Lucerne Travel Guide
Lucerne Travel Guide
Lucerne is often referred to as Switzerland’s most beautiful city. This small town serves as a gateway to the Alps, especially if you’re coming from Zurich and is worth a visit on any Switzerland Itinerary.
I recommend visiting Lucerne as a day trip from Zurich or as a stop on your way to the Alps vs. staying there!
Jump To:
- *Backpacks & Bubbly – Top Picks for Drinks With A View*
- What to do in Lucerne
- Best Restaurants in Lucerne
- Getting to Lucerne
- How Long to Spend in Lucerne
- Safety for Solo Travel in Lucerne
- Lucerne Top Blog Posts
Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!
*Backpacks & Bubbly – Top Picks for Drinks With A View*
Lucerne is so scenic and there is no shortage of cafes, restaurants and pubs with amazing views. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I’ve tried to narrow down my top 4!
Restaurant Schiff
Best Overall
A taditional Swiss restaurant with a stunning patio offering views over the river and Chapel Bridge
Mr. Pickwick Pub
Best fo: Casual Drinks
If you’re looking for just a casual drink with a epic views over Chapel Bridge and the Reuss river this is the perfec spot.
Opus
Best for: Old Town Views
Many of the restaurants are situated in the Old Town itself, so the views overlook the river and bridge, but you’re looking out from Old Town instead of into it. To me, the Old Town side of the river is more picturesque, so Opus is a great spot to grab food with views over the river, bridge and the Old Town!
Café de Ville | Restaurant Schwanen
Best for: Views of Lake Lucerne
If you’re looking for views of picturesque Lake Lucerne instead of the bridge and river, head to Café de Ville | Restaurant Schwanen
What to do in Lucerne
Lucerne is a small town that is best explored on foot. There aren’t a long list of must do and must see items, as it’s more of just a picturesque town to explore at your leisure!
Chapel Bridge
One of the most famous bridges in Europe, the simple Chapel Bridge is a covered wooden bridge that connects Lucerne’s Old Town to the other side of the city where the main train station is.
Chapel Bridge is considered to be Europe’s oldest covered bridges.
Wander along the Reuss
Wandering along the river that separates Lucerne Old Town from the other side of the city. The river is lined with colorful building and the view from both sides is stunning! The river is doted with a series of restaurants and cafes that offer great spots for grabbing a drink or meal with a view!
Explore the Old Town
Lucerne’s Old Town, or Alstadt, is a small neighborhood filled with restaurant and shops. Explore the scenic neighborhood and stop into some of Switzerland’s best chocolate shops, like Laderdach.
See Lake Lucerne
At the end of the Reuss river lies Lake Lucerne. This large lake is surrounded by the beginning of the Alps. You can walk around this lake or explore by boat! They offer a variety of boat tours you can join
Best Restaurants in Lucerne
Lucerne is a small city, but offers tons of great restaurant options, many of which offer amazing views of Chapel Bridge, the colorful houses along the Reuss river, or Lake Lucerne.
I’ve compiled a list of my favorites here:
Stadtkeller
A classic Swiss restaurant with traditional performances. This lively beer hall offers a variety of classic Swiss foods.
Details on performanc times and menu can be found here
View: no.
Pfistern
Upscale Swiss restaurant on Old Town with stunning views of the river and Chapel Bridge. Offers classics like fondue, sausage and more.
View: yes
Restaurant Fritschi
Laid back Swiss tavern offering racelettes, fondue & more.
View: no
Restaurant Schiff
A Swiss Restaurant offering some of the best views in Lucerne. This place is worth it for the view alone, but they also offer good food at a reasonable (for Lucerne) price
View: yes
Restaurant Des Alpes
Another restaurants that offers great views! A large menu with more upscale offerings, this restautant may be a bit pricier, but the views and food are worth it!
View: yes
Café de Ville | Restaurant Schwanen
Cafe and restaurant overlooking the scenic Lake Lucerne. Stop by for lunch or dinner or just grab a coffee and desert with a view!
View: yes
Brasserie Bodu
A European Restaurant in Lucerne’s Old Town neighborhood. Brasserie Bodu offers a diverse menu with a view.
View: yes
Ammos
Greek Taverna offering stunning views over the river, bridge & Old Town. The menu consists of Greek staples like moussaka & souvlaki.
View: yes
Opus
Mediterranean restaurant with a charming patio for some of the best views of Lucerne. A bit pricy, but has some good options if you’re vegetarian or have had your fill of Swiss food and are looking for something a bit different!
View: yes
Ristorante Pizzeria Weisses Kreuz
If you’re looking for an Italian spot in Lucerne’s Old Town Ristorante Pizzeria Weisses Kreuz offers pizza and pasta with views of the river.
View: yes
Getting to Lucerne
By Train
I almost always recommend getting around via train in Switzerland – Switzerland has some of the best public transportation in the world, and it’s usually the easiest way to get where you ened to be.
Lucerne is connected by train to all other major Swiss cities. It can easily be reached via Zurich in 40 minutes or from Interlaken in under 2 hours.
By Car
If you’re heading to the Alps and have rented a car and are driving through Lucerne you’ll need to find a parking garage. Parking is limited, but there are several parking garages in the city center where you can pay to park.
Here is a map of parking garages in downtown Lucerne.
How Long to Spend in Lucerne
A few hours to half a day
Lucerne is a small city and I recommend spending a morning or afternoon there. You could also choose to base yourself in Lucerne and visit other towns from there, but it tends to be expensive and there’s not a ton of parking, so it wouldn’t be my top recommendation for a home base for exploring!
Safety for Solo Travel in Lucerne
5 out of 5
Switzerland in general is one of the countries where I’ve felt safest as a solo female traveler. I’ve spent a ton of time there solo and have never had an experience that made me feel unsafe.
