By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 12 June 2025 | Updated: 12th June 2025
Lucerne is one of the more well known cities in Switzerland, with its beautiful Altstadt, impressive lake and foodie scene, as well as the sheer number of incredible day trips you can take to the local mountains from it, but is Lucerne worth visiting? We think so, and here is why;
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Is Lucerne Worth visiting?
Lucerne is a great place to visit at any time of the year. Yes, it is one of the more well known and touristy city hotspots in Switzerland, especially in the summer and winter months, but that doesn’t make it any less worth visiting. It is also a fantastic location to take day trips from into the surrounding Central Switzerland Alps by boat or train, as well as to other main towns and cities across the country, including Interlaken, Basel and Zurich, which are all also easily accessible by train.
Due to it being more of a central hub city in Switzerland it also has a wide range of accommodation and eating options, so you are pretty much guaranteed to find somewhere you like and in your budget.
In spring the city starts to come alive after the winter months, with Carnival kicking off the season, and blossoming trees beginning to bloom along the lake side and through the city. The summer is one of the peak seasons for Lucerne, but it is just as wonderful to visit with balmy summer evenings perfect for wandering along the lake shore or dining alfresco in the Altstadt.
Autumn is when the city settles down for a few months, with cooler whether settling in and the leaves on the mountain sides beginning to change, and of course, winter in Lucerne is the time for Christmas Markets, the first dusting of snow and plenty of glühwein filled day trips to lake side spas and snowy mountain walks.
Is Lucerne Worth Visiting Map
Best things to do in Lucerne
There are of course many other things to do in Interlaken and to see in the surrounding area, but these are our top five things that you simply can’t miss:
📍 Walk the Altstadt walls – this is often overlooked as they are not located in the heart of the Altstadt, but the old city walls that surround the city in the north are well worth a wander along, even if they do have rather a lot of steps!
📍 Take a cruise on the lake – you can’t visit Lucerne and not at some point take to the water on a lake cruise, be it on one of the beautiful old paddle steamers or the more modern electric ferries.
📍 Visit a nearby mountain – be it Pilatus, Mount Rigi, Stanserhorn or Bürgenstock, a visit to one of Lucerne’s local mountains has to be done.
📍 Visit the churches – Lucerne has some of the most beautiful churches, (kirche), in Switzerland, from the impressive Jesuitenkirche along the River Reuss to the Hofkirche St Leodegar with its twin Gothic spires and all the smaller churches in between.
📍 Visit the Glacier Garden – A little less known than other sights in Lucerne, but the Glacier Garden of Lucerne with its large open air exhibits, gardens and mirror maze are well worth a visit.
If you are looking to spend a few days in Lucerne then be sure to check out our Lucerne itinerary post. We have put together itineraries for 1 day up to 5 days in the city, and go into the above things and a little more.
Where To Stay In Lucerne
There are numerous options for accommodation in Lucerne, most of which are within walking distance of all the main sights and the main train station / ferry quay, but these are our top picks for each budget:
Budget: ibis budget Hotel Luzern City
Mid Range: Hotel Astoria
Luxury: Grand Hotel National Luzern
Is Lucerne Worth Visiting FAQs
How to get to Lucerne
Although Lucerne doesn’t have it’s own international airport, it is still easily accessible from across Switzerland via train or by car. From Basel and Zurich, (both of which have airports), it takes around 1 hour via train.
Which month is best to visit Lucerne?
There isn’t really a bad month to visit Lucerne, it just depends on what you want from your trip which time of year would be best for you. We always find that visiting in the low season months, right before summer and just after summer, is the best in terms of avoiding the crowds and for some of the nicest weather.
How many days is enough in Lucerne?
You can see the main part of Lucerne, including the Altstadt, city walls, a church or two and the lakeside in one day, however we would recommend spending at least 3 days in the city so you get to see it throughout the day as well as take day trips to the local mountains.
What is Lucerne most famous for? What is so special about Lucerne?
Lucerne is most famous for its beautiful Altstadt, and its mountain views, but by far the most well known and special thing about Lucerne is its Kapellbrücke, or Chapel Bridge. This old wooden covered bridge over the River Reuss is often covered in flowers in the warmer months making it a one of the most beautiful bridges you will find in Switzerland.
How touristy is Lucerne? Is Lucerne a tourist trap?
We aren’t going to lie, Lucerne is a bit touristy, (more touristy than our home in Basel), but that is because it is a great hub in Central Switzerland, perfect for basing yourself and taking day trips from. There are definitely more touristy locations across the country, (and more typically Swiss looking), but Lucerne is still a wonderful place to visit.
Is Lucerne expensive?
As with everywhere in Switzerland, Lucerne isn’t exactly known for being cheap! Yes there are more expensive places to eat and to stay, but due to it being a fairly large city there is also a really wide variety of restaurants and accommodation that will fit anyone’s budget.
Is Lucerne safe?
Lucerne, as with other cities across Switzerland, is very safe. I, (Gemma), have visited Lucerne a number of times on my own and never felt unsafe. As with visiting a city in any country, just be sensible and don’t flaunt any wealth or go down any seedy looking alleyways late at night and you’ll be fine!
Is it better to go to Zurich or Lucerne?
Why not visit both! They are both very different feeling cities and each have their own unique traits. If you only have time for one or the other though, we would recommend Lucerne purely as it is so easy to visit a local mountain in the same day too.
Which is better to visit Basel or Lucerne?
Basel and Lucerne are again very different cities, and both places that you should try and visit. We may be biased as it is our home, but Basel has a much cosier and intimate vibe in comparison to Lucerne, and although we don’t have a lake, we do have a river that the locals and tourists alike love to take a dip in the warmer months. That being said, Lucerne is probably our second favourite city in Switzerland due to its beautiful Altstadt and how easy it is to access the nearby mountains.
Which is more beautiful Interlaken or Lucerne?
Similarly to above, both Interlaken and Lucerne are very different so are both beautiful in their own ways. Interlaken is situated at the heart of the Bernese Alps, surrounded by mountain peaks and two lakes and is famous for its outdoor activities such as skydiving and paragliding, whilst Lucerne is at the heart of the Central Alps on the edge of the largest lake in the country and is well known for its scenic boat cruises and Altstadt.
Conclusion: Is Lucerne Worth Visiting?
So is Lucerne is worth visiting? We think so, and not only with the amount of things you can do within the city itself, but also for all the fantastic days trips you can take to nearby mountain resorts too.
All Our Switzerland Content
Here are a few other articles you may find useful for planning your trip:
📍 The Perfect Lucerne Itinerary: 1 to 5 Days
📍 Is Interlaken Worth Visiting?
📍 Is Switzerland Worth Visiting?
📍 The Best Lake Lucerne Cruise
Gemma Tedaldi
Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.