Lucerne

Switzerland

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Overview of Lake Lucerne and Rutli meadow from Fronalpstock.

Overview of Lake Lucerne and Rutli meadow from Fronalpstock.

Why visit Lucerne

Recipe for a gorgeous Swiss city: take a cobalt lake ringed by mountains of myth, add a well-preserved medieval Altstadt (Old Town) and a reputation for making beautiful music, then sprinkle with covered bridges, sunny plazas, candy-coloured houses and waterfront promenades. Lucerne is stunning, and deservedly popular since the likes of Goethe, Queen Victoria and Wagner savoured its views in the 19th century. Legend has it that an angel with a light showed the first settlers where to build a chapel in Lucerne, and today it still has amazing grace.

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Top places to visit in Lucerne

Discover the best attractions in Lucerne from must-see sights to unexpected hidden gems.

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Travel Guides

Lucerne travel tips from Lonely Planet experts

Find practical guidance from our team of contributors around the world who bring their decades of first-hand travel experience to your next trip.

Best Things to Do

Heading to Lucerne? Museums, concerts, lakeside dining and historical sites are among the top things to do in Central Switzerland’s biggest city.

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Things to Know

Hiking, boating or riding the funicular, there are plenty of slow travel attractions on the doorstep of this gorgeous Swiss city.

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Day Trips

Hiking, boating or riding the funicular, there are plenty of slow travel attractions on the doorstep of this gorgeous Swiss city.

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Best Road Trips

Hiking, boating or riding the funicular, there are plenty of slow travel attractions on the doorstep of this gorgeous Swiss city.

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