Split in two by the River Reuss, the charming city of Luzern is easily among Switzerland’s prettiest cities. Connected by two covered wooden footbridges, both sides of the city offer plenty of things to do, such as exploring medieval architecture or sampling classic Swiss cuisine.
Thanks to its compact size, Luzern is best explored on foot. One of the nicest walks is along the Nationalqaui – a lakefront path beginning at the Grand Hotel National and ending up at the Swiss Museum of Transport – distinguishable by its facade filled with road signs. If you take a stroll through the cobbled old town, you can admire picturesque squares surrounded by 15th-century buildings. Be sure to look up, as many are decorated with beautiful murals depicting medieval life. It’s also worth venturing out of the city to the nearby mountains of Pilatus and Rigi. You can take a paddle steamer cruise across Lake Lucerne before riding on the cogwheel train of the Vitznau–Rigi Railway. Once at the top, you can take in 360-degree views over central Switzerland.
Typical snacks in Luzern include freshly roasted chestnuts and the world-famous Swiss chocolate which comes in all shapes, sizes and flavours. You should also try a classic cheese fondue at the historic Pfistern restaurant which dates back to 1578. This national dish consists of Swiss cheese melted slowly over a small portable burner, accompanied by potatoes and bite-sized chunks of bread to dip in the gooey goodness.
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| Most popular time to visit | October-December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January-March |
| Local currency | CHF 1 = $1.25 |
| Language | German |
| Average weekend price | $339 per night |
| Average weekday price | $333 per night |
| Average stay | 1 night |
Château Gütsch
0.6 miles from downtown
Swiss Museum of Transport
1.2 miles from downtown
Grand Casino Lucerne
0.4 miles from downtown
A beautiful city to relax in.
August 25, 2025
A beautiful city to relax in. I am amazed the population is only 80,000 people! One of the buskers had a super voice and and was playing an unusual zither. I recommend putting your camera away and looking with your eyes, listening with your ears and feeling with all of your senses, otherwise how can you truly experience this place?
Very pleasant and helpful staff, clean rooms, comfy beds and...
August 24, 2025
Very pleasant and helpful staff, clean rooms, comfy beds and pillows to top off our stay, room view was spectacular. Location accessible to all town attractions.Hotel made best lattes and great selection of breakfast!!!
Luzern is an ideal base for a holiday in Switzerland.
August 22, 2025
Luzern is an ideal base for a holiday in Switzerland. As an historic city it has much to offer, and the setting is idyllic, surrounded by stunning scenery and the expanse of the lake. I loved exploring the old town, the art galleries, and the charm of the Hotel Schweizerhof where I enjoyed a superb breakfast and experienced old world Swiss hospitality at its best. I would love to come back!
Beautiful Old Town with the famous Chapel Bridge, Lucerne is...
July 8, 2025
Beautiful Old Town with the famous Chapel Bridge, Lucerne is a must-see visit while in Switzerland! If you are driving a car, park in the modern parking garage centrally located at the train station. Hopefully your stay will allow you to see the Chapel Bridge at night, its lights reflecting on the waters of the Reuss River - very pretty.
Physically beautiful, interesting places to visit.
July 6, 2025
Physically beautiful, interesting places to visit. signage not great. Taxi service good excellent places to eat. the endless people smoking in public places felt like living in an ash tray. Not used to it as in Australia no longer legal.
Lucerne offers paddle steamer trips on the lake, mountain...
July 4, 2025
Lucerne offers paddle steamer trips on the lake, mountain railways, a huge transport museum, art gallery, Richard Wagner's lakeside villa, the world's largest painting 300 ft wide, a panorama dating from the 1870's and featuring dramatic panoramic scenes from the Franco-Prussian War, beautiful churches, superb dining and much more, not least stunning lake and mountain scenery. From Lucerne it is easy to visit other parts of Switzerland by train on day trips. Most hotels give their guests a pass that permits free local bus travel and reduced entry fees at museums.
Lucerne, Switzerland
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Old Town, Lucerne
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Lucerne, Switzerland
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Lucerne, Switzerland
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Old Town, Lucerne
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