Lucerne sits where the Reuss river meets Lake Lucerne, ringed by snow-capped peaks that are visible from almost anywhere in the old town. It’s one of Switzerland’s most compact and walkable cities, and a natural base for exploring the surrounding mountains.
Why visit Lucerne
The Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke), a covered wooden footbridge dating to the 14th century, is the city’s emblem and one of the oldest surviving truss bridges in Europe. Beyond it, Lucerne’s compact Altstadt is full of painted facades and quiet squares, while the lake itself is ringed by two of Switzerland’s most accessible mountains, Rigi and Pilatus, both reachable by cogwheel railway or cable car.
Getting to Lucerne by train
Lucerne is under an hour from Zurich and well connected to the rest of Switzerland’s rail network, with regular services from Basel, Bern, and Geneva. It’s also a popular stop for travellers routing between Germany and Italy through the Swiss Alps.
Top things to do in Lucerne
- Walk across the Chapel Bridge and see the Water Tower beside it
- Ride the cogwheel railway up Mount Rigi, the “Queen of the Mountains,” for panoramic Alpine views
- Take the steepest cogwheel railway in the world up Mount Pilatus
- See the Lion Monument, a rock relief commemorating Swiss Guards, carved into a cliff face
- Take a boat cruise on Lake Lucerne for views back toward the old town and mountains