Lucerne in 24 hrs
Lucerne, Switzerland is located south of Zurich on an expansive lake with a snow capped mountain backdrop. Its cobble stone streets, wooden bridges, and lake side location makes you feel as if you are in a postcard. Whether Lucerne is your base camp for exploring the surrounding areas, or a stop over, this quaint city shouldn’t be missed.
Snapshot
Location
Centrally located in Switzerland, the city sits along the Reuss River and on Lake Lucerne. A short 45 minute train ride from Zurich.
Currency
Switzerland isn't a member of the European Union and has their own currency known as the Swiss franc or CHF. Credit cards are widely accepted throughout the country. You can also use ATMs to withdraw CHF.
Electricity
Electricity is 250V, 50Hz. Plugs are three holed, recessed, hexagonally shaped sockets. The standard European 2 pronged plugs do work however.
Language
German is the primary language, although most locals are fluent in English as well. Lucerne can be spelled differently depending on the language. In German - Luzern, French - Lucerne, and Italian - Lucerna
Climate
Winter: 28 to 45 degrees F. Spring and Fall: 46-59 degrees F. Summer: 65-82 degrees F.
Travel
Flight
We flew on Iceland Air from Cleveland to Zurich with a short layover in Iceland. Zurich is a large international airport so the options are endless.
Train
Once landing in Zurich, we purchased a Swiss half fare card at the airport and took a short 45 minute train ride to Lucerne. Train travel in Switzerland is superb and fairly easy to navigate. Travel passes can be purchased prior to arrival in Switzerland or at the help desk located in the airport. You can find more information at www.sbb.ch. If you purchase a half fare card you will still need to purchase individual tickets for the route. Tickets can be purchased at the service desk or with an easy to use kiosk at the train station. Most trains do not require seat reservations but be mindful of this prior to selecting your seat. Once aboard, an attendant will verify your travel pass and ticket against your passport.
Slumber
Hotel Stern Luzern, is a boutique hotel and restaurant with a pleasantly appetizing breakfast. Location was excellent! Only a 10-15 minute walk from the train station and a short stroll to the riverfront or old chapel bridge. The only draw back was that it is located on a busy intersection and can be quite noisy at night. Overall, we would highly recommend.
Eats
Wirtshaus Galliker. Step inside for an old world, authentic, Swiss meal. Sit side by side with travelers and locals alike and enjoy some of Lucerne’s local dishes and beer.
Overall, Swiss food is nothing to write home about. While high on price, it is low on flavor and complexity.
Pictured : Veal schitznel with buttered angel hair pasta. Kugelipaschtetli, a puff pastry with veal sausage, herbs, and cream sauce.
Sights
Kapellbrucke
Chapel Bridge, the jewel of Lucerne, was built in the 14th century as a means of protection if attacked from the lake.
Spreuerbrücke
While less grand than Chapel Bridge, Spreuerbrücke is also worth seeing. Built in 1408, it’s interior gables hold 17th century paintings of the plague that swept through Europe in the 1400’s.
Chateau Gutsch
Perched ontop a hill, this hotel has panoramic views of the city and lake. Although we didn’t have enough time for a visit, it can easily be reached via a funicular not far from the city center.
Museggmauer
This stone wall and its nine towers were built around the city of Lucerne in the 14th century as protection from invaders.
The Zytturm holds the city’s oldest clock, built in 1535. Climb inside the tower to discover the fascinating mechanisms of the clock. Stroll along the top of the wall and climb 4 of its 9 towers for unparalleled views
Lowendenkmal
Lion Monument. A commemoration to the Swiss guards who died while defending Louis XVI of France in 1792. This poetic sculptor is of a lion, who pierced by an arrow, lays dying. The latin inscription above reads “To the Bravery and Fidelity of the Swiss”.
Hofkirche
St. Leodegar began its roots as a monestary in the 8th century and assisted in the founding of Lucerne. This Roman Catholic Church was rebuilt in 1633 with a German renaissance style after its gothic predecessor was destroyed in a fire.
Jesuitenkirche
Jesuit Church. This baroque style church is adorned with marble, gold, and beautiful frescoes. It was built from 1666-1677.
Wander Worthy
Lucerne was an amazing introduction to Switzerland! This little city is filled with old world charm, welcoming locals, and an abundance of things to see and do. When planing our Switzerland and Lake Como vacation, we decided on Lucerne as our first stop for several reasons. As opposed to the large metropolises, we tend to enjoy exploring smaller, more romantic cities. Furthermore, Lucerne’s location fit our itinerary perfectly, not to mention it’s a gorgeous city! On day one of vacation, we had a 10 hour+ travel time from Cleveland to Zurich. After so much traveling we knew a train ride from Zurich down to the Interlaken region was out of the question. Therefore, we opted to take the short 45 minute train from Zurich to Lucerne and arrived in the early afternoon. This allowed adequate time to check in to our hotel, freshen up, and explore the city for the remainder of the evening. Lucerne is easy to navigate and the main attractions are relatively close in proximity. In our first half day in Lucerne, we meandered through the cobble stones streets of old town, crossed the Chapel bridge, enjoyed coffee along the Reuss River Bank, took in the sunset over Lake Lucerne, sipped on local brews at Rathaus Brauerei, ate dinner at Wirtshaus Galliker, and finished the night at our hotel with a decadent dessert and aperitif. The next morning, we enjoyed a tasty breakfast and set out to explore the city. We were able to see Spreuerbrucke, climb the Museggmauer wall, cross through town to visit Lowendenkmal, Hofkirche, and Jesuitenkirche all before catching a noon train to Wengen. Although we only had 24 hours, we were able to experience a great deal. If you are looking for a charming and authentic Swiss city, look no further!
