Surrounded by Mount Pilatus and Rigi in the Swiss Alps, Lucerne is the undeniable pearl of Central Switzerland. Home to the iconic Lion Monument, “the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world,” according to Mark Twain, the city is an excellent base for your journey to Switzerland. Despite its compact size, the beautiful Swiss city has a variety of attractions. Therefore, joining any Lucerne tours featured in this article will help you discover the city’s history and breathtaking landscapes.
Although Switzerland is a landlocked country, the water’s presence is vital in Lucerne: the river Reuss flows through the city, and cruising the famous Lake Lucerne is one of the most beloved activities for travelers. Of course, the Swiss Alps are just a short drive away, and if you visit Lucerne, you should get a glimpse of the most beautiful European mountains.
So, in the following lines, you’ll find the best tours in Lucerne and beyond. Specifically, you’ll read about the best walking tours in Lucerne and get info about some excellent cruises in Lake Lucerne. Moreover, since the city is so close to the Swiss Alps, you’ll discover how you can join a tour to Mount Pilatus or Rigi from Lucerne. Last but not least, every tour in this guide has info about its duration and price.
Let’s start.
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The best Lucerne tours
With a population of just over 80,000, Luzern is a small-mid-size city by European standards. However, there are plenty of things to do in Lucerne, and the city’s beauty will fascinate you. Therefore, it’s only fair to dedicate the first sections of this guide to walking and photography tours in Lucerne. Then, after various travel tips about the city and its attractions, you’ll read the best day trips from Lucerne to the Alps and info regarding lake cruises.
The best walking tour in Lucerne
Obviously, one of the best things to do in Lucerne is to walk around the city. The Chapel Bridge (German: Kapellbrücke) is the city’s most iconic attraction and one of the most famous spots in Switzerland. This covered wooden bridge crosses river Reuss diagonally and dates back to the 14th century. What makes the Chapel Bridge unique is that it contains 17th-century paintings. The Kapellbrücke is Europe’s oldest wooden covered bridge, and every walk in Lucerne should include it.
Now, one of the best walking tours in Lucerne will take you to the Chapel Bridge with its octagonal water tower, and your guide will share everything you need to know about the paintings. The tour lasts two hours, and it will take you to every landmark: the town’s most beautiful buildings, the Old Town, the open squares, and the Culture and Congress Center are part of this guided tour. Moreover, your guide will share various facts and the history of Lucerne, its bridges, and streets.
Duration: 2 hours.
Price: 21 euros.
How to book: Book the awesome city walk.
Bonus: If you feel like combining a city walking tour with a cruise, there’s currently another option. Specifically, there’s a half-day Lucerne tour, combining a walk to every attraction in the city and a Lake Lucerne cruise. The tour lasts 4 hours and costs 197 euros per person. You can book the half-day walk & cruise here.
A Lucerne Tour that combines city walking and photography
This Lucerne tour is ideal for photography lovers. It doesn’t matter if you have an expensive DSLR camera or just your smartphone: this tour is open to anyone willing to have some great images from their Swiss journey. A professional guide and photographer will show you the city’s attractions, including Chapel Bridge and Museggmauer wall, while sharing a bunch of photography tips for perfect images.
Of course, a stop at the beautiful KKL (Culture and Convention Center), designed by the famous architect Jean Nouvel, is part of the tour, and so are the frescoes of Chapel Bridge. Moreover, you’ll stroll around the car-free Lucerne center and hear stories about the city’s beautiful buildings. That’s a small group tour, so you’ll have enough room to interact with your guide.
Duration: 2 hours.
Price: 122 euros.
How to book: Book here the photo walk.
One-hour Lucerne cruise
One of the unique things to do in Lucerne is to embark on a cruise and enjoy the splendid views. The cruise starts at Bridge 7 at Swiss Hofquai, where you’ll embark on a panoramic yacht. There’s free wifi on board, and if you download the operator’s app, you’ll get access to their audioguide (see the operator’s page for more info).
The panoramic yacht features two decks and a restaurant, and you can sit wherever you want. Cruising along Lucerne will expose you to places of extreme beauty, like the Meggenhorn Castle, and together with several villas and Alps views, you’ll get an excellent impression of the city and its nature. Snacks and drinks are available in the bar, and this one-hour boat tour in Lake Lucerne is one of the finest yet affordable things to enjoy while in town.
Duration: 1 hour.
Price: 17 euros.
How to book: Book here the lake cruise.
Mt. Pilatus Cable Car, Cogwheel Train & Lake Cruise
Now, this is one of the most action-packed tours you can currently book from Lucerne. This (almost fairytale) half-day trip from Lucerne will bring you to several iconic locations in the Swiss Alps and beyond. The so-called Golden Round trip is one of the most famous Lucerne tours and a must-do when in Switzerland.
After leaving Lucerne behind, your driver will take you to Kriens, where a gondola will bring you to Fräkmüntegg. At Fräkmüntegg, you’ll board the famous Dragon Ride cable car that’ll take you to the mountain. The views are breathtaking, and the mountain peaks always have snow, even during the summertime.
The goal is to reach Mount Pilatus at an altitude of 2,130 meters and enjoy the magnificent view. You can even hike to the summit, but if that’s nothing for you, there’s an alternative: a walk down to Dragon Trail, where the Middle Ages tales narrate stories about dragons with healing abilities. No matter your choice, you’ll have the option to have lunch at a restaurant with endless views over the Swiss Alps.
And there’s even more. On the way back, you’ll embark on the world’s steepest cogwheel train, and after descending the mountain, you’ll arrive at Alpnachstad. From there, you’ll return to Lucerne with a boat, and this one-hour cruise is a Swiss highlight. The cruise of Lake Lucerne is not available year-round, so check the info on the operator’s page.
Duration: ~6 hours.
Price: 130 euros.
How to book: Book the action-packed Swiss tour here.
Mount Titlis half-day tour from Lucerne
Relatively similar to the previous tour, but this time to another location, this half-day trip from Lucerne will bring you the impressive Mount Titlis. The drive from Lucerne will take you first to Engelberg and the mountain, where you will see the glacier. Again, the views are breathtaking, and everything becomes even better when you board the cable car.
Reaching the Titlis Mountain top is an unforgettable experience: the Swiss Alps mountain range offers spectacular views. You’ll also visit the Glacier Cave and take an unforgettable ride to the Ice Flyer chair lift toward Glacier Park. Enjoy plenty of free time in the ever-snowy mountains before returning to Lucerne in the afternoon.
Duration: ~5,5 hours.
Price: 140 euros.
How to book: Book here the day trip to Mt Titlis.
Day Trip to Jungfraujoch from Lucerne
The last sections of this Lucerne guide are all about the Alps. If you can’t have enough of the legendary mountains, here’s one more day trip from Lucerne. And this time, you’ll travel to The Top of the World. Jungfraujoch (which means “maiden saddle”) is the largest glacier in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Moreover, it’s the place where you can find the highest-altitude train station.
The day trip starts from Lucerne and takes you along the Brünig Pass to the Bernese Oberland. Then, after a short break at the famous city of Interlaken, you’ll get on the cable car at Grindelwald. This 15-minute cable car ride will bring you to Eiger Glacier; from there, a cogwheel train will take you straight to Jungfraujoch’s summit. Snow, rock, and ice: that’s the view of Jungfraujoch’s Alpine wonderland.
Various viewpoints await you along the way, including the Sphinx Observation Terrace and Plateau above Aletsch Glacier. Finally, you can stroll through the Ice Palace’s tunnels straight into the glacier’s heart. You’ll stop at a couple more places on the way back before finishing the tour in Lucerne.
Duration: 10 hours.
Price: 254 euros.
How to book: Book the day trip to Jungfraujoch.
Rigi round trip from Lucerne
Finally, the last day trip in this article is dedicated to another glorious mountain: Mount Rigi. However, there’s a twist: this is a tour if you prefer exploring a place at your own pace. That said, there will be no driver or pick-up service; you’ll buy access to the Rigi round trip, and you’ll be the one to plan it.
Rigi, also known as the Queen of Mountains, awaits you for a half or full-day trip from Lucerne. The tour starts from Lake Lucerne, and you’ll sail to Vitznau. The fjord scenery around you will be mindblowing, and the nostalgic steamboats guarantee a unique atmosphere. After arriving at Vitznau, you’ll head to Mount Rigi.
The views from the mountain are unique: you can see the Black Forest, the Swiss Plateau, and the Vosges Mountains. After enjoying as much time as you want, you will get the rack railway to Rigi Kaltbad and a cable car to Weggis from there. From Weggis, you will cruise back to Lucerne.
The tour operator includes two suggested itineraries on their page, so make sure to check them out before planning a visit.
Duration: 1 day.
Price: 61 euros.
How to book: Book the Rigi round trip.
Lucerne tours: conclusion
Lucerne (or Luzern) is one of the most sophisticated Swiss cities. A combination of high-quality living and stunning landscapes make the city a great destination all year. Moreover, its proximity to the Alps is a plus point if you plan to explore the nearby mountains. It doesn’t matter if you’re on a road trip to Switzerland or if you’re visiting Lucerne on a city break. Whatever the case is, try to join a walking tour and take at least a daily excursion to the Alps. The latter will definitely be a lifetime experience.
More about Lucerne: My Lucerne travelogue
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Last Updated on November 19, 2022 by George Pavlopoulos