By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 12 June 2025 | Updated: 12th June 2025
Thinking about taking a trip to Lucerne, but not sure what to do, where to go or how many days you will need? But with so much to see it can be hard to figure out how to spend your time in Lucerne. That is where our Lucerne itinerary below comes in.
Located in the heart of Switzerland, Lucerne with is incredible lake, beautiful Altstadt and numerous local mountains you can take trips too, is one of the nicest places to visit in Switzerland, and the perfect location for anyone who wants to experience the real Switzerland, lakes, mountains, historic city and all!
We have visited Lucerne numerous times since we moved to Switzerland and it is a regular stop on many of our day trips around the country too. Not only is it a great place to base yourself when visiting Switzerland, but it is wonderful to visit throughout the year too. So here is our guide for the perfect Lucerne itinerary:
📍 Lucerne Itinerary Day 1: Lucerne Altstadt
📍 Lucerne Itinerary Day 2: Mount Pilatus – the long route
📍 Lucerne Itinerary Day 3: Mount Rigi
📍 Lucerne Itinerary Day 4: Bürgenstock
📍 Lucerne Itinerary Day 5: Lucerne Museums & Monuments
Planning Your Trip? Use our favourite travel resources below:
Accommodation: We recommend Booking.com
Rental Car: We recommend Rentalcars.com
Flights: We recommend Kiwi.com
Tours: We recommend Get Your Guide & Viator
Currency Conversion: We recommend Wise
Travel Insurance: World Nomads
Lucerne Itinerary Map
The Perfect Lucerne Itinerary: 1 to 5 Days
We have put together multiple itineraries from 1 day up to 5 days, (which includes day trips out of the city), to ensure that you can make the most of your time in Lucerne and get to experience the local mountains too. Plus it should help you figure out how many days you need to spend in Lucerne too.
It is worth noting that depending on the time of year that you are visiting, your experiences may differ a lot. We have visited Lucerne numerous times over the years since we moved to Switzerland, and although the weather changes in the city aren’t as dramatic as in the mountains, you can still get very varied weather month to month and year to year. We’ve seen sweltering heat one summer and a complete washout with storms the next, and we’ve had snow in September one year to no snow until the end of December the next.
For the below Lucerne itinerary you can of course change the order of the days to better suit you / any weather, (there is no point going up a mountain if you have no views from the top or taking a lake cruise and not being able to get out on deck!). That being said if the weather isn’t playing ball quite often getting above the clouds at Mount Rigi means you get sunshine and an incredible cloud inversion…
The Lucerne Tell Pass & The Lucerne Visitor Card
All guests staying with Lucerne should receive a Lucerne Visitor Card from their accommodation, which includes free public transport on all buses and trains within the city Zone 10, however this does not include any boats or mountain excursions. That is where the Lucerne Tell Pass comes in.
Before we dive into the Lucerne itinerary, one thing that Switzerland is know for is being expensive, so we have made this itinerary so that you can utilise the Lucerne Tell Pass. All of the excursions are covered, meaning no buying extra tickets and no extra unknown costs! We go into more detail on this pass here, but the gist of it is; it is the best travel pass to have if you are staying in Lucerne and don’t want to fork out for the Swiss Travel Pass.
📍 The Summer Tell Pass, (from April through to the end of October), costs from 190 CHF per adult for 2 days, up to 270 CHF for 5 days, with children, (aged 6 to 16), a flat rate of 30 CHF.
📍 The Winter Tell Pass, (from November through to the end of March), costs from 120 CHF per adult for 2 days, up to 200 CHF for 5 days, with children, (aged 6 to 16), again at a flat rate of 30 CHF.
If you were to pay as you go for each of the days below it could cost you upwards of 290 CHF per adult… So even if it just a small saving, it is a saving!
Buy your Lucerne Tell Pass here
Also, before setting out on any hikes in this region, or indeed elsewhere in Switzerland, be sure to check not only the weather but the hiking trail status too as you don’t want to be caught out in a storm up a mountain or trying to hike a route that is closed. Routes often get closed for various reasons, such as rock fall, snowfall or just for renovation.
Lucerne Itinerary Day 1: Lucerne Altstadt
To kick off the Lucerne itinerary, we have a day exploring all the highlights of Lucerne’s Altstadt, from the beautiful churches to the old town walls and of course all the wonderful alleyways, squares and streets in between. We recommend starting the day off visiting Jesuitenkirche, an incredible church with ornated painted ceilings and organ recitals if you are lucky. If you think the outside is beautiful wait until you get inside!
After visiting the church we recommend stopping by the Bäckerei Moos, for some late breakfast / brunch pastries, (the apple strudel, quiches and apple tarts are really delicious!). It is takeaway only but you can sit along the nearby Reussbrücke taking in the sights over to Kapellbrücke. From here you then want to head along the riverside away from the main lake to get to the start of the old town walls, through Muhlenplatz then along St Karliquai.
When you reach the Nölliturm start following the wall from behind, along the Museggmauer Weg. From here you can then climb up into and along the old town walls as you please. We went up the first tower, Männliturm, then walked along the walls as far as you could get, all the while with the incredible views back over Lucerne and over to Pilatus.
After your fill of the city walls, make you way down into the Altstadt below, with lots of beautiful streets to wander through and squares to visit. Weinmarkt is a lovely little square with decorative building facades and SiP Café which do a delicious all day brunch, Kornmarkt with its Rathaus and Rathausturm is another nice one that leads directly down to the river edge and Rathausquai.
Here you will find numerous restaurants and bars, which all get very busy if it is a warm summers day or even a sunny evening in the winter! Rathaus Brauerei and Bierliebe & Friends are both great options for an evening meal and if you get outside seating, will have views over to Kapellbrücke as well as Jesuitenkirche where you started the day.
📍 If you choose to get on any public transport during this day it will be fully covered under the Tell Pass or your Lucerne Visitor Card.
Lucerne Itinerary Day 2: Mount Pilatus – the long route
For the second day of our Lucerne itinerary, we are heading up into the clouds up the local mountain Pilatus. At around 2,128m high this beast of a mountain just outside of the city centre is the perfect place to spend a day with some of the most incredible views over the surrounding Alps and Lucerne.
There are a couple of ways to get to the peak of Pilatus, but we would highly recommend taking the Golden Route, which involves taking a boat from Lucerne to Alpnachstad, switching to a funicular railway, (the steepest in the world), to the peak, then the cable car back down into Lucerne via Fräkmüntegg and Kriens, followed by a short walk / bus ride back to the main station. (You can also do this the other way around if you fancy but we prefer it this way around). You can grab a bite to eat and a drink on board the board for breakfast.
The funicular at Alpnachstad runs every 35 minutes until around 3.30pm, so be sure to get there with plenty of time if you are doing the route cable car first! Also, in the winter months the funicular doesn’t run due to the snow, so be sure to check if it is open before you embark on this route if you are visiting in the winter! If it isn’t open, you can still get to the mountain peak via the cable car via Fräkmüntegg.
At the Pilatus mountain peak there is plenty to do, with walking paths such as the Dragon Trail / Drachenweg or Flower Path / Blumenpfad, paragliding and even ibex safaris, (these last two have to be booked in advance). There are also a few different restaurants up there perfect for grabbing lunch, with regional and seasonal food on offer as well as fantastic near 360 degree views over the surrounding mountains. Be sure to try the local Eichhof beer if you are into your beers, it has been brewed locally since 1834 and is pretty good.
Once you have had your fill of the mountain top, head back down into the valley towards Lucerne via the cable car. At the Fräkmüntegg cable car station you can take part in various activities, (weather depending), such as the Dragon Glider, a summer toboggan run or even in the largest rope park in Switzerland. You can find out more about these activities and book them in advance here.
We would recommend stopping at Qirin sushi & drinks, (near the main station), for dinner. With a rooftop restaurant area that overlooks the mountains, and great sushi what more could you want!
📍 Mount Pilatus round trip – free with the Lucerne Tell Pass, (without a Tell Pass this route will cost from 115.80 CHF per adult).
Lucerne Itinerary Day 3: Mount Rigi
Another day another mountain to explore, but this time one a little further from Lucerne. Mount Rigi, also know as the Queen of the Mountains, is one of our favourite destinations to take people as the journey there and back is just as beautiful as the mountain itself.
You start the day with a boat ride to Vitznau, (which is great to have a walk around), followed by a rack railway ride taking you to the very top of Mount Rigi. From here the views are incredible in any weather, (we regularly go up when it is grey and cloudy in Lucerne and at the top it is brilliant sunshine with a cloud inversion!). As with the Pilatus trip you should be able to get something for breakfast on board the boat or you can bring your own along – Caffe Spettacolo and Bretzelkonig in the main train station both have great and reasonably priced breakfast pastries or bretzels and coffee.
From the top we highly recommend walking back down the mountain to the middle station at Rigi Kaltbad, where you can then catch a cable car back down to Weggis, (it should take around an hour, but make sure to plan a bit extra for stopping for taking photos, the views are really good!).
You follow along the railway tracks that you came up before cutting right and walking down through some woodland before arriving at Rigi Kaltbad. Here there are a couple of shops as well as a mineral spa, so if you fancy a dip with some serious views then this is the place to go! There is also a mountain restaurant both at the peak, at Rigi Staffel part way down and at Rigi Kaltbad so you can plan to eat before, during or after the walk.
When you arrive in Weggis via the cable car, you will have to walk a short 15 minute walk down to the lake side. When you leave the cable car station and car park keep to the right and go under the bridge the keep following signs to ‘Schiff-Busstation’. From Weggis simply hop back on the boat to Lucerne, you shouldn’t have to wait long they are well timed with when the cable car arrives into Weggis.
You can either eat dinner in Weggis or head back into the centre of Lucerne as there are plenty of eating options throughout the city. We can recommend the Seebistro LUZ, (which is pretty much right next to where the ferry will arrive into Lucerne), for some delicious seasonal European food and an outdoor terrace overlooking the lake.
📍 Boat from Lucerne to Mount Rigi – Vitznau: 1 hour, with boats every hour from 09:12 through to 16:12
📍 Boat from Mount Rigi – Weggis to Lucerne: 45 minutes, with boats every hour from 11:05 through to 18:05.
📍 Mount Rigi trip – free with the Lucerne Tell Pass, (without a Tell Pass this route can cost from 70 CHF per adult).
If you want to book any additional activities up Mount Rigi, such as the Mineralbad & Spa you can book them here. Plus with the Tell Pass you also get a 20% discount on entry into the Mineralbad & Spa at Rigi Kaltbad too!
Lucerne Itinerary Day 4: Bürgenstock
Famous for its cliff-side swimming pools and spas, rock walk and the tallest outdoor elevator in Europe, Bürgenstock, and the walk associated with it, is a great thing to do whilst in Lucerne and one that not many tourists tend to visit in comparison to Pilatus and Rigi.
As the journey from Lucerne to Bürgenstock is only short, (in comparison to the other days), we would suggest grabbing some breakfast before you leave, either in a café close to the station such as Café Tacuba Neustadt, or some pastries from within the station itself. For this trip we also recommend bringing a picnic along with you or stopping in the café that overlooks the lift, (it doesn’t show up on Google Maps but there is one there we promise!), so you can make the most of the views with your lunch. Again, you can easily grab something in the main station for this, both Migros and Coop do great takeaway boxes for salads, pastas and sandwiches.
After grabbing all you need for breakfast / lunch, you can really start the day by boarding the MS Bürgenstock Catamaran at the main port in Lucerne, crossing to Bürgenstock in around half an hour, before disembarking and switching to the bright red Bürgenstock funicular. Try to get a seat near the front / lowest section of this funicular as the views back to Lucerne are really good.
When you reach the top, make you way to the start of the Felsenweg Bürgenstock, which will take you from Bürgenstock Resort to the Hammetschwand Lift via the rock path. This path has views back towards Lucerne as well as across to the neighbouring Weggis all the way to the lift, and then incredible views further to the south in Nidwalden when you reach to the top of the lift.
After riding the lift, (all 500 feet of it in an elevator with windows so you can see how fast and high you are going!), you can simply follow the footpaths towards Bürgenstock, which goes via Kanzeli and Unter Honegg. All in all, it should take around 2 hours to walk from start to finish, but make sure to plan a bit extra for stopping for taking photos, eating lunch and for queuing for the Hammeschwand Lift, (it doesn’t take too long but there is normally a short queue).
We recommend stopping at Ristorante La Cucina Pizza & Pasta for dinner, just a short walk from the main train station and some of the nicest Italian food you will find in the city.
📍 Boat from Lucerne to Bürgenstock: 35 minutes, with boats every hour from 09:07 through to 22:07.
📍 Bürgenstock trip – free with the Lucerne Tell Pass, (without a Tell Pass this route can cost from 90 CHF per adult plus an additional 15 CHF for one way on the Hammeschwand Lift).
Lucerne Itinerary Day 5: Lucerne Museums & Monuments
For the final day of the Lucerne itinerary we are staying in Lucerne to see the last of the city sights and visit a museum or two. After grabbing a bite to eat from a cafe near the station, (Filou & Bengel is a lovely little cafe), Start the day off taking a boat or bus to the Swiss Museum of Transport, an interactive transport museum at the edge of Lucerne, filled with artefacts and works related to Swiss transport as well as a planetarium and 3D film theatre too.
📍 Tickets for the Swiss Museum of Transport cost 35 CHF per adult and 15 CHF per child under 16.
After experiencing all you can at the museum, begin to walk your way back towards the city centre via the Luzerner Seepromenade, stopping for lunch at Confiseur Bachmann AG – Gelateria am Quai, which is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat then sit along the lake edge, especially in the warmer months! From here it is just a short walk to the twin spired church Hofkirche St Leodegar and the nearby Gletschergarten Luzern / Glacier Garden of Lucerne and Löwendenkmal / Lion Monument.
The Hofkirche St Leodegar is another of Lucerne’s beautiful churches, with pointed spires and a unique cloister garden you can wander around too. From here it is a 10 minute walk to the Löwendenkmal, (a monument of a lion carved into the rock dedicated to the Swiss Guards that were killed during the French Revolution), and onto the Glacier Garden of Switzerland. The Glacier Garden is a fascinating local history museum with glacier gardens showcasing not only how rock has formed the Alps but also the plant life in the Alpine region too, all set within beautiful gardens in the heart of the city!
📍 Tickets for the Glacier Garden of Lucerne cost 18 CHF per adult and 10 CHF per child – with the Tell Pass you also get a 20% discount on entry into the Gletschergarten / Glacier Garden of Lucerne.
For your final dinner in Lucerne we suggest the Schiffrestaurant Wilhelm Tell, which is literally aboard a boat on the lake. The food is mostly traditional Swiss dishes, with options including fondue and Alpermagronen, (our favourite post hike or adventure filled day dish!).
📍 If you choose to get on any public transport during this day it will be fully covered under the Tell Pass.
Best Day Trips From Lucerne
These are the locations that we would highly recommend you take as a day trip if you have the time:
📍 Zurich- a short train ride away and another city that is well worth a visit in Switzerland – 50 minutes by train.
📍 Engelberg – a nearby valley region to visit with numerous mountain excursions and only a short train ride away from Lucerne – 50 minutes by train.
📍 Basel – our home, (so yes we may be biased), but it is a great day trip from Lucerne – 1 hour by train.
📍 Brienz – a lake side village and local mountain trip with a difference, (we’re talking a historic steam train!) – 1.5 hours by train.
📍 Lucerne Interlaken Express – Linking Lucerne with Interlaken, this train ride takes you past bright blue lakes and famous mountain peaks, all with massive panoramic windows on board. Others flock to the Glacier Express, but this train route is just as stunning in our view, (and a damn sight cheaper to do!) – 2 hours by train, (with a switch at Interlaken Ost).
Where To Stay In Lucerne
We would recommend staying at the following places in Lucerne:
Budget: ibis budget Hotel Luzern City
Mid Range: Hotel Astoria
Luxury: Grand Hotel National Luzern
Lucerne is a very walkable city, so you are never really that far from the main train station, so all of these options are great.
Where To Eat In Lucerne
For anytime of day both Migros and Coop are great options if you want to save a bit of money on eating out. You can grab takeway food and snacks to sit along the lake edge / take them on a day trip with you.
For breakfast/brunch:
📍 Filou & Bengel
📍 Bäckerei Moos
📍 SiP Café
📍 Caffe Spettacolo
📍 Bretzelkonig
📍 Café Tacuba Neustadt
📍 Confiseur Bachmann AG – Gelateria am Quai
For lunch/dinner:
📍 Rathaus Brauerei
📍 Bierliebe & Friends
📍 Qirin sushi & drinks
📍 Seebistro LUZ
📍 Ristorante La Cucina Pizza & Pasta
📍 Schiffrestaurant Wilhelm Tell
Lucerne Itinerary FAQs
Where is Lucerne?
Lucerne is located in the German speaking canton of Lucerne in Central Switzerland. Yes the canton is the same name and yes Lucerne (the city) is the capital of the canton.
How to get to Lucerne
Lucerne doesn’t have its own airport so it is a little more difficult to get to in comparison to other cities in Switzerland that do, (Basel, Geneva and Zurich), but it is still very accessible from across Switzerland via train or by car. From Basel and Zurich it takes around 1 hour via train and from Geneva it takes around 3 hours 15 minutes.
How to get around Lucerne
The easiest way to get around Lucerne is actually on foot. The city is much smaller than you may realise so even if you walk from the main train station to the heart of the Altstadt it will only take 15 / 20 minutes.
Is the Tell Pass worth it?
If you are a spending at least two days in Lucerne then the Lucerne Tell Pass is very worth it. We go into more details on this pass in our Tell Pass blog post, but the basics of it are if you want to travel around Lucerne, take a ferry and visit a nearby mountain, then the Tell Pass pays for itself!
When is the best time to visit Lucerne?
The best time to visit Lucerne depends on what you want from your trip. Whether you want warm weather perfect for exploring the city and mountain resorts nearby, (then the summer months of June through to September are the best), or cooler weather with the chance of snow and seasonal markets, (then the winter months of October through to December are best).
Is winter a good time to visit Lucerne?
Winter is a lovely time to visit Lucerne, with numerous Christmas Markets across the city alongside cosy cafes and restaurants perfect for warming up after a chilly day exploring. The local mountains also have their snowy peaks back after the summer, so are the picture perfect Switzerland, and fantastic to visit.
Is Lucerne worth visiting?
100 % yes Lucerne is worth visiting even f you can only visit for a day trip, (but ideally you should stay longer!). It is one of the more well known cities in Switzerland but that just means that it is definitely worth a visit in our eyes, all the visitors can’t be wrong! We really love visiting Lucerne for its laid back vibes, beautiful lake side, great boat trips and its lovely Altstadt area of the city.
How many days do I need for Lucerne? Can you do Lucerne in 1 day?
You can definitely see the main sights in the city centre in one day, but if you want to explore at a more leisurely pace, take a boat trip and visit one of the local mountain resorts then you need at least 3 to 4 days.
Which is better, Interlaken or Lucerne?
Interlaken and Lucerne are very different so are both beautiful in their own ways. Interlaken is a small town in the centre of the Bernese Alps, surrounded by famous mountain peaks and known for its outdoor activities and lake trips. Lucerne is also well known for its lake trips, but also has a stunning Altstadt and some great attractions within the city too.
Is it better to go to Zurich or Lucerne?
We love both cities, and both are very different, so why not visit both! They are both known for their Altstadt areas of the city and beautiful lake sides, but Lucerne also has numerous local mountains perfect for a trip out of Lucerne but still in the city sights and Zurich has some fantastic museums, galleries and of course the Lindt factory!
Is Lucerne expensive?
Lucerne is an expensive city, as with any city in Switzerland. However as it is a city that means there are numerous options for both accommodation and restaurants at a range of different budgets, so you will easily find somewhere to cater to your price range.
Is Lucerne a walkable city?
Lucerne is a very walkable city, it only takes 15 to 20 minutes to walk pretty much anywhere in the city centre and it is all relatively flat, (unless you visit the city walls, which are up a very small hill).
Is Lucerne safe?
Lucerne, as with other cities across Switzerland, is very safe. I, (Gemma), have visited Lucerne a few times alone, with female friends, with Matt and with family and never once felt unsafe. As with visiting any city in any country, you just have to be sensible and be aware of your surroundings. In Switzerland you can often see people leaving belongings at a tables whilst they go to order at a bar or in a restaurant, so it is a very trusting and safe country to be!
Conclusion: The Perfect Lucerne Itinerary: 1 to 5 Days
So there you have our guide to the perfect Lucerne itinerary, be it for 1 day or up to 5 days, anytime spent in Lucerne is great! With numerous day trips that you can take as well as plenty to keep you busy in the city, Lucerne is a great place to base yourself for a trip to Switzerland.
All Our Switzerland Content
Here are a few other articles you may find useful for planning your trip:
📍 The Best Lake Lucerne Cruise
📍 The Perfect Grindelwald Itinerary: 1 to 5 Days
📍 The Perfect Lauterbrunnen Itinerary: 1 to 5 Days
📍 The Perfect Interlaken Itinerary: 1 to 5 Days
📍 The Perfect Zurich Itinerary: 1 to 5 Days
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.