Every January, Lucerne switches off the winter gloom and switches on LILU, its free light festival. For eleven evenings, light artists from Switzerland and abroad turn the old town, the river and the lakefront into an open-air gallery you can walk at your own pace.
We walked the LILU trail with our kids and stayed overnight at Hotel des Balances on the Reuss, with the installations right outside our window. The photos in this guide are from that visit. The artworks change every year, but how the festival works, how long it takes and what to plan around stay the same, so this guide covers what you need to plan your evening.
And if you are visiting Lucerne for more than just one night, READ our 3-Day Itinerary – Lucerne in Winter – City & Peaks Getaway
LILU 2027 at a glance
| Dates | Thursday 14 – Sunday 24 January 2027 |
| Times | Every evening, 18:00–22:00 |
| Cost | Free – just turn up and walk |
| Where | Old town, river Reuss and the lake basin, starting near Lucerne station |
| How long | 2–3 hours for the whole trail |
| Tickets needed? | Only for the special indoor light show and concerts |
| Programme & map | Usually published in early January on lichtfestivalluzern.ch |
What is the LILU Light Festival?
LILU (Lichtfestival Luzern) was started in 2018 by Lucerne’s hotels and the tourist board to bring people into the city in the quietest month of the year. It’s grown into one of the biggest winter events in Switzerland: the 2026 edition had over 30 installations and around 160,000 visitors.
The installations are a mix of short animated light shows projected onto facades (about 3–5 minutes each, on a loop) and static light sculptures along the river and the lake. Some are interactive, which is what our kids loved most.
Getting to LILU
Come by train if you can. The trail starts right by the station, the old town has very little parking, and the evenings are busy.
By train: Lucerne station is direct from Zürich (about 45 minutes), Bern (about 1 hour) and Basel (about 1 hour). Kids under 6 travel free. With a Junior Card, kids aged 6–15 travel free with a parent.
By car: these car parks are closest to the trail:
- Parkhaus Altstadt – straight off the motorway, near the old town
- Bahnhofparking P3 – at the station
- Parking Löwencenter – Zürichstrasse 5
The LILU Route: Where to Start and How Long It Takes
There’s no fixed start – the trail is a loop, so you can join it anywhere. We started at the station, where the first installation usually is, and followed the river into the old town and back along the lake.
Allow 2–3 hours for everything. With younger kids, pick one half (the river and old town are the most compact) and stop for a hot chocolate in between.
The installations and route change every edition, so grab the official map before you go. It’s on the LILU website from early January and printed copies are handed out in town.
Check out our Best self-guided walking tour in Lucerne perfect if you arrive already during the day.
Tips for Visiting LILU (From Our Evening There)
- Go early or late. From 18:00 to about 19:30 is busiest, especially at weekends. Weekday evenings after 20:00 are much calmer.
- Dress like you’re going sledging. You’re outside and mostly standing for hours. Warm boots, hat and gloves – January evenings in Lucerne are often below zero.
- Food and drink are on the route. There are pop-up stands with mulled wine, hot chocolate and snacks along the way.
- Pushchairs are fine on most of the route. The old town has cobbles and steps in places, so a carrier is easier for small children.
- Charge your phone. Night photos drain the battery fast in the cold.
Special Tickets Shows
Most of LILU is free, but each year there’s a headline indoor light show, usually in one of Lucerne’s churches, plus a few live concerts. These need tickets and the popular slots sell out. In 2026 almost 19,000 tickets were sold for the show at the Jesuit Church.
When we went, we saw Wonders in the Hofkirche and the laser show Refrakto at the Casineum. Both were worth booking.
Tickets go on sale on the LILU website once the programme is out. If you’re travelling for LILU, book the show as soon as you’ve booked your hotel.
You can enjoy some amazing light shows, in the Churches of Lucerne. A spectacle unique and not to be missed.
Whilst lying on the church floor (literally) we were submerged into some of the most amazing light art I have ever seen. Even the kids were amazed and loved it. For a more virtual feel check out our Instagram reel .
To enjoy these shows you can buy your ticket at the LILU website.
Where to Stay in Lucerne for LILU
Stay in the old town or along the river so you can walk back to your hotel and warm up between installations.
Hotel des Balances – where we stayed
Right on the Reuss, in the middle of the LILU trail. We booked a room with a balcony and watched the last show of the evening from it with a hot chocolate. You can see Rigi and Pilatus from the front rooms in daylight. If you’re driving, they have a valet service, which makes life a lot easier in the old town.
For more options by area and budget, see the best hotels in Lucerne, or simply browse the map below.
Book early for LILU week – the central hotels fill up, especially on the two weekends.
Things to Do in Lucerne During the Day
LILU only starts at 18:00, which leaves the whole day free. These are the ones we’d pick in January:
Mount Pilatus (winter route)
In winter the cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad is closed. Take bus 1 to Kriens (about 15 minutes), walk 10 minutes to the gondola and ride up to Fräkmüntegg and Pilatus Kulm. Snow walks and a big sledge run at Fräkmüntegg when there’s enough snow. Book a winter Pilatus trip from Lucerne →
Rigi and sledging
Boat to Vitznau, then the cogwheel train up. When there’s snow, the sledge run from Rigi Kulm to Rigi Staffel is one of the best in central Switzerland, and the mineral bath at Rigi Kaltbad is perfect afterwards. All the details are in our guide to visiting Rigi from Lucerne. And book the classic Rigi round trip
Swiss Museum of Transport (Verkehrshaus)
Trains, planes, boats and space, mostly indoors – the best plan B on a grey January day, and one of the most popular museums in Switzerland. Skip the ticket queue →
Explore the old town
The Chapel Bridge, Musegg towers (closed in winter, but the wall is still worth seeing from below) and the Lion Monument are all within walking distance. Use our self-guided walking tour of Lucerne to see the highlights in daylight, then come back for LILU after dark.
Staying longer? Use our 3-day Lucerne winter itinerary to plan the rest of your trip. And if you stay even longer here are some great day trips from Lucerne which will keep you busy.
Guided Tours and Tickets from Lucerne
LILU FAQ
When is LILU 2027?
From Thursday 14 to Sunday 24 January 2027, every evening from 18:00 to 22:00.
Is the Lucerne light festival free?
Yes. Walking the trail is free. Only the special indoor show and concerts need tickets.
How long do you need for LILU?
2–3 hours for the full trail. One evening is enough, but two lets you do it without rushing.
Is LILU good for kids?
Very. The installations are short, colourful and often interactive, and it’s over by 22:00. Go at 18:00 with younger kids and do half the route.
What else is on in Lucerne in January?
It’s the quietest month for hotels outside LILU week, the mountains usually have good snow, and Fasnacht (Lucerne’s carnival) starts shortly after in February. See Lucerne in winter, month by month.
Need Help Planning Your Swiss Winter Trip?
We live in Switzerland and plan winter trips around the snow, the trains and the kids every year. If you’d like a route that fits your dates, book a 1:1 Switzerland planning call
More Winter ideas in Switzerland
- Where are the Best Christmas Markets in Switzerland
- Lucerne in winter – 3 day itinerary – City & Peaks Getaway
- Self-Guided Walking tour in Lucerne City – Family friendly
- Stanserhorn – Viewpoint and Panorama Hike – Winter & Sommer Peak
- Lucerne Willisau – Glamping and Biking for the Family
- Stoos – Ridge hike Fronalpstock (summer only) For Winter Visit the Fronalpstock Viewpoint
- Zermatt – Winter Dream with Kids
I hope that the information provided here will prove useful when you visit the LILU Lucerne Light Festival
If I have left anything out or you have a question, please ask your questions in the comments below so that other readers can join in the conversation and benefit from your queries.
Thank you & Never Forget to Explore
