Lucerne is one of those cities that you immediately take to heart. Surrounded by mountains and situated on the magnificent Lake Lucerne, it offers a perfect blend of nature, culture and history. This blog covers the most beautiful sights of Lucerne. But also the impressive surroundings with the blue shimmering Lake Lucerne and the mountains. Therefore, a city break to Lucerne beautifully unites the city, the lake and the mountains.

City break to Lucerne: History and charm in abundance

Of course, we travel by train in Switzerland. In our opinion, there’s no more beautiful country in Europe to discover by train. And with the Swiss Travel Pass, it’s also extremely easy. We can use all forms of public transport. Additionally, the pass is also a museum card that provides access to more than 500 museums.

As we exit the station, the beautiful location of Lucerne is immediately noticeable. The city borders Lake Lucerne. The famous Chapel Bridge over the River Reuss immediately catches our attention. The historic centre is just around the corner from the station. This compact area is ideal for exploring on foot, with an atmospheric mix of medieval architecture, cosy streets and modern shops. In our opinion, the following attractions make a city break to Lucerne successful:

Chapel bridge

The Chapel Bridge is undoubtedly the icon of Lucerne. This wooden pedestrian bridge from the 14th century connects both banks of the River Reuss. A walk across the bridge is a must, especially in the evening when the bridge is illuminated and the reflections dance on the water. Right next to the Chapel Bridge, you’ll find the octagonal water tower, which formerly served as a prison and storage facility.

But even during the day, the world’s oldest covered wooden bridge shows its charm. Thanks to the sun, the bridge reflects beautifully in the ripple-free water. The floral decorations on the bridge provide a cheerful sight. It was quite different in 1993. A devastating fire reduced the entire bridge to ashes. The city’s icon was lost. Fortunately, the Chapel Bridge was rebuilt to its original state. And now the bridge is the most photographed object in the city, the highlight of a city break to Lucerne.

Spreuer bridge

Less known, but at least as beautiful, is the Spreuer Bridge. The bridge is slightly younger and much shorter. Yet this wooden bridge is also special. In the bridge, we discover unusual paintings with a somewhat dark theme: the “Dance of Death”. This gives the bridge a unique atmosphere and makes a walk across the Spreuer Bridge a special experience. This bridge was also not spared. A massive flood in 1566 destroyed the bridge. It was quickly restored.

Musegg wall

The Musegg Wall is a well-preserved part of Lucerne’s old city fortifications. The wall dates from the 14th century and has nine towers. The Musegg Wall is, along with the Chapel Bridge, the symbol of the city. We can visit three towers. We find the Mannli Tower particularly special. Not so much for what we see in the tower, but especially for what awaits us once we’re on top of the tower. A magnificent view is the welcome reward after the strenuous climb.

Below us lies the city, divided by the River Reuss. We discern the Spreuer Bridge, special buildings and Lake Lucerne. In the distance, the mountains glisten in the sunlight. This panorama could serve as a postcard of Lucerne. We’re there just before 7:00 PM. The sun is low and directly behind us. This creates a magical glow on the city, the lake and the mountains.

We also climb the Zyt Tower. A large clock face adorns the facade. It seems as if two giant men are supporting this dial. The clock has had a special privilege since the Middle Ages. It is allowed to chime one minute earlier than all other public clocks in the city. This has made the Zyt Tower the beacon of time for the inhabitants for centuries. In the tower, we discover nine more historical tower bells. They were once collected by the man who wound the clock in the tower for 50 years.

Lion monument

The Lion Monument is a poignant depiction of a dying lion. It is a tribute to members of the Swiss Guard who lost their lives during the French Revolution in 1792. These Swiss mercenaries were in the service of King Louis XVI. More than 600 mercenaries died in the battles at the Tuileries to protect the king. This defeat led to the fall of the French royal house.

The enormous reclining lion is carved into a large rock. A broken spear has pierced the lion. Its paw rests on a shield of the French royal house. Another shield with the coat of arms of Switzerland stands next to the lion. Above the monument is an inscription in Latin: “To the loyalty and bravery of the Swiss”.

Baroque Jesuit church

The Baroque Jesuit Church in Lucerne is undoubtedly the most beautiful church in the city. Built in the 17th century, it was the first large Baroque church in Switzerland. The sanctuary still radiates unparalleled splendour. The white stucco facade with two elegant towers immediately catches the eye. Yet the real beauty lies within. Here we admire the impressive frescoes, beautiful altars and the imposing high altar that dominates the space. Many marble pillars give the church a luxurious appearance. Our guide explains that not everything that glitters is marble. Several pillars are made of wood and marbled, a cheaper solution during construction. By knocking on the pillar, we find out which ones are entirely marble and which are wood.

The Pope requested the Jesuits to come to Lucerne during the Reformation. With this, he tried to keep the city Catholic and prevent the Protestants from getting too close to Rome. As accommodation, the monks founded this church and the monastery. They couldn’t stop the rise of Protestantism. The church, on the other hand, still proves to be a magnet for many believers and tourists. Rightly so, because the sanctuary is one of the most beautiful sights during our city break to Lucerne.

Wandering through the old town

The old town of Lucerne is a picture, with atmospheric squares and winding streets full of historical charm. We stroll at our leisure and without a real plan through the compact centre. Meanwhile, we discover various lovely squares. Such as the Weinmarkt, surrounded by colourful medieval buildings with painted facades. This square was once the heart of the wine trade and still exudes that authentic atmosphere. The Kornmarkt also appeals to us. The eye-catcher there is the 17th-century town hall. The Hirschmarkt is also a beautiful square, with beautiful buildings that are colourfully decorated. During our walk, we come across beautiful facade paintings, cosy shops and atmospheric cafes. The narrow streets lead us past hidden courtyards.

The other side of the River Reuss is also interesting. There we accidentally discover the government building of the canton of Lucerne. We step inside and our gaze is immediately drawn to the beautiful galleries and arcades in the building. In the 16th century, this was the Rittersche Palace. It served as a luxury residence for the richest inhabitant of the city at that time. Not far from there is the intimate Franziskanerplatz. The small square with a fountain and the small but beautiful Franciscan church is a resting point in the city.

Culture and Congress Centre Lucerne KKL

Lucerne not only has beautiful historical sights. Modern architecture is also present in the city. The highlight is the KKL, the city’s culture and congress centre. This modern building makes the connection with the nearby lake. Small canals run through the complex. This sometimes resulted in visitors getting wet when they made a misstep. Therefore, the complex always has a supply of evening wear ready for such emergencies.

City break to Lucerne: Other activities

Besides these sights, there’s plenty to do and see in the surroundings. These are the most fun activities you can undertake during your city break to Lucerne.

Boat trip on Lake Lucerne

Lake Lucerne lies directly next to the city. You certainly shouldn’t miss a boat trip on this beautiful lake. There are different types of trips: from a fast ferry that takes you to different villages on the shores of the lake, to relaxing cruises where you can enjoy the view in peace.

We take a boat trip on the way to Vitznau. With our Swiss Travel Pass, we can join for free. The old paddle steamer is packed. An American man invites us to sit at his table. He’s making the Grand Tour of Switzerland on his own. A fantastic train journey that’s high on our wish list. We chat away with him and hardly have time to enjoy the magnificent view. Without realising it, we reach Vitznau. We say goodbye to our American fellow traveller and disembark.

Hiking on the Rigi

The Rigi is an iconic mountain near Lucerne. The journey to the top is an experience in itself. In Vitznau, we board a cogwheel train. This takes us to the top in just over half an hour, with a few stops at small stations. The train has been running this route since 1871. This made it the first mountain railway in Europe.

Normally, the view along the way is fantastic. Breathtaking vistas of the lake and the Alps, lush forests and blooming alpine meadows where cows graze. Today, however, none of this. It’s misty and we only hear the cowbells. A little later we rise above the mist and blink our eyes in the bright sunlight. At the train’s final stop, on Rigi Kulm, it’s very busy. Many tourists, especially from Asia, take selfies or have their photos taken. We mainly have eyes for the magnificent panorama. The landscape looks like an enormous cotton wool blanket with the pointed Alpine giants piercing through.

We abandon our plan to make a long hike. We stay at altitude, so as not to get into the mist too quickly. The further we get from the station, the quieter it becomes. We only encounter the occasional hiker. After a round of almost two hours, we’re back at the top. Earlier than planned, so we take the historic train back to Arth-Goldau. We sit at the front, right behind the driver. With a few hand movements, he sets the train in motion. Braking at a small station costs more energy. With a number of turns of the lever, he knows exactly where to stop. On the way, we pass some waterfalls. Fortunately, the visibility is now better and we can see everything.

These are the hiking possibilities on the Rigi.

With a cabrio to the Stanserhorn

Stans is a small sleepy village where everyone knows each other. It’s 20 minutes by train from Lucerne. From Stans, we go to the Stanserhorn in a special way: with a cabrio double-decker gondola. But before we experience that, we travel with a wooden slow train to the middle station. There, a real first awaits, because the cabrio gondola is the first in the world. Of course, we take a seat at the open roof. This morning it’s misty too. We see little for the first few minutes. When we come above the cloud cover, the real sensation only begins. Everyone takes photos and videos of this phenomenon. We feel the fresh mountain air blowing through our hair.

We have to adjust our plan for a long hike on the Stanserhorn due to the weather. Due to recent snowfall and the mist, some routes are closed. We therefore decide to do a short circular walk at the top. There’s nothing wrong with that, by the way, because the views are phenomenal. In the distance, the Pilatus, another mountain near Lucerne, is glistening in the sunlight. Every turn produces a new “oh-moment”. Despite the crowds at the mountain station, this round is also pleasantly quiet.

Reluctant cows

On the sun-drenched terrace of the mountain restaurant, we indulge in the local specialty: Älplermagronen. A hearty meal full of cheese, potatoes and pasta. We find the applesauce with it a bit strange, but apparently that’s how it’s supposed to be.

We want to walk to Stans, but not from the top. With the cabrio gondola, we descend a short distance. At our request, an employee hooks the gondola to a pole with a small platform, and we can disembark. The other passengers look at us in surprise. What are they going to do now?

Descending in the mist, we reach a farm. The farmer and his wife, assisted by some other people, are trying with all their might to get reluctant cows into the carts. The season on the alp is over for the animals; they are going down. They’re not keen on it. With combined forces, they manage to get a cow into the wagon after a long time. Five more to go.

These are the hiking possibilities on Stanserhorn.

From Stans, we’re back in Lucerne in a short time. Our city break to Lucerne is over. We’ve had three wonderful days. A touch of culture and history, a beautiful boat trip, special train journeys and even a trip with a cabrio gondola. We may have hiked less than hoped, but the city break to Lucerne is a good combination of culture, nature and being active.

At the invitation of Switzerland Tourism and Lucerne Tourism, we visited the Jungfrau Ski Region and surrounding areas. We have independently and objectively compiled the content of the blog based on our own impressions.

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