Switzerland
Lucerne
Spend 2 days: the medieval old town in a morning, a lake boat, and one mountain day on Pilatus. Below: 5 sights, 2 activities and 2 places to eat, plus how Lucerne fits into a longer trip.
- Places
- 10
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- May – Oct
- Warmest month
- July
- Coolest month
- January
- Wettest month
- August
5 See · 2 Do · 2 Eat · 1 Drink
Swiss Lakes by Rail
from our route notes
25°C / 76°F avg high
5°C / 40°F avg high
about 158 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Lucerne
10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
The landmarks we would not skip in Lucerne across Old Town, Wey and Lido. 4 of them are free.
Photo: jorge nogueira · GoogleSeeChapel Bridge
14th-century covered wooden bridge with painted panels and a water tower.
Tip Walk it early before tour groups.
Photo: Museggmauer · GoogleSeeMusegg Wall
Medieval city wall with towers you can climb for rooftop views.
Tip Open spring–fall; the Zyt tower clock strikes a minute early.
Photo: Gürkan Sengün · Public domainSeeLion Monument
Dying lion carved into rock to honor Swiss Guards killed in 1792.
Tip Five-minute walk from Old Town.
Photo: heng people · GoogleSeeSwiss Museum of Transport
Large museum of trains, planes and boats on the lakeshore.
Tip Allow half a day; good with kids.
Photo: Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Luzern · GoogleSeeKKL Luzern
Jean Nouvel's concert hall with a huge overhanging roof over the lake.
Tip Check concert listings in summer.
Do
Hands-on ways to spend time in Lucerne across Bahnhofquai and Pilatus.
Photo: Winnie He · GoogleDoLake Lucerne Navigation Company
Historic paddle-steamer and motor boats across Lake Lucerne.
Tip Swiss Travel Pass covers boats.
Photo: Artur · GoogleDoMount Pilatus
Golden Round Trip: boat, the world's steepest cogwheel railway up, and cable cars down.
Tip Cogwheel runs only May–Nov.
Eat
2 places to eat across Kleinstadt and Wey, picked for groups who care about the food.
Photo: Angelo Avgoklouris · GoogleEatWirtshaus Galliker
Old-school inn serving Lucerne's Chügelipastete and Swiss classics.
Tip Closed Sunday and Monday; reserve.
Photo: nancy burdick · GoogleEatOld Swiss House
Restaurant near the Lion Monument known for tableside Wiener schnitzel.
Tip Order the schnitzel; reserve ahead.
Drink
1 bar or café in Old Town for coffee, a round or a nightcap.
Photo: Rathaus Brauerei · GoogleDrinkRathaus Brauerei
Brewpub under arcades on the river, with house beers and Swiss food.
Tip Grab a riverside table.
How to fit Lucerne into a trip
Lucerne is stop 2 of 3 on our Swiss Lakes by Rail route. Follow it as-is or lift Lucerne into your own plan.
Stop 2 of 3
Swiss Lakes by Rail
Lake promenades, mountain trains & storybook towns
- Trip length
- 5 days
- Best season
- May – Oct
- Pace
- easy
- Before: Zurich
- Next: Interlaken
Getting here and onward
- Zurich to LucerneZurich is about 40 km / 25 mi away in a straight line
- Lucerne to InterlakenInterlaken is about 53 km / 33 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Lucerne month by month
Average daily highs run from 5°C / 40°F in January to 25°C / 76°F in July. August is the wettest month, with about 158 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan5° / 40°F average high
- Feb6° / 42°F average high
- Mar10° / 50°F average high
- Apr15° / 59°F average high
- May19° / 66°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jun23° / 73°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jul25° / 76°F average high, in our recommended season
- Aug24° / 75°F average high, in our recommended season
- Sep20° / 68°F average high, in our recommended season
- Oct16° / 61°F average high, in our recommended season
- Nov10° / 50°F average high
- Dec5° / 42°F average high
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Lucerne weather and the best time to visit →
Near Lucerne
8 other destinations from our guides within about 200 km (124 mi), measured in a straight line.
Lucerne questions, answered
How many days do you need in Lucerne?
Our route notes suggest 2 days in Lucerne. On our Swiss Lakes by Rail route it is stop 2 of 3 in a 5-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 19 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Lucerne best known for?
Spend 2 days: the medieval old town in a morning, a lake boat, and one mountain day on Pilatus. Standouts on our list: Chapel Bridge (14th-century covered wooden bridge with painted panels and a water tower); Musegg Wall (Medieval city wall with towers you can climb for rooftop views); Lion Monument (Dying lion carved into rock to honor Swiss Guards killed in 1792).
When is the best time to visit Lucerne?
Our Swiss Lakes by Rail route is best May – Oct. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (25°C / 76°F), the coolest in January (5°C / 40°F) and the most rain in August (about 158 mm).
What are the best things to do in Lucerne?
Start with Chapel Bridge, Musegg Wall, Lion Monument, Swiss Museum of Transport and Lake Lucerne Navigation Company. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 5 sights, 2 activities, 2 places to eat and 1 bar or café.
Where should a group eat in Lucerne?
Our picks: Wirtshaus Galliker (Kleinstadt); Old Swiss House (Wey). Closed Sunday and Monday; reserve (Wirtshaus Galliker).
What is near Lucerne?
The closest destinations in our guides are Zurich (about 40 km / 25 mi), Andermatt (about 53 km / 33 mi) and Interlaken (about 53 km / 33 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Lucerne with your crew
Open the Swiss Lakes by Rail route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.