Switzerland
City guide · Switzerland
Lucerne
About Lucerne
Lucerne lies at the northern end of Lake Lucerne in central Switzerland, with the peaks of Pilatus and Rigi rising nearby. Its compact medieval old town, painted façades and lakeside promenades make it one of the most popular stops in the country.
The covered wooden Chapel Bridge with its Water Tower is the city's emblem. Visitors also see the Lion Monument, the Musegg Wall with its towers, the old town squares and the Swiss Museum of Transport. A cruise on the lake by paddle steamer is a highlight in fine weather.
Two to three nights allow time for a mountain excursion: Mount Pilatus, reached by cogwheel railway or cable car, Mount Rigi, or Mount Titlis via Engelberg, about 45 minutes away by train. Zurich is about 45 minutes by train, and the Luzern–Interlaken Express reaches Interlaken in about two hours.
Indian travellers often know Titlis from Bollywood, and the area around Schwanenplatz is popular for shopping for Swiss watches, chocolate and souvenirs.
Practical Information
Useful to know before your group arrives in Lucerne.
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Lucerne has a temperate climate with warm summers, cold winters and fairly frequent rain.
- Summer (June–August): highs around 22–25°C, with occasional thunderstorms.
- Autumn (September–November): cooling from about 19°C to 8°C, often with morning fog.
- Winter (December–February): highs around 3–5°C and nights below freezing; snow on the mountains.
- Spring (March–May): highs rising from about 10°C to 19°C.
May to September is the best time to visit. Pack layers and a rain jacket, and warm clothing for mountain excursions, where it is much colder than in town.
- Arriving: the nearest major airport is Zurich Airport. Trains run from the airport to Lucerne in about one hour, sometimes with a change in Zurich.
- Getting around: the old town is compact and best explored on foot. Local buses cover the wider city, and boats link Lucerne with the lakeside villages.
- Passes: the Swiss Travel Pass covers trains, city buses and the lake boats, and gives discounts on many mountain excursions.
- Groups: the old town is largely pedestrianised, so coaches use designated drop-off and parking areas at its edge.
Switzerland is not in the EU, so an EU data plan may not cover it. Indian travellers usually save by buying an eSIM or data plan before departure that clearly includes Switzerland, rather than using Indian international roaming packs. Local prepaid SIMs are sold in shops; a passport is needed to buy one.
Free Wi-Fi is common in hotels and cafés. The power supply is 230 V with Type C/J sockets; Indian Type D plugs do not fit, so bring a universal adapter.
Lucerne has several Indian restaurants used to welcoming tour groups, and Zurich, about 45 minutes away, offers a much wider choice. Vegetarian dishes are easy to find in Switzerland, and halal options exist mainly in Turkish and Middle Eastern take-aways. Jain meals should be requested in advance through the DMC or the restaurant.
Swiss dishes that suit vegetarians include cheese fondue (traditionally made with white wine), raclette and rösti (ask whether it is cooked with bacon or lard). Swiss chocolate makes a good snack. For supplies, Migros, Coop, Denner, Aldi and Lidl are all common.
Itineraries in Switzerland
None of our set itineraries includes an overnight stay in Lucerne yet. These Switzerland itineraries can be adapted to include it, or we can build one around Lucerne for your group.
