Things to do in Lucerne
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La Madeleine
This is a lovely little spot for a low-key gig, with two performance areas and a cosy-glam bar. Over 25s only.
reviewed
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Next Bike
The train station offers bike rental through Next Bike, where you call the number, provide credit card details and receive a numbered code to open a combination lock. Check out the routes circumnavigating the lake. An easygoing, scenic option is the 16km pedal to Winkel via Kastanienbaum, leading mostly along the lakefront.
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Restaurant Drei Könige
A high-ceilinged, retro-fitted bar-restaurant, this place has whopper-sized traditional and fusion meals and cheery service, attracting young hipster types and stalwart locals alike.
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Rockstore
Helpful staff and a solid range of quality outdoor gear and equipment ensure that you’re properly kitted out should you go adventuring in the surrounding wilds.
reviewed
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Schüür
Live gigs are the name of the game here: think everything from metal, garage, pop, Cuban and world, plus theme nights with DJ-spun Britpop and ‘80s classics. All this plus a fantastically beachy outdoors area, complete with bar.
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Skyglide
This well-regarded outfit will collect you, get you nice and high and then throw you from a great height over Lake Lucerne – and won’t you just love them for it? Planes depart from Buochs.
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Schweizerhof Buchhandlung
Bookshop.
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Flea Market
Each Saturday from May to October.
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IMAX Cinema
There's a giant-screen IMAX cinema at the Verkehrshaus.
reviewed
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Manor
This branch of the national supermarket restaurant chain is noteworthy for its panoramic roof terrace.
reviewed
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Rathaus Bräuerei
Sip home-brewed beer under the vaulted arches of this buzzy tavern that brews its own, or nab a pavement table and watch the river flow.
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KKL World Café
This slick bistro-cum-cafeteria stocks salads and sandwiches in its glass counters, but also offers wok dishes at lunch and dinner.
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Loft
With a steel-and-concrete minimalist design, Loft attracts young, glammed-up hipsters. DJs play Latin, hip-hop and urban sounds.
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Stadtkeller
Alphorns, cowbells, flag throwing, yodelling – name the Swiss cliché and you’ll find it at this folksy haunt.
reviewed
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Confiserie Bachmann
Swiss milk chocolate flows from a fountain at this sugar-coated temple. You’ll find pastries, gelati, salads and sandwiches, plus Switzerland’s longest praline counter. There are other branches at the train station and throughout town.
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Marilyn Bar
A shrine to the silver screen diva, this gallery-style bar’s chilli-red walls are smothered in photos of Ms Monroe. It’s a relaxed place for pre-clubbing drinks.
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Roadhouse
Roadhouse plays solid rock to a young, fun crowd. Check out Wednesday night’s jam sessions where anyone with an instrument or voice (preferably both) can take the stand.
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Casagrande
Our favourite temple of kitsch might tempt you to spend on Heidi dolls, cuckoo clocks, yodelling marmots and – heaven forbid – his ‘n’ hers cow mugs.
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Heini
Heini has since mushroomed into a successful bakery/confectionery chain, but this was one of the original outlets and has an atmospheric 'grand café' as well as a takeaway shop.
reviewed
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Williseger
Wonderfully nostalgic, this Christmas shop brims with vintage and hand-carved decorations, from Erzgebirge nutcrackers and smoking men to glitzy baubles, dinky matchbox scenes and music boxes.
reviewed
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Opera Club
Housed in a former cinema, the Opera Club has kept its theatrical feel in the scarlet drapes and floor-length gilt mirrors. DJs keep the dance floor rammed with grooves from hip-hop to electro.
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La Paninoteca
Our favourite Italian job, this family-run, retro-style paninoteca is a relaxed spot to refuel on yummy panini such as roast beef and goat’s cheese, or perfectly thin, crisp pizza.
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SNG
On the northern side of Seebrücke, SNG rents out pedalos (from Sfr30 per hour) and small motor boats (from Sfr57 per hour) and offers cheap 60-minute lake cruises (adult/child Sfr16.50/free).
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Outventure
Outventure tempts adrenalin junkies with pursuits including tandem paragliding (for Sfr150), canyoning (from Sfr110), glacier trekking (Sfr150) and canoeing on Lake Lucerne (Sfr115).
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Hug
This traditional café on the waterfront serves excellent breakfasts, delicious cakes and confectionery, plus cheap Swiss and Lucerne specialities. It's a successful local chain and has other outlets.
reviewed