You just heard about my experience at Oktoberfest and after we spent some time in Munich we took a cross country train and found ourselves in Lucerne, Switzerland for 2 full days. Lucerne being on the itinerary can make sense for many reasons. For one, it’s super close to Zurich which is one of the main gateways to Switzerland with the largest airport in the country. Two, it’s set on a beautiful lake with mountain-scapes in the distance! Ultimately, 2 days was enough time for us but I also wouldn’t hesitate to come back again if our travels called for it.
What We Actually Did: The highlight of our stay here was our lakefront hotel and the Golden Round Trip. The Grand Hotel National was the PERFECT place for us with some of the cutest views and great location (FOR US). This property is not located in the main city center area, but it is easily within a 10 minute walk which sets you right on the lake (hello views from the balcony!) while still being close enough to the action. And of course, we always appreciate an iconic bar on property.
We spent one day doing the Golden Round Trip which is a combination of boat ride, cogwheel, gondola and bus transportation. You use all these modes of transport to summit to the top of Mt. Pilatus which is such a fun excursion, and it does take a full day. In early October, it was sunny which made the trip enjoyable without being overly warm. The downside was when we got to the top of the summit, it was basically cloudy the entire time. This is simply just a risk you run when you do any mountain trips in Switzerland.
While in Lucerne we of course stopped into some shops for some Swiss chocolates and enjoyed some fondue sitting outside near the river. It can get chilly at this time of year, but most restaurants have heaters or blankets for you to use. We didn’t need them.
What Surprised Me About Lucerne: What surprised me the most is how few things there really is to do here. OF COURSE you have the mountains that you can take day trips on, but quite frankly, that’s not really Lake Lucerne. The lake itself is beautiful and calming and it’s a great escape from many of the bustling Europe cities, but there’s just not much to do. Shopping, eating, drinking.
What I Would Cut or Add With Hindsight: I would have spent more time tripping to the other mountains like Rigi or Titlis. For me personally, I just didn’t find much to do inside the actual city center and I wouldn’t have minded spending more time in the mountains. The foggy weather maybe took away from the magic of the lake. (I wouldn’t say we didn’t have a good time, we just didn’t find much to do!)
So, Was 2 Days Actually Enough? I’d say yes. But it is a good rest, a good escape, a good place to kick your feet up and just enjoy your surroundings. This city rewards you by slowing down, not by speeding up.
Planning Tips for a Short Stay in Lucerne
- Stay at the Grand National
- Make reservations for popular dinner spots (you can always cancel them!)
- Utilize help from the hotel concierge to help you plan your days, especially if the weather is iffy
- Try some fondue
Lucerne might not have the most things to do in Switzerland, but it can be a great finish to an action packed European adventure. And if you’re not sure where to start, I can help you plan your trip from start to end with highly curated experiences built just for you and your group!
Because your next trip deserves to be remembered forever 🫶🏻
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