Things to do in Lucerne in one day

Lucerne is for sure one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland (for me definitely the best one) and with this post I decided to make a summary of the different interesting areas explained in detail in the other posts. So this is what you can make in one day or two days.

Ready to go? Fasten your seat belt and enjoy the travel! :-)

1) The starting point of this trip itinerary is the central railway station (Hauptbahnhof) and I recommend immediately to go to Europaplatz, where you can have the first sightseeing point of the city and its lake, the Lucerne Lake.

2) From here you can immediately head to the main symbol of the city, the stunning Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrucke), the wooden bridge built during the 14th Century, symbol of the old medieval town, that was part of the impressive fortification system of the city during the Middle Ages. Decorated with flowers, along the path you can find the Water Tower (Wasserturm), dominating the Reuss River with its 34 meters, use as archive, treasure and torture chamber.

Not only flowers, you can also find under the ceiling a hundred of paintings representing Swiss and Lucerne historical episodes.

Once crossed the bridge, you access to the old medieval town, the most beautiful area of the city.

3) The first interesting landmark of this part is for sure Chapel Square (Kapellplatz) with the oldest church of Lucerne, St. Peter's church ( St. Peter Kirche), built in 1178

and the Fountain of the Fritschi, that represents also the Carnival.

4) From Chapel Square you can also walk along the quai, along the lake, cross the luxurious Schwanenplatz ( Swan Square) and get to the most important Renaissance building in the entire Switzerland, the Hofkirche.

Do not miss the typical central European houses around the church.

5) Not far from the Hofkirche, you can reach the stunning the Lowendenkmal, best know as the Dying Lyon of Lucerne, representing the heroic death of the Swiss mercenaries fighting for the King of France during the French revolution in 1792. Mark Twain described it as the "saddest and most moving piece of rock in the world".

6) Close to the Dying Lion, I recommend a visit to the Glacier Garden or Gletschergarten, that displays entire portion of rocks marked by the presence of a glacier, probably during the last Ice Age, approx. 20,000 years ago.

The museum contains also the observation tower and also the Hall of Mirrors Alhambra, inspired to the famous castle of Granada.

7) From the Glacier Garden, you can immediately walk to the Musegg Wall or Museggmauer or the Nine Towers, the fortifications complex that limits the old medieval town. Built around the 14th Century, it is perfectly preserved and you can walk along the walls and sometimes reach the top the towers.

 The only decorated tower is the Zytturm.

8) From the Musegg Wall, you can go downhill and reach the Speuerbrucke and the Muhlen Platz, the "Mills Square". The Speuerbrucker reminds a lot the most famous Chapel Bridge.

9) Before crossing the Speuerbrucke, I recommend to come back to the old medieval town and visit the wonderful squares. First of all you will be impressed by the coloured and painted houses. Here you can see the beautiful Hirschplatz.

Do not miss again Chapel Square or Kapell Platz,

the old corn market, that is the Kornmarkt, with the Old Town Hall (Rathaus) and other magnificent palaces.

The Weinmarkt, the wine market, is the last beautiful square you should not miss.

10) The last landmark is the Jesuitenkirche, built around the 17th Century, Baroque style and also the sightseeing point just outside the church.

11) Close to Schwanenplatz, you cannot miss a visit to Bachmann, the largest chocolate shop of Switzerland with the largest praline showcase. Switzerland is famous for its chocolate so you cannot miss it! :-)

Travel tips:

• This trip itinerary can be split in 1 or 2 days, In one day you can visit it all, but you should walk really fast. I recommend an entire weekend also to see the surroundings.

• If you stay two days, you can also choose one of the following museums: the Alpineum 3D (Panorama of Alps), the Swiss Museum of Transport and Museum Sammlung Rosengart (art collection).

• Surroundings: you can visit the Mount Pilatus, the Mt. Rigi, You can also reach to the highest spot in Europe, Jungfrau, or opt for a visit to Interlaken or reach the Eiger. You really have a great choice: to know how to reach all this places or spots or plan your trip, please check out the tourism office website.

• Lucerne is for sure one of the top travel destinations in Switzerland and in Europe.

Where to sleep:

• Budget accomodation:  Ibis Luzern Kriens, at the foot of the Mt Pilatus, at 5 km by train from the city centre, breakfast not included (14 Euros per person per night), prices from 120 Euros per night per double room. 

• If you prefer sleeping in dorms in an hostel, I recommend the Youth Hostel Luzern, closer to the city centre. You just need to take the bus 1, 20 or 22 or walk 5 min to reach  the Dying Lion or the Glacier Garden. The breakfast is included and the prices from 35/40 Euros per night in a 4 bed dorms room. For more info, click here.

• Medium budget: Hotel Schlussel, located at just 5 min on walk from the Chapel Bridge, breakfast not included (14 Euros per person per night), prices around 180 Euros per night per double room.

• Luxury accomodation: Hotel Luzern, Autograph Collection, a Marriot Luxury Lifestyle Hotel, designed by the famous French architect Jean Nouvel, located close to the central railway station, world class treatment, breakfast included in most of the options, prices from 350 Euros per night per double room.

Enjoy it!!!