The city of Lucerne: our complete city guide with insider tips 

The train station of Lucerne

The train station of Lucerne is called "Luzern", which is the local German name of the town. This is where all public transport departs from. The historical town center is 4 minutes on foot from there. And you only have to cross the street to reach the boat docks.

How to get to Lucerne

Lucerne can best be reached by train. There are quick connections from major Swiss airports and cities. Examples of travel times:

• 1h05 from Zurich Airport, 0h40 from Zurich
• 1h35 from Basel EuroAirport, 1h05 from Basel
• 3h10 from Geneva Airport, 3h00 from Geneva
• 1h00 from Bern via Sursee and Zofingen, or 1h30 via the scenic Emmental
• 1h50 from Interlaken

You'll find all train connections to and from Lucerne in the Swiss timetable.

How to explore the town center: on foot and by bus

The town center is easily reached by train and explored on foot. There are buses to get around as well.

The Visitor Card and rail passes suitable for Lucerne

You will receive a free Visitor Card when you check in at your hotel or apartment. The card gets you discounts on local attractions, and free travel in and around town.

But if you own a rail pass, you'll get to travel in a much wider area, and discounts on attractions are mostly better.

The Tell-Pass is a good option if you'll be focusing on the Lake Lucerne area. Consider a Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Half Fare Card if you plan to explore other Swiss regions too.

Traveling to Lucerne by car

Lucerne can be reached by car too. I don't recommend exploring the town by car though.

It's best to park your car and continue on foot. As in most Swiss cities, there are one-way streets, pedestrian zones, and quite some local traffic in the old town. This all makes navigating by car challenging.

Where to park in Lucerne

Street parking is scarce in the center of town. You can best park in one of the parking garages. There are several garages at the train station and around town.

If you want to avoid driving into the town center, you can also park at Luzern Messe (trade center), which is next to the train stop "Luzern Allmend/Messe". It takes a 5-minute train ride to reach the center of Lucerne.

Parking is paid, regardless of where you park. A few hotels may have parking included. Others offer paid parking or no parking at all. In that case, you'll need to park in one of the public garages.

The best time to visit Lucerne 

I've visited Lucerne in several seasons and think it's worth it all year.

Nature may not be prettiest in the shoulder months of March and late November. But the town offers so many indoor options that I don't feel this is a problem. Moreover, Lucerne is a central hub for trips to many other Swiss towns such as Bern, Zurich, Basel, and St. Gallen. Even a day trip to Lugano southern Switzerland is an option!

Lucerne from April to October

April to October are the best months for outdoor activities on the lake and in the mountains.

April is still a bit early: a few mountain routes, such as the cogwheel train to Pilatus, don't operate yet. But the spring nature is lovely, and you can still enjoy boat trips, Rigi visits, and sightseeing in the city.

By mid- to late May, nearly all mountaintops are accessible. Cable cars and mountain trains in the Lucerne area keep operating until mid- to late October, if weather allows.

Lucerne from November to March

Late November and December are low season for outdoor attractions, but they're great to enjoy the holiday season in Lucerne and nearby cities.

January and February are the best months for snow trips into the mountains.

Mid- and late March again are low season, but the city still has plenty to offer to keep you busy.

What to see in the old town of Lucerne

The picturesque old town can easily be explored on foot. Our Lucerne town walk includes all of the below highlights and more.

• Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke): a 200 m long covered wooden bridge in the city center, with 111 paintings in the inside. Attached is the Water Tower, which dates back to about 1300. The bridge is accessible on foot from the train station in 5 minutes.
• Jesuit Church (Jesuitenkirche) in the Bahnhofstrasse, 100 m from the Chapel Bridge (www.jesuitenkirche-luzern.ch).
• The Franciscan Church (Franziskanerkirche), behind the Jesuit Church.
• The Hof Church (Hofkirche) in the Sankt-Leodegar-Strasse.
• The Lion Monument in the Denkmalstrasse, about 15 minutes from the rail station. It commemorates the hundreds of members of the Swiss Guard who died while defending the Tuileries Palace in Paris in 1792.
• The Musegg Wall: the 13th-century city walls in the north of the town center. Some of the towers are accessible (www.museggmauer.ch).

Scenic train rides from Lucerne

Train routes directly from town

The 4 best panoramic train routes directly from Lucerne are the GoldenPass, the Gotthard Panorama Express, the Voralpen Express, and the Emmental route to Bern.

Details:

1. The GoldenPass route: Lucerne is at the northern end of this line, which crosses Central Switzerland and Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland, and ends in Montreux at Lake Geneva.
2. The Gotthard Panorama Express: this combined train and boat journey gets you to Lugano in the southern canton Ticino.
3. The Voralpen Express: this scenic train ride can be made between Lucerne and the beautiful northern Swiss city St. Gallen.
4. The scenic train to Bern: there are quick 1-hour routes to Bern via Sursee and Zofingen, but there's also a 1h30-route by regional train that crosses the green Emmental ("Emmen Valley"). Enter "Entlebuch" or another valley as a via-station in the timetable for these connections.

The Glacier Express and Bernina Express from Lucerne

It's possible to make a 1-day round trip from Lucerne that contains sections of the Glacier Express. Please find details in Arno's Glacier Express guide.

Realistically, Lucerne is too far away for a day trip with the Bernina Express. It's best to move to a base town on the northern or southern parts of this line first, such as Chur, Tirano or Lugano.

Winter activities in Lucerne

Lucerne is very atmospheric in November and December. Christmas shopping can be done in the illuminated old town. A Christmas market is held, and you can easily travel to other towns and Christmas markets. Examples are Zurich, Bern and Basel.

Snow in town isn't common. You’ll have to travel to reach winter sports resorts.

• The main snow destination near Lucerne is Engelberg-Titlis. Engelberg can be reached in 45 minutes by train. This snow area is generally open from early October to late May. It offers a wide range of snow activities, including sled runs.
• Sledding, bobsledding, and snowshoe hiking are available at Pilatus, the mountain closest to Lucerne.
• Many more ski regions can be visited from Lucerne. Count on traveling times of an hour or more.