Lucerne Travel Guide
Lucerne is located in central Switzerland, on the shores of Lake Lucerne, surrounded by the Swiss Alps, notably Mount Pilatus and Rigi. With its placid water and towering alpine vistas, Lucerne embodies what tourists think of when they hear “Switzerland.” Lucerne has a population of just under 60,000 people. Lucerne is in the German-speaking part of Switzerland.
We used Lucerne as a travel hub as it allowed us to visit sights like Interlaken, Jungfrau, and Lauterbrunnen regions with ease.
Brief Overview
Lucerne is Switzerland’s sixth-largest city so while it doesn’t get as many visitors as the more popular Zurich or Geneva, it’s still a fantastic place for a city break or well-worth including on a longer Switzerland itinerary. There are plenty of things to do in Lucerne without hordes of tourists, so it has a more local, relaxed feel.
Plus, Lucerne is surrounded by mountains, specifically Mount Rigi and Mount Pilatus on either side. And if that doesn’t make Lucerne picturesque enough, the city is situated on the River Reuss and on Lake Lucerne which is the fourth largest lake in Switzerland.
The lake has lots of bends and turns, allowing epic views across several of Switzerland’s snowy mountain ranges. Within the city itself, Lucerne or Luzern as it’s known locally has plenty of cultural activities like the Swiss Museum of Transport, which is Switzerland’s most popular museum.
Best time to visit
Lucerne is a rare gem of a city because there isn’t really a better or worse time to visit, every season has its perks. June-August is peak season where the already pricey accommodation options will be at their most expensive and the weather will reach highs of 24 degrees C but thanks to Lucerne’s proximity to the Swiss Alps, it will still get cool in the evenings.
November – April is ski season but is considered the off-season for cities, so visiting Lucerne in December or January will be slightly cheaper and look Christmassy under a blanket of snow.
In August the Summer Night Festival (Luzernfest) is celebrated with music and stands around the lakeside as well as fireworks. The famous Blue Balls Festival is a music festival held in July with lakeside venues.
Getting around Lucerne
Lucerne is a compact, walkable city and the entirety of Lucerne’s Old Town is pedestrianised so there is no better way to explore the city than on foot. One of the best things about visiting a city in Switzerland is that you receive a free visitor card when you check into your hotel which covers buses and discounts on attractions in the area.
All public transport including buses, trains and even boats depart from Lucerne train station in the centre of the city, as the station is right on the lake. If you are travelling throughout the region or country, consider purchasing a Swiss travel pass where activity discounts will be even better.
There are essentially no free parking spaces in Lucerne and a car is unnecessary to get around the city. If you are driving into Lucerne, book a hotel which includes parking
Getting to Lucerne
Lucerne has a central rail station with frequent connections to other locations in Switzerland and some international destinations. Lucerne doesn’t have an airport; Zurich International Airport is the most frequently used by travellers to the area. If you are like us, just get the train from Zurich to Lucerne.
Things to see and do
Lucerne Old Town
Lucerne’s Old Town, right on the banks of the River Reuss, boasts a number of Lucerne’s main historic attractions, not to mention it’s an incredibly beautiful, pastel-coloured neighbourhood and offers the perfect mix of calm (walking along the river) and excitement (many cafes/bars with outdoor terraces).
It’s home to Chapel Bridge which is a 13th-century spindly wooden bridge and the world’s oldest surviving truss bridge. There are also paintings on the ceiling of the bridge detailing moments from Lucerne’s past, which makes the Chapel Bridge one of Lucerne’s most beloved landmarks.
Two other important Lucerne landmarks are the Church of St. Leodegar and Museggmauer city wall and towers. The Musegg wall was Lucerne’s main defence in the 15th century and many of the nine towers are accessible so you can see the breath-taking panoramic views over Lucerne and Lake Lucerne.
Old Town is also where you’ll find two of Lucerne’s main city squares: Kornmarkt and Weinmarkt and the Old Town Hall.
Lion Monument
One of the most unusual yet important symbols in Lucerne is without a doubt the Lion Monument. Carved into a rock in one of Lucerne’s green spaces is a sleeping lion, sculpted in the 1800s to represent the fallen lives of the Swiss Guard during the French Revolution.
Price: FREE
Get here early to avoid crowds!
Jesuit Church
Lucerne’s Jesuit Church is one of the most important churches in the city, with its two towers appearing in any photograph or view of Lucerne’s skyline.
It’s a gorgeous church built in the 17th and 18th-centuries in an Italian Baroque style with a bright white, ornate interior with touches of a rose gold colour and incredible ceiling paintings.
Glacier Garden of Lucerne
A one-minute walk from the Lion Monument is the Glacier Garden of Lucerne which is the city’s main history museum. It’s a natural, open-air museum which covers the history of Switzerland’s glaciers and geology right up until the 19th century and it’s a real mix of different exhibits including a mirror maze and observation tower.
It is outdoors, but most of the museum is undercover so you can visit on a rainy day.
For more information, visit their website here
Price:
- Adults: 20 CHF / £16 / $21
- Children: 10 CHF / £8 / $11
There are also discounts for students and those with the Swiss Travel Pass.
Swiss Museum of Transport
The most-visited museum in Switzerland, the Swiss Museum of Transport is a lot more fun and interesting than it sounds, even if you’re not a petrol-head. The museum is slightly outside of Lucerne’s main city centre so you will need to hop on a bus, but it’s well worth the trip and you will be able to look out over the centre of Lucerne across the lake.
It’s a huge exhibit containing Switzerland’s first diesel-powered train, several aeroplanes and literal towers of cars from all eras and countries.
Walking Tour
Lucerne is such an easy city to wander through and explore, so why not join a FREE walking tour so you can also discover Lucerne’s hidden gems at the same time with a local guide? This tour takes you around all of Lucerne’s top sights including the Culture and Congress Centre, the Jesuit Church and Chapel Bridge.
Sightseeing Cruise on Lake Lucerne
When you visit a city with an epically beautiful lake like Lake Lucerne, then you need to see it from the water! This ultra-modern yacht will take you on a sightseeing cruise around the towns and villages that surround the lake and you will learn all about them via a guide. You can choose to sail on the cruise during the day or at night for a magical evening.
Other Attractions
You can take a lake steamer across Lake Lucerne, have lunch on the ship, or take a cable car up Mount Pilatus on the world’s steepest cogwheel, or get a panoramic view of Lucerne from Mount Rigi.
See our other guides that can be done from Lucerne! Mount Pilatus, Lauterbrunnen, Mount Titlis, Jungfrau, Trummelbach Falls
Of course, you can just stroll around the medieval core of Lucerne and cross the wood-covered Chapel bridge first constructed in the 14th century, then see the city ramparts and climb up the watchtowers.
There are also organised coach tours that can take you from your hotel in Lucerne into the Alps. Get Your Guide offer a tour that takes you to the Jungfraujoch at 11,333 feet, the top of Europe, from Lucerne and back.
Book Tours and Purchase Tickets
Where to stay
Budget – There aren’t many hostels in Lucerne but the ones the city does have are brilliant and a great way to cut costs travelling in an expensive country. The Barabas Luzern hostel was formerly a prison and is now a well-located hostel right in the heart of Old Town. Considering the hostel still has quirks from its former life (like bars on some windows!) it’s surprisingly cosy. Or, for a more comfortable hostel, the Capsule Hostel Luzern gives you your own space-age pod and more privacy for a fraction of the cost of a hotel room.
Mid-range – We stayed at the Best Western Waldegg which was really nice. There are other hotels such as Hotel Alpha, a modern and minimalist hotel with a bright and well-equipped breakfast room and The Tourist Hotel is right on the River Reuss and has amply sized rooms which are perfect for families.
Luxury – If you can splash out on gorgeous hotel suites, you’ve come to the right city. Hotel Schweizerhof Lucerne resides meters away from Lake Lucerne in a stunningly grand building which is simply decorated with luxe touches like ornate mirrors and hand-painted murals. The Art Deco Hotel Montana Luzern Also has amazing views and many suites come with a balcony and a hot tub.
Where to Eat
Switzerland is internationally renowned for its amazing Swiss cheese (fondue) and chocolate. For the most decadent chocolate shop, head to Max Chocolatier to buy boxes of the richest Swiss chocolate and they even offer chocolate-making and tasting workshops. Fritschi Restaurant serves traditional Swiss cuisine, including fondue, in a cosy and casual tavern that is relatively affordable.
But Lucerne has much more to offer than cheese and chocolate. There is a diverse selection of amazing restaurants, especially Japanese food and there are lots of veggie and vegan restaurants and cafes serving meals using fresh, seasonal vegetables.
Sipping drinks in one of Lucerne’s many lakeside bars is the perfect way to spend an evening and watch the sunset. Nectar Bar is in a fantastic location on the water near the train station and serves cocktails that aren’t too pricey.
We also recommend you eat at Soul Chicken Lucerne
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Final thoughts
To put it simply, JUST GO! Incredible place!
Other Switzerland Related Guides
Be sure to check out our other exciting guides related to Switzerland:
We love Lucerne! Absolute gem! Make sure it’s on your list.
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