Discover the heart of Lucerne, Switzerland as you stroll along Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge—a famous landmark in Switzerland), explore Old Town, hike on Rigi Kulm, cruise on Lake Lucerne, and paraglide from Mount Pilatus.
Need more ideas? Explore my recommendations for 20 super things to do in Lucerne and Switzerland.
20 Things to Do In Lucerne
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Lucerne, where residents speak the Swiss German dialect, offers dramatic views of the Swiss Alps, including Mount Pilatus and Mount Rigi.
From the moment Chris and I walked out of the train station in Lucerne, we were captivated by this lovely, colorful Swiss town.
You’ll find that the train station in Lucerne offers a central location for visitors wanting to take the train to many destinations within Switzerland as well as a central location to begin exploring the many fascinating sites of Lucerne.
If you have a day or two to spend exploring, discover a variety of unique things to do in Lucerne.
1. Stroll Across the Chapel Bridge or Kapellbrücke
You may recognize Chapel Bridge or Kapellbrücke as a famous landmark in Switzerland.
First and foremost, you should start your exploration of Lucerne strolling along Kapellbrücke of Chapel Bridge. It is one of the outstanding Instagram Worthy spots where the flowers and beams make for some stunning photographs.
You may be interested in knowing that the tower at the center of the bridge has been used for defense over the years as well as a prison and a torture chamber.
2. Explore the Musegg Fortification
In our wandering and searching for things to do in Lucerne, Chris and I found ourselves at the Musegg fortification with its mighty towers and bastions. The fortification was free to tour, so we climbed a tower or two and enjoyed the view.
The final tower—Mannliturn—has a parapet at the top where you can enjoy a sweeping view of Lucerne.
3. Stroll Around Lake Lucerne
Visitors from all over the world love to stroll along Lake Lucerne and enjoy the tranquility of Lucerne surrounded by majestic mountains.. The lake with its central location is often referred to as the “heart of Switzerland”.
“Although the lake is reminiscent of a fjord landscape, it is mainly characterized by a mild microclimate. Its shoreline consists of fertile hillsides, meadows and valleys. Its shores are home to forests inhabited by deer, chamois, foxes and marmots. Mount Rigi is covered in chestnut and almond trees as well as alpine flowers on the sunnier slopes.” Lakepedia
4. Explore Old Town Lucerne
Wander around old town Lucerne getting lost in its narrow alleyways. Did you know that it is completely free of traffic? Don’t pass by a great spot for lunch at XXL Kebab and Vegan. Chris and I settled on a bench nearby to enjoy a tasty lunch and do a little people watching. It’s completely free of traffic, so the best way to do it is by wandering around and getting lost in its narrow alleyways.
5. Discover the Lion of Lucerne
The Lion of Lucerne is a rock carving in a small park in Lucerne, designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen (sculptor of the Christus). This monument of a dying lion was hewn between 1820–21 by Lukas Ahorn and was commissioned to commemorate the massacre of Swiss Guards in 1792 during the French Revolution. As one of the most famous monuments in Switzerland, this powerful memorial is visited each year by about 1.4 million tourists.
As Mark Twain famously stated, “The Lion of Lucerne (is) the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world.”
6. Visit Cathedrals
Lucerne is home to a variety of cathedrals.
- Hofkirche
- Jesuitenkirche
- Markuskirche
- Franziskanerkirche
- St. Gallus Catholic Church
- Peter’s Chapel
- Matthauskirche
- Stiftung Flammarion der Romisch Katholischen Pfarrei
7. Take the Steamboat from Lucerne to Mount Rigi
You will want to catch the steamboat (or another boat) to Vitznau. Don’t be like Chris and I though; we raced to the boat and settled in with one minute to spare! The ticket office is located across the street from the train station in Lucerne.
When you get off the boat at Vitznau and you plan to ride the cog rail up to Mt. Rigi, catch the next cog rail as soon as you get off the boat. It is just steps from where you get off the boat. Otherwise you’ll be waiting for an hour for the next rail. There isn’t much to see in Vitznau.
8. Ride the Cog Rail to Rigi Kulm
The ride from Vitznau to Rigi Kulm is beautiful—there isn’t much of Switzerland that isn’t stunning and picturesque.
Chris and I finally made it to the top of the mountain and decided to move away from all of the tourists. We took another cog train over to Rigi Krabel where we planned to walk back along a flat path to Rigi Kulm (Kulm means rounded mountain).
9. Hike Around Rigi Kulm
Once Chris and I reached Rigi Krabel, we took a gondola up from Krabel where we stopped for a snack at a little cafe just off the path.
Our walk back to the Mount Rigi gondola took us about an hour and a half. We passed a lot of cows, heard a lot of cowbells, and saw very few people. Those that we did see taught us a new Swiss German greeting, “Gruezi” for hello.
10. Ride the Cog Rail Train to Mount Pilatus
The cable car ride from Kriens to Mt. Pilatus actually involved two different cable cars—a small 4-person gondola to Frakmuntegg, followed by the Dragon Glider (a larger aerial cableway) to Mt. Pilatus. The entire journey to the top took about a half an hour.
If you plan to visit Mt. Pilatus as a day trip, many tourists ride either the gondola or cogwheel train to the top of Mt. Pilatus and explore, hike, and take pictures.
The cogwheel rail to Pilatus is the steepest in the world!
Be sure to check the timetable for the last trip down the mountain each day.
It is a loooooong way down the mountain if you have to hike!
11. Hike to Tomlishorn on Mount Pilatus
The hike to Tomlishorn took about an hour and a half. Chris and I hiked later in the afternoon and saw only one other person on the trail. As we walked along, we could hear the cowbells clanging from the valley below.
The hiking path skirted the edge of the mountain, and was clearly marked with a railing. The last section of the trail was rockier, so you’ll want to watch your step along the way.
The views though? Stunning.
12. Climb to Oberhaupt on Mt. Pilatus to Watch the Sunset
If you are spending the night on Mount Pilatus, be sure to climb to Oberhaupt to watch the sunset. Many people leave the Pilatus Hotel dining room part way through dinner to catch the sunset; it was an option our check-in agent suggested for us and highly recommended we do.
I suggest you leave the dining room at least 15-20 minutes before sunset to make the 10-15 minute climb. You’ll catch the gorgeous evening views. It is totally worth the effort!
13. Spend the Night on Mt. Pilatus
Chris and I were excited for this overnight stay. We easily traveled up the mountain with our luggage in tow and deposited our bags and backpacks in our room before checking out the view and the mountain.
As it was close to the end of September, the hotel was not packed at all.
14. Paraglide from Mt. Pilatus
You might say that paragliding is the proper way to see Switzerland! Just remember these tips:
- Fly tandem with a licensed guide
- Be aware that your flight is dependent on the weather conditions. Your guide will monitor the weather conditions prior to your take off.
- The guides will bring all of the necessary paragliding equipment.
- Wear closed toed shoes
- Wear long pants
- Wear a warm jacket. We didn’t bring puffy jackets for this end of summer trip, but would have appreciated the warmth while paragliding. As it was, our guides provided extra jackets as another layer that we gratefully wore.
- Do not drink alcohol or take drugs before your flight
- Listen to your guide. When he says, “Run!”, you run to catch the thermals.
- Legs out straight on the landing unless your guide says otherwise. The tandem pack comes with substantial padding to soften your landing.
Are you wondering if paragliding is safe? Be sure your tandem paragliding guides are fully licensed and insured. Schedule with a reputable company.
16. Take a Day Trip to the Lindt Chocolate Factory in Switzerland
We learned a lot about the beginnings of chocolate making and perfecting the art of the smooth and creamy chocolate that we have today.
Chris and I may have taken advantage of the samples at the end of the tour and ate our admission ticket worth of samples. We spent about 2.5 hours at the factory, picked up a few chocolates to take home and then walked to the train station.
Tour the Lindt Chocolate Factory in Switzerland
17. Take a Day Trip to Lugano
The picturesque city of Lugano, in the heart of the Ticino canton of Switzerland, is tucked along the shores of Lake Lugano surrounded by majestic mountains. Ticino is the most Mediterranean of all of the Swiss cantons.
As the biggest city in the Ticino region with approximately 63,000 residents, Lugano is often referred to as Switzerland’s “Little Italy”. Lugano blends the Swiss and Italian cultures with its Italian-speaking residents, customs and food.
Things to do in Lugano:
- Take photos along Lake Lugano
- Take a funicular to Monte Brè
- Hike from Monte Brè to Gandria
- Hike the Olive Grove Trail
- Visit San Lorenzo Cathedral
- Check out the shops and boutiques in Piazza della Riforma
- Take the ferry around the lake
- Make dinner reservations across the lake
- Stroll through Parco Ciani
- Get a massage
18. Ride the Bernina Express
The Bernina Express is a fantastic scenic rail journey from Chur, Switzerland to Tirano in Italy through the heart of the Swiss Alps. You’ll marvel at the beauty of the steep peaks of the Swiss Alps, the sparkling lakes, and charming alpine villages. Riding the Bernina Express is one of the fantastic things to do in Lucerne (and Switzerland). Chris and I both highly recommend it!
19. Photograph Fluffy Cows
20. Visit Zurich
We happened to be flying home from Zurich, but if you are planning a day trip from Lucerne to Zurich, it is an easy train ride from the train station in Lucerne.
Things to do in Zurich:
- Wander through Old Town Zurich
- Visit one of the many museums
- Go to the zoo
- Stroll along the storefronts of Bahnhofstrasse
- Tour cathedrals and chapels
Top 10 Places to Eat in Lucerne
Well, you know you’ve gotta eat while you are traveling. Finding cool places to try before you arrive is always great advice. Yelp ranks the top 10 places to eat in Lucerne:
- Restaurant Parterre
- Fondue House du Pont
- Hotel des Alpes
- Wirtshaus Taube
- Restaurant Unterlachenhof
- Restaurant Stern Luzern
- Bellini Locana Ticinese
- Mill-Feuille
- Seehouse
- Restaurant zum Rebstock
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some basic words to know when visiting Lucerne?
Hello – Grüezi or Hallo
Goodbye – Auf Wiedersehen, Ciao, or Adieu
Please – Bitte
Thank you – Merci
You’re Welcome – Gern
What is the Golden Round Trip to Mt. Pilatus from Lucerne?
The Golden Round Trip from Lucerne is the most popular option for tourists to visit Mt. Pilatus beginning from the train station in Lucerne. The ticket includes taking the bus from Lucerne to Kriens, taking the Mount Pilatus cable car, riding the cogwheel train down to Alpnachstad, and then enjoying a scenic boat ride from Alpnachstad back to Lucerne. (You can also take this tour in the opposite direction).
What is the Silver Round Trip to Mt. Pilatus from Lucerne?
Another popular option for arriving at Mt. Pilatus includes the bus ride from Lucerne to Kriens, the cable car to Mt. Pilatus, and the cogwheel train back down the mountain to Alpnachstad. Instead of taking the boat ride, you take a regular train from Alpnachstad to Lucerne. The advantage of the Silver vs. the Golden Round Trip is that it is 20% cheaper and allows more flexibility timewise.
Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it?
If you have the Swiss Travel Pass, you will receive a variety of discounts and kids with a Junior Travelcard get to travel for free with a paid adult ticket.
What does the word “kulm” mean?
In case you missed it, a kulm (as in Rigi Kulm) is a rounded mountain.
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Final Thoughts on 20 Super Things to Do In Lucerne, Switzerland
Whether it is spring, summer, winter or fall, there is always something amazing to see and do in Lucerne.
You’ll find an abundance of landmarks and historic places to explore in Lucerne, as well as a great foodie scene, incredible architecture, history, adventure, and the great outdoors. Plan to spend a day or two exploring.
The culture of Lucerne is a blend of Swiss and German traditions with a focus on family values, quality, and precision. The people of Lucerne are friendly, welcoming and take great pride in their city.
I was blessed to be in Lucerne during Carnival 2023 and the entire experience was amazing! In fact, I did almost all of the things on this list and I can vouch for how special it is! Would recommend to everyone!
These are such helpful tips for Switzerland! I’ll be adding your recommendations for my itinerary when I travel here!
Just added Switzerland to my bucket list!
Nice post! Ages ago my first trip abroad was with my high school French class. Lucerne was my favorite city! I visited again later in life and it was still just as beautiful!
Wow, you have totally covered Lacerne. I would sure love to go up some of those cable cars and walk around in the mountains. It sounds so fun.
Lucerne looks as beautiful as the rest of Switzerland! I would love to go visit, check out the Lion of Lucerne and take gondola or cogwheel train to the top of Mt. Pilatus.
Mt Pilatus looks like a wonderful hike and sunset there would be fab, great idea! I remember seeing pictures of Kapellbrücke but I didn’t realise it was in Lucerne.
Switzerland is beautiful! It looks like something out of a story book.
I always love your posts and pictures! This one in particular made me reminisce about my trip to Switzerland years ago. Such a beautiful country!
What a detailed write up of fun things to do in Lucerne, Switzerland. I am willing to try every tourists activities except the paragliding; too risky for me.
Lucerne is such a pretty place and very underrated. More people should visit when they visit Switzerland.
I feel like every part of Switzerland is just beautiful. Thanks for sharing this itinerary for Lucerne, I would 100% visit the Lindt Chocolate factory and definitely go on a few hikes in the area.