Lucerne: Lake, Old Town and Two Mountains in One Base

Description

A compact old town with a wooden bridge, a lake with paddle steamers, and Pilatus and Titlis within an hour. Lucerne is the easiest Swiss city to like.

Lucerne is small enough to see in an afternoon: Chapel Bridge with its painted panels, the Water Tower, the Lion Monument and the old town squares. The lake is what makes it a base. Boats leave from the station front for Vitznau, Weggis and Alpnachstad, and the mountains are an easy day either side.

Two mountain days dominate. Mount Titlis has a rotating cable car, a glacier cave and a cliff walk, and a day trip from Lucerne costs from about EUR 100 by yourself, much more with a guided tour. Pilatus can be done as a loop: boat across the lake, the steepest cogwheel railway in the world up, and a cable car down. Rainy days go to the Swiss Museum of Transport, which is the best-reviewed ticket in town.

Activities

• Chapel BridgeThe 14th-century covered wooden bridge with painted gables and the octagonal Water Tower; free, and best early morning or after dark.
  Free
• Lion MonumentA dying lion carved into a sandstone cliff in 1821 to honour Swiss guards; free and close to the old town.
  Free
• Swiss Museum of TransportTrains, planes, cars and a planetarium in one big museum, one of the best-reviewed attractions in Lucerne. Entry is about EUR 40.
  Book
• MuseggmauerThe medieval city wall with nine towers, three of which can be climbed for free for a view over the roofs.
  Free
• Mount TitlisA rotating cable car to a glacier cave, the Cliff Walk suspension bridge and snow all summer. A day trip is about EUR 100 to 170 depending on whether you go with a guide; allow a full day.
  Book

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Top things to do in Lucerne

Chapel Bridge Free · Tickets, tips and FAQ → Mount Titlis from €105 · Tickets, tips and FAQ → Lion Monument Free · Tickets, tips and FAQ →

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