Lucerne

Travel Guide

Photo provided by Lucerne Tourism
Photo provided by Lucerne Tourism
Old Town Lucerne showing boating, heritage architecture and a church or cathedral
Photo provided by Lucerne Tourism
Photo provided by Lucerne Tourism
With towering mountains on oneside and Lake Lucerne on the other, this medieval city is known for its sceniclocation and historic charm.

Flanked by Mounts Rigi and Titlis, the small city of Lucerne is locatedon the shores of Lake Lucerne. It offers water recreation, hiking and mountainsports to visitors throughout the year. Because of its temperate climate, theregion is nicknamed “Lucerne Riviera.”

The central Swiss city is primarily German-speaking. Its roots traceback to the 12th century. Stroll down the cobblestone streets to see some ofthe city’s history in its centuries-old architecture. With its compact nature,Lucerne is easy to explore on foot but you can also admire the city from thewater with a ride on a ferry or rented paddleboat.

Old Town has narrow alleys, quaint storefronts and outdoor cafés. It’salso home to one of Switzerland’s most famous attractions, the 14th-century Chapel Bridge across the Reuss River. ChapelBridge is the oldest covered bridge in Europe and features a variety ofhistoric paintings for visitors to admire as they stroll its length. Be sure toinvestigate the iconic Water Tower, which once served as a prison and torturechamber. Two-thirds of Chapel Bridge was destroyed by a fire in 1993 and hassince been carefully restored.

The Lion Monument is another Lucernehighlight. Designed by Danishsculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, the “Lion of Lucerne” was erected to commemorate600 Swiss soldiers who were killed during the French Revolution. Described byMark Twain as “the most mournful and movingpiece of stone in the world,” the massive monument was carved into thesandstone face of a former quarry.

The Swiss Museum of Transportis beloved by visitors of all ages for its interactive exhibits. In addition toa vast collection depicting the past, present and future of transportation, themuseum also features a planetarium, an IMAX theater and a wing with works bylocal artist, Hans Erni.

Lucerne has access to most major Swiss cities via the SBB Railway. Thenearest international airport is in Zurich, which is an hour from Lucerne byrail and about 45 minutes by car.

Where to stay in Lucerne

Old Town Lucerne showing boating, heritage architecture and a church or cathedral

Old Town Lucerne

Old Town Lucerne is popular for its lake views, and if you're looking for more to see and do, you might think about a trip to Lucerne Town Hall or Saint Peters Church.

Old Town Lucerne
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Littau

4/5(2 area reviews)

Littau is well-liked for its restaurants. If you'd like to do some sightseeing in the greater Lucerne area, you might plan a trip to Chateau Guetsch or Jesuit Church.

Littau
AMERON Luzern Hotel Flora
AMERON Luzern Hotel Flora
4 out of 5
Seidenhofstrasse 5, Lucerne, LU
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
$384 nightly
The price is $411 total per night from Jul 30 to Jul 31
$411 total
Jul 30 - Jul 31
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Lucerne. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,003 reviews)
"Loved it"

Reviewed on Jul 4, 2025

AMERON Luzern Hotel Flora
Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne
Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne
4.5 out of 5
Lakefront Center, Inseliquai 12, Lucerne, LU
$423 nightly
The price is $451 total per night from Jul 10 to Jul 11
$451 total
Jul 10 - Jul 11
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Lucerne. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (999 reviews)
"It’s generally good, the location is easy to access, it’s just 5-6 mins walking time from train station and pier. Right next to the exhibition centre, busy parties on weekend. But the hotel area is quiet. The staffs are friendly."

Reviewed on Jul 5, 2025

Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne
ibis budget Luzern City
ibis budget Luzern City
1.5 out of 5
Kellerstrasse 6, Lucerne
$189 nightly
The price is $207 total per night from Jul 10 to Jul 11
$207 total
Jul 10 - Jul 11
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this hotel in Lucerne. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,004 reviews)
"Good location"

Reviewed on Jul 3, 2025

ibis budget Luzern City
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Galaxy Apartments
Galaxy Apartments
3.5 out of 5
13 Gibraltarstrasse, Lucerne, LU
Stay at this 3.5-star apartment in Lucerne. Enjoy free WiFi, an airport shuttle (surcharge), and a snack bar/deli. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our ...
7.4/10 Good! (288 reviews)
Minor inconveniences
"The location is good. Check in was in person. It was a heat wave through Switzerland and the fans were inadequate. We never received the city travel card from the hostess. We had our swiss travel pass and used that."

Reviewed on Jul 4, 2025

Galaxy Apartments
Lucerne Lake View Apartments
Lucerne Lake View Apartments
4 out of 5
2 Sankt Leodegarstrasse, Lucerne
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly apartment in Lucerne. Enjoy free WiFi, an airport shuttle (surcharge), and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions Chapel ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (14 reviews)
"Excellent location. Views to die for from your private rooftop balcony. Air conditioning in every room. Clean, safe. All the things you look for in a room in a country.You are not familiar with. All the amenities you'd need, including a reasonably priced minibar."

Reviewed on Jun 16, 2025

Lucerne Lake View Apartments
Hitrental Allmend Comfort Apartments
Hitrental Allmend Comfort Apartments
3.5 out of 5
Zihlmattweg 44, Lucerne, LU
Stay at this 3.5-star apartment in Lucerne. Enjoy an in-room coffeemaker. Popular attractions Chapel Bridge and Swiss Transportation Museum are located ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (8 reviews)
"Everything was excellent"

Reviewed on Mar 10, 2025

Hitrental Allmend Comfort Apartments
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Lucerne

4.7
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
251
5 - Excellent 72%
4 - Good
81
4 - Good 23%
3 - Okay
15
3 - Okay 4%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Beautiful city

5/5 - Excellent

mbb

We were there during their AWESOME carnival season! Loved everything!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

This town is a gem!

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

One of the nicest cities in Switzerland.

5/5 - Excellent

Yunsur

A perfect city for sightseeing and day off trip. The view from everywhere was perfect.

4/5 - Good

Worldtraveler

We stopped by Lucerne for only one day. it was a nice town

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