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Where is Lucerne located?
- Located at the mouth of the River Reuss on the north end of Lake Lucerne and surrounded by majestic snow-capped mountains, Lucerne is a charming Swiss city that is home to beautifully preserved medieval architecture, elegant historic buildings, and a colorful Altstadt (Old Town).
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What historic sites can visitors see in Lucerne?
- Bordered on the north by the 14th-century Museggmauer (Musegg Wall), the city is packed with plenty of things to see and do, including the pretty covered Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge) dating back to 1333 and the poignant Lion Monument that was created for Louis XVI’s massacred Swiss Guard.
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What are some must-visit attractions and food spots in Lucerne?
- Here are some of the top attractions and places to grab some traditional Swiss food in the city.
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1. Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrucke)
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The Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrucke) is an ancient covered wooden bridge diagonally spanning the Reuss River that is the emblem of Lucerne. Dating back to the 14th century, the bridge is the world’s oldest surviving truss bridge and features ceiling pediments filled with more than 100 triangular 17th-century paintings that document significant events from Lucerne’s rich history. The 111-foot, 13th-century octagonal Wasserturm water tower stands next to the bridge and was once part of the town's fortifications.
Kapellbrücke, 6002 Luzern, Switzerland
2. Swiss Museum of Transport (Verkehrshaus der Schweiz)
The Swiss Museum of Transport or Verkehrshaus der Schweiz is a museum dedicated to all forms of transport, including automobiles, aircraft, locomotives, and ships, as well as communication technology. Opened in 1959, the museum features several immense exhibition halls and outdoor exhibits showcasing actual and models of cars, aircraft, rockets, and sea vessels, including an entire exhibit detailing the construction of the St. Gotthard rail tunnel. Other features of the museum include a 150-projector Planetarium presenting daily shows and a 3D film theater with the largest screen in Switzerland.
Lidostrasse 5, 6006 Luzern, Switzerland, Phone: +41-413-70-44-44
3. Eichhof Brewery
Eichhof Brewery is located on the outskirts of Lucerne that has been brewing beer for over 180 years. Founded in 1834 and once the third-largest brewery in the country, today Eichhof Brewery produces 13 different beers, using age-old recipes that have been passed down over decades. Eichhof beers are made from organic ingredients like first-class malting barley, spicy hops, and home-bred yeast, and fresh spring water directly from the alpine mountain peaks of Mount Pilatus. Visitors can enjoy guided brewery tours and tastings of some of the best brews.
Obergrundstrasse 110, 6002 Luzern, Switzerland, Phone: +41-848-30-00-03
4. Mount Pilatus
Mount Pilatus is a magnificent towering 7,000-foot southern peak and offers a mesmerizing backdrop to the city. Steeped in folklore, Mount Pilatus is nicknamed ‘Dragon Mountain’ after a medieval legend claimed dragons healing powers lived within the mountain. In the summer months, the peak can be scaled on the world’s steepest cogwheel railway has a maximum gradient of 48% and boasts some of the most spectacular alpine scenery in the country. An aerial cableway called the ‘Dragon Ride’ and a gondola cableway brings mountain visitors back down to Lucerne.
1 Schlossweg, Kriens, Luzern, 6010, Switzerland, Phone: +41-413-29-11-11
5. Glacier Garden (Gletschergarten)
The Glacier Garden (Gletschergarten) is a local history museum that is comprised of a famous geological site formed by a glacier, a museum with interactive exhibits, and a mirror maze dating back to 1896. Housed in a beautifully preserved building with Baroque, Renaissance, and Biedermeier rooms, the museum is an echo from a bygone era and features exhibits about avalanches, glaciers, and climate change. The famous geological site features a group of 32 potholes formed by melting glacial ice and glacier-polished rock dating back 20,000 years ago to the Ice Age, as well as the fossils of shellfish and palm fronds. The Alhambra mirror maze was created in 1896 and features 90 mirrors.
Denkmalstrasse 4, 6006 Luzern, Switzerland, Phone: +41-414-10-43-40
6. Chateau Gutsch
Overlooking Lake Lucerne and the town, Chateau Gutsch is a grand hotel set in a 19th-century castle with spectacular views of Rigi Mountain. Boasting breathtaking interiors designed by Martyn Lawrence Bullard, the hotel features individually decorated guest rooms with wood-beamed ceilings, romantic four-poster beds, and private balconies with lake views. An award-winning restaurant serves gourmet Mediterranean and regional cuisine and fine wines, an opulent bar offers handcrafted cocktails and imported spirits. A luxury spa provides pampering body treatments, the hotel has an extensive wine cellar and a complimentary funicular shuttle is available for guests.
Kanonenstrasse, 6003 Luzern, Switzerland, Phone: +41-412-89-14-14
7. Mill'Feuille
Café by day and restaurant by night, Mill'Feuille is an elegant riverside eatery with a charming ambiance and beautiful views. The café has stylish interiors with designer chairs and aesthetic concept lighting which creates a soft and romantic mood in the evenings. Open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, the eatery serves multi-course menus of freshly prepared, gourmet cuisine made with the highest quality, locally sourced ingredients. A creative cocktail list boasts handcrafted cocktails with unique mixers like blood-orangeade, homemade ginger ale, and cranberry-cherryade. Mill’Feuille has a large terrace overlooking the river which is a popular locale for lazy brunches.
6 Mühlenplatz, Lucerne, 6004, Switzerland, Phone: +41-414-10-10-73
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