Luzern

Top sights and excursions

That city. That lake. Those mountains! Whatever it is that you need from a city, canton Lucerne in Central Switzerland does it better. What is there to do in Lucerne? Visit the most iconic landmark of Lucerne: the Chapel Bridge with its Water Tower. Enjoy a leisurely walk through the old town of Lucerne and marvel at the Lion Monument. Anyone visiting Central Switzerland should have a look at the KKL Culture and Convention Centre and the Jesuit Church, the first large baroque church built in Switzerland.

“Leuchtenstadt” – the city of lights. What is behind this mysterious name?

No other nickname has been quite this puzzling for historians and etymologists. How did Lucerne become the “Leuchtenstadt”, the city of lights? Is the name’s origin religious, botanical, or does it all lead back to a fish? Keep on reading and choose your favourite explanation.

According to some, the name of the city – Lucerne – is derived from the Latin “lucerna”, a term describing a ray of light sent down to Earth by an angel. It hit the precise spot where the “Hofkirche” is located today. Others claim that “Leuchtenstadt” has nothing to do with light at all. It goes back to the local flora and comes from the “lucerne” plant, also known as alfalfa. Alternatively, the name might be derived from the Latin term “luciaria”, which means “a school of pike”. This would suggest that Lucerne used to be a fishing village.

Trips & Activites

The holiday region of Lucerne – Weggis – Vitznau – Rigi is home to Central Switzerland’s most beautiful destinations. It is worth a visit at any time of the year, summer as well as winter. Are you seeking adventure or relaxation? Are you visiting with your children or by yourself? Either way, the City of Lucerne, Lake Lucerne, nearby Mount Pilatus and the Rigi with its impressive views are the perfect place to spend your free time.

Art & Culture

The City of Lucerne hosts a wide range of art exhibitions, cultural events, theatre plays and concerts at the Lucerne Museum of Art, KKL Culture and Convention Centre and the Swiss Museum of Transport. Art aficionados will love the Glacier Garden, Richard Wagner Museum, Bourbaki Panorama, Alpineum and the Rosengart collection, which besides masterpieces by renowned artists such as Picasso, Klee, Miró, Monet and Chagall also showcases the work of local artists from Lucerne. Do you still have some time left? We recommend a play at the Lucerne Theatre (Luzerner Theater).

The Lucerne Museum Card gives you entry to Lucerne’s best museums for two whole days.

Shopping

Shop till you drop! Fashion, accessories, souvenirs, speciality chocolate, jewellery, cosmetics and food: you name it, Lucerne has it. Our Shopping Guide lists all stores in Lucerne and their opening hours. The old town of Lucerne is a pleasant pedestrian zone with plenty of cosy cafés and shops. On rainy days, head to the Mall of Switzerland, which is just a 15-minute drive away. 

We recommend: the three-hour “ModeKultTour” shopping tour will take you to the most exclusive fashion boutiques of Lucerne. Of course, it also features a Prosecco break.

Top-Restaurants

Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern offers two à la carte restaurants, Galerie and Pavillon. They serve local Lucerne delicacies and exotic delights. The VILLA Schweizerhof is our Gault-Millau restaurant overlooking the lake.
 

Or would you rather dine out? Have a look at our Restaurant Guide to find the best restaurants Lucerne has to offer. The holiday region offers everything your heart desires: breakfast, lunch and dinner, on the shore of the lake or right in the old town, comfortable or exclusive, Asian, Italian, typical Swiss and a lot more. Nineteen Lucerne restaurants score more than 250 combined Gault-Millau points.

By the way, the region around Lake Lucerne is the origin of one of the most famous Swiss dishes, Älplermagronen.

Events, nightlife & bars

Browse our events calendar for the Lucerne region or the Hotel Schweizerhof events calendar to find your personal highlight. Our city on the shores of Lake Lucerne has even more to offer than its countless events. It also has a fantastic nightlife – we recommend the Schweizerhof-Bar, Penthouse Rooftop Bar, Das Weisse Schaf, El Cartel, Boca Grande Bar and Grand Casino Luzern.

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