90 Things to Do in Lucerne 2025

Highlights in Lucerne

• Countless excursion destinations like Mount Pilatus, Stanserhorn, Rigi, or the Swiss Transport Museum are right on Lucerne's doorstep
• Stroll across the world-famous Chapel Bridge over the Reuss River
• From Lucerne, several passenger boats operate daily on the sparkling Lake Lucerne
• The scenic trains "Gotthard Express" and "Golden Pass Line" begin or end their journeys in Lucerne
• Visit attractions like the Lion Monument, the Culture and Congress Centre Lucerne KKL, the Musegg Wall, the Bourbaki Panorama, and many more
• Celebrate joyfully during the legendary Lucerne Carnival in February
• Take a ride on a historic steamship over Lake Lucerne
• Experience one of the many festivals in the "Festival City Lucerne"

Lucerne is a charming city with around 80,000 inhabitants in the heart of Switzerland. It serves as a gateway to many excursion destinations in Central Switzerland. This includes the local mountain of Lucerne, Mount Pilatus, which is nicknamed "Dragon Mountain." You can also reach Stanserhorn, Rigi, and Titlis in a short time. Furthermore, from Lucerne, you can easily access various boat docks on Lake Lucerne.

The city is located on the beautiful and highly convoluted Lake Lucerne. Lucerne is mainly known for the famous Chapel Bridge with its historic Water Tower. Additionally, Lucerne is famous for its numerous squares and churches. For instance, the Jesuit Church, dating back to the 17th century, is considered the first sacred Baroque building in Switzerland. You definitely won't get bored in this city.

Sights in Lucerne

Lucerne boasts a wealth of attractions that you can easily reach on foot, by public transport, or even by bicycle.

Chapel Bridge

One of the attractions that features in many holiday photos from national and international visitors is the Chapel Bridge. This is the oldest covered bridge in Europe, built in the 14th century, and is visited by people from all over the world today. It spans 205 meters across the Reuss. Since the 17th century, it has been adorned with paintings that depict scenes from Swiss and Lucerne history.

The octagonal Water Tower is connected to the bridge and stands in the Reuss. It is 34 meters tall. In the past, it served various purposes, including that of a city archive, treasury, dungeon, and even a torture chamber.

• City Tours Lucerne

Cultural and Congress Center Lucerne KKL

The Cultural and Congress Center Lucerne, commonly known as KKL, is an architectural masterpiece. It was built right next to the Lucerne train station on the shores of Lake Lucerne. Designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, the striking roof covers over 12,000 m². Despite its immense size, it appears light and casually placed on the building.

The 19 different rooms regularly host congresses, concerts, conferences, meetings, and other cultural events. In winter, the area in front of the KKL transforms into an ice skating rink, where you can glide next to Lake Lucerne.

Swiss Transport Museum

At the Swiss Transport Museum, everything revolves around transportation and mobility. In the most visited museum in Switzerland, you will find over 3,000 objects displayed in several exhibitions.

You can also embark on journeys into space in the planetarium and watch a 3D film in the XXL cinema. Or, you can visit the drilling machine that bored the Gotthard Base Tunnel. With this diverse offering, the Transport Museum is the perfect spot for a family outing.

The Transport Museum is easily accessible by public transport from Lucerne train station. You can choose between bus, train, or even a boat.

More Attractions in Lucerne

Lucerne has plenty more attractions waiting for you.

• Lion Monument: The dying lion is a symbol of the city of Lucerne. It serves as a memorial for the Swiss Guards who lost their lives during the French Revolution.
• Glacier Garden: In the Glacier Garden, you'll find a museum with fascinating earth stories about rocks, glaciers, and boulders, as well as a confusing mirror labyrinth.
• Bourbaki Panorama: This giant circular painting, measuring 112 by 10 m, commemorates the internment of 87,000 soldiers of the French Bourbaki Army, who fled to Switzerland in the winter of 1871.
• Musegg Wall: At the Musegg Wall, you can enjoy a wonderful view over the city of Lucerne and Lake Lucerne.
• Jesuit Church: Built in the 17th century, the Jesuit Church is considered the first sacred Baroque building in Switzerland.
• Rosengart Collection: At the Rosengart Collection, you'll encounter works by Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, and 23 other artists from Impressionism and Classical Modernism.
• Spreuer Bridge: The second famous wooden bridge next to Chapel Bridge is the Spreuer Bridge, built in 1408 and measuring 81 m long.

Excursion Destinations from Lucerne

Lucerne is just as rich in excursion destinations as it is in attractions. You will always find something suitable here to meet your interests, whether it’s a great view, a ride on an extraordinary mountain railway, or an outdoor adventure.

Mountain Peaks Rigi, Pilatus, Stanserhorn, and Titlis

From Lucerne, you can reach some renowned mountain peaks like Rigi, Pilatus, Stanserhorn, or Titlis. The journeys to the summits are spectacular, and one highlight follows another.

• Pilatus: You can reach Lucerne’s local mountain (also known as the “Dragon Mountain”) by two different routes. The steepest cogwheel train in Europe departs from Alpnachstad to the summit. From Kriens, two cable cars take you to the mountain station of the 2,128 m high Pilatus, where a fantastic panorama awaits you.

• Stanserhorn: The Stanserhorn is affectionately called the “Lazy Mountain” and can be accessed by the world’s first double-decker cable car. A particularly lovely excursion is the boat ride from Lucerne to Stans. From here, a nostalgic funicular railway takes you to the valley station of the CabriO cable car. Enjoy the journey in the fresh air on the upper deck of the gondola.

• Rigi: Known as the Queen of the Mountains, the Rigi is reached from Vitznau by the oldest mountain railway. Numerous hiking trails, restaurants, ski and sledding slopes, and even a mineral bath await you on the Rigi. You can also perfectly combine the excursion with a boat trip across Lake Lucerne to Vitznau.

• Titlis: Engelberg is the village at the foot of the Titlis. You can reach it from Lucerne in about 45 minutes. With the Rotair, the world’s first rotating cable car, you go up to the 3,238 m high summit. Here, you are surrounded by a mesmerizing glacier world and have a view of the Central Swiss Alps. Thanks to numerous exciting offerings in both summer and winter, you’ll never get bored on the Titlis.

Lake Lucerne

Lake Lucerne is perfect for all kinds of outings. Particularly, a relaxing boat ride on Lake Lucerne is just right for its winding nature. It is served by five historic paddle steamers and 15 motor vessels.

By boat, you can reach key destinations like the valley stations of the cable cars to Rigi, Pilatus, Bürgenstock, or Klewenalp. You can also reach historic sites that hold great significance for Switzerland, such as the Tellsplatte or Rütli.

The Lake Lucerne ferry service is the largest in Switzerland, offering fantastic culinary experiences as well.

• Ferry rides from Lucerne
• Ferry rides on Lake Lucerne

Other attractions around Lucerne

The region around Lucerne has so much to offer. The mountain peaks and Lake Lucerne are definitely not the only attractions waiting for you.

• Glasi Hergiswil: The glassworks in Hergiswil, established in 1817, still craft glass by hand today. You can learn all about this traditional craft in a museum.
• Reuss: The Reuss River flows through Lucerne, providing plenty of opportunities for day trips. Whether it's for a “Böötle” tour or a leisurely stroll along the shore.
• Aeschbach Chocolatier: In the ChocoWelt of Aeschbach in Root near Lucerne, you'll learn everything about chocolate making. Of course, you're also welcome to taste some of their delicious treats.
• Rütli: The Rütli Meadow is considered the birthplace of Switzerland. This is where the three original cantons, Uri, Schwyz, and Nidwalden, formed the Swiss Confederation. From Lucerne, you can take a day trip to this historically significant place.

Swiss Activities Tips Lucerne

**Bathing place

In summer, people flock to the shores of Lake Lucerne. The Lido and the "Ufschötti" are very popular and well visited bathing places. The Richard Wagner Museum is therefore usually a bit more comfortable for bathing, as fewer people come here.

View of the city of Lucerne

At Schlössli Utenberg you get a beautiful view of the city of Lucerne and the mountain scenery of Central Switzerland. You can easily reach the castle within 5 minutes by bus from the train station in Lucerne.

Scene Quarter

The Bruchquartier is considered to be Lucerne's trendy district. It is the former scene of the cantonal cattle trade. The Bruchquartier is one of Lucerne's most vibrant neighborhoods, where you will find culture, local crafts, bars and restaurants. A tip is the boutique Treger, which is known for its suspenders and tailored men's fashion.

Fasnacht

Lucerne is known for its exuberant and beautiful carnival. If you are in Lucerne during the carnival and are looking for a change from the Guggenmusik, the techno music "onder de Egg" is something for you.

guest card

If you stay overnight in Lucerne, you will receive the Lucerne Guest Card for the duration of your stay. With it you benefit from many advantages in the region. For example, you can use all buses and trains within zone 10 free of charge, and you also receive discounts on city tours, cable cars, mountain railroads, museums and other excursion destinations in the region. And you can also use the "Free WiFi - LUZERN.COM" free of charge throughout the city.

Activities and Experiences in Lucerne

The diversity of Lucerne is also reflected in the activities you can take part in here.

Some of the most popular activities in and around Lucerne include:

• City tours
• Escape rooms
• Paragliding
• Hiking
• Skiing and snowboarding
• Winter hiking and snowshoeing
• Sledding

City Tours in Lucerne

While you can definitely explore Lucerne on your own, having a local guide really helps you dive into the city. There are various city tours in Lucerne covering different themes. These tours not only show you the usual sights but also take you to some hidden spots. You'll hear fascinating stories that you wouldn’t get otherwise. If, for example, you want to learn more about the infamous water tower on the Chapel Bridge, a city tour is absolutely worth it.

Escape Room Lucerne

Escape Rooms are becoming increasingly popular. So it's no surprise that you can tackle tricky missions at various locations in Lucerne. Several providers are waiting with Escape Rooms or Escape Games for you. If the weather isn't nice enough for a hike or if you're looking for something to do on a cold winter day, here are your options in Lucerne:

• Escape Quest: Here you can find traditional Escape Games, online games, or interactive adventures with professional actors. Number of Games: 10
• Riddle Escape: From the lost cookie recipe to the carnival thief, various challenges await you here. Number of Games: 4
• Escape Company: Save the future of a Lucerne beer or heroically escape from a prison in Lucerne. Duels are also offered. Number of Games: 4
• Adventure Rooms Lucerne: All rooms are perfect for the whole family. Number of Games: 4
• Spassvogel Event: Plan an exciting GPS outdoor game for your next team event. For groups and families, there’s an exciting GPS iPad rally. Kids from 8 years meet up for the digital treasure hunt. Number of Games: 3

Paragliding

Thanks to the many mountain peaks around Lucerne, this region is ideal for scenic paragliding flights. We’ve summarized the 10 best spots in Central Switzerland for paragliding for you. If you can't paraglide yourself, a tandem flight is perfect for you. These are offered year-round, for example, on Pilatus, Seebodenalp, or Rigi.

Hiking Around Lucerne

The region around Lucerne is a true hiker's paradise. Not only do the previously mentioned mountain peaks have miles of marked trails for extended hikes, but you can also enjoy great walking along Lake Lucerne. Depending on the route, you have the opportunity to combine your walk or hike with a boat trip.

Skiing and Snowboarding

In Central Switzerland, there are a total of 43 ski areas. You can choose to visit smaller areas or aim for one of the larger ones. The following ski resorts can be reached within an hour or less from Lucerne:

• Klewenalp: 40 kilometers of slopes, 14 lift facilities, 15 min from Lucerne
• Rigi: 9 kilometers of slopes, 7 lift facilities, about 30 min from Lucerne
• Titlis - Engelberg: 70 kilometers of slopes, 17 facilities, about 40 min from Lucerne
• Brunni - Engelberg: 8.5 kilometers of slopes, 5 facilities, about 40 min from Lucerne
• Stoos - Fronalpstock: 35 kilometers of slopes, 8 facilities, about 45 min from Lucerne
• Mörlialp - Giswil: 14 kilometers of slopes, 6 facilities, about 45 min from Lucerne
• Melchsee - Frutt: 36 kilometers of slopes, 15 facilities, about 55 min from Lucerne
• Sörenberg: 60 kilometers of slopes, 16 facilities, about 1 hour from Lucerne

Tobogganing near Lucerne

From Lucerne, you can reach fantastic toboggan runs to enjoy thrilling or relaxing descents on the sled. If you’re not satisfied with just pulling the sled up a hill yourself, you'll love these destinations. They are all in perfect proximity for a day trip from Lucerne.

• Klewenalp: 4 toboggan areas, ranging from easy to challenging, 15 min from Lucerne
• Rigi: 5 toboggan runs, totaling 14 km, Tobogganing Rigi, about 30 min from Lucerne
• Pilatus: 3.5 km and 4.8 km, ranging from easy to challenging, 45 min from Lucerne
• Melchsee - Frutt: 8 km toboggan run, the longest toboggan run in Central Switzerland, about 55 min from Lucerne

Snowshoeing

The region around Lucerne and Lake Lucerne offers great opportunities for hiking not only in summer but also in winter. With snowshoes, you can trek through fresh snow and discover the area from a new perspective. Numerous marked snowshoe trails are easily accessible from Lucerne.

• Fränkmüntegg Trail: A 3 km long trail at Pilatus with an elevation gain of about 180 m. Plan for this easy tour to take around 1 hour and 40 minutes.
• Brämegg Snowshoe Trail: A 3 km long trail from Klewenalp with an elevation gain of about 190 m. Plan for this easy tour to take around 1 hour and 40 minutes.
• Bannalp Snowshoe Trail: A 3 km long trail in Engelberg Valley starting from Bannalp with an elevation gain of about 110 m. Plan for this easy tour to take about an hour.
• Waldhüttli Snowshoe Trail: A 7 km long trail at Stoos starting from the Stoosbahn mountain station with an elevation gain of about 360 m. Plan for this medium difficulty tour to take around 3 hours and 20 minutes.
• Turren-Schönbüel Trail: An 8 km long trail at Lungern starting from the Turren mountain restaurant with an elevation gain of about 580 m. Plan for this difficult tour to take around 4 hours and 35 minutes.
• Jänzi Trail: A 12 km long trail from Langis to a 360° viewpoint with an elevation gain of about 580 m. Plan for this difficult tour to take around 5 hours and 45 minutes.

Other Activities in Lucerne

There are many more activities to enjoy in and around Lucerne. These include:

• Helicopter Tours: Get a bird’s eye view of Lake Lucerne and Central Switzerland.
• Wellness: Relax at Alexander-Gerbi Vitalis Spa, Alpenwellness Chäserenholz, or Chenot Palace Weggis.
• Photography: Learn the art of photography in a photography course in beautiful Lucerne.
• Skydiving: Jump out of a plane and feel like a bird soaring over Lucerne and Lake Lucerne.
• Skiing: From Lucerne, you can access some great cross-country skiing trails. For example, trails are available on Rigi, in Engelberg, in Emmetten, and many other areas around Lucerne.

Events in Lucerne

Lucerne is always hosting great events throughout the year. Among the most famous events are:

• January: During about 10 days are in the city of Lucerne fascinating Light installations can be discovered at the Lilu Light Festival Lucerne
• Mid to late February: Carnival in Lucerne begins on Dirty Thursday and ends on Ash Wednesday.
• April: Fumetto is one of the leading comic festivals in Europe and attracts around 50,000 visitors every year
• July: Every July, top track and field athletes from over 40 countries compete on the Allmend in Lucerne
• August to September: During the Lucerne Festival Summer, numerous world stars of the classical music scene can be heard
• Late October: The SwissCityMarathon takes place in Lucerne along the beautiful Lake Lucerne and continues into Lucerne's Old Town
• November: Towards the end of the year, the Lucerne Blues Festival takes place.
• December: Several Christmas markets are set up in the city and invite you to enjoy mulled wine and raclette.

Getting to Lucerne

There are many ways to get to Lucerne. The region in the heart of Switzerland is well-connected by both car and public transport.

By Car

If you want to drive to Lucerne, you can easily reach it via the highway from Zurich, Bern, and Basel. It's also straightforward to get there from Central Switzerland or from the Bernese Oberland over the Brünig Pass. Lucerne sits on an important north-south axis between Basel and Ticino, connected by the A2 motorway.

By Public Transport

Lucerne is very well integrated into the public transportation network. You have regular connections to Zurich, Bern, and Basel, as well as to Ticino, thanks to the express trains. With regional trains, you can reach popular destinations like Engelberg or the Entlebuch.

Several panoramic trains of Switzerland start or end in Lucerne. The Gotthard Panorama Express and the GoldenPass Line operate between Lucerne and Lugano and between Lucerne and Montreux, respectively. You can reach St. Gallen in about 2 hours and 15 minutes with the Voralpen Express.

Regular passenger ships operate on Lake Lucerne, offering scenic excursions.

Hotels Lucerne

Lucerne offers a suitable accommodation for every budget. From the simple but comfortable youth hostel to the luxurious five-star hotel you will find everything here

Hotel Montana Lucerne

Thanks to its elevated location, the four-star Art Deco Hotel Montana boasts a magnificent view of Lake Lucerne, the city of Lucerne and the mountain peaks of Central Switzerland. The 115 beds are divided among 42 Art Deco rooms and 19 penthouse rooms in innovative design. Further, the Hotel Montana offers excellent gastronomy, awarded with 15 GaultMillau points. There is a rum lounge, a day spa and much more.

Suitable for: Travelers with an upscale budget and a sense of design and lifestyle

Hotel des Alpes Lucerne

This three-star hotel is located directly on the Reuss River in the middle of Lucerne's old town. There is hardly a better starting point for your discovery tour. Here you will find 45 rooms with a view of Mount Pilatus, the Chapel Bridge, Lake Lucerne or the old town. The typical Swiss hotel is only a 5-minute walk from the train station and the KKL. By the way, your pet is also welcome here.

Suitable for: City travelers with medium budget, short stays, people traveling with their pet

Youth Hostel Lucerne

Situated just outside Lucerne on the idyllic Rotsee lake, the youth hostel offers affordable overnight accommodation with a total of 206 beds. The functionally equipped rooms have between two and six beds. They are thus ideally suited for budget-conscious city trips for groups or even families. A spacious lounge provides an international atmosphere in which you can make uncomplicated contacts with other guests.

Suitable for: Uncomplicated adventurers, families, groups and people with lower budgets

Restaurants Lucerne

Culinary Lucerne has a rich abundance of restaurants to offer. The whole world meets here. Whether Mexican, Italian, French, Asian or typically Swiss - in Lucerne hardly any wish remains unfulfilled.

Restaurant Helvetia Lucerne

Located in the heart of Lucerne's up-and-coming Neustadt district, Restaurant Helvetia is especially popular in summer for its secluded garden terrace under chestnut trees. The dishes are conjured up locally from local alpine and farming businesses, winegrowers, fishermen, brewers, etc

Special: Seasonal Swiss cuisine, medium price segment, child-friendly, cozy outdoor area, fumoir available

Restaurant Franz

Situated directly on Lake Lucerne, the elegant Restaurant Franz with its Austrian ambience will transport you to Vienna. Hearty classics such as Tafelspitz or Wiener Schnitzel await you. But you can also enjoy typical Austrian desserts such as Kaiserschmarrn or Marillenknödel or an extensive brunch at Restaurant Franz.

Special: Typical Austrian cuisine and brunch, medium to higher price range, centrally located on the waterfront, suitable for groups, wheelchair accessible

Restaurant Basilico

If you want to eat something fresh, healthy and fast and love Italian cuisine, Basilico is the place for you. This mixture of take away, fast food, restaurant and café offers you typical Mediterranean dishes in all variations

Special: Italian and seasonal cuisine, child-friendly, dogs allowed, terrace and garden, low price segment, suitable for groups

Lucerne is worth a visit all year round and offers something for everyone. So don't miss the chance to be won over by this enchanting city in the heart of Switzerland.

Videos Lucerne

Image film of Lucerne Tourism