Overview

Lucerne is a beautiful and historic city with a range of structures that date from the 14th to 16th centuries. Lucerne Lake and the Reuss River are the delimiting features of the city, hemming in the old quarter with its iconic structures like Chapel Bridge, the Lion Monument, Weinmarkt Fountain and Hof Church. The city also hosts excellent cultural institutions like the Picasso Museum and the Swiss Transport Museum.

Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke)

Lucerne's most iconic site, this covered bridge spans the Reuss River and dates to the 1300s. It is Europe's oldest wooden bridge and was originally built as a security measure to help guard the city. When it was built, the inside of the bridge was decorated with paintings that reflected life in the city over the previous two centuries, and these pictures remain today. The bridge recently burned down but was quickly restored.

Swiss Transport Museum

Located at Lido Beach, this museum holds cars, motorcycles, aeroplanes and trains from the last 100 years. A highlight is the model railroad complete with a miniature working steam engine. The flight exhibit includes spacecraft and a space capsule from the Mercury project. The museum can be reached by bus or boat.

Picasso Museum

Time Life reporter, David Douglas Duncan, spent a great deal of time with Pablo Picasso and assembled an excellent portfolio of photographs representing the artist's life and work. Housed in building from the 1600s, this museum displays hundreds of photographs alongside drawings and ceramic pieces that the artist produced late in his career.

Lake Lucerne

The lake is Lucerne's key attraction, with most of the city's attractions and restaurants situated on or near its banks. Locals and visitors come to the lake for a variety of outdoor activities, or for simple sightseeing tours. While Lucerne and the lake share the same name, several minor villages dot its shores. Tourists can board steam-powered paddle boats for tours of Lake Lucerne.

Lion Monument

An iconic Lucerne attraction, the Lion Monument was commissioned in memory of the hundreds of Swiss soldiers who were killed by French forces in the late 18th century. Mark Twain was particularly moved by the monument, which features a lion in the throes of death, pierced by a spear. The sculpture was carved from a rock taken from a nearby cliff.

Weinmarkt Fountain

The actual 15th-century fountain that once stood here has been relocated to the History Museum and features seven medieval warriors, one of whom is St Mauritus. A perfect recreation of the fountain was built in place of the original and continues to embody the spirit of the city.

Hof Churh (Hofkirche)

This Renaissance church is arguably the finest in Switzerland and is certainly the most important religious structure in Lucerne. As the old city has maintained its medieval character, the cathedral continues to dominate the skyline. A religious structure of some sort has stood here since the 700s, while the current structure has been heavily-restored and dates to the 1600s. Inside is an organ with a staggering 6,000 pipes, the largest of which measures 33 ft. Climb the 200-ft tower for excellent views over the city.

Overview

Lucerne's rivers, lake and mountainous terrain set the stage for outdoor activities throughout the year. The lake is busy during the summer with boaters, swimmers and sunbathers, while the focus shifts to the outlying ski resorts in the winter. The high ground on Mt Pilatus is ideal for adventure sports like paragliding, canyon crossing and bungee jumping. Tourists can visit the peak by cable car, train or on foot.

Climbing Mt Pilatus

Ascending Mount Pilatus is a must for every visitor, and doing so affords excellent views over the Alps. It's possible to complete the climb on foot from the trailhead at Kriens (a nearby village). The cable car gets more use and also departs from Kriens. There are two changes along the way. Perhaps the most pleasant way to reach the peak is via the steepest cogwheel railway in the world. Trains depart south of Lucerne in Apnachstad village.

Festivals

Visiting Lucerne during one of its annual festivals offers a rich overlay of cultural activities that make the experience all the more memorable. Carnival typically lasts three days (Sunday to Tuesday) and is highlighted by a chaotic parade with participants literally marching in every direction. Soon after is the Lucerne Festival, when classical music performances are held across the city. Two other music festivals, the International Festival of Music (September) and the Blue Balls Festival (July) are also well attended.

Cycling

Lucerne is the perfect setting for every kind of cycling, which is a great way to travel between sites in the city. A favourite route follows a portion of the lake, heading out to other villages in the countryside. Mountain biking is also possible on Mount Pilatus and the surrounding hills. Outfitters in the city hire out road bikes, mountain bikes and also have options for children and tandem riders.

Winter sports

The Swiss Alps are world-renowned for their winter sport facilities, and there are several mountain resorts within reach of Lucerne. Meiringen and Engelberg are two of the closest and offer full facilities for skiers and snowboarders. Both operate a range of restaurants and lodges. The skiing season officially lasts from December to March, though slopes may still be in good condition in April.

Hiking

When the weather warms up and the snow disappears from the slopes, hikers head to the area's ski resorts and strap on boots instead of skis and to explore the terrain. The lifts continue to operate from May to November, giving hikers the opportunity to ascend to various altitudes for shorter hiking excursions. Lucerne sporting outfitters can also provide intrepid hikers with equipment and guides for longer, more intense outings

Swimming

Swimming in Lake Lucerne is possible during the summer though the waters are perennially chilled by mountain springs. Lido Beach is the best place for a refreshing swim. Anyone who finds the Alpine waters too brisk can make use of heated swimming pools in the larger hotels. These are better suited for lap swimming and are open year-round.

Adventure sports

Tour operators capitalise on the region's varying altitude by offering a variety of adventure sports to get visitors' hearts pounding. Bungee jumping is the fastest avenue to an adrenaline rush, followed closely by zip-line rides across a local canyon. Paragliding is also possible and offers unrivalled views over the city, lake and outlying mountains.

Dining and shopping

Lucerne has everything the modern tourist desires when it comes to dining and shopping. International and local restaurants are well-represented, and a few traditional Swiss restaurants even include traditional music and staff dressed in traditional costumes. Shopping also spans modern and nostalgic offerings. Watches, clothing and chocolates are the biggest sellers in town.

The entire city is bustling with cafés and restaurants, especially on the banks of Lucerne Lake and along the Reuss River. In the Old Town, atmospheric restaurants are packed into pedestrian areas. This area is particularly upscale, though visitors will find that prices are high across the city when compared to other Swiss towns.

The high prices are a direct result of the local economy's reliance on tourism. But the focus on tourism also paves the way for classy and atmospheric environs with excellent views over the city's waterways. Competition for tourist attention has paved the way for a few idyllic restaurants.

Most of the restaurants specialise in a fusion of Swiss, German and Austrian cuisine, but there is also a selection of international eateries in Lucerne. Pizzerias, coffee shops and fast food restaurants are widespread away from the city centre. The left bank of the lake is particularly well-known for inexpensive, international fare from places like India, Thailand and Turkey.

Local cuisine includes specialities like alpine macaroni, which features apples, potatoes, local cheese in a sweet and fruity reduction. Another local recipe takes rye bread and fondue cheese and bakes it along with garlic, white wine and paprika to create something like a Swiss crostini. Local pastries are not to be missed, especially the lozärner chügelipastete, a puff-pastry filled with mushrooms and veal in a cream sauce.

In the past, Lucerne's shopping scene had a reputation for leaning toward the kitsch side. In fact, Mark Twain went on record in the mid-1800s complaining about the millions of ‘alpine crystals' and carvings he was confronted with during his visit. But today's visitors are greeted by a more comprehensive selection of goods ranging from traditional souvenirs to designer fashions.

The newer shopping area is found on the Pilatusstrasse, close to the Central Station. Fashionable boutiques and shops selling jewellery and accessories are the main attraction in this part of town. Bucherer and Bübelin, two of Switzerland's best-known watch and jewellery dealers, have Lucerne locations where visitors can peruse some of the finest handiwork the industry has to offer.

The shopping in the Old Town is more nostalgic and includes a vast collection of handicraft markets and gift shops. One of the most popular handicrafts is Swiss embroidery, widely available throughout the Old town. An open-air market convenes on the lakeshore every Tuesday and Saturday.

Clothing is another big seller in Lucerne, with various local and international designers represented. There are two large department stores with a range of boutiques and jewellers, EPA and Nordmann and Co.

Lucerne's restaurant scene is remarkably upscale and perfect for couples looking for a romantic getaway. Several of the best establishments are housed in centuries-old buildings and serve traditional Swiss-Alps fare. The international dining scene is also well-established. Menu prices are high, but the dining experience is world-class and worth the expense.

Overview

Passengers arriving by air will land at the international airport in Zurich, a modern airport with comprehensive facilities. Onward transportation to Lucerne consists primarily of buses and trains. Within the city, buses and taxis are the primary mode of public transportation, though the paddleboats on Lake Lucerne can access coastal villages during the summer. A hire car is a convenience for travelling between Lucerne and the airport and can also be used to visit the peak of Mt Pilatus.

Airports

The closest airport to Lucerne is Zurich International, a two-terminal facility with a long list of carriers serving major cities across Europe. Limited flights to destinations farther afield are also offered. In all, Zurich International Airport serves 20 million passengers every year, many of whom are business passengers. Onsite airlines include British Airways, Air France, Continental Airliens, Lufthansa, United Airlines and Emirates Air.

The airport is equipped with the entire gamut of traveller amenities, beginning with post, banking and exchange services and going on to include numerous restaurants, bars and shopping facilities. Given Zurich's status as a hub of business and finance, the airport hosts comprehensive business and conference facilities as well.

Transportation from Zurich's airport to the city centre can be accomplished in several ways. A train runs directly to the city (30 minutes), departing several times a day from Terminal B. Bus 11 also connects to Lucerne, though there are several stops along the way. Taxis are available but understandably expensive given the distance, making a hire car a more economical option.

Driving to and from Zurich Airport is straightforward. The A20 departs the airport, links up with the A1 and ultimately leads to the A14 which accesses Lucerne. Parking options at the airport span three covered short-term lots and a remote long-term lot which is connected to the terminals by a free shuttle bus.

Public transportation

Switzerland boasts excellent rail infrastructure, and travel by train is a favourite means of reaching Lucerne, a city that sits at a major Swiss railway junction. Direct service is available from Berne, Olten and Zurich, with the latter offering more frequent departures. Travelling by train from other countries in Europe is also possible, though train changes are inevitable in the increasingly mountainous terrain.

Travel by bus is the most affordable means of getting around, and long-haul Eurolines coaches are spacious and comfortable. Buses arriving from elsewhere on the continent are routed through Zurich before connecting to Lucerne. It's also possible to drive to Lucerne from practically any city in Europe.

Buses also form the backbone of public transportation in Lucerne. They cover the entire city with a network of fixed routes, and tickets are available from automated machines near major bus stops. Tourists are a major contingent of the passengers, so short-term passes are available in one-, three- and seven- day increments. Taxis are the fastest means of point-to-point transit.

Steam paddleboats ply the waters of Lake Lucerne during the summer months and connect Lucerne's Bahhofquai Pier with villages along the shores of the lake. This doubles as an excellent way to see the sights.