Lucerne walking tour
The Lucerne old town lies on both banks of the Reuss, just below the point where the river leaves the lake. Most visitors see it in a walking tour of 1.5 to 2 hours. The tours on this page differ in who leads them, where they start and whether a boat ride or a tasting is part of the offer.
The guided walk with an official guide lasts 1.5 hours and starts at the tourist information at Zentralstrasse 5. Another walk, led by a local guide, covers the old town in about 2 hours and adds a 1-hour sightseeing boat ride and a Swiss cheese tasting with wine, but only if you choose those options. It starts at the arch at the Bahnhofplatz. The small-group walk of 2 hours starts at the pavilion on the Nationalquai, takes at most 15 people per guide and works as a small-group walk. Check the booking page for the meeting point, language and date.
Our picks: old-town walks
The guided city walk from the tourist information is the plain introduction, while the walk with tastings adds a local guide and optional extras. The two-hour walk in small groups covers the main sights of the centre.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in Swiss francs (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Old-town walk with optional boat and cheese tasting
- Local guide
- Walking tour
- Cheese tasting with wine (if selected)
The one-hour boat tour and the cheese and wine tasting are part of the booking only when you select those options.
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Two-hour walk to the main sights of Lucerne
- Professional tour guide
- 15 participants per guide maximum
A general walk through the city centre in small groups. Individual attractions are not listed as included.
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Guided walk through Lucerne
- Guided city tour
A guided city walk of about 1.5 hours that starts at the tourist information, a simple way to get your bearings.
Check availability →Lucerne old town tours
Guided walks through the old town with a city guide, a small-group option and a walk with a boat or tasting option, with live prices and availability.
Lucerne city tour
A city tour is the better word if you want to see more than the old town in one go. The old town walks above stay in the centre, so two other pages help you choose the extras: the Lake Lucerne cruise page for boat fares and the things to do in Lucerne page for sights outside the old town.
One note on logistics: the Bahnhofplatz in front of the station is under construction until 12 December 2026, and the bus stops have moved. The boat piers remain reachable. Plan a few extra minutes if you arrive by bus, and ask your guide where exactly to meet.
Official guide walk
A 1.5-hour guided city tour at the tourist information. The ticket covers the guided walk, so plan drinks and food separately.
Walk with a local guide
A 2-hour walk. The boat trip of 1 hour and the cheese with wine are options, not part of the base ticket. Hotel pick-up is not included.
Small-group walk
A 2-hour walk for at most 15 people per guide. The Lion Monument is not listed among the inclusions, so do not count on it as a stop.
Old town route
This route is our own idea, not an official programme. Start at the Chapel Bridge, which runs from the Luzerner Theater on the south bank over the water tower to St. Peter's Chapel at the Rathausquai. After the fire of 18 August 1993 the bridge was rebuilt and reopened on 14 April 1994. The water tower and the bridge heads survived the fire, so the whole bridge is not an untouched medieval original. More background is on our Chapel Bridge page.
Walk downstream to the Spreuer Bridge, built in 1408, and look at the Dance of Death pictures by Caspar Meglinger from 1625 to 1635. Then cross back into the old town streets, look at the Jesuit Church and the houses along the river, and stop at the squares with fountains. From the old town it is about 15 minutes on foot to the Lion Monument, which is free to visit. Bus 1 or 19 goes to Löwenplatz. Read more on the Lion Monument page.
The tourist office also runs public city tours, so ask at the tourist information for current dates and conditions. If you also want a short taste of Lucerne, the chocolate page lists a walk with tastings in three confiseries.
Practical points for the walk
Shoes and surfaces
Streets in the old town are mostly flat but partly cobbled. Wear comfortable shoes.
Lake and mountains
After the walk, the piers are close by. The Lucerne mountains page shows what else you can reach from the lake.
History
For the city and the lake in context, see our history page.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Lucerne walking tour take?
The walks on this page take 1.5 to 2 hours. Boat or tasting options add time.
Where do the old town tours start?
The official guide walk starts at the tourist information at Zentralstrasse 5. Other walks start at the arch at the Bahnhofplatz, at the Jesuit Church or at the pavilion on the Nationalquai. Check the meeting point on your booking.
Can I do the old town without a guide?
Yes. Our route idea takes about two hours at an easy pace and passes both wooden bridges.
Does a walking tour include the boat?
Only if you choose the option. The walk with the local guide offers a 1-hour boat ride as an option and cheese with wine as another.
Is the station area open during the works?
The Bahnhofplatz is under construction until 12 December 2026 with changed bus stops. The boat piers stay reachable.
Is this the official website of Lucerne?
No. This is an independent guide and is not part of Luzern Tourismus, the city of Lucerne, the shipping company or a tour provider.