Lucerne - Top Tourist Attractions
Loving Lucerne: Central Switzerland’s Dream City Is Anything But Ordinary
Switzerland is known for being a dreamy destination and one of the best ways to experience it is in beautiful Lucerne. Everywhere you look, this town is overflowing with history, medieval charm and an unmistakable Swiss atmosphere that makes it one of the top attractions in all of Switzerland. Known as the heart of music in the country, many travelers flock to Lucerne for its annual summer music festival.
But if you’re visiting the town as part of your Swiss itinerary, here are some of the top attractions that you should never miss exploring:
Chapel Bridge
One of the most distinct landmarks in all of Lucerne, Kapellbrucke or the Chapel Bridge is a beautiful wooden bridge running across the Reuss. Built-in 1333, this bridge features more than 100 17th century pictures that cover its roof.
It is also near the Wasserturm, a 13th-century water tower standing 34 meters high. Together, these two structures are among the top attractions and most photographed landmarks in all of Switzerland.
Mt. Pilatus
No trip to Lucerne should be complete without reaching Mt. Pilatus. You can either take a 30-minute ride cable car ride from Kriens to the top of Pilatus-Kulm, which rises at 2,070 meters above sea level.
But if you’re up for a little adventure, you can ride the world’s steepest cogwheel railway that takes you past some of the most spectacular views of the Alps. Here, you can enjoy a lot of activities including hiking, climbing and even tobogganing during the summer.
Rathaus Brauerei
If you need to take a break from all that exploration around Lucerne, head to the town’s 17th-century town hall or Rathaus that has its own brewery and pub. Known as one of Lucerne’s hidden top attractions, this spot is the perfect place to enjoy the Rathaus Bock, a strong local beer popular to locals during Lent and the winter months. You can also enjoy the pub’s extensive menu that includes local favorites like the cheese tart called Luzerner Kasekuchen and spiced white sausage called Weisswurst.
Lucerne Music Festival
Lucerne is the heart of music in all of Switzerland and thousands of music-loving visitors flock the town every year for one event, the 75-year old Lucerne Music Festival.
If you’re lucky to grab tickets for the event, you get to see the best musicians, orchestras and conductors in the world perform during a month-long celebration of music. In March, a smaller festival showcases the best of religious music while the Lucerne Festival at the Piano is held every November.
To cap off an amazing trip to Lucerne, you must grab one of its famous souvenirs and top attractions, cheese. Chas Barmettler near Lowenplatz is and independent cheese store famous for its wide selection of Swiss and international cheeses, cheese pies and fondue ingredients.
But for that quintessential Lucerne souvenir, make sure to buy the shop’s raw milk cheeses, most of which are not found outside of Europe.