What to do in Lucerne
The things to do in Lucerne are close together. The old town sits on the Reuss where the river leaves the lake, and most sights can be reached on foot from the station. The wooden bridges and the old town streets are covered in our Lucerne old town guide, with walking tours and a route idea. The Chapel Bridge page explains the water tower and the fire of 1993.
The Lion Monument is a short walk away and has its own Lion Monument page with the Glacier Garden and the Bourbaki Panorama. For rainy hours there are the museums, listed on the Lucerne museums page. On the water, the Lake Lucerne cruise page covers fares and day passes, and Mount Rigi and the other Lucerne mountains are the usual choice for a clear day. Chocolate tastings are collected on the Lucerne chocolate page.
Our picks: guided walks in Lucerne
Both old-town walks start at the Jesuit Church and suit you if you want a local guide for the city. The Pilatus day is the choice for a mountain, but its pass covers only mid-May to mid-October.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator and GetYourGuide. 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.
Pilatus day with local guide and lake cruise pass
- Local guide
- Mt. Pilatus Golden Route Pass
- Lake Lucerne Cruise Pass
The Golden Route Pass is listed only for mid-May to mid-October, so it does not cover a November trip.
Check availability →
Old-town walk with three chocolate tastings
- Chocolate tastings in 3 shops
- Visit to Chapel Bridge
- Visit to Jesuit Church
A local guide leads the walk through the old town. Only four reviews exist so far, so take the rating as a first impression.
Check availability →
Old-town walk with local guide and optional cruise
- Local guide
- 1.5 hour city tour
- All taxes and fees
The one-hour lake cruise is part of the trip only when you book that option. There are ten reviews so far.
Check availability →Sightseeing tours in Lucerne
A guided old town walk, a walk with chocolate tastings and a small-group tour with a lake cruise, with live prices and availability.
Sights by type
Pick one or two from each group rather than everything.
Bridges and old town
The Chapel Bridge runs from the Luzerner Theater on the south bank past the water tower to St. Peter's Chapel at the Rathausquai. The Spreuer Bridge lies further downstream and dates from 1408. Its Dance of Death pictures were painted by Caspar Meglinger between 1625 and 1635.
Lion Monument
The monument remembers the Swiss Guards who fell in Paris in 1792 during the storming of the Tuileries. Entry is free. It is a quiet place, so allow a few minutes at the pond rather than a quick photo stop.
Museums
The Swiss Museum of Transport, the Rosengart Collection and the Kunstmuseum Luzern in the KKL cover technology and art. The Bourbaki Panorama is a round painting from 1881, 113 m long and 9 m high.
Lake and mountains
Boats leave from the piers in front of the station. Rigi can be reached by boat to Vitznau or Weggis and then by rack railway or cable car. Operation and prices are set by the operators and change, so check them before you go.
Lucerne in one day
This is our own route idea, not an official programme. Start at the Chapel Bridge in the morning, walk through the old town and cross the Spreuer Bridge to look at the Dance of Death pictures. From there it is about 15 minutes on foot to the Lion Monument, or you can take bus 1 or 19 to Löwenplatz.
Use the afternoon for one indoor sight. The Rosengart Collection is 3 minutes from the station and charges 20 CHF. The Kunstmuseum Luzern in the KKL charges 15 CHF and is closed on Mondays. If the weather is clear, swap the museum for a short boat ride from the piers and keep the evening for the lakefront. Lucerne rewards a slow day, so two or three stops are enough.
For a guided version, a walking tour from the tourist information starts there, and other walks start at the Jesuit Church. Compare them on the old town page by what each one includes.
Things to do in Lucerne in winter
Many sights are open all year. The Rosengart Collection is open daily from 11 to 17 from 1 November to 31 December 2026 and closed on 25 December. The Swiss Museum of Transport is open on 365 days and runs on winter hours of 10 to 17 in the colder half of the year. The Kunstmuseum Luzern is closed on 24, 25 and 31 December 2026. The Bourbaki Panorama opens 10 to 14 on 24 and 31 December 2026 and is closed on 25 December.
On the lake, the winter timetable runs from 19 October 2026 to 16 April 2027. A winter day pass is on sale from 1 November to 31 March, at 53 CHF in 2nd class and 82 CHF in 1st class (prices as read in November 2026). The operator of the Pilatus railways lists 60 CHF for its mountain railways from December to April in the 2026 fare sheet. That mountain is covered by our sister site: Mount Pilatus guide. In November 2026 several mountain lifts are in their autumn overhaul, so see our season guide and the operators' notices.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main things to do in Lucerne?
Walk the old town and the two wooden bridges, visit the Lion Monument, pick a museum, take a boat on the lake and, in clear weather, go up a mountain. Links to each topic are at the top of this page.
Can I see Lucerne's main sights on foot?
Yes. The old town, both bridges and the Rosengart Collection are within walking distance of the station, and the Lion Monument is about 15 minutes away. Bus 1 or 19 goes to Löwenplatz.
Is the Lion Monument free?
Yes, entry is free. The nearby Glacier Garden and Bourbaki Panorama charge admission.
Are tickets for the museums sold here?
Tickets for the Swiss Museum of Transport and the other museums are sold directly by each museum. Check the opening days for the date you want to go.
Is this the official site of Lucerne?
No. This is an independent guide. It does not belong to Luzern Tourismus, the city, the lake shipping company, a mountain railway, a museum or a tour provider.