Lucern is around 53 KM from Zurich, and beautiful Alp mountains surround it. The city is known for its culture and location on the shore of Lake Lucerne and on River Reuss.
You can either plan a day trip to Lucerne, or you can also plan to spend a weekend in the city.
If you want to find good-priced tickets, click the link below to book your travel anywhere using Omio.
Things to do in Lucerne:
Wandering around the Lucerne Old Town:
Lucerne has a lovely old town with cobblestone streets near the Reuss River. The Old town is within walking distance of the Lucerne Train Center.
Lucerne Old town has a town square, just like any other European city. If you want to enjoy architecture, you can also visit Jesuit Church and Hofkirche St Leodegar Church.
You can also find many excellent restaurants serving authentic Swiss delicacies and experience the famous Swiss Fondue in some local restaurants in Old town.
The old town also has some good options for shopping. There are many big brands and local Swiss brands where you can enjoy some time shopping.
On Saturday, you can also find a local farmer's market from where you can get a chance to do the tasting of Fresh Swiss Cheese, and you can also find fresh vegetables and fruits.
Every February before Covid, the city welcomes
February with a crazy celebration of Carnival where locals dress up in different costumes and participate in the Carnival Parade.
Chapel Bridge:
One of the main highlights of Lucerne city is its Chapel Bridge, also known as Kapellbrücke. The Brucke is on the Reuss River, the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe. It has very unique paintings from the 17th century.
In the middle of the Bridge, there's a water tower called Wasserturm, which used to be a watchtower back in time.
Cruising in Lake Lucerne:
The Lucerne Lake is the fourth largest lake in Switzerland, and it has a very different shape with several sharp bends and four arms. The lake is surrounded by different lush green valleys. In Lucerne, you can find the Lake next to you if you go out from the Lucerne Central Train station.
We enjoyed a lovely Lake Cruise to Alpnachstadt from Lucerne. We would like to suggest a 1-hour River Cruise which costs Euro 25.
There are panoramic sightseeing Boats even in the winter times, you can still enjoy the breathtaking view of the Swiss Alps. There are different options for the Lake Cruise. You can check our different packages here.
You can also rent out your boat in summer and enjoy boating in Lake. There are also many spots in Lucerne on the Lakeshore where you can sit along the lake and enjoy the mesmerizing view of the lake.
Trip to Mount Pilatus from Lucerne:
The Pilatus mount is 2,128 m high, and it's around a 1.5-hour journey from Lucerne City. There are many adventurous activities like the Swiss largest Toboggan Bahn, Dragon Fly, etc which you can do. Moreover, you can also enjoy breathtaking views of the Alps and Lucerne.
There are 4 different options to reach Mount Pilatus. There are different means of communication to reach the top of Mount Pilatus, including Boat rides, Cogwheel trains, Gondola Cable cars, Dragon Ride Cable cars, and buses.
Reuss River:
Along the River Reuss, you can find many options to enjoy amazing Swiss food with a refreshing view of the River Reuss. There are also a few restaurants with rooftops as well where you can enjoy a lovely sunset with your favorite cocktail.
Musegg Wall and its Nine towers:
Along the River Reuss, you can find an 800-meter-long Musegg Wall, which was used to protect the city from foreign attack in the 13th century. It also has Nine watchtowers. You can walk along the wall and enjoy the beautiful view of the city from the watchtowers. The towers are open to the public.
Monument of Lion:
The famous Lion of Lucerne or Löwendenkmal is a carved sad lion designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen in the 19th Century, and it symbolized the Swiss Guards who were massacred in the 1792 French Revolution. It's one of the most famous historical monuments in Switzerland.
Château Gütsch:
Château Gütsch is a 19th century Castle that turns into a Castle Hotel, and it's located on a small hill around 2 km away from the Lucerne Central Train station.
You can take a direct tram no. 2 in the direction of Emmenbrücke from the Central station, and then you need to get off at Gütsch station, and from there you can take a funicular ride of 1 minute to reach Castle.
Even though if you aren't staying there, it's really worth visiting the Castle Hotel and enjoying lunch or breakfast on their restaurant terrace with a beautiful view of Mount Rigi and lucerne City.
Restaurants to try out in Lucerne:
Cafe de Ville:
The Cafe de Ville is located in Schwanenplatz, around 600 meters from Lucerne Central Station. It's a traditional spot for breakfast and lunch. The Restaurant also has a terrace from where you can enjoy a lovely view of Lake Lucerne. We enjoyed French toast with a cup of coffee for the breakfast in Cafe de Ville.
Hotel Monopol Rooftop:
The Hotel Monopol is just 250 meters away from the Lucerne Central Station. The Hotel has a lovely terrace bar and restaurant where you can enjoy the lovely view of the City and Lake.
Zunfthaus Restaurant Pfistern:
The Zunfthause is a lovely restaurant along the River Reuss and no doubt, it's the best place to enjoy traditional Swiss food with a beautiful view.
The Restaurant has outdoor seating along the river, a beautiful and cozy indoor ambiance on the 1st floor, and an outdoor terrace. The weather was perfect, and we were lucky to get a place on the terrace to enjoy lunch with a view.
Mirch Masala:
You can also enjoy some authentic Pakistani food in Lucerne Old town. We had been to Mirch Masala for Dinner and enjoyed the Butter Chicken with Partha.
Penthouse Roof bar:
To enjoy the nightlife in Lucerne, we have been to the Penthouse Roof bar, which has the perfect music to dance to and enjoy the time.
Most restaurants and bars change into nightclubs at night, and you can enjoy the music and dance there.
Ending Note:
You can also plan a day trip to Mount Rigi from Lucerne as well which is around a 1-hour journey from Lucerne. You can also stay in the hotel and experience a Spa day in Mount Rigi.
You can also visit the Glacier Garden in Lucerne, which is next to the Lion monument. You can travel back and discover what Lucerne was like in Ice Age.
