Lucerne Itinerary: Best Things to Do in Lucerne in One Day

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Wondering how to spend one day in Lucerne? This post has got you covered for all the best things to do in Lucerne, Switzerland to help you plan the perfect day trip itinerary.

Lucerne is one of Switzerland’s most popular tourist destinations, and justifiably so.

Nestled on the shores of Lake Lucerne and surrounded by extraordinary alpine scenery, Lucerne sums up the best of Switzerland: remarkable traditional and contemporary architecture, mesmerizing lakes and epic mountains.

As the largest city in central Switzerland, it’s also a great getaway for the region, with the superb views from Mounts Pilatus, Titlis and Rigi just at its doorstep.

Though not my favorite city in Switzerland (if I had to choose a favorite one, it would probably be Bern), Lucerne does come really close.

It surely can feel a bit too touristy at times, but I guess that’s the price to pay for its uniqueness and popularity.

Since living in Zurich, I’ve visited Lucerne a couple of times already, always on day trips. I love being a tourist in my adopted country, which is actually one of the reasons why I moved here.

You can definitely have a good feel of Lucerne and see all the major attractions in one day.

If you’d like to explore the nearby mountains (and you should!), I recommend adding an extra day to your Lucerne itinerary.

So without further ado, here’s what to do in Lucerne in one day for first-time visitors.

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Table of Contents

Best things to do in Lucerne in one day

Enjoy the lake views from Europaplatz

If you’re arriving in Lucerne by train or bus, you’ll catch the first glimpse of the gorgeous Lake Lucerne, with the Alps in the background, at the modern Europe Square.

Here you can also see the remarkable KKL Lucerne, a contemporary congress and culture center designed by French architect Jean Nouvel.

With 1840 seats, its famous Concert Hall is considered one of the best in the world.

You can book a guided tour of this incredible building here.

Cross the Chapel Bridge

The Chapel Bridge is Lucerne’s most famous landmark.

This picturesque wooden bridge has been connecting the two banks of the River Reuss since the 14^th century.

It was built originally as part of the town’s fortifications. Today, it’s an icon of Lucerne and of Switzerland itself.

Also famous are its 17th-century paintings, which illustrate important episodes of the city and country’s history, as well as religious scenes.

Adjacent to the bridge, it’s the even older Water Tower, used over the centuries as a lookout tower, archive, treasury, prison, and armory.

In 1993, a fire destroyed most of Lucerne’s Chapel Bridge, including many of its paintings. But the emblem of the city was quickly rebuilt in only 8 months, continuing to be the most photographed Swiss monument.

Stroll along Lucerne’s lakeside promenade

This is one of my favorite areas in Lucerne.

Strolling along the Schweizerhofquai and the Nationalquai, the city’s lakeside promenade, you can enjoy stunning views over Lake Lucerne all the way to the Alps.

This pleasant walk is dotted with 5-star hotels, restaurants, and cafés, as well as many green areas where you can relax while contemplating one of the most beautiful lakes in Switzerland.

Visit Lucerne’s Cathedral

Next, visit the imposing Cathedral of St. Leodegar, considered the most important Renaissance-style church in Switzerland.

A former Benedictine monastery dating back to the 8^th century, the Hofkirche was completely destroyed by a fire in 1633, with exception of its two Romanesque towers.

Admire the Lion Monument

Mark Twain described the Lion of Lucerne as “the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world”.

Carved directly on the stone, this giant lion is no doubt a special sight.

The monument is a memorial to the Swiss Guards who lost their lives in Paris while protecting the French King Louis XVI during the insurrection of the Tuileries, on 10 August 1792.

Explore the Old Town

Take some time to get lost in Lucerne’s old town, admire its painted façades, or sit in one of the many alfresco restaurants and cafés near the River Reuss.

Lucerne’s medieval old town is a maze of narrow streets, picturesque squares, impressive churches, and historic buildings gorgeously decorated with frescoes.

Make sure to check out some of its most charming squares, including the Weinmarkt, where you can see Lucerne’s prettiest fountain, the Mühlenplatz, the largest square of the old town, the Kornmarkt, home to Lucerne’s Renaissance-style town hall, and the Hirschenplatz, with its picturesque traditional houses.

If you’d like to learn more about Lucerne’s history, I recommend joining a walking tour with a local guide here.

Walk the Musegg Wall

The Musegg Wall is a defensive wall built around the old town in the 14^th century. It’s one of the longest and best-preserved fortifications in Switzerland.

Today, you can walk part of the wall and visit three of its nine towers.

But one of the main reasons to come here is to admire the wonderful views of Lucerne and the lake and the spectacular mountain scenery.

Cross the Spreuer Bridge

While smaller and not as popular as Chapel Bridge, the Spreuer Bridge deserves a visit as well. With the clear advantage of fewer tourist crowds.

Like its older sister, this timber bridge dating back to the 15^th century is decorated with a series of paintings from the 17^th century representing the Dance of Death.

Have a look at the Needle Dam

Close to the Spreuer Bridge, the Needle Dam has been protecting Lucerne from floods since the 19^th century.

Considered a historical monument, this unique work of engineering regulates the level of the lake through a manual process of removing or inserting wooden needles still in use today.

It’s really more impressive than its sounds and certainly worth seeing if you’re in Lucerne.

Visit the Jesuit Church

Dominating the left bank of the River Reuss, the Jesuit Church is, in my opinion, the most notable church in Lucerne.

It was the first large Baroque-style church built in Switzerland, between 1666 and 1677.

Nowadays, its rich interior is also used as a concert venue due to its fine acoustics.

Take a lake cruise

End your day on a perfect note with a dreamy cruise on Lake Lucerne, considered, legitimately, as one of the most scenic Swiss lakes.

This is the best way to admire the remarkable mountain backdrop, as well as the historical monuments and luxurious villas along the shoreline.

Definitely an unforgettable experience to have in Lucerne!

Book a 1-hour cruise on Lake Lucerne on board a panoramic yacht here.

If you have more time in Lucerne:

Take a day trip to Mount Pilatus

If you have an extra day in Lucerne, I recommend taking a day trip to Mount Pilatus, where you can ride the steepest cogwheel railway in the world and admire breathtaking views from 2,132 meters above sea level.

The classic Golden Round Trip from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus includes a ride to the top of Mount Pilatus on panorama gondolas and aerial cable car.

You can then hike to the summit, relax on the panoramic terrace, and have lunch in the panoramic restaurant.

On your you down, you’ll get to ride the world’s steepest cogwheel railway and take a 1-hour cruise back to Lucerne (during the summer months).

This trip is on my bucket list for a while now, but last time I visited Lucerne the weather and visibility on top of Mount Pilatus was not the best, so I ended up having to postpone it.

You can do the Golden Round Trip independently or book an organized day trip here.

If one day in Lucerne is all you have, look no further than this Lucerne itinerary.

This list of the best things to do in Lucerne, Switzerland covers everything you need to see and do on a Lucerne day trip, from the medieval old town to a scenic lake cruise.

More travel tips

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Cheap flights

Looking for the best airfare deals? Skyscanner is my favorite travel search engine for finding cheap flights around the world. They also offer price tracking and alerts to help you secure the best deals.

Accommodation

When it comes to accommodation, Booking.com is the best site out there. From hotels to apartments, resorts, villas, B&B, and guest houses, it offers the best prices for accommodation all over the world. I book the majority of my stays through them.

Yoga Retreats

Looking for a yoga retreat near home or in an exotic destination? BookYogaRetreats offers the best yoga retreats, holidays, and courses around the world for all budgets and levels of experience.

Tours

GetYourGuide is my favorite platform for local tours, unique experiences, and skip-the-line tickets to attractions all around the world.

Klook is another great resource for tours and activities, especially if you’re looking for things to do in Asia.

Car Rentals

Booking.com has a car rental search engine that compares the biggest brands in car hire and allows you to find the cheapest deals all around the world.

Have you visited Lucerne? What would you add to this list of what to do in Lucerne? Share in the comments section below!

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Lucerne Itinerary: Best Things to Do in Lucerne in One Day