Things to do in Lucerne: the lake, the covered bridge and the peaks
Lucerne is a small old town on a lake, with a covered wooden bridge and mountains close behind. You can walk the center in an afternoon, so two days is the right length, with the mountains as the main reason to stay longer. The one thing to know: mountain trips depend on the weather, so book flexibly.
The short answer
- First trip
- Stay near the old town and walk the bridges and lakefront. Add one mountain or boat trip.
- Where to stay
- The old town for atmosphere, near the station for trains, by the lake for views.
- How many days
- Two days for the city, three if you add a mountain.
- Best time to go
- May to September for the lake and the mountains, December for the markets.
- Book ahead
- Mountain and boat trips on a clear day, and a table at a traditional restaurant.
- From the airport
- Most visitors fly into Zurich, then take a train from the airport to Lucerne in about an hour.
Where to stay in Lucerne, in brief
Altstadt
first-time visitors
The old town on both banks of the Reuss, with painted houses and small squares. Everything is on foot. The catch is price and noise on weekend nights.
Near the station
trains and boats
The main station is beside the lake, with trains, boats and buses at the door. Convenient for day trips, with less character.
Lakefront
views
Along the promenade toward Schweizerhofquai, with the lake and the mountains in front. Calm, elegant and higher in price.
Wesemlin and Hirschmatt
quiet and value
Residential districts behind the old town. Quieter and cheaper, and a short walk to the center.
Things to do in Lucerne
Chapel Bridge
A covered wooden bridge with painted panels and a stone water tower. Walk across early or late to miss the crowds.
Old town walk
Painted house fronts, small squares and the city's old walls. Allow a couple of hours at an easy pace.
Spreuer Bridge
A second covered bridge with a series of painted panels of the Dance of Death. Quieter than Chapel Bridge.
Lion Monument
A large lion carved into a rock face, a memorial to Swiss soldiers. Short walk from the old town.
Museggmauer
A stretch of the old city wall with towers. Some can be climbed in season for a view over the roofs.
Lake Lucerne cruise
Boats leave from the station pier for tours and for the villages on the shore. A clear day is worth waiting for.
Swiss Museum of Transport
A large museum of trains, planes and cars, on the edge of the lake. A good rainy-day choice, especially with children.
Mount Pilatus
A mountain above the lake, reached by cable car and cogwheel railway. Pick a clear day and check conditions before you go.
Check the weather the day before; tickets can usually be bought on the day.
What to book before you go
These sell out. Most of the rest of Lucerne can be decided on the day.
Every tour and ticket in Lucerne, and which to pick- A table at a traditional restaurant1 to 2 weeks ahead in peak season
The old-town rooms fill at weekends and in December.
- Mountain and boat ticketsThe day before, once the forecast is clear
Views depend on the cloud, and flexible tickets save a wasted trip.
What to skip in Lucerne
- A mountain trip in low cloud
The summit view is the point. Wait for a clear day and swap the trip with a museum or a boat.
- Watch shops on the main streets
The shops are aimed at tour groups. Walk past, and spend the time on the lakefront.
- A rushed day trip with no overnight stay
The old town is at its best in the evening, after the coaches leave. Stay one night.
Best time to visit Lucerne
Lucerne is at its best from May to September, when boats run often, the mountains are open and the days are long. July and August are the busiest months. Rain can come any month, so keep a waterproof in your bag.
December has Christmas lights and a small market in the old town. Expect temperatures around freezing, and cloud that can hide the mountains. April and October are quieter and cheaper.
- From Zurich airportDirect trains run from the airport station to Lucerne in about an hour. There is no need to go through central Zurich.
- On footThe old town, the bridges and the lakefront are within a walk of 5 to 20 minutes. You rarely need transport in the center.
- BusesCity buses reach the museum and the districts behind the old town. Most hotels give guests a visitor card for local transport.
- Boats and mountain railwaysBoats, cogwheel railways and cable cars leave from the station area. Check timetables the day before.
Lucerne in two days
- Day 1
Walk the old town and both covered bridges. Take a boat on the lake in the afternoon and eat in the old town.
- Day 2
Go up Mount Pilatus or Rigi on a clear day. If the weather is poor, visit the Museum of Transport and the Lion Monument.
Day trips from Lucerne
- Mount PilatusA short boat and rail trip, or a cable car, to a summit above the lake. Allow most of a day.
- RigiA mountain reached by a cogwheel railway from a lake pier. A long walk down is possible in dry weather.
- ZurichAbout 45 minutes by direct train. A larger city with a lake, an old town and museums.
Lucerne: questions people ask
How many days do you need in Lucerne?
Two days covers the old town, the bridges and a lake trip. A third lets you add a mountain, which depends on the weather.
Is Lucerne worth visiting?
Yes. It is small, easy on foot and set on a lake with mountains behind. It suits a long weekend.
What is the best time to visit Lucerne?
May to September for the lake and the mountains, and December for the lights. Spring and autumn are quieter and cheaper.
Where is the best area to stay in Lucerne?
The old town for atmosphere, near the station for trains, and the lakefront for views.
Is Lucerne expensive?
Yes, like most of Switzerland. Lunch menus, public transport and tap water keep the bill down.
Can you visit Lucerne on a day trip from Zurich?
Yes, it takes about 45 minutes by direct train. One night lets you see the old town after the groups leave.