Altstadt
First-timersThe old town: the bridges, painted squares, the lake and most of the beds.
Lucerne city guide
Things To Do In Lucerne
A covered wooden bridge from the fourteenth century, a lake ringed by mountains, and the steepest cogwheel railway in the world climbing straight up behind the old town.
9
Hostels in the city
8.8
Average, from 7,991 reviews
1333
Chapel Bridge first built
48%
The gradient of the Pilatus railway, the world's steepest cogwheel line
~45 min
From Zurich by train
The postcard version of Switzerland, and it lives up to it
Lucerne sits where the Reuss river leaves Lake Lucerne, with mountains rising on every side, and it is the Switzerland people picture before they arrive.
The Chapel Bridge, a covered wooden footbridge first built in the fourteenth century, crosses the river at an angle with its stone water tower beside it. Much of it burned in 1993 and was rebuilt, and the painted panels under its roof were partly restored and partly lost. It is still the oldest covered wooden bridge in Europe in spirit, and the image of the city.
The Lion Monument, a dying lion carved into a cliff face to commemorate Swiss guards killed in the French Revolution, was described by Mark Twain as the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world.
Behind the city, Mount Pilatus is reached by the steepest cogwheel railway on earth, and Mount Rigi by the first mountain railway in Europe.
It is heavily visited and expensive. Two days, with a mountain.
Where to stay
An old town on the river, with the lake in front and mountains behind.
Near the station
Transport and valueAcross the river: the station, the boats and cheaper rooms a short walk from everything.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 8 top-rated hostels. Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Lucerne
Walk across the Chapel Bridge and look up at the painted panels under the roof. It is free and it is the heart of the city. The Spreuer Bridge, further along the river, is the older-looking and quieter of the two covered bridges, with a Dance of Death painted inside.
See the Lion Monument, carved into a cliff face in 1820–21 for the Swiss guards killed defending the Tuileries in 1792. Free.
Do the Golden Round Trip to Pilatus: a lake boat to Alpnachstad, the world's steepest cogwheel railway up at a 48 per cent gradient, and a cable car down to Kriens. It is expensive, and the Swiss Travel Pass gives a good discount. The cog railway runs in summer only.
Mount Rigi, the Queen of the Mountains, is the alternative, reached by Europe's first mountain railway.
The Swiss Museum of Transport is the most visited museum in the country, and good.
Walk the Musegg Wall, the old city walls, with several towers you can climb for free in season.
Free things
Free things to do in Lucerne
The Chapel Bridge and the Spreuer Bridge are free.
The Lion Monument is free.
The Musegg Wall and several of its towers are free to climb in season.
The lakeside promenades are free and run for kilometres.
The old town's painted squares cost nothing.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Lucerne
Expensive and tourist-oriented around the bridges. A main is CHF 30 to 45 (about €32–48).
Luzerner Chügelipastete, a vol-au-vent filled with veal and mushrooms in cream sauce, is the local dish.
Rösti and fondue are everywhere.
Coop and Migros are the budget answer.
A beer is CHF 7 to 10 (about €7.50–10.50).
Nightlife
Going out in Lucerne
Quiet. A few bars in the old town and along the river, busier in summer.
A beer is CHF 7 to 10.
Fasnacht in February or March is the exception, with days of loud brass bands, masks and costume filling the old town from early morning.
Getting around
Getting around Lucerne
The old town is compact and walkable.
Lake boats, including historic paddle steamers, run to Pilatus, Rigi and the lakeside villages, and are covered by the Swiss Travel Pass.
Zurich is about forty-five minutes by train and Bern about an hour. Interlaken is about two hours on the scenic Luzern–Interlaken Express.
Costs
What Lucerne costs
Expensive. Dorms are CHF 40 to 65 (about €42–69), a main CHF 30 to 45, and a beer CHF 7 to 10.
A day is €95 to €160 before mountains.
The mountain excursions are the real cost: the Pilatus round trip is expensive at full price, and the Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card makes a big difference.
The bridges, the Lion Monument and the walls are free.
Safety
Staying safe in Lucerne
Lucerne is very safe.
Pickpocketing occurs in the crowds around the Chapel Bridge in summer.
On the mountains, weather changes quickly and cloud can hide everything within minutes. Check the webcams before paying for an excursion.
The lake is cold. Swim at the lido.
Emergency number is 112.
Day trips from Lucerne
Three mountains and a lake full of steamers.
Mount Pilatus
The Golden Round Trip, with the world's steepest cogwheel railway.
Mount Rigi
The Queen of the Mountains, with Europe's first mountain railway.
Mount Titlis
A glacier with a rotating cable car and a cliff walk.
Zurich
The biggest city, with river swimming.
Interlaken
Via the scenic Luzern–Interlaken Express.
What's on
What is on while you are there
A carnival in late winter and a classical music festival in summer.
Staff pick
25 October
Lucerne Swiss City Marathon
The SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne invites runners to experience a scenic course through the heart of Lucerne, Switzerland, passing iconic landmarks and picturesque lakeside views.…
Staff pick
7–15 November
Lucerne Blues Festival
The Lucerne Blues Festival in Lucerne, Switzerland, is dedicated to presenting authentic blues music in a non-commercial, culturally focused setting. The festival is renowned…
Staff pick
17 October
Lucerne Cheese Festival
The Lucerne Cheese Festival transforms the iconic Chapel Bridge in Lucerne, Switzerland, into Central Switzerland’s largest cheese market, showcasing a remarkable variety of regional…
Staff pick
3–21 December
Lucerne Christmas Market
The Lucerne Christmas Market in Lucerne, Switzerland, invites visitors to wander through charming stalls nestled among medieval bridges and cobblestone squares, all illuminated by…
3–18 October
Autumn Fair: Lozärner Määs
The Autumn Fair, known locally as Lozärner Määs, is a traditional market event held in Luzern from early to mid-October. You can explore over…
25 October
SwissCityMarathon
The SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne is a premier marathon event held annually on the last Sunday of October. The race route runs along the lakeshore,…
14 May – 23 Oct
Provided. Indentured. Forgotten?
This national traveling exhibition explores the history of coercive welfare measures and outplacements in Switzerland, shedding light on a difficult chapter that affected many…
24 October
Swissorama
Swissorama revives a pioneering 360° film experience originally premiered in 1984 at the Verkehrshaus der Schweiz. The event includes a screening of the digitally…
Hostels
Where to stay in Lucerne
A small scene near the station and the old town. Live from Hostelworld.
Young Backpackers Homestay
Dorms from €53 a night
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Sustainable
Capsule Hotel - Lucerne Old Town
Dorms from €61 a night
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Backpackers Lucerne
Dorms from €57 a night
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Barabas Luzern
Dorms from €48 a night
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Hotel Alpha
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Capsule Hotel - Lucerne TheLAB
Dorms from €47 a night
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Bellpark Hostel
Dorms from €42 a night
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Sustainable
Luzern Youth Hostel
Dorms from €51 a night
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When to go
May to September for the mountains. Fasnacht in late winter.
Jan
Cold
Feb
Fasnacht in some years
Mar
Fasnacht in some years
Apr
Spring
May
Pilatus cog line reopens
Jun
Excellent
Jul
Busy
Aug
Lucerne Festival
Sep
Superb
Oct
Autumn
Nov
Grey
Dec
Christmas markets
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. The Pilatus cog railway runs only from about May to November; in winter use the cable cars from Kriens.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros — you will pay in Swiss francs, at roughly 1.06 euros to the franc.
Shown in euros for comparison; you pay in Swiss francs. The doing line assumes a mountain excursion.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Lucerne travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is the Chapel Bridge original?
Partly. It was first built in the fourteenth century, but much of it burned in 1993 and was rebuilt. Some of the painted panels under its roof were restored and some were lost.
Pilatus or Rigi?
Pilatus for the drama — the world's steepest cogwheel railway at 48 per cent — and the Golden Round Trip by boat and cable car. Rigi for gentler walking and Europe's first mountain railway. Both are expensive at full price, and passes help.
What is the Lion Monument?
A dying lion carved into a cliff face in 1820 and 1821 to commemorate Swiss guards killed in the French Revolution. Mark Twain called it the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world. It is free.
How expensive is it?
Expensive. Dorms CHF 40 to 65 (about €42–69), and a day around €95 to €160 before mountain excursions, which are the real cost.
Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it here?
Usually. It covers the lake boats and gives discounts on most mountain railways, which add up fast in Lucerne.
When is Fasnacht?
In February or March, depending on Easter. It is Lucerne's carnival, with brass bands, masks and costume filling the old town from before dawn.
How do I get there?
About forty-five minutes by train from Zurich.
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