Is there anything that this place does not have? There is the city, filled with shops, places to eat, things to do; the mountains, serving as a backdrop that seems like it cannot possibly be real; and the lake, with some of the clearest, bluest waters I have ever seen. The entire region is picturesque, a portrait of natural and European beauty. At one point I just sat on the side of the river with a bag of Swiss chocolate and looked out over the water and drank in the fact that Switzerland is one of the most beautiful places on planet Earth.
My only visit to Switzerland so far has been in June, so I did not go at the height of the winter skiing wonderland season. However, Switzerland is a perfect destination for ANY time of the year and has so much to offer to its wide-eyed guests.
What to Do
Take a day trip to Rhine Falls
About 60 miles to the northeast of Lucerne, the largest waterfall in all of Europe roars and crashes into an unbelievably crystal-blue body of water. DAMN this thing is gorgeous. While you’re here, spend a few Francs and hop aboard a boat (it’s okay to be a little touristy in this case) which will take you right up to the falls, close enough to rock the boat and feel the spray of the water on your face. Ahh, refreshing. Absolutely spectacular and an important European landmark to witness for yourself.
Go shopping for Swiss-made jewelry
Bucherer is one of the most famous stores in Lucerne, considered THE place to purchase luxury watches and fine jewelry. All through the streets are a variety of less well-known stores as well; Switzerland is reputed for its watches and jewelry, so there’s no shortage of shopping in the city. Bucherer was a little pricey for me as a recent college graduate with no money, but I did buy my brother a locally made Swiss knife while I was here. And while I didn’t indulge in any jewelry, I did try on some engagement rings in some other stores and admire the look of each one on my finger, while my travel companion Hannah looked at me like I was nutso.
Travel up Mt. Pilatus
I think that this is the highlight of my Lucerne trip. Mount Pilatus overlooks the city, its highest point reaching 2128 meters (which is almost 7000 feet!). We all took a 90 minute boat ride across Lake Lucerne, enjoying the scenic view and drinking glasses of prosecco (except I actually didn’t since the glasses were about $20, but they were AVAILABLE is the point. Switzerland is an expensive country. I bought some bread and cheese from the grocery store down the street from our ski lodge in Engelberg and subsisted off of that for several days).
Once we reached the base of the mountain, we boarded a cogwheel train (the steepest in the world!) and were brought up to the top. There is an observation deck above the clouds, plus plenty of paths to explore different peaks and areas. I would have absolutely loved to have gotten to make this excursion on a clear day, but unfortunately the morning that we went was a bit overcast. Not to say that it wasn’t an amazing experience.
We took a gondola down the mountain afterwards; just look at this scenery! They don’t make mountains like this on the East Coast of the United States, let me tell ya.
What to Eat
Old Swiss House
Again, keep in mind that Switzerland is an expensive country. Anywhere that you go for food is going to be a little costly, especially compared to a lot of other countries, even in other parts of Western Europe, that you could be visiting. But Old Swiss House is worth it. They serve authentic and traditional food, and combined with the eclectic atmosphere of the restaurant, Old Swiss House is a stop you don’t want to miss.
Cheese Fondue
Switzerland is KNOWN for several things, and one of those things is its cheese (there is even a Lucerne dairy brand that I frequently pick up when I go to Safeway, although I am pretty sure this isn’t actually tied to the real Lucerne region at all). Be sure to get a pot of melted cheese with sides of potatoes, bread, and vegetables while you’re here to indulge in this traditional Swiss meal.
What to See
Lion Monument
This statue is famous in Lucerne, built in the early 1800s to commemorate the Swiss Guards who were killed in the French Revolution in 1792. It is located a little outside of the bustling center of Lucerne, but is still surrounded by tourists; however, it is massive, masterfully crafted, and moving, so you should want to see it…just try to get there earlier in the day to avoid those pesky touristy crowds (its proximity to Old Swiss House makes grabbing lunch afterwards a breeze!).
Kapellbrücke
The oldest wooded covered bridge in all of Europe, Chapel Bridge extends across the Reuss River and adds an element of age and history to the city. The inside is unique in that it is covered in paintings and artwork; in 1993, the bridge was almost completely burned down, and 2/3 of the artwork was lost before the reconstruction a year later. TRAGEDY.
This bridge is also probably one of the best ~photo ops~ in the entire city (I know my favorite pictures from my time in Lucerne included this beauty).
Architecture
Lucerne and Switzerland in general is different from any other place I have visited. It is clean and friendly (so clean, so very clean), and in many ways seems modern and new. It is surrounded by some of the most incredible natural beauty in the world. But it is also hundreds of years old, steeped in fascinating history and both magnificent and quaint architecture. You can spend an entire day just walking through the compact streets admiring and taking pictures of Lucerne’s churches and buildings, and it would be time well spent.
I think that a lot of people think of visiting Zürich when they venture to Switzerland, or going in the wintertime for a skiing holiday, but Lucerne in the summer holds a special place in my heart. It is considered by many one of the most beautiful cities in the entire world, it has a little bit of everything for urban-dwellers and nature-lovers alike, and its proximity to some stunning natural wonders makes for several can’t-miss day trips. Even if you only have a day or two, Lucerne will deliver and leave you wanting more and more and more!
Very good post! Helps me too much organizing my next trip, planing spend a couple (maybe 3, now) of days in Lucerne. Thank you so much! Adriana from Brazil.