Lucerne

The first city to join the Swiss Confederation, today Lucerne is a lovely city of 80,000 people with a thriving tourism industry, owing mainly to its status as a gateway to Central Switzerland . The city is a centre of Swiss history and legend: it's across the lake from Altdorf, where legend has it William Tell shot an apple off of his son's head.

Tourism in Lucerne has a distinguished history dating from the mid-19th century, with Mark Twain among them. In A Tramp Abroad he recalls the nascent souvenir business, and other budding examples of the tourism trade.

"The commerce of Lucerne consists mainly in gimcrackery of the souvenir sort; the shops are packed with Alpine crystals, photographs of scenery, and wooden and ivory carvings. I will not conceal the fact that miniature figures of the Lion of Lucerne are to be had in them. Millions of them." — Mark Twain

Climate

Lucerne has cold, dry winters and warm/hot summers.

Lucerne

Climate chart (explanation)

J F M A M J J A S O N D

110

56

4

−2

141

61

6

−2

45

75

11

2

9

97

15

5

0

149

19

9

0

165

23

13

0

166

25

15

0

170

24

14

0

109

20

11

4

88

14

7

32

78

8

2

128

78

5

−1

Average max. and min. temperatures in °C

Precipitation + Snow totals in mm

Imperial conversion

J F M A M J J A S O N D

4.3

2.2

39

29

5.6

2.4

42

29

1.8

3

52

35

0.4

3.8

60

41

0

5.9

67

48

0

6.5

73

55

0

6.5

77

58

0

6.7

76

58

0

4.3

67

51

0.2

3.5

58

44

1.3

3.1

47

36

5

3.1

40

31

Average max. and min. temperatures in °F

Precipitation + Snow totals in inches

Tourist information

Lucerne Tourism website

By Train

Thanks to its central location

Lucerne railway station ( Bahnhof Luzern ) can be reached easily from nearly every other city in Switzerland using the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB

CFF

FFS)) . There are hourly trains from Olten and Zürich Airport and half-hourly trains from Zürich , and a direct train every hour from Berne . There is an hourly service from Bellinzona in Ticino, and Pfäffikon and St. Gallen in the North East.

The "Zentralbahn" branch of the Swiss Federal Railways also provides hourly trains between Interlaken and Lucerne during daytime.

By Bus

There are no intercity buses in Switzerland as the train system provides ample connections to many destinations in Switzerland. To make trips to the countryside in the mountains where there are no trains, refer to postauto.ch buses are available from some nearby places, such as Rotkreuz.

Able-bodied travellers will find Lucerne a complete joy to get around in on foot. The Old-Town is rather small, and most other interesting sites are within 20 minutes or so walk, there is also a city bus system , as well as assistance for disabled visitors on request from Mobility International Switzerland . The Lido beach and the Swiss Transport Museum are a bit further out but can be reached with a lakeside walk in 30-40 minutes, otherwise they can be reached by bus or by one of several boats per hour from just in front of the central railway station.

Visitors staying overnight in Lucerne get a Visitor Card which gives free bus and train travel in Zone 10 for the duration of their stay. All of the points of interest in Lucerne including the Transport Museum and lower cable-car station for Pilatus are within this zone.

Lucerne also makes a very good base for discovering the rest of Central Switzerland , using the Swiss Federal Railway , the Schifffahrtsgesellschaft Vierwaldstättersee , or any one of several private rail or boat companies. Visitors using Lucerne as a base to explore the region might consider the Tell Pass which covers a large number of trains, buses, boats, and cable-cars in the region around Lucerne.

Bicycles are available for rent at the central railway station, at ticket window 21 on the lower level. For Fr.

31 per day, you can rent a 24-speed, sturdily-built bike with a baggage clamp. Electric bikes are also available. Bike pick-up and drop-off are around the left side of the train station, at a kiosk across the street from the Swiss Post building. Bike lanes are present on most secondary streets, and Lucerne drivers are generally aware of and polite towards bicyclists.

By bus

Lucerne has an efficient bus network: Verkehrsbetriebe Luzern (VBL) (German only). It covers the city and its suburbs.

🌍

The Chapel Bridge

( Kapellbrücke ).

The Chapel Bridge was built in the 14th century to aid in the protection of the city. It is a landmark of Lucerne and is said to be the oldest wooden bridge in all of Europe. A point of interest as you walk over it are the paintings in the rafters depicting 12th-century city life and Swiss history. The bridge was badly damaged by a fire on 18 August 1993; it was rebuilt within a year, but the damage is still visible in places and many of the original paintings were lost. The tower which has had multiple uses over the years (including as a dungeon) is still in the original condition, but not open for visitors.

Free .

( )

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The Spreuer Bridge

( Spreuerbrucke ).

The Spreuer Bridge, or Chaff Bridge, is the other surviving wooden footbridge in central Lucerne, a short walk from the more famous Chapel Bridge. It was built in 1566, replacing an earlier bridge destroyed by fire. It is known for its decorative paintings depicting the Dance of Death, by the studio of Kaspar Meglinger.

( )

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The Lion Monument

( Löwendenkmal ),

Denkmalstrasse 4 .

Also known as the Lion of Lucerne, it is a sculpture designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen. It commemorates the Swiss Guards who were massacred in 1792 during the French Revolution, when revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries Palace in Paris, France. The American writer Mark Twain (1835–1910) praised the sculpture of a mortally-wounded lion as "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world.". The sculpture is a popular sight with a constant flow of tour groups arriving during the day - visit early or late in the day if possible for a more peaceful experience.

Free .

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The old city wall

( Museggmauer ).

1 April-1 Nov: 08:00-19:00, closed over winter .

A part of the rampart walls built in 1386; the wall is still almost entirely intact and visitors are able to walk a section of the rampart. Four towers are open to the public: Schirmer, Zyt, Wacht and Männli. The Männliturm allows access to the rooftop of the tower which gives the most extensive and unobstructed views.

Free .

( )

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Alpineum .

A museum and diorama dedicated to the Alps.

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Bourbaki Panorama ,

Löwenplatz 11 .

Nov-Mar 10:00–17:00; Apr-Oct 09:00–18:00 .

A circular panoramic painting.

Fr.

12 .

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Glacier Garden

( Gletschergarten ).

Apr-Oct 10:00-18:00, Nov-Mar 10:00-17:00 .

The main focus is the dramatic carving of the rockbed by glaciers and information related to it, but this also features a museum of curiosities and a mirror maze.

Fr. 22 (discount for students and children) .

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Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre

( Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Luzern ).

The KKL is a spectacular building that contains several concert halls and the Lucerne Art Museum. It was designed by Jean Nouvel. Its major concert hall ("La salle blanche") is famous for its acoustics, and world class orchestras can be heard regularly. It hosts the Lucerne Festival (classical music).

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Piuskirche Meggen .

In the nearby town Meggen, there's an unusual Roman Catholic parish church building made of transcluent marble, built in 1966. The building has a form of a 13m high cube and no windows. It looks bluish from the outside, and yellow-orange on the inside - depending on the lighting conditions.

Museums

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Swiss Museum of Transport

( Verkehrshaus der Schweiz ),

Lidostrasse 5

( Lido beach, the first stop for boats leaving from the central train station, preferably reached by bus ).

Summer 10:00–18:00; winter 10:00–17:00 .

With its large collection of trains, planes, automobiles, and motorcycles, this museum of means of transport is a great place to spend an afternoon. If you get tired of the real train engines you can check out the model railroad or the miniature working steam train. The air section also features several space travel exhibits, including an unused project Mercury capsule.

Fr.

32 for adults, Fr.

21 for children 6-16, and free for younger kids .

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Lucerne Art Museum

( Kunstmuseum Luzern ).

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The Rosengart Collection

( Sammlung Rosengart ),

Pilatusstrasse 10 ,

☏

+41 41 220 16 60 ,

[email protected] .

Apr–Oct: daily 10:00–18:00; Nov–Mar: daily 11:00–17:00 .

Well over 200 works by 23 artists of early modernism, including 125 works of Paul Klee and about 50 by Pablo Picasso. Also works by Cézanne, Chagall, Miró, Pissarro, among others. The collection also houses 200 photographs, previously housed in the Am-Rhyn-Haus, by David Duncan Douglas, Life Magazine’s World War II photo correspondent who arrived with his camera uninvited at Picasso’s villa “California”, was welcomed by Picasso and his family, and over the years produced an intimate portrait of the artist’s day-to-day life. Picasso's living room was his studio, and domestic scenes — a ballet lesson, Picasso drawing with his children, or wrapping himself in the cape and hat of his native Spain —play out within the backdrop of some of his most famous works. Allow at least 2 1/2-3 hours to see all the artworks. There are three floors, and you should allow plenty of time for each one. The ground floor houses many very interesting works by Picasso, but there are lots of others on the first floor, along with outstanding works by Raoul Dufy, Fernand Léger, Vassily Kandinsky, Georges Rouault, et al. The Klees are all in the basement. The titles in Klee's handwriting are often very small and hard to read, and he did not put titles in every work, so ask for a printed list of composition titles for them.

Admission Fr.

20 ( Fr.

18 for senior citizens over 65 and registered disabled people, 10 for students up to 30 years old, children 7-16 years ) .

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The Richard Wagner Museum .

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Explore the Old Town .

One of the main reasons that Lucerne attracts so many travelers is its small but remarkably preserved old town. You can get lost (for a few minutes anyhow) in its maze of streets, passages, and squares, admiring the many and varied murals painted on what seems like every other building. A nice short walk on the Museggmauer starts at the Schirmer-Turm, walk up the road near Jazzkantine, open only at daytime.

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Take a boat tour .

Take a boat tour on the lake Lucerne with the traditional steamboats. A ride along the full length of the lake (Lucerne – Flüelen) takes approximately 3 ho

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Lucerne has a selection of restaurants serving Swiss and international cuisine. Local specialities include fondue, raclette, and rösti.

Swiss wine, beer, and hot chocolate are widely available. Cafés and bars in Lucerne offer a range of local and international beverages.

Accommodation in Lucerne ranges from budget guesthouses to mid-range hotels and upscale resorts. Book in advance during peak season (July-August and December-March).

Local shops in Lucerne offer Swiss souvenirs, watches, chocolate, and regional products. ATMs are widely available.

• Zurich — Switzerland's largest city, with world-class museums and shopping
• Bern — The capital city with a UNESCO-listed old town
• Lucerne — Iconic chapel bridge and lake views
• Interlaken — Gateway to the Jungfrau region
• Geneva — International city on Lake Geneva