Photo: Lukas Ahorn / Bertel Thorvaldsen · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Lucerne
Covered bridges, an old town on a lake and mountains on the doorstep.
A postcard old town on a lake ringed by mountains: painted houses, two covered wooden bridges and a medieval wall with towers. Boats and mountain railways start right from town.
Places to see
Chapel BridgeSight · A covered wooden footbridge angled across the river, decked with flower boxes, with…Free- Lion MonumentSight · A huge dying lion carved into a sandstone cliff above a small pond, a quiet and moving…Free
Swiss Museum of TransportMuseum · Switzerland's most visited museum: trains, planes, boats, cars and cable cars you can…≈ A$65
Mount Pilatus
When to go
- Jan3° / -2°Some rainQuiet
- Feb5° / -2°Some rainVery busy
- Mar10° / 1°Some rainQuiet
- Apr14° / 4°Some rainBusy
- May19° / 8°Often wetBusy
- Jun22° / 12°Often wetBusy
- Jul25° / 14°Often wetVery busy
- Aug24° / 13°Often wetVery busy
- Sep
Staying and getting around
Good areas to stay
The old town. Painted squares, the covered bridges and the medieval wall on the right bank.
Around the station. Left bank by the station and the culture centre: handy and a bit cheaper, with hostels.
Flying in
Zurich (ZRH): Train to Lucerne, about 1 h 10 min, ≈ A$56. Saver tickets in the SBB app can be much cheaper (check).
Flewaway's estimate for the usual budget way into Lucerne; check times and fares before you fly.
Getting around
You can walk everywhere. A single ticket is ≈ A$6. The old town and lakefront are walkable; your Visitors Card covers the city buses. Boats on the lake and the mountain railways are paid separately (check).
Swiss Half Fare Card (≈ A$279, 1 month): Halves train, boat and most mountain-lift fares; worth it if you'll spend more than about CHF 300 on them.
Tourist tax
Lucerne's tourist tax: usually about CHF 3 a person a night, and your stay gives you a free Visitors Card for the city's buses (check).
