Lucerne is a stunning destination with all the ingredients of a perfect Swiss holiday including a picturesque lake and spectacular mountains with amazing cog railways and cable cars, all within easy reach. There is an impressive Old Town here, with wonderful shops and lovely flower-decked bars and restaurants in a delightful lakeside setting. Lucerne is a great place to walk round - visit the preserved city walls protecting the Old Town, the famous covered Chapel Bridge across the River Reuss or take a stroll along the lakeside at sunset. In the Old Town you will also find a wealth of original decorated historical buildings around the squares and small courtyards. Other attractions include the 200 year old Lion Monument (commemorating the Swiss Guards who died during the French revolution defending King Louis XVI) and the nearby Glacier Garden with its fascinating insight into Lucerne's geological history.Â
If you stroll along the river on a Tuesday or Saturday morning, you will find a fantastic farmers' market. A new daily market hall is now open with the station building, where you can find a wide variety of products from farms and family-run companies in the Lake Lucerne region, as well as freshly made takeaway items from the deli and the bakery. Lucerne has a varied nightlife, a wide choice of restaurants to cater for all tastes and the renowned KKL concert hall. As Lucerne is only an hour's train ride from Zurich airport, a fabulous long weekend here is very feasible. Hotel guests benefit from the FREE Lucerne Visitor Card, allowing you to hop on and off the local buses and trains.
NB For those who would prefer a stay in a quieter village with access to all the amenities and transport network of Lucerne, we recommend nearby Weggis.Â
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Call us on 0800 619 1200 or email us at info@swissholidayco.com
Lucerne holiday ideas 2025
Choose from our handpicked Lucerne hotels.
Please note that two of our hotels are in the mountains rather than in Lucerne town:Â the Pilatus Kulm Hotels are located above Kriens and Lake Lucerne, at the summit of Mount Pilatus.
What to see and do from Lucerne
Lucerne lies at the centre of the region's transport network so you can easily embark on any of the lakes and mountains excursions; please click here for our summary of the best the region has to offer.
Top of the list are the visits to the local mountains of Pilatus via the world's steepest cog railway and Mount Rigi with its views as far as the Black Forest. Rigi railway celebrated its 150 year anniversary in 2021! A cruise on the beautiful lake is a real highlight with its small picturesque villages such as Weggis and Stansstad, from where you reach the amazing open topped cable car to the Stanserhorn. Beckenried is a stopping off point for the Klewenalp and after Brunnen the lakes flows into Lake Uri where you will be enchanted by the history and legends of Wilhelm Tell. Stoos is also worth a visit, with its amazing new funicular and glorious views.
Why not visit the dramatic Mount Titlis at over 3,000m - just an hour on the train brings you to pretty Engelberg and from here it is an incredible journey to the summit, including an amazing rotating cable car which glides above the glacier. More earthly delights can be found at the Lindt Home Of Chocolate, with plenty of opportunties for tasting!
Read our Lucerne blog article here.
Visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site from Lucerne
There are a number of day trips you can undertake from Lucerne to visit a UNESCO site. The Old Town of Bern is a most charming place to browse around and there's more history to be found in the Abbey Library of St. Gallen. The Entlebuch Biosphere is a natural paradise just minutes from Lucerne. Find more Swiss World Heritage Sites here.
We can recommend a multi centre UNESCO themed holiday, taking in the Old Town of Bern and the St. Gallen Abbey. You'll stay in Lucerne and Appenzell. Please ask for details.
Explore the Central Switzerland region with our great value travel passes
Our holidays include the Half Fare Card, which entitles you to a 50% discount on most rail, mountain railways, cable cars, boats and PostBuses across Switzerland.
If you are planning daily outings, it can be well worth pre-booking the Tell Pass, as it saves you a great deal of money - and helps you avoid the queues at the ticket office! If you are planning to travel further afield, you might consider the Swiss Travel Pass as an alternative. We will be delighted to help you choose the one that's right for you. Call us on 0800 619 1200 for more advice.
Scenic rail holidays from Lucerne
Enjoy a fantastic two or multi centre holiday, with a scenic rail journey connecting your resorts.
Lucerne is on the route of the GoldenPass Express (for Montreux) or Luzern-Interlaken Express (for Interlaken) and the scenic boat and rail journey of the Gotthard Panorama Express (for Lugano). The Pre-Alpine Express also departs for St. Gallen.
If you prefer to be based solely in Lucerne, there are many lakes and mountains journeys to be enjoyed locally. We can tailor make any itinerary you choose, please contact us for details on 0800 619 1200.
How to get to Lucerne
Your ticket wallet will contain comprehensive travel instructions to help you reach your destination with ease, including recommended rail connection times and platform numbers. These are the most common routes for your Lucerne holiday.Â
Fly to Zurich
Flights available from London, Luton, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow.
Swiss Railways: Zurich Airport > Lucerne with a transfer time of around 1 hour 10 minutes.Â
Fly to Geneva
Flights available from London, Luton, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle. Â
Swiss Railways: Geneva Airport > Lucerne with a transfer time of around 3 hours.Â
Travel by international rail
Rail from London St. Pancras via Paris to Basel.
Swiss Railways: Basel > Lucerne with a transfer time of around 1 hour 10 minutes.
Request your holiday quotation
Call us on 0800 619 1200 or email us at info@swissholidayco.com