Think of Switzerland, and think of Lucerne! The well-known romantic destination embodies love and affection in its very ambiance. The paragon of exhilarative and heart-stopping spots, Lucerne brings to you that no other can think of.
Each season is beautiful in its own way, with summer stimulating affection and winter engrossing you into the Swiss hot chocolates and skiing as your activity for the day. Yet another Swiss city can become a counterpart to this place with lakes and mountains and greenery like no other.
Listed below are some historical and romantic places where you can tread and feel like you are at the prom.
Best Things to do in Lucerne
1. Mount Pilatus:
Everything in Lucerne is absolutely beautiful, but this 2128 meters peak is the hallmark of the city. And if you have done some research prior to your trip, you would have by known understood the importance of this being to this mountain peak.
The best is the steepest cogwheel railway and then a short cable way back is mesmerizing, crediting your eyes with the purest form of a natural treat. Mount Pilatus marks as one of the most beautiful parts of the city.
Best Time to visit:
Morning time is the best to be here, during any season.
Top Attraction:
The way to this mountain is truly wonderful, the cogwheel railway and the cable car are something to look forward to.
Interesting Facts:
A medieval legend claimed that the mountain was once inhabited by Dragons with healing powers.
Where To Stay:
Mount Pilatus-Kulm, Hotel Bellevue, ibis Luzern Kriens and Seeburg.
Things to do:
Hiking, climbing and even summer tobogganing can be done here.
2. Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge):
Visiting Chapel Bridge is one of the best thing you can do at Lucerne.
Bridges and towers are archetypal features of Switzerland and Lucerne is blessed with both. Chapel Bridge is one such place where most people get clicked owing to its amazing wooden structure and adjoining scenery. This entire wooden bridge gives a very contemporary feel even though the structure is wooden.
There are many pictures that are hanging in the bridge reflecting the history of the town. This makes the visit very knowledgeable, especially for historians who seek some relevant information about the city.
Best Time to visit:
Any day between 10:00 to 6:00 p.m. is the most preferred time to visit.
Top Attraction:
The tower called Wassertum, also built in the 13th Century.
Interesting Facts:
The chapel Bridge is made from wood and was initially built-in 1333. This bridge was ablaze in 1993, but was well restored to its original look.
Where To Stay:
Seeburg, Ameron Luzern Hotel and a host of others with amazing facilities.
Things to do:
Learning from the pictures from patron saints and scenes, clicking lots of pictures on the bridge.
Suggested Tour: Lucerne: eTukTuk City Tour
3. Old Town:
Amidst all the new and novel structure, a well retained old place has a special place in people’s heart. Believe it or not, visiting the oldest structures even in your city is a charm and with mesmerizing wooden structures in Lucerne, the old town seems to be the best place to stroll and spend a lazy day in Lucerne.
Located on the right bank of river Reuss, this is indeed the historic core of the city. The houses painted in bright hues and the cobble street is yet another customary features of this town.
Best Time to visit:
June to September as the weather is pleasant.
Top Attraction:
The wonderful painted houses along with the Renaissance Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hal) built in the 17th century is something to look forward to.
Interesting Facts:
The place is free of traffic and you can shop and sightsee in peace.
Where To Stay:
Seeburg, ibis Luzern Kriens, and Grand Hotel national Luzern
Things to do:
Shopping and sightseeing are the most opted things to do here.
4. Mount Rigi:
A mountain that is circumference with water bodies on three sides is a must-watch. Mount Rigi is the place to be in when you wish to observe all the elements of nature co-existing. Three lakes around this mountain allow a lot of landscape and greenery to be around this place.
Elevated to the height of 1798 meters this place is an absolute beauty with blues of the water and the greens of the pastures blending into a scenic view that is bound to make you fall in love. It is here you can click postcard pictures and continue to be in awe of mother nature and its creation.
Best Time to Visit:
Throughout the year, the weather is always pleasant offering a host of activities.
Top Attraction:
The cable car ride up to the mountain peak, panoramic views are something to enjoy.
Interesting Facts:
The mountain is surrounded by Lake Lucerne, Lake Zug, and Lake Lauerz on three sides.
Where To Stay:
Wanderlust Guesthouse, Hotel Rigi Vitznau, and Seerausch are some popular places to stay at.
Things to do:
Hiking in summer, and skiing in winter, boat ride to the lakes nearby and lots of pictures.
5. Lake Lucerne:
Ever smitten by irregularity?? Try to visit Lake Lucerne whose irregularities would mesmerize you. The untamed borders, yet streamlined waters is a rage to watch and observe. Perfectly blue in color and silent waters are the earmarks of this lake.
An aerial view of this would allow you to know that there are four arms of this lake, each sharp and ending in a mountain range. It is, for this reason, it is called the ‘Lake of Four Cantons’.
Best Time to visit:
June to September.
Top Attraction:
Luzern Bahnhofquai is one of five early-20th-century paddle steamers for cruises on the lake. Yet another attraction is the four-arm of the lake.
Interesting Facts:
It is the fourth largest lake in the country with an indefinite shape.
Where To Stay:
Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne, Grand Hotel National, AMERON Luzern Hotel are some of the luxurious stays.
Things to do:
Boating, cruising hiking and skiing, depending upon the weather.
6. Swan’s Square:
A casual stroll becomes special when you see some swans enjoying themselves. This kind of tramping can be done after you are coming back from Lake Lucerne. Meeting some white swans on the way on this square is beautiful and not so natural, but very fascinating.
Best Time to visit:
June to September is the best time to visit.
Top Attraction:
Numerous high-end watch companies such as Rolex, Omega and Patek Philippe are around this square.
Interesting Facts:
The place gets its name from the swan’s coming around.
Where To Stay:
Hotel MONOPOL Luzern, Astoria, AMERON Luzern Hotel and a few others around this place.
Things to do:
Shopping, eating local food, buying chocolates and taking pictures.
7. Natur-Museum Luzern:
As the name suggests, the place is nature’s galore of Flora and Fauna. It is here where you can understand the ins and outs of the plants. If you are eager to know some secrets of plant life and some not-so-popular facts about them, then this place is a must go.
It exhibits natural flora and some live fauna, in aquariums and terrariums. This is indeed a perfect exposure for growing children so they can understand life beyond what they see.
Best Time to visit:
Throughout the year is a good time.
Top Attraction:
A woodland trail, Real Tree trunk and a mushroom computer are the top attractions.
Interesting Facts:
A prehistoric formation of the Alps can be seen in this museum.
Where To Stay:
Cascada Boutique Hotel, The Tourist Hotel, and Hotel Magica are the popular and budgeted places to stay.
Things to do:
Understand the Flora and Fauna and the persistent natural world.
8. Bourbaki Panorama Lucerne:
Paintings are done by many, but only a few become renowned and get themselves a space in the country’s history. This Bourbaki Panorama is one such painting that is large and massive in size.
It is about 112 meters by 10 and is round in shape. The painting depicts the vital moments of the French-Prussian War held in the 1870’s. The Swiss painter who painted is called Édouard Castres.
Best Time to visit:
All days of the week and any season is good.
Top Attraction:
The paintings from the French-Prussian war are the top attractions.
Interesting Facts:
This place is almost 140 years old.
Where To Stay:
ibis Styles Luzern City, Luzernof, Hof Apartments by Keyforge are some of the popular places for staying.
Things to do:
Simply observe the painting and you would not realize the time flying.
9. Löwendenkmal (Lion Monument):
A passionate work of art is well depicted through this stunning Lion monument. As pretty as this work of art is, the history behind the same is a bit dejected. The lion delineates the massacre of the Swiss soldiers during the French Revolution in 1792 and was built by Thorwaldsen in 1820.
Best Time to visit:
The place is open from 12:00 A.M to 11:59 P.M. Sunday through Saturday.
Top Attraction:
The history behind this lion monument is in the script below the artwork.
Interesting Facts:
The commemoration of the death of 26 top officers and about 700 Swiss troops is reflected through this sad lion under the cliff.
Where To Stay:
ibis Styles Luzern City, Luzernerhof, Hotel De la Paix, Hof Apartments are some of the major places to stay near the monument.
Things to do:
Read through history and enjoy the walk nearby.
10. Lucerne Train Station:
Ever wondered a train station could be a place for sightseeing. Well, that is the beauty of Lucerne where even the train station is worth a visit. Spot for many shootings of the Indian Cinema, this place is absolutely clean and most certainly offers a lot of people watching.
You can easily get to know the Swiss behavioral traits by just watching people and enjoying a conversation with them. You will be surprised by their discipline and their professionalism, worth imbibing for sure!
Best Time to visit:
Anytime, weekdays are very busy.
Top Attraction:
The size of the station is large and is two-storied.
Interesting Facts:
It once had the gateway to Alps which was brought down in fine in 1971.
Where To Stay:
Seeburg, ibis Styles Luzern City and a few others offering a great view.
Things to do:
Enjoy the sight and some restaurants nearby for local food and cheese-loaded sweets.
11. Spreuer Bridge:
Located near the western corner of the Old Town of Lucerne, this is one of the not so crowded places in Lucerne. The most important feature of the bridge is the fact that it is covered from above. If you are caught in rains, then this where you can get some shelter and observe the murals that belong to the 18th century. A casual and aimless wandering is justified when you pass this amazing bridge.
Best Time to visit:
June to September are the best months.
Top Attraction:
The Murals and motifs that are not redone and are hanging on the roof of the bridge along with inscriptions of them.
Interesting Facts:
The bridge is covered and is great for pedestrians during rainy weather.
Where To Stay:
Seeburg, Luzernerhof, and ibis Luzern Kriens are some lovely places offering great views near the bridge
Things to do:
Walk and reach the Needle Dam, which maintains the level of the lake over which the bridge is designed.
12. Swiss Museum of Transport:
The fleet of cars may not allure you, but having these from ancient times along with airplanes and a whole lot of vehicles under one roof would leave you astounding. For someone who loves vehicles, this visit would be the drop-dead gorgeous situation for them.
Best Time to visit:
Summer time is 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and winter timings are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Top Attraction:
Exhibition of all forms of transport, including locomotive, automobiles, ships, and aircraft as well as communication technology. It is Switzerland’s most popular museum.
Interesting Facts:
Established in July 1959.
Where To Stay:
Penthouse apartments Lakeside, Gasthaus Badhof and including others are good places to stay when in Lucerne.
Things to do:
Have a look at the planetarium, and book a movie theaters as the place has a theatre.
13. Rosengart Collection:
The first decade of the Rosengart family was when they knew the most infamous artists of the world like Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee. It is said that the paintings here were the personal collection of Rosengart’s daughter and which were mostly her pictures drawn by Picasso.
Best Time to visit:
10: 00 a.m. to 6:00 P.m. from April To October. The time from November till March is 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Top Attraction:
The style of Paul Klee’s paintings pointing to the transformation and up-gradation of the painting style and technique with each passing year.
Interesting Facts:
The museum was opened by Angela in 2002 and displays more than 300 pieces.
Where To Stay:
Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucerne, Hotel Anker and a lot more luxurious and budget stays are in the area.
Things to do:
Admire the collection and the perfect blend of urban and rural structures that coexists inside the building.
14. Glacier Garden:
When nature plays the architect, places like Glacier Garden comes into existence. This structure appears to be made with a lot of thought, but the reality is different. It has been developed on its own where the potholes were created due to the ice age some 200,000 years ago. This is truly an epiphany that nothing is as uncanny and marvelous as the architect up there!
Best Time to visit:
Open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Top Attraction:
The whole structure is like a maze and Stone of time path leads to the breathtaking views of Mount Pilatus and Lucerne City.
Interesting Facts:
This was founded by humans, and created by nature some 1 billion years ago.
Where To Stay:
ibis Styles Luzern City, Lion Lodge Luzern Ag, and numerous others.
Things to do:
Solve the Alhambra Mirror Maze.
15. Musegg Wall:
It just ain’t another wall, it is the Musegg Wall built in the 14th Century but is as strong as it was built today. This is one of the most spectacular sights of Lucerne as all the nine towers can be viewed and climbed too. Racing up to reach all the towers will be a worthy treat for the eyes as you get to see a view that is out of the world. One of the oldest timepieces is placed in one of the towers named Zyttrum.
Best Time to visit:
The towers are open for tourists between the months of April to November, from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Top Attraction:
Climbing all the towers and observing the view from the top.
Interesting Facts:
The clock at the Zyttrum strikes the time a minute before other clocks in the city. This is owing to the degree of time the clock has been present in the tower.
Where To Stay:
Hotel Des Balances, Hirschenplatz Apartments, Ameron Luzern Hotel Flora, and a host of other places for a comfortable stay.
Things to do:
The best excursion can be done here in Lucerne by visiting all the nine towers.
16. Hofkirche:
Not many things continue to have the same renaissance charm as this exquisite church called Hofkirche which is also called Church of Saint Leger.
Preserving the century-old remains of a building and them creating a magnificent structure like this is something that deserves a lot of respect! Do visit when you come during summers to witness the recitals on the famous church’s organ.
Best Time to visit:
Any time of the year.
Top Attraction:
Dying Virgin Mary surrounded by the Apostles along with the carved pulpit and choir-stalls that are from 1639
Interesting Facts:
The towers built-in 1525 were preserved and are now a part of the new Renaissance church.
Where To Stay:
Luzernerhof, Grand Hotel Europe, Hofkirche St. Ledger and a series of places within the vicinity are there.
Things to do:
Observe the tombs of the members of old Lucerne families.
17. Jesuit Church:
If you wish to know what a great interior and unimaginable exterior look like, the Jesuit Church is the quintessential example. This was built in about 16th & 17 Centuries by architects from Austria and Italy.
No wonder with a lot of knowledge coming together, the interior has turned out mesmerizing! The chapel has two sides, one dedicated to the German Wessobrunner School and the other one is dedicated to Brother Klaus.
Best Time to visit:
The Catholic Church is open between 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The busiest time is between 12:00 pm. to 1:00 p.m. It is open every day.
Top Attraction:
The pink altarpiece in the front of the sanctuary, the onion domes, the painting on the ceiling depicting the glory of Saint Francis Xavier and the Ignatius chapel.
Interesting Facts:
It is the first baroque church in Switzerland.
Where To Stay:
Ameron Luzern Hotel Flora, Hotel Del Balances, Des Alpes Luzern and a catalog of places allowing you to get the best.
Things to do:
Visit Restaurants, and enjoy the interior of this amazing church.
Looking for Stay? Top 10 Hotels in Lucerne, Switzerland
Respect and warmth are two adjectives that you would come to learn with when you visit Lucerne. The warmth of the people and their love for their history is commendable. Every nook and corner is full of some historical fact that would be enlightening you.
Needless to say, the breathtaking beauty and the Alps make the most of Switzerland and Lucerne tops the list owing to the seasonal fun and lakes in the city.