How to Visit Lucerne in a Few Hours
Why Did I Take a Such a Short Visit to Lucerne?
One of the questions I tried to answer before my trip to Switzerland was how can I possibly fit everything into just nine days. The answer was careful planning and day trips to certain destinations. Lucerne was one of the places I definitely wanted to see, but I also knew I didn’t need to spend an entire day touring to see all of Lucerne’s top attractions. Instead, I chose to spend only a few hours in Lucerne and focus on the key sights.
Making my visit to Lucerne more difficult was the weather. For my first three days in Switzerland, there was a steady rain. But with my rain gear, a good plan, and a positive attitude, I was able to see everything that I wanted to see in Lucerne in just under four hours.
I hope this page will assist travelers who would like to visit Lucerne without committing an entire day’s worth of time.
How to Visit Lucerne in a Few Hours - Table of Contents
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How to Get to Lucerne with the Swiss Rail Pass
The Swiss Rail Pass makes it easy to get from one Swiss city to another. All of the trains that serve Lucerne from Swiss cities are covered by the rail pass, and I was able to travel to Lucerne from Interlaken West at no additional cost. I highly recommend purchasing a Swiss Rail Pass if you are interested in visiting multiple Swiss cities during your stay.
Lucerne Station is located near all of the city’s main tourist attractions. Within five minutes of exiting the train, I was in the middle of Lucerne’s city center.
Lucerne, Switzerland - What to See in Under 3 Hours
While three hours seemed like a quick visit, I found that it was plenty of time to see all of the main sights in Lucerne. I began my brief visit to Lucerne near the Chapel Bridge and followed a pre-planned route that would take me past many of Lucerne’s main attractions. Like most places in Switzerland, Lucerne has an abundance of signs that point tourists in the right direction of the city’s tourist sites.
Lucerne's Chapel Bridge
One of the most famous attractions in Lucerne is the Chapel Bridge. This wooden bridge was originally built in 1365 and was recently rebuilt in 1994 following a fire. The bridge is visible from the exit of Lucerne’s train station and was the perfect first stop on my quick visit to Lucerne.
I photographed the Chapel Bridge multiple times before walking across the bridge. Be sure to take your time and enjoy the walk, as crossing the Chapel Bridge feels like going back in time.
Both the Chapel Bridge and Lucerne were not crowded during my visit. The lack of crowds was likely due to the rainy weather. As I walked across the bridge, I stopped multiple times to take photos.
After crossing the Chapel Bridge, I was now on the other side of the Reuss River. This location would give me the perfect views of my next stop, the Jesuit Church.
Jesuit Church of St Francis Cavier
The Jesuit Church of St. Francis Cavier is one of the most recognizable buildings in Lucerne. Dating back to 1677, the best photographs of the church are taken from the opposite side of the river.
Due to the short amount of time I had to visit Lucerne, I did not go inside the church. Instead, I took a quick photograph and then continued up the pathway towards Old Town Lucerne.
Old Town Lucerne
I really enjoy Old Towns, and Old Town Lucerne did not disappoint. After walking up the steps near the Reuss River walkway, I quickly got lost in the narrow streets.
After spending a few minutes navigating the narrow streets, I arrived at one of the most visited sights in Old Town Lucerne, which is Lucerne’s, Town Hall.
Lucerne’s Town Hall dates back to 1602 and features a beautiful red and blue clock.
I didn’t really have a plan as I walked through Old Town Lucerne, and I pretty quickly ended up in a small square with the Weinmarkbrunnen Fountain in the middle.
Like most fountains in Switzerland, the Weinmarkbrunnen Fountain provides locals and visitors with potable water.
After completing a quick loop through Old Town Lucerne, I exited Old Town near the Spreuer Bridge.
Lucerne Hydroelectric Power Plant
Near the Spreuer Bridge is a hydroelectric power plant with a fountain shooting out a jet of water.
I stopped and took some photographs of the hydroelectric power plant as I thought it was a good example of how Lucerne mixes modern technology with its historic structures and buildings.
Spreuer Bridge
The Spreuer Bridge is next to the hydroelectric power plant and was the next stop on my three-hour visit to Lucerne. This bridge was constructed after the Chapel Bridge and dates back to 1408.
Unlike the Chapel Bridge, which was rebuilt in 1994, much of the Spreuer Bridge is over 100 years old.
As I walked across the Spreuer Bridge, I was able to stop and get a great photograph of the Reuss River and the Jesuit Church.
After crossing the Spreuer Bridge, it began to rain, and I had to put away my camera. I figured since I wasn’t going to be taking photos until the rain stopped, it would be a good time to walk to the Lion Monument.
The Lion Monument
The Lion Monument was completed in 1821 and serves as a memorial to the close to 1,000 Swiss Guardsmen that were killed protecting French King Louis XVI in 1792. One of the Swiss Guards, Karl Pfyffer von Altishofen, happened to be in Lucerne instead of with the guardsman on the day of the attack, proposed the location, and raised money to pay for the memorial. The Lion Monument today is one of the most visited places in Lucerne.
I was pleased that the rain let up just enough for me to take photos of the Lion of Lucerne without risking damage to my camera.
The Lucerne City Walls
As it continued to rain, I walked from the Lion of Lucerne Monument to the Lucerne City Walls. The City Walls would provide a spectacular view of the entire Lucerne area.
After walking uphill, and up some steps, I arrived at the City Walls. The Lucerne City Walls provided access to two viewing towers. Below, you will see a mix of GoPro photos and camera photos, as there was a pretty steady rain at times.
To get out of the rain, I climbed up to the top of the bell tower. It was difficult to get photos from the bell tower as the windows were covered in raindrops.
The photo below was taken from the bell tower looking towards Lake Lucerne.
As I continued walking the Lucerne City Walls, the rain stopped just enough to get some photos of Old Town. Below, you can see the City Hall Clock Tower as well as the Chapel Bridge Tower.
The photo below was also taken from the city walls and includes the Jesuit Church.
Below is a photo from the same location that was zoomed in on the Jesuit Church.
Lake Lucerne Area
I was about two hours and 40 minutes into my quick visit to Lucerne. On my way back to the train station, I walked past the waterfront of Lake Lucerne.
There should have been stunning views of the Alps, but they were blocked by the clouds. Although it had stopped raining, there was still very little visibility.
I continued walking towards Lucerne Station, and the Chapel Bridge came into view. Basically, I had completed a giant circle in just under three hours, completing my quick visit to Lucerne.
After crossing the Seebrücke Bridge, I arrived at Lucerne Station and used my Swiss Rail Pass to return to my hotel in Interlaken.
Lucerne in 60 Seconds Video
A One-Minute Video of My Trip to Lucerne
Lucerne Packages and Tours
During my three-hour visit to Lucerne, I did not take any tours. I felt that I could see everything that I wanted to without hiring a local guide. While I did not feel it was necessary, I know that some people prefer being led around by a local. Below are various packages that could enhance your visit to Lucerne. Please note that as an affiliate of Viator, I will receive a small commission if you purchase a tour using my links. This commission is at no additional cost to you.
 Private Guided Walking to Lucerne - $357.33 Take a guided walking in the most picturesque city of Switzerland. Stroll across the Chapel Bridge over the Reuss River, admire the Lion of Lucerne, climb the Musegg Wall, explore the centre of the old city, and at the end relax drinking local beer along the river after an interesting walking. |
 The Lives and Legends of Lucerne: A Self-Guided Audio Walk - $5.99 Come on a walking tour to uncover the magic of Lucerne. |
 Cheese Tasting Tour and Lucerne Sightseeing - $212.16 Accompanied by one of our guides, this unique half-day tour combines sightseeing of Chapel Bridge and Lucerne’s old town with cheese tastings. It is the best way to spend a short time in one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland. Walk along Lake Lucerne towards one of the most traditional cheese shops in town to enjoy real alpine cheese. |
 Lucerne Bike and Walk City Tour - $368.49 Discover Lucerne on a bike and walking tour guided by local guide Ralf. See the Chapel Bridge, St. Peter's Chapel, Zur Gilgen House, the Town Hall, Wine Market and Stag Square, the Mill Bridge, the Ritter Palace, the Lion Monument and the Musegg Wall and Towers. Pull the most out this unique city tour by combining biking and walking. |
 Fly above the Swiss Alps and Lucerne with a local pilot - $185.47 Go on an unforgettable adventure and discover the beauty of Lucerne and Swiss Alps in the most unique way... from a private micro plane! |
 1-Hour Catamaran Cruise on Lake Lucerne - $28.14 Sometimes there simply isn't enough time to spend an entire day on magnificent Lake Lucerne, but for those moments we are pleased to offer convenient short cruises. These still allow you to enjoy the best of the lake and get a feel for the fantastic mountain landscape in the heart of the Swiss Alps. We recommend the round-trip journey from Lucerne to Kehrsiten-Bürgenstock and back aboard our elegant catamaran. Just stay on the ship when it docks at the Kehrsiten-Bürgenstock pier, for the immediate return to Lucerne. |
 Lucerne's Heritage with a treat and Lake Lucerne Cruise - $197.87 Discover Lucerne and the various wonders it has to offer such as Chapel Bridge, Hofkirche St Leodegar, Lion Monument, the famous Lake of Lucerne, and picturesque mountains without mentioning the exclusive old town which holds all its heritage and tasteful Swiss delights with your private guide. |
 Art and Culture in Lucerne - Discover it with a Local - $61.85 This Experience is provided by a private local. |
 The three wooden bridges of Lucerne - a private tour with Pearls of Switzerland - $274.87 Discover the wooden bridges of Lucerne on a walking tour. |
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