When you think of Switzerland, your mind likely wanders to massive snow-covered alps, fancy watches, endless chocolate and cheese, and impressive trains. While you would be correct about all of those, and they certainly enhance a Swiss vacation, I was impressed to find a stunning deviation from the mountain towns and tiny villages when I arrived in Lucerne.

The city is best known for its spectacular crystal blue lake running through the heart of town, and in keeping with typical Swiss landscape, the entire city is surrounded by rolling mountains fading into the horizon.

If you’re visiting Switzerland, Lucerne should most definitely be on the list. It’s a quick two hour train from Zurich (it’s a beautiful journey), and it’s halfway between Zurich and the Interlaken region, which are typical Swiss hotspots. Here are my tips for what to eat, where to sleep, and what to do in Lucerne.

What to Do

Take a walking tour: Strolling the streets of Lucerne is entertainment all its own. You’ll find impressive architecture, stunning landscaping, and charming shops and restaurants at every turn. Booking a walking tour is an excellent way to be sure you’ve left no side street or fun fact undiscovered. Pro tip: bring a water bottle, because all fountains are perfectly fine to drink from.

Hop on the ferry: If I’m visiting a city with water, you better believe I’m getting in it. The ferry on Lake Lucerne runs roughly every 20-30 minutes (check the timetables here) and takes you to a handful of destinations around the lake. I recommend getting off at Rigi… more on that below. Pro tip: you won’t know which ship you’ll get to board, but if the steamboat is an option, that makes for an extra charming experience.

Take the cogwheel train up Mt. Rigi: Hop off the ferry at Rigi, a mountain town that overlooks Lake Lucerne. There, you can board an adorable cogwheel train that brings you up and up and up until you reach the summit. From there, you can see beautiful views of the lake and the “Crypto Valley” town of Zug, and you can clock views of the pre-Alps.

Where to Stay

I was visiting on a press trip, and they chose accommodations that were very close to the train station since it was a quick visit. We stayed at the Hotel Monopol, which had a stunning lobby, tons of food options nearby, and had a lovely European-style breakfast. The room was pretty small with a twin bed and a bitty shower, but it was perfectly fine for a solo traveler.

On my wishlist: Grand Hotel National

Where to Eat

While I do take a lot of culinary-focused trips, this visit to Lucerne was mostly focused on transportation. That being said, all of the meals I had in Lucerne were excellent choices.

I arrived in Lucerne late in the evening after a 24+ hour disastrous travel day, so after the best shower of my life, I walked across the street for a delicious Italian dinner at Baccio della Mamma. I had a well-deserved local beer and a fresh pasta dish with pesto, tomatoes, and burrata.

For lunch the next day, we hopped off the cogwheel at Mt. Rigi and enjoyed a traditional Swiss meal at Restaurant Bahnhöfli – I’m still dreaming about the rösti and spätzle from here, and would likely hike up the mountain myself to get it again.

Lastly, we enjoyed a coursed dinner at Restaurant Burgerstube as our farewell to Lucerne. The dining room was surrounded by the most beautiful shadow boxes with colorful blooms.

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