities. In fact, you'll probably get around much more relaxed by public transport. Parking spaces are pretty limited and usually expensive. But for those who'd like to try anyway here's the Maps link.

Getting around

Able-bodied travellers will find Lucerne a complete joy to get around on foot. The Old-Town is rather small, and most other interesting sites are within approx. 20 minutes walk. There is also a city bus system (usually, you will get provided with a free local bus access by your hotel). Assistance for disabled visitors is available on request from Mobility International Switzerland. The Swiss Museum of Transport is a bit further out and can be reached by bus (lines 6,8 or 24 from the main station), train or by one of several boats per hour. The quay is just in front of the central railway station. One can also walk along the shore of Lake Lucerne from the city center, this will take about 20-30 minutes and is depending on the amount of stops you take to enjoy the view.

Lucerne also makes a very good base for discovering the rest of Central Switzerland, using the Swiss Federal Railway, the Schifffahrtsgesellschaft Vierwaldstättersee, or any one of several private rail or boat companies.

By bike
There is a public rental service available in the city provided by NextBikewhere you can easily rent a bike with your smartphone at CHF 2.-/hr. Bike lanes are present on most secondary streets, and Lucerne drivers are generally aware of and polite towards bicyclists.

By bus
Lucerne has an efficient bus network: Verkehrsbetriebe Luzern (VBL) (German only). It covers the city and its suburbs.

Health considerations

Switzerland got hit pretty hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, with an overproportional death toll compared to similiar countries and a large portion of the population being infected at least once in the last two years. This was in part due to some of the weakest mitigation efforts in Europe. Currently (end of June 2022) there are no governmental countermeasures in place to keep the virus in check and cases are on the rise again. Be sure to check out the official recommendationsand be careful and considerate regarding your fellow conference attendees. If you do experience symptoms please get tested in one of the testing centers in the country (Test centers in Lucerne) and stay in your hotel as a precautionary safety measure to not infect your colleagues and vulnerable persons who might contract the virus. Mask will not be mandatory during conference activities but will be provided if needed and asked for.

Discover Lucerne during DUG2022 - Additional activities

City-Tour

City Tour of Lucerne 27/9/2022 (CHF 18)

You will learn important humorous and interesting facts about Lucerne's history, churches, bridges, narrow streets, towers, squares and of course, Lucerne's trademark - the Chapel Bridge and its Water Tower.

05:20pm meet your guide in front of the KKL (by the fountain)
05:30pm start city walking tour
07:30pm end city walking tour

Dinner at «Pfistern»

Traditional dining at guild house Pfistern 27/9/2022 (CHF 58.-)

The unique remaining guild house in town - with a direct view on the Chapel Bridge - where traditon meets modernity, rustic-native rooms and a huge sun terrace straight at the River Reuss invites you to a culinary experience.
Enjoy a delicious 2-course dinner incl. 1 mineral water (3dl) or soft drink and a cup of coffee or tea

07:30pm meet your guide at Guild House Pfistern
open end and individual return to hotel

Post-conference Tour

Post-conference tour (01/10/2022) (CHF 165)

There will be a day trip to visit some of Central Switzerland's numerous faboulous landscapes and activities.

Travel along the glittering shores of Lake Lucerne by public motor boat. Upon reaching Vitznau, ascend on the oldest mountain railway track in Europe. Explore one of many trails, before indulging in a delicious lunch (two-course meal). Return to the valley-floor, again with the cog-wheel train and experience the history fo Europe's first moutain railway at first hand during a 60-minute guided tour of the depot in Arth-Goldau. Afterwards you return to Lucerne by motor coach.

09:00am meet your guide at Lucerne train station (under the archway)
09:12am dep. Lucerne by public motor boat
10:09am arr. Vitznau, change to cogwheel train
10:15am dep. by cogwheel train to Rigi Kulm
10:47am arr. Rigi Kulm, time at leisure
11:45am lunch at Restaurant Rigi Kulm
01:01pm dep. Rigi Kulm by cogwheel train to Arth-Goldau
01:48pm arr. Arth-Goldau
02:00pm start Depotführung Arth-Goldau
03:00pm end Depotführung Arth-Goldau
03:10pm dep. Goldau by motor coach to Lucerne
03:45pm arr. Lucerne