Lucerne
Lucerne is unquestionably one of Europe's most charming cities. It also boasts stunning lakeside and mountain scenery on its doorstep. The town has a remarkable site at the northwest end of Lake Lucerne, where the Reuss River resumes its course. The center of Lucerne is a pedestrian area of cobblestone streets lined with houses, shops, and hotels painted in medieval style or decorated with displays of flowers. Above the old town is the original city wall, from which you can admire the splendor and variety of Lucerne's scenery.

Lucerne is ideally situated in the historic and scenic heart of what many believe to be the 'true' Switzerland. Once a simple fisherman's village, this charming town is now an important culture and convention center that makes an excellent base for many excursions in Switzerland.

Discover Lucerne
Due to its small size, Lucerne is easy to explore on foot. There is also a network of public city buses which can transport you anywhere in the city. The beautiful Lake Lucerne and several mountain peaks are on the city's doorstep. Before you explore the city, start with the main attraction by crossing over the Reuss River on the famous Chapel Bridge.

Tourist Office Lucerne
Zentralstrasse 5, 6002 Lucerne, Tel. 041 227 1717.

Highlights
Cross the Reuss River by walking over the Chapel Bridge, a famous Lucerne landmark which dates back to the first half of the 14^th century. You will pass by the Water Tower, which is a part of the Chapel Bridge, and was built around 1300 to be used as an archive, treasury, prison, and torture chamber. Then, you can visit the Jesuit Church on the south side of the river. It was the first large sacral Baroque church in Switzerland constructed in 1666. A bit further down the river, you will find the second historic bridge, the Spreuer Bridge. The Lion Monument, also known as the Lion in Lucerne, is a beautiful stone relief that is one of the most well-known attractions in Lucerne. Close by, you will find the Bourbaki Panorama, which is a giant panoramic painting and a testament to the history of media and war in the 19^th century. Additionally, a visit to one of the mountain tops such as Mt. Pilatus, Mt. Rigi, Stanserhorn or Mt. Titlis should be part of every visit to Lucerne.

City Guides Lucerne – Smart Phone Apps for iTunes and Android

The essentials of Lucerne
1) Golden Round Trip to Mount Pilatus including the steepest cogwheel train in the world
2) Lucerne’s old town including Chapel Bridge, Watertower, and Jesuit Church
3) Cruise on Lake Lucerne
4) Lion Monument and Bourbaki Panorama
5) Folkloric evening at the Stadtkeller, including dinner and a show
6) Verkehrshaus – Swiss Transportation Museum including Chocolate Adventure

Mount Pilatus - Lucerne's landmark
Lucerne's "own" mountain has so many stunning views and on the Golden Round Trip you will experience every single one: Lake Lucerne from Lucerne to Alpnachstad – the world's steepest cogwheel railway up to the Pilatus Kulm peak (6,982') – Alpine meadows, mountain streams, rugged cliffs and who knows, maybe even ibex, chamois, Alpine roses and gentian – breathtaking panoramic views over the lakes of Central Switzerland, not to mention the Alps – no fewer than 73 mountain peaks (you're welcome to count them) – delicious local specialities, à-la-carte menus and international cuisine in the Mount Pilatus hotels and restaurants – and as the fantastic finale, the ride by aerial cableway and gondola down to Kriens, where bus Nr. 1 will take you back to Lucerne in only 15 minutes. If you prefer to do the trip the other way round, you can naturally begin the Golden Round Trip over Mount Pilatus from Kriens! This roundtrip starts and finishes at the Lucerne train station. Taking two different ways up to the top of Mt. Pilatus makes it the “Goldene Rundfahrt” (Golden Round Trip). We recommend to start this tour at the Lucerne pier, taking a boat from Lucerne to Alpnachstad. You will find the timetable here! 

Lucerne’s Old Town
Lucerne's famous landmark, the Chapel Bridge, is considered to be Europe's oldest covered bridge. It was built in the 14th century and was originally part of the city fortifications. The pictorial panels, which were added in the 17th century, contain historical scenes of both Lucerne and Switzerland as a whole. Lucerne’s water tower is both impressive and attractive. This octagonal tower - over 34 meters high (111.5 ft.) - was built around 1300 as part of the city wall and used as an archive, treasury, prison, and torture chamber. The celebrated city walls, with their nine towers, form a portion of the well-preserved historic fortifications built around Lucerne during the 13th century. Three of the Musegg Towers are open to the public; the Zytturm in particular is well worth a visit, for it houses the city’s oldest clock, built in 1535 by Hans Luter. Lastly, the Jesuit church was the first large sacral Baroque church in Switzerland, constructed in 1666 by Father Christoph Vogler.

Cruising on Lake Lucerne
Lake Ships leave from the landing behind the KKL (aka Cultural Center). As part of the excursions to Mt. Rigi or Mt. Pilatus, you can combine your journey with a boat ride. Or, you can ride the boat to the end of Lake Lucerne, passing by the famous Schiller Stein and the Rütli, where Switzerland was founded in 1291. From the lake's end in Fluelen, you can take a train back to Lucerne or continue your journey south by train to the Italian-speaking territory of Switzerland.

Lion Monument
The dying Lion of Lucerne is one of the world's most famous monuments. It was carved out of natural rock in memory of the heroic deaths of the Swiss mercenaries at the Tuileries in 1792. Mark Twain described the Lion of Lucerne as "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world."

Bourbaki Panorama
During the late 19th and early 20th century, before the invention of movies, huge panoramic paintings were a significant visual attraction in many major cities around the world. Designed and painted in 1881 by Geneva born artist Edouard Castres (with the assistance of a few other painters, among them Ferdinand Hodler), Lucerne's Bourbaki panorama shows an episode from the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71.

Swiss Folkloric Evening
For a dinner with the charming atmosphere of Swiss folklore, we suggest visiting the Stadtkeller restaurant. Here, diners can enjoy an evening with whimsical music, traditional Swiss costumes, yodeling, alphorn blowing, and cowbells.

Verkehrshaus - Swiss Transport Museum
This museum is located just outside Lucerne, directly on the lake. It is Europe's largest and most comprehensive Transport Museum. It includes everything that keeps the Swiss on the move while marking the development of transport and communications. The museum also boasts an IMAX theatre. To reach the museum, one can take either bus #6 or a short boat ride. 

Swiss Chocolate Adventure (at the Swiss Transport Museum)
The Swiss Museum of Transport also offers an additional attraction, the Siwss Chocolate Adventure. It was developed in conjunction with the Lindt Chocolate Competence Foundation. Visitors will learn interesting facts about the discovery, origin, production, and transport of chocolate. Seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and feeling: this multimedia voyage of discovery appeals to all the senses. It illustrates the important creation and transport chains from the cultivation of the cocoa bean to the transport to Switzerland up to the manufacture and sale of the finished chocolate product.

KKL
The Culture and Convention Center Lucerne, also known as the KKL, is a magnificent venue for concerts, conferences, and culinary experiences. 

Additional mountain excursions and things to do in and around Lucerne
Mount Titlis
High up on Mt. Titlis, everyday life becomes a distant memory. At over 2,000 meters above sea level, this spectacular glacier mountain in Central Switzerland is a base for all kinds of outdoor activities. In summer, hikers can set off on foot to explore the mountain on numerous hiking paths and adventure trails. Climbers can get to konw the mountain while keen bikers can set their hearts racing on a thrilling mountain bike or devil bike ride. In winter, a cross-country ski run or hike on a snowshoe trail is sure amaze. If you enjoy tobogganing, the ride down from Gerschnialp will set your heart racing. Visitors can also go for a ride on a snow tube with friends.

Stanserhorn – the worlds first convertible cable car (included in 2018 Swiss Travel Pass)
The so-called “CabriO” cable car is the world's first cable car with a roofless upper deck. The comfortable double-decker is the very latest in cable car technology. Previously, three funicular rail sections led steeply up to the summit, whereas today the cable car with an open deck is one of the main attractions – now you can marvel at the sights with the wind in your hair and no ropes above your head, since the ropes are placed on the side of the carriage.

Mount Rigi (included in 2018 Swiss Travel Pass)
Take the steamboat from Lucerne to Vitznau and then the cogwheel train up to "Rigi-Kulm" from where you have a marvelous panoramic view. For the return trip, take a ride back to Rigi-Kaltbad, the cable car to Weggis, and return to Lucerne by boat. Or, you can head down to Goldau by cable car and take the train back to Lucerne. Visitors can obtain detailed itineraries at the train station in Lucerne.

Glacier Garden
This garden is both a tourist attraction and an oasis of peace from busy Lucerne life. It includes a park and a museum. Glacial potholes of impressive proportions bear witness to the last ice age and to the fact that Lucerne was once covered by glaciers.

Shopping
Shopping in Lucerne is enjoyable and tempting. The two major shopping districts are located in the charming Old Town and along the recently developed Pilatusstrasse, the modern avenue located just outside Lucerne's Central Station.

Hergiswil Glass Factory
Visitors do not need to book their tickets in advance for this attraction. Admission is free, excluding admission to the Glass Labyrinth which costs CHF 7.00. Opening times: Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 6.00 pm; Saturday 9.00 am to 4.00 pm. Visitors can take a local train which leaves every 10 - 15 minutes from the Lucerne train station to Hergiswil. Find the departure time on the large time table in the departure hall.  Upon arrival in Hergiswil, walk approx. 5 yards towards the lake (follow the signs). The factory illustrares the industrial evolution of glass making from 1817 to the present and features live glass making demonstrations. Visitors are able to create their own glass ball at the end of the museum tour. Located right across the street is a factory outlet shop and a reasonably priced restaurant which offers delicious meals.

Glasi Park (next to Hergiswil Glass Factory)
The Glasi Park is a small paradise for young and old. It is open and accessible at all times. The park features a 7 meter tall marble run, a long slide, a big quartz sand pit (quartz sand is the most important raw material in glass production), and other games offering children every kind of adventure.

Restaurants
Hof (Hotel Waldstätterhof) - Swiss, French Cuisine (Zentralstrasse 4 - 041 227 1271)
Old Swiss House - 15 Gault Millau points  (Löwenplatz 4 - 041 410 6171)
Wirtshaus Galliker - Traditional in historic room (Schützenstrasse 1 - 041 240 1002)
Sauvage (Hotel Wilden Mann) - Modern European (Bahnhofstrasse 30 - 41 210 1666)
La Cucina (Hotel Astoria) - Authentic Italian (Pilatusstrasse 29 - 041 226 8888)
Rebstock - Traditional Swiss (St. Leodegar-Strasse 3 - 041 417 1819)