If you have not been to Switzerland then this post is for you. Lucerne is centrally located in Switzerland so no matter where you are in the country, you will be close to this beautiful city. It is home to many historical and cultural sites and is definitely worth a visit. Before you go, make sure to take a look at some of the best day trips from Lucerne that you can take.
Lucerne is the perfect place to be when you visit Switzerland. It is centrally situated and offers some of the best day trips with the city as a starting point.
Whether you visit Lucerne during cold winter months, or during hot summer months, or autumn; its surrounding landscapes and mountains are just as majestic and breathtaking, and many other picturesque destinations are simply within your easy reach from here.
Table of Contents
1. Mount Pilatus
Just a stone’s throw away from the city of Lucerne, you can find Mount Pilatus standing majestic. It is a great day trip destination because of the ease of access if you stay from Lucerne and the views from here are just breathtaking.
Visiting Mount Pilatus from the city is one of the must do activities for tourists. If you do not have much time, you can visit this location in just one-half or a couple of hours of your day from Lucerne. Visitors can visit the Mt Pilatus in winter, spring, summer, or autumn – the views are just amazing regardless of the time of the year.
It is easy to get here, you can take the direct road from Kriens and the gondola or through the scenic Golden Round Trip that features a boat trip, train, and a fun gondola descent ride.
2. Lake Lucerne
Boat trip to the great Lake Lucerne is a must and a perfect starting point for any visitor to Lucerne. You need not plan much to get here, just hop on a boat and depart from the jetty at Lucerne just next to the train station, and that’s it!
Just have your camera ready for the beauty that you are about to unfold here. Boat trips on the amazing Lake Lucerne can be done in any season of the year. You can do it even on a winter! In fact, there are less crowds and the air is very crisp coming from the beautiful snow-capped mountains at Lake Lucerne during winter months.
If you are short in time, you can tour the place in under one hour.
See Related: Best Day Trips from Reno, Nevada
3. Stanserhorn Viewpoint and Panorama Trail
Another day trip from Lucerne that you can make is the Stanserhorn Viewpoint. It is the highest point which spans up to 1,898 meters above sea level!
You can dine at a panoramic restaurant here during lunch or have snacks where you can enjoy and relax as you take in the fantastic 360-degree view of the mountains and lake surrounding the area. Moreover, you will find here the ancient and recently restored railway that can take you up and out of the village towards the Kalti Middle Station. Take the CABRIO cable car and enjoy the view in high altitude. It is the first ever cable car with open deck which provides for an exhilarating and one-of-a-kind view of the scenic place.
Aside from having access to spectacular views, you can dine at a restaurant here and have access to the peaks of Stanserhorn which is a must when you visit here.
See Related: Best Day Trips from Rotterdam, Netherlands
4. Mount Rigi the Queen of the Mountains
Mount Rigi is the Queen of the Swiss Mountains. It is a name it truly deserved as the mountain stands amidst beautiful surroundings before it.
A day trip here unravels quite a lot of fun activities, depending on your date of visit, Rigi is a 100% great travel destination all-year round, no matter the season. You can come to Weggis by car and then get to the cable cars up the Rigi Kaltbach. Here, you can change to a train to Rigi Kulm, the summit of the mountain.
5. Klewenalp
You will enjoy your day trip here if you allot a full day at this fabulous Lake Lucerne Region. Klewenalp is known as the Swiss Canton of Nidwalden. The entire family will surely enjoy the Gold Safari trip, which is a must for first-time visitors here.
This is a very wholesome tour that includes a lot of various transportation modes. You can have a boat cruise, and pass by scenic lakeshore villages here. While at Beckenried, the gondola or Klewenalp-bahn can bring you to the tourist spot at 1,600 meters above sea level. So, brace yourself for an amazing view from this height.
Visitors will take the 2 hours hike from Klewenalp to Stockhütte, or you can do this via a pushchair friendly trail for easy access. When you arrive at Stockhütte, you and your family can enjoy a picnic here at their barbecue station while enjoying the amazing landscape and views.
See Related: Most Holy Places in the World
Where To Stay In Lucerne
Planning your day trips from Lucerne? It is important that you plan ahead. It is vital that you get a nice accommodation where you can return and have a peaceful rest after a great day of exploring the great Lake Lucerne Region. Check Booking.com for the best possible price on vacation rentals or hotels in Lucerne.
Related Resources: