Lucerne is a small, but utterly charming city in the heart of Switzerland. Nestled among the snow-capped alpine peaks and tucked right up against the crystal clear waters of Lake Lucerne, this cozy city is like the perfect little capsule of everything you love about Switzerland. The history, the natural beauty, the culture, the food, the architecture, and more – all of it is condensed and packed into this picturesque town in a tidy and well-manicured little package. From the immaculate, preserved medieval architecture to the postcard-perfect lakeside vistas to the walking-friendly city layout, Lucerne is understandably one of the most visited stops on a trip to Switzerland.
On our own short itinerary through Switzerland, we were lucky to have the time to add in an overnight in Lucerne, but in case you are on a tighter schedule like we usually are, don’t fret! Lucerne is one of the few European cities that are very manageable even in just a few hours. Below is a detailed itinerary of our very nice and not rushed 1/2 day itinerary in this fairytale-like city.
Arrival in Lucerne
Our flight arrived in Zurich around 12 PM. We cleared immigration and immigration stamps, changed some Euros for Swiss Francs at the currency exchange, and with the efficiency of the Swiss rail system, we were already on the direct train to Lucerne just a few minutes later. The ride was quick and pleasant, following the train tracks through the verdant Swiss countryside. As we wound around and through the mountains, we even caught a few glimpses of quaint little villages and small hills. In just about an hour, we arrived at the Lucerne Train Station at around 2 PM.
We checked in to the hotel and dropped off our bags, and immediately set off to explore Lucerne on foot. The great thing about this city is that Lucerne is very compact and easily walkable. Almost all of the main attractions are within a 15-20 minute stroll from the train station.
Wandering Around the Old Town & Lake Lucerne
The first thing I noticed was how clean and quiet the city of Lucerne was. We followed the crowds of tourists to the beautiful Lake Lucerne and, mesmerized by the glinting of the clear water and the reflected light from the snow-capped mountains, we couldn’t help but slow our steps. It was late in the afternoon and the sun was glancing across the surface of the lake at a soft angle.
We also found ourselves very quickly in front of Lucerne’s most famous and most Instagrammable landmark, the Kapellbrücke. Also known as the Chapel Bridge, this covered wooden footbridge spans the Reuss River at a diagonal and is probably the most photographed landmark in Lucerne. Constructed originally in the 14th century, the bridge was partially destroyed by fire in 1993 and reconstructed as it is today. It is a covered wooden bridge that measures 200 meters (656 feet) and features a series of paintings on the inside under a gabled roof. As pretty as it looked in the photos I had seen online, to see it in person and watch the locals setting up their market stalls, and to hear the bells from the Chapel building and to see the birds fluttering back and forth as we waited for the other person to snap their photos was enchanting. The whole scene was awash in a glorious golden light.
After the bridge, a short walk will bring you to another instantly recognizable symbol of Lucerne – the Lion Monument. Carved into a sandstone rock face, this solemn sculpture of a dying lion lying draped across a shield with the fleur-de-lis emblem of the French monarchy is a monument to the Swiss Guards who died fighting to protect King Louis XVI during the French Revolution in 1792. A powerful and unexpectedly moving sight, the Lion Monument was also quite haunting and a little bit creepy in its atmosphere. Tucked away in a shaded park, the light was a bit somber as well, which added to the mood.
Dinner with a View at Château Gütsch
By the time we finished exploring, it was already getting late, and the time zone difference was starting to take its toll. It was already 12 AM in Singapore, even though it was only 6 PM in Switzerland. But we were also getting very hungry and had something special planned.
We had made an advance reservation at the Schloss-Hotel Château Gütsch, a hilltop hotel that looks like it belongs in a European fairy tale. Styled after traditional Bavarian castles, this elegant hotel and restaurant offers panoramic views of Lucerne and the surrounding lake and mountains. Staying at the hotel would also have been a nice experience, but room rates in peak season (read: summer months) were more than a tad steep (over 400 SGD per night). We later found out the places to stay in Lucerne, so next time, perhaps we will splurge on the hotel!
A cheaper option was to enjoy dinner on the hotel’s outdoor terrace – and this is just what we did. What we liked most about this place is that getting to the hotel is half of the fun. We walked back towards the town center, a journey of about 10 minutes. From the town center, it is another short walk to a very small funicular station at the bottom of the hill. The ride up only takes 3 minutes and is free with a Swiss Travel Pass. The view from the top was jaw-dropping. At the top of the hill, we were greeted with a panoramic bird’s-eye view of the entire town of Lucerne, the lake sparkling below in the distance and the sun slowly sinking behind the jagged snowcapped mountains on the other side. It’s one of those views that you can’t help but pause and just drink in for a while.
Foodwise, our dinner at Château Gütsch was presented very nicely and was surprisingly reasonably priced, but the flavors fell very flat for us. Maybe it was the Asian in us, maybe it was the jet lag, but either way, we didn’t take much and left rather early to return down to town.
Peaceful Evening in Lucerne
One of the great things about visiting Switzerland in the summer is that the days are long, and the sun doesn’t set till almost 9 PM. This gives you loads of time to enjoy the evenings, and we spent the rest of the day slowly wandering down the riverside promenade.
As the evening set in and the shops closed down for the day, the crowds thinned out, and the town was peaceful and serene. We were among the few tourists around to see the white swans, native to Lake Lucerne, glide effortlessly across the lake. The restful sounds of the water lapping along the shore, the muted pastel colors of dusk, and the tranquil rhythm of the town of Lucerne was the perfect way to end our nice and not rushed 1/2 day itinerary in Lucerne.
Lucerne is one of those tiny cities that packs a punch. Even in just a few hours, we still managed to squeeze in a lot and get a proper dose of Switzerland in one of the most visited Swiss cities. It’s a very special place, and if you are transiting through, or have time constraints on a tight itinerary, do not skip Lucerne!
