Insider Tips
Walks & Strolls
Lucerne’s best view
For a good view you walk up Dietschiberg. 30 Minutes from Hofkirche, our end of the tour. You
can also take the bus up and get out at ‘Konservatorium’ and walk for ten minutes. The
garden of the Schlössli Utenberg has gorgeous flowers and an astonishing view over the lake,
the city and Mount Pilatus… Have a drink at the Rokoko cafe whilst you’re up there.
[Link]
Sonnenberg Stroll – the “sunny mountain”
For a good view of Lucerne you make your way up to Sonnenberg, which actually is no more
than a hill. From the city center it’s one hour, or you take the funicular from Kriens. The
following walks are strongly recommended:
- the Rundweg Chrüzhöchi; 50 minutes; spectacular views over the city, the lake and the
mountains.
- walking down to the city center through the forest (following the signs saying “Luzern”)
Take bus Nr. 1 direction ‘Kriend Obernau’, leaving from the trainstation side A (in front of the
post office). Get out at the stop ‘Kriens Busschleife’ and make a small walk to the
Sonnenbergbahn.
Funicular: [Link]
General: [Link]
Lakeside Walk
Follow the North-Side of the lake along the Quais from the Hofchurch, where we normally end
our tour, all the way to the Swiss Museum of Transport. It’s a pedestrian zone alongside the lake
with beautiful scenery on lake and alps with many picturesque spots to take pictures or
portraits. After about 15 minutes you’ll reach the Museum, from where you can take either the
bus, train or even the boat back to Lucerne. The Museum also has public restaurants and
cafés, as well as toilets that are accessible without the purchase of a ticket.
Rotsee the smaller lake
Rotsee is easily accessible and feels like you’re far away from the city. Take bus Nr.1 direction
of “Ebikon Fildern” and get off at “Luzern, Maihofmatte - Rotsee”. Cross the road and walk
back towards the city until you reach “Restaurant Libelle” on your right. Turn right into the
“Rotseestrasse” and follow the road until it leads into the path along the lake (“Uferweg
Rotsee”). The route around the lake is around six and takes 1.5 hours to complete. From
certain spots the views of Mount Pilatus are stunning.
Forest Bireggwald
The Bireggwald is a big forest close to the city center. Take Bus Nr. 7 direction “Horw,
Biregghof” and get off at “Rodtegg”. Follow the road in the direction the bus continues and
take the next road left. Following this road leads you directly to Bireggwald. If you can’t find it,
search for “Bireggwald” in google maps and it leads you to the forest.
Shopping & Markets
Swiss Chocolate
There are many places to get Swiss Chocolate in Lucerne. If you don't want to break the bank
you find your way to supermarket Migros or Coop. They have a wide variety of chocolate to
bring home.
Charlotte’s important tip for Lindt Lindor lovers: safe money by buying the chocolate bar
version of Lindor instead of the separate packed ones.
Market
On Saturday and Tuesday until noon, the market can be found around the Reuss.
Charlotte’s favorite bread: from the bread stand next to Jesuit Kirche, kleines Hausbrot. Enjoy!
([Link]
Restaurants, Cafés & Food
Rathaus Brauerei
Beer lovers unite, here you find local beers and food. They always have a lighter and darker
beer on tap, cheers!
Home - Rathaus Brauerei Luzern
Zunfthausrestaurant Pfistern
Traditional Swiss cuisine in the middle of Old Town in one of the city’s oldest restaurants.
Fondue or Raclette can be enjoyed there all year long - even though it’s a bit of a crime to
eat Fondue in the warmer seasons. Don’t forget: reserve a spot on the balcony!
[Link]
Pastarazzi
Behind Jesuit Kirche you find this Italian place. Sit down or order take away on a nice day, to
make your way back to the weather and enjoy your food there like most locals do.
[Link]
Du Pont
Choose the classic cheese fondue and reserve a spot at the window. Like a drink? You ask for
the drink with the cowbell!
FONDUE HOUSE DU PONT ([Link])
Vegan
Places in Lucerne that are either completely vegan or have good vegan options.
Karl’s Kraut
vegan restaurant that cooks with seasonal ingredients
Millefeuille
good vegetarian and vegan options; clearly labeled
Tibits
central location at the train station; lots of vegan options, some vegetarian; clearly labeled
Dean&David
vegan, vegetarian salads, bowls and curries available
Mairübe – vegan soul food
Open just for lunch, changing lunch menu
Bars, Pubs & Nightlife
Rathaus Brauerei - the city hall brewery
Attached to our city hall you will find some of the best locally produced beer. Get a freshly
draft pint and some delicious food. It’s a small and popular place, so it’s normally quite full, but
worth waiting for a few minutes if all the tables are full. The regular beer is my personal favorite,
but they also have a seasonal one available.
[Link]
The Suite - Rooftop bar with a view
The rooftop bar “Suite” is the perfect location if you want to enjoy a nice drink in the evening
and enjoy a spectacular view on Lucerne at the same time.
It’s just across the street from the train station at the top of Hotel Monopol. Take the middle
Entrance (Monopol, Starbucks) in between the Sushi Bar and McDonalds.
[Link]
SommerCafé
In summer there is a cozy bar in front of the Richard Wagner museum by the lake.
On sunny Fridays there’s live Jazz and a very good atmosphere.
[Link]
Museums, Arts & Culture
Verkehrshaus - The Swiss Museum of Transport
The most visited museum in Switzerland is a unique place for people of all ages, with or without
children. Enjoy the interactive simulators, the historic collection or hop into the cockpit yourself
and learn not only about transportation. Especially the flight simulators or the walkable
space-transformer, a room that turns 360° while you are inside. The museum is open every day
from 10-6 (summer) or 10-5 (winter). Go there two hours before closing-time to get a
discounted ticket! Take the Bus (6, 8, 24) to the stop “Verkehrshaus/Lido” or follow the lake on
foot all the way from “Luzernerhof” until you reach the museum.
[Link]
Theater Tour in the Historical Museum
Love history and speak German? Do a theater tour in the historical museum (included in the
entry price of the museum). The tours are in german only, but as the format is a theater, you
will also understand it with little german knowledge.
[Link]
The Rosengart Collection
Art lover like Charlotte and lover of the work of Picasso and Paul Klee? This collection was
gifted to the city of Lucerne by Angela Rosengart. Her father was an art collector with close
ties to Picasso. Angela developed a fondness for Paul Klee, the collection grew. Other famous
artists like Miro, Monet, Seurat, Léger, etc. are also represented.
[Link]
Swimming
Cool down with a view
Enjoy swimming in Lake Lucerne, just find your way in the water via one of the many stairs. Or, go to
Seebad for a bit more comfort, a stunning view from both sides and a restaurant at the spot.
Seebad Luzern – Die einzigartige Badeanlage im Luzerner Seebecken
Lake
Cruising on Lake Lucerne
On a nice and sunny day, the lake allows for a spectacular view on the nearby mountains.
The picturesque scenery is best enjoyed from one of the countless ships. There are several
options, generally divided into two categories: public line ships and the private boat cruises.
The latter are specifically made for tourists and it’s an easy and comfortable way to get a
quick cruise on the lake without having to worry about any connections, as the line boats are
more suited to get from A to B as opposed to a round trip. The “Saphire” has one hour cruises
daily and leaves every 75 minutes
For questions, ask at the Tourist Information Office at the train station or directly at the SGV
information desk by the lake across from the train station.
[Link]
Hiking
Mount Rigi away from the masses
You’re up for a little bit of a hike but don’t want to scale the whole mountain - bottom to
peak? You’d like to get as good a view as everyone else, but are looking for some peace and
quiet? This is just the hike for you. Take the boat from Lucerne to Vitznau. In Vitznau instead of
taking the cogwheel train you pass it on the left and follow the signs to “Luftseilbahn
Hinterbergen”. It’s about a ten minute walk from the pier. Once you get to the cable car
station you take the cable car up to Hinterbergen. The cable car is owned by a family that
uses it to get to and fro. Be sure to pack some pocket change because it is possible that the
Cable Car only takes cash. A one way ticket will cost you 8 Swiss Francs. Once you’ve
reached Hinterbergen you just follow the trail to Rigi Kaltbad. At first it is very steep for a while
but once you’ve reached a certain point you don’t go any further up but just walk along the
side of the mountain in the direction of Rigi Kaltbad. While doing so you’ll be rewarded with
great views over Lake Lucerne and the alps and if you’re lucky you’ll meet some curious cows.
You’ll reach Rigi Kaltbad within a maximum of three hours with breaks (from Hinterbergen).
From there you can walk up to the top - to Rigi Kulm (~1h) - or take the cogwheel train back to
Vitznau as a reward. You can walk down from Rigi Kaltbad or Rigi Kulm, if you plan on doing so
make sure you leave early in the morning so you have enough time for the hike [Link]’s quite
an easy hike that inexperienced hikers can do too. However, keep in mind to always wear
appropriate shoes (hiking/trekking shoes), protect yourself from the sun (sun block, sunglasses)
and bring enough water with you (at least 1 liter per person)! Also, check the weather forecast
before setting out on any hike.
[Link]
Halfway up Mount Pilatus
From Alpnachstad, take the cog wheel train, but only to the middle station named “Ämsigen”
(Make sure you tell the staff when you buy the tickets). From there, follow the yellow hiking trail
signs all the way up to the top of Mt. Pilatus. Not only can you save a lot of money on the way
up, but the view is even more rewarding. Bring appropriate footwear, as well as enough food
and especially water. You could also hike from the very bottom, but I find the first half to be
quite unspectacular. The second half however, is beautiful. Once you made it to the top, take
the cable car down to “Fräkmüntegg” and from there also walk the rest all the way down to
Kriens. All in all this will save you not only a ton of money, but it’s also a fantastic day-trip to
Lucerne’s home mountain. Hiking is a great tradition in Switzerland, so make sure to greet
other hikers with a “Grüezi”.
[Link]
Trip to Rigi with a small hike at the end
Take the boat from Lucerne to Vitznau. From there, take the cog-wheel train up to
Rigi-Kaltbad and exit the train. From there you start your hike on your left side when facing the
mountain towards “Chänzeli”. You will walk on a small track in a nice forest. At “Chänzeli” you
will have a very nice view down. From there you start your climb on a small path towards
Rigi-Staffelhöhe and from there to Rigi-Kulm, the top of mount Rigi. If you would like to do only
a shorter hike (quite easy), you exit the train at Rigi-Staffelhöhe and walk from there to
Rigi-Kulm. To return you can either take the cog wheel train down to Vitznau again, or the
other side down to Goldau from where you take the train to Lucerne. From Rigi-Kaltbad you
can also take the gondola down to Weggis and from there by boat back to Lucerne.
[Link]
Treib - Seelisberg and hike to Bauen
Enjoy your boat ride from Lucerne to Treib. There you take the funicular railway up to
Seelisberg. From Seelisberg you start your hike, first going a little up and afterward all the way
down to Bauen. The hike takes approximately two hours and is rated easy on the hiking scale.
On your way you will have a very nice view onto lake Lucerne as well as the mountains on the
other side. You will walk in the shadow of a nice forest and will find several nice places to have
a rest and a good view down on the lake on your way. You will pass Schloss Beroldingen, an
ancient residence of a rich family from 1500. After two hours you will arrive in the small town
Bauen, from where you can take the ship back to Lucerne. In Bauen you will find several nice
restaurants as well where you can relax and spend the time until you take your ship. If you
would like to have a longer walk, you can continue your way for 40 more minutes to Isleten,
from where you can take your ship back to Lucerne. Important note: please check the
timetable of the ships in advance, if you miss the last ship it will be very difficult to return.
Indoor Activities
Glasi Hergiswil
Visit the famous glass production site where most of the glass is handmade. Learn about the
history of glass making art in the interesting factory museum and observe the glass blower
artists during their work. If you wish you can produce your own glass sphere or send your
marbles on a run in the unique marble race track entirely out of glass. In the factory shop you
can buy everything you can imagine made out of glass. You can reach the Glasi Hergiswil
easily by train. Take the train from Lucerne to Stans and get off at Hergiswil train station. The
Glasi Hergiswil is quite close to the train station. Interesting for adults as well as for kids.
[Link]
Gameorama
Gameorama has a lot to offer. It’s not just a café, it’s a board game and card game café
(with over 600 games total) and a museum for games of all kinds. Grab some of your friends
and head to the gameorama for an interesting afternoon of warm drinks and discovering new
games.
[Link]
Zivilschutzanlage Sonnenberg, one of the worlds biggest civilian bunkers
The civilian bunkers in and above the Sonnenberg tunnel are very impressive. The plan was not
just to accommodate a few thousand people but there was a school, a hospital, a prison and
much more as well. The civilian bunkers were opened in 1976 and were going to be used in
case there was a nuclear war. The dates for the public tours can be found online. There’s also
the option to request a private tour.
[Link]
