Lucerne (Switzerland) in 1 or 2 days: the best places to see and excursions to take

3030I can tell you in advance that this is one of the most beautiful cities that I remember having never visited.

Lucerne, in the center of Switzerland, located next to a big Lake, contains great attractions when visiting it.

If you can also enjoy a good day during your stay, as was the case in my most recent trip to Lucerne In summer, I assure you that the city will remain in your retinas for a long time.

During your stay in this Swiss city you can do a Lake Lucerne cruise, and even a excursion to ride the rack railway or cable car convertible to one of the great peaks that surround the city and the aforementioned lake.

But, of course, in your sightseeing trip to Lucerne30 cannot be missing a walk through the historic center de la ciudad.

On the banks of Lake of the Four Cantons, the city of Lucerne It has its origins at the end of the 12th century, and currently its streets and buildings, many of mediaeval origin, make up a group of great beauty and with great charm.

This is the experience of visiting Lucerne in 1 day, the best things to see

On the other hand, with Our experience of visiting Lucerne in one dayWe recommend starting from one of the most modern and charismatic buildings today.

KKL Culture and Congress Center in Lucerne

I mean the KKL Culture and Congress Center, a modern architectural complex made up of three buildings raised on a balustrade on the shores of the lake, next to one of the piers.

Designed by the architect Jean Nouvel, this Congress Center, among other activities, is the headquarters of the Lucerne Festival, an event that at different times of the year develops an extensive program of classical music concerts.

Lucerne Cathedral

Just opposite, on the other shore of the lake's dock area, you can see the tall Gothic tower of the Lucerne Cathedral, (Court Church), which dates back to 1639, and is one of the examples of the german renaissance.

Lion Monument in Lucerne

If you are going to see the cathedral, not far away, towards the interior of the city, is one of the most popular places among visitors to Lucerne, the Lion Monument.

It is a curious corner where, in a kind of grotto next to a pond, you find a large sculpture of a wounded lying lion.

Carved in 1821, it commemorates the death of some soldiers of the Switzerland guard during the French Revolution.

Medieval wooden bridge in Lucerne

Starting the walk from the aforementioned congress center building, you will pass in front of the building of the Central train station, and you will arrive at monument icon of the city, the impressive medieval wooden bridge of Lucerne.

Known as the Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke), as you cross it towards the center of the old medieval city, be sure to stop to see well and appreciate the artistic value of the ceiling paintings.

These represent different scenes of the history of Lucerne and Zurich, and you will also be able to see remains of the serious fire that suffered in 1993.

Medieval wall of Lucerne

From the bridge itself you can see some of the 13 towers that remain in the old medieval wall of Lucerne, and which had up to 30 towers.

Chapel Square 

As soon as you cross the bridge you will reach the small Chapel Square, where you can see the curious Carnival Fountain.

From there you will walk along a pedestrian street through which, as a curiosity, the waters flow when there are floods, as happened in 1910 and, much more recently, in 2005.

Hirshenplatz, houses with painted facades in Lucerne

In one of the plazas that you will find, the Hirshenplatzyou will see paintings from 1499 on the facades of a house.

However see painted facades It will be common in your walk through the historic center of Lucerne.

At the end of this pedestrian street you will reach a large square and another wooden bridge where there used to be three mills.

Currently it is a system for controlling and using the lake's water located right at the beginning of the mighty river that leaves the lake.

Jesuit Church in Lucerne

Returning along the other shore towards the Chapel Bridge, you will pass by the Jesuit church, the other great temple in Lucerne.

It is the most visited church in Lucerne, which is understandable given its excellent location on the banks of the lake, near where the river reuss, and in front of the old medieval city.

La Jesuit church in Lucerne It is a striking building of unmistakable Baroque with an interior rococo.

The Jesuits came to Lucerne in 1574, and the church was built in 1666 to become, on the one hand, a jesuit university, to also fulfill the functions of the Catholic Church.

In 1774, after the dissolution of the Jesus company, became a district school.

Don't forget to enter the interior of what is one of the 60 jesuit churches that are preserved in Switzerland.

You will find a very bright interior thanks to the dazzling white of its walls, and you should pay attention to the paintings on the vault of its central nave, which was redecorated in the 18th century.

During the visit they told us that its style is reminiscent of the Jesus of Rome church, but it didn't seem that way to me.

Its interior, due to its luminous white, actually reminded me much more of the Jesuit church in Heidelberg, in Germany.

Finally, I tell you that the last restoration of this church took place between 1974 and 1980, and that it is an ideal setting to listen to some of the concerts which are scheduled weekly.

Finally, the best way to close this walk through the ancient city of Lucerne, is to enjoy the charm of your famous wooden bridge, which you probably won't get tired of looking at.

In short, I assure you that you will enjoy a very pleasant ride and you will always remember your trip to Lucerne.

Boat cruise on Lake Lucerne

One of the great landscape attractions of Switzerland They are, without a doubt, their lagos. And in this regard, the Lake Lucerne it has something special.

Perhaps it is because of the charm that the beautiful city of Lucerne, which is transmitted to the lake on whose shores it is located and to which it gives its name.

Or perhaps it is because of its special location in the heart of Switzerland, so that the banks of the Lake Lucerne They face four different regions, hence it is also known as the Lake of the Four Cantons.

But the truth is that a cruise on its lake is going to be one of the great attractions of your Lucerne visit.

This prominence of the lake should not surprise you in a country that has up to 7.000 lakes, being the Leman and of Constance those of larger dimensions.

This large lake surface means that in Switzerland there are up to 110 hotels and hostels that are based on water.

El Lake Lucerne It was once a large glacier, and today it forms a beautiful landscape as it is surrounded by large mountains of more than 3.000 meters in altitude, among which the one that houses the Titlis Glacier.

It has been 180 years since the Lake Lucerne began to be used to make Cruise, and precisely its fleet of 20 charming tourist boats is currently one of its great attractions.

Is steam engine boats which are propelled thanks to their large side wheels with large paddles.

These boats are used simply to take a cruise, or to travel to the different excursions What can be done around the lake.

Among these stands out going up to Mount Pilatus viewpoint on the steepest cog railway in the world, to enjoy spectacular panoramic views of Lucerne and its lake.

But you can also come and enjoy the oldest cog railway in Europe, the one who goes up to the Mount Rigi, Or to Mount Stanserhorn open-top cable car, or visit the one known as William Tell Chapel.

Of course, if you don't have too much time in Lucerne, you can also sign up for a lake cruise on the new panoramic yacht Saphir.

It is a modern fast boat that in one hour will allow you to reach the center of the lake, so you can enjoy great panoramic views.

The yacht allows you to enjoy the cruise sitting on exterior benches, and also has a comfortable interior lounge.

When you arrive at the yacht you must take an audio guide, so that in Spanish, among other languages, you receive information about the different corners of the lake.

This cruise on the yacht Saphir It starts from piers 7 and 3, located on both shores of the lake, in Lucerne.

Therefore, to choose what cruise to do on Lake Lucerne You have various options with different types of boats, such as those mentioned Steam or  panoramic yacht.

And also with different durations and prices, from the aforementioned one-hour excursion, to more relaxed ones such as dinners with typical Swiss raclette which lasts for two and a half hours.

 

 

• Here you can check the calendar and schedules of cruises on Lake Lucerne.

Excursions around Lucerne

If in your trip to switzerland you find yourself in Zurich, from this city you have the opportunity to sign up for a excursion to Lucerne in Spanish.

With a duration of nine and a half hours, and after a journey of only one hour, on this tour you will have the opportunity to make a tour through the main corners of this Swiss city, and you will also have 6 hours of free time for your own visit.

Here you have all the information about the Lucerne excursion from Zurich.

On the other hand, during your stay in this beautiful Swiss city you can sign up for a excursion to Mount Pilatus, the highest peak of those surrounding the Lake Lucerne.

During the same you will go up by cable car and then go down in the steepest rack railway in the world, and then do a cruise by the aforementioned lake.

Another alternative is the excursion to Mount Rigi in which you will rise in the oldest rack railway in the world, and which you will do with the company of a guide in spanish.