Guten Tag Lucerne:– Switzerland in a Pocket!

My sister once told me that Lucerne is ‘Switzerland in a pocket’. At the time, I had no idea what she meant, but when my husband and I visited Lucerne for a few days, I finally understood what she was trying to say in her professional-travel-agent-y/tour-planner-y way. With its gorgeous lakeside setting (Lake Lucerne, in case you’re wondering ☺), spectacular panoramic views of  the nearby mountains of the Rigi, Pilatus and Stanserhor and of course its rich history and culture, this gorgeous little town is truly the ‘gateway’ to central Switzerland.

Must-see Places in Lucerne!

Kapellbrücke (Chapel) Bridge

Lucerne is a city of charming town squares and historic churches and there’s definitely plenty to explore. In my opinion, the centrepiece of Lucerne’s cityscape is the Kapellbrücke Bridge, one of the oldest, covered wooden bridges in Europe, dating back to medieval days. Talk about well-preserved!

When I’m a tourist, I love exploring places on foot and Kapellbrücke offers plenty of eye candy for the walking enthusiast. The bridge has a number of decorative paintings all along its interior so if you’re walking along it, make it a leisurely stroll!

The bridge is lit up at night so do find a good spot along the river to watch and photograph the spectacular sight. Oohs and aahs guaranteed!

Lion of Lucerne

Before visiting Lucerne, I always associated the Lion figure with Singapore (in case you didn’t know, Singa-pur literally means ‘Home of the Lion’ ☺). But when I saw the Lion of Lucerne, I forgot all about Singapore

The figure of the lion in its death throes – grisly, but very interesting once you know it’s history – is a must-see if you visit Lucerne. I eavesdropped on a nearby tour guide (☺) and from him, I learned that the monument was carved to commemorate the hundreds of Swiss mercenaries who were massacred during the French Revolution while fighting for King Louis XVI. After y ou take a selfie, do say a quick prayer for the all the brave unsung soldiers keeping your country’s borders safe from unfriendlies.

Cruise down Lake Lucerne

Lake Lucerne is Switzerland’s fourth-largest lake. Its stunning natural beauty, pristine blue waters and the surrounding mountainside will take your breath away. For posterity, take as many photos as you like, but don’t be so focused on your pictures that you forget to live in the moment. Because Lake Lucerne is definitely a live-in-the-moment-because-the-moment-is-unforgettable type of place!

Paddle boats are available for hire. However we went on a 1 hour cruise. If you’re not a boat-type person, walking along the water’s edge is fun too.

Explore old town

Like I mentioned before, Lucerne is a historic city with plenty of fascinating old buildings to keep the history buff salivating. Delve into the city’s past by dropping in at the Museum of History or visit Museggmauer (Musegg wall) and its towers. The nine towers of Museggmauer are an icon of Lucerne and are a part of the old wall that used to surround the city. Four of the towers are open to the public and I’d urge you to climb up one and gaze down at the ramparts below. The view is mind-blowing! By the way, the Museum of History is not the only museum in Lucerne. You can buy a Lucerne Museum Card and enjoy visits to some of the other museums – the Richard Wagner Museum, the Museum of Art, the Swiss Museum of Transport, etc – at a discount.

Other worthwhile places to visit (or at least see) in Lucerne include:

Lucerne railway station – the façade of the original station from 1896 still exists and it’s absolutely beautiful.

The Ritterscher Palace – it is the seat of the cantonal administration and houses a number of must-see art works which will amaze you (a few are slightly grisly so keep this in mind if you are visiting the palace with children in tow)

Church of St. Leodegar (Hofkirche) – this now-imposing structure started life as a small monastery way back in the 8th century. A fire in the 17th century destroyed the church and left only its two towers intact. Very recognisable and very impressive!

Do walk around Lucerne’s picturesque old town and explore the Weinmarkt fountain, the Mühlenplatz square, the colourful Fritschi Fountain and the town hall. Many of the houses on Hirschenplatz square feature gorgeous ornamented facades and are under historical monument protection. 

If sight-seeing by yourself is not your thing, you can sign up for a guided group tour as well. The guides are very knowledgeable (and patient! ☺)

Whether you explore Lucerne on your own or hire a tour guide; the nooks, crannies and alleys of this charming little Swiss town all offer fascinating stories and incredible experiences, so either way you’ll have a grand time!

Thanks to its central location, Lucerne makes it easy to explore the surrounding parts of Switzerland on day trips. Head to Engelberg to enjoy the mountains of Mount Mt Titlis  or Mt Pilatus or Mt Rigi or Schilthorn or…..the mountains in Swiss are endless 🙂  However for a first timer after Lucerne you can visit Interlaken for Jungfraujoch to enjoy an unforgettable train ride to the highest train station in Europe. I would definitely also recommend staying in Engelberg rather than just visiting Titlis as a day trip from Lucerne if you like to stay in small villages.

What did you think about this post? If you found it useful, do drop me a note at the page below and say Hi! And if you visited Lucerne, I’d love to hear about your experiences!