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.
Tonight
From $402 per night
Next weekend
From $458 per night
Most popular time to visit | October-December |
Cheapest time to visit | January-March |
Local currency | CHF 1 = $1.12 |
Language | German |
Average weekend price | $214 per night |
Average weekday price | $216 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
Beautiful city, fairly walkable.
June 5, 2024
Beautiful city, fairly walkable. Seems to have a great public transportation system once you learned the stops. Watch the sunset from the bridge in Old Town, it is beautiful how the setting sun casts light on the buildings.
Very accessible to other sightseeing locations via Swiss...
June 2, 2024
Very accessible to other sightseeing locations via Swiss Rail, Beautiful city and lot of interesting sights to explore, extremely crowded as we were there mid-May, varied food options for different nationalities, definitely recommended for a visit!!
Luzern is a pleasant city.
May 31, 2024
Luzern is a pleasant city. Easy to walk around the sites. Taking a trip on the lake is a must do when you are there. The city is clean. In summer there are plenty of tourists but it still has a nice vibe.
Luzern is one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland.
May 10, 2024
Luzern is one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland. There, you have many possibilities to keep yourself busy. Long walks around the lake, after you have a drink at Art Museum or in any other dozens of cafés and restaurants. Don't skip a visit to Pilatus!
Ameron hotel was great - it was clean and the room was...
April 6, 2024
Ameron hotel was great - it was clean and the room was comfortable. The location was fantastic - you could almost walk everywhere in the old town and just 5 mins from the train station and chapel bridge. Very convenient, and highly recommended esp for those thinking of visiting Rigi, Pilatus or Titlis. Go to these mountains early to avoid the crowd.
Beautiful old city.
February 19, 2024
Beautiful old city. Local people are very friendly for the lost and wandering tourist. If you’re into luxury shops, ornately decorated buildings and atmosphere, Luzern has it all. Fine dining restaurants but you can eat cheaper in a lot of smaller establishments. Close to the Pilatus, Titlis, Vierwaldstaettersee and those picturesque wooden bridges over the Reuss.
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