3 Days in Lucerne in Winter – What to do & where to stay

It is no secret that Lucerne (Or Luzern) is often considered one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland.

Lucerne is surrounded by stunning and well-known Swiss Mountains which make this small city even more desirable to visit. Plan a winter visit to Lucerne as these peaks will be covered in snow which gives the whole environment even more beauty.

But not only the surroundings of Lucerne are breathtakingly beautiful, so is Lucerne City itself. Even if you are not a city-loving person, Lucerne is different. Due to its character, history and size it is a very manageable city to visit without feeling quickly overwhelmed, lost and confused. Especially when travelling with children, Lucerne is perfect.

The city centre has some impressive attractions to visit, and Lucerne in winter is simply special.

Read our Self-guided Walking tour in Lucerne City to see the best there is.

Map of Lucerne and Lake Lucerne

All our suggestions are marked in pink on the map of Lucerne and Lake Lucerne. Click on the Map to get full map access.

Best things to do in Lucerne in Winter

Note: Before we go to our 3-day Itinerary in Lucerne, I would like to cover some other useful information about Lucerne. This will help you plan your perfect trip to the Lake Lucerne region in Switzerland. If you have already visited Lucerne and just want to check our itinerary then hop right to it by clicking here, and enjoy planning your trip to Lucerne.

While nearly all of the following places can be visited at any time of the year, there are a few things you can only do in the winter, making this more of a Winter Travel Guide to Lucerne. And although many cities during the winter months are special, I feel Lucerne is extraordinary.

During the time we visited we only had limited time so we tried to squeeze in as many of the winter activities in Lucerne as possible. I hope this helps to give you plenty of ideas when you are planning a weekend in Lucerne in winter.

Of course, we could not cover it all, there is just so much to do and see in Lucerne and with the surrounding mountain peaks to visit as well, we had to pick our favourites and hope you like them as well.

In this “Lucerne in Winter Travel Guide” I have included a train ride up a mountain, a fun sledging run, a boat cruise (yes, Lucerne has beautiful boat cruises in winter as well) and for sure a self-guided Lucerne City stroll.

Plus, the bonus of our trip was visiting Lucerne during the Lilu Light Festival which is a worthwhile visit in its own right. (Only in January for 10 days).

Best time to visit Lucerne in Winter

I don’t think there is one better winter month than another to visit Lucerne. It all depends on what you want to see. If the Christmas market in Lucerne is top of your list then plan a visit in December. The Christmas market in Lucerne is normally held from the end of November until Christmas, at Franziskanerplatz.

If you are planning on doing some winter activities whilst visiting Lucerne then you may want to wait until January or later.  To be sure that all the winter resorts around Lucerne are open I suggest you visit Lucerne anytime from the beginning of January to the beginning of March.

We planned our trip to coincide with the beautiful and magical Lilu Light Festival in Lucerne!

The festival is normally held at the beginning of January. You will find out more about the attractions and shows directly on our website by clicking on the link above, and further down this post.

In general, any Swiss city is great to visit during the winter months. They will be less crowded; hotel prices in Lucerne are normally cheaper and some hotels may even offer some great package deals. So, if you are thinking of a city winter trip, I can highly recommend visiting Lucerne in the winter. You won’t regret it!

Some great all year round activities in Lucerne

How To Get To Lucerne In Winter

If Lucerne city is your first stop during your Swiss itinerary and you’re flying into Switzerland, your closest airports would be Zürich or Basel. From both of these airports it only takes about one hour (by car or train) to get to Lucerne.

If Geneva Airport is your arrival choice then be prepared for a 3h 20 train ride or a 3h car journey before arriving in Lucerne City.

In general, whether you are travelling during the summer or winter months, Lucerne is the perfect Swiss city to access with travel on public transportation. It will allow you to experience the beautiful surroundings stress-free whilst on the journey, plus there are no problems finding parking nor will you be stuck in the city traffic.

On top of that is that Lucerne’s main train station is conveniently situated in the city centre and only a few minutes’ walk to Hotels, and several of Lucerne’s most famous landmarks.

And you may have already heard it, but the Swiss public transport system is superb even during the winter months.

Arriving in Lucerne by Car

If you have rented a car or are simply travelling to Lucerne with your own vehicle then check to see if the larger car parks (Parkhauses) have spaces or ask your accommodation in Lucerne if they have parking facilities. Most do not offer parking options, and this is another reason why it is maybe best to travel to Lucerne in the winter on public transportation.

Here are a few Parkhauses we would recommend

• Parkhaus Altstadt; right off the motorway and ideally located to visit Lucerne City
• Parkhaus at the train station, Bahnhofparking P3.
• The Löwencenter shoppingcentre, Zürichstrasse 5. Good for weekdays.

All of these places are close to the centre of Lucerne.

How Best To Get Around in Lucerne in Winter

For sure public transport is the best way to get around Lucerne, even in the winter or should I say especially during the winter months?

It is fast, reliable and there are plenty of connections available. If you stay in an official accommodation in Lucerne, you will get a Visitor Card.

The Lucerne visitor card allows you to use public transportation in the city of Lucerne for free.

Lucerne is a small Swiss city and you can easily get around on foot, but at least you do have the possibility with this card to hop on any bus should you feel like it.

Although most of our suggestions and places to see in Lucerne during our winter weekend are NOT covered with the Visitors Card, just keep this in mind. Your best buy to roam freely to discover as many mountain tops, cable car rides and boat cruises in Lucerne is to get a “Tell Pass”.

Check out what is covered and where you may have to pay a small extra.

Travel Tip: If you are travelling for longer in Switzerland check out the Swiss Travel Pass. (only available for non-Swiss Citizens). The pass gives you unlimited bus, train & boat cruises. Some mountain tops are included otherwise you pay 50% or less. Check out our Travelling Switzerland on a Budget post. I have listed many different options to travel within Switzerland on public transportation and what to look for to save some money.

Places to stay in Lucerne City in Winter

As I would think you will only visit Lucerne in the Winter for 1-2 maybe 3 days, it is well worth the extra money to stay in the city centre. If you make Lucerne your travel base for longer I would definitely opt for an accommodation outside the city limit to save some of your travel budget.

As we visited in collaboration with Lucerne Tourism to introduce you to the Lilu Light Festival in Lucerne, we had the chance to stay at the most beautiful Hotel Des Balances perfectly situated with a view over the River Reuss and the Kappelbrücke – Chapel Bridge.

The hotel offers a great valet service for an extra cost if you do arrive by car. Drop of your key and let the hotel find parking for you.

If you do want more luxury when staying in Lucerne than check out the 5 Star Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern. With its excellent situation right on the shores of Lake Lucerne, the five-star Hotel Schweizerhof in Lucerne is also just minutes from the city centre.

Also read Where to find the Best Hotels in Lucerne & Lake Lucerne Region

Budget Hotels in Lucerne

What about a stay in prison? The unique Barabas Hotel Luzern offers a great atmosphere in Switzerland’s first jailhouse hotel. With its 60 different cells some with multiple beds everyone should find what they’re looking for.

The prison hotel is centrally located which makes it a great choice to visit Lucerne city in the winter. You may find deals as cheap as Chf 82.- per night.

Here below are a few more Hotels in Lucerne with great ratings and locations that could also be of interest should the above hotels be fully booked.

Luxury Hotels in Lucerne

If you want to treat yourself we highly recommend these hotels

• Hotel Des Balances Luzern
• Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern
• Belle Epoque Luzern

Mid Range Hotels in Lucerne City

• The Tourist City & River Hotel
• Hotel Pickwick and Pub

A Weekend in Lucerne in Winter – What to do, see & where to sleep

We stayed two and a half days in Lucerne at the beginning of January. Our main focus was to visit the Lilu Light Festival in Lucerne. But as you can imagine this festival only comes to life when the sun has set, so we made the most of the day and visited some great attractions Lucerne and its region have to offer.

Our itinerary in Lucerne

Arrival/day one

• Arrive in Lucerne just before lunch, visit Lucerne City until 14H00
• Cruise on Lake Lucerne over to Vitznau (one hour boat journey)
• Take the cog wheel train up to Mount Rigi and overnight at the Hotel Rigi Kaltbad

Day two

• The next morning ride up to Rigi Kulm and sledge/walk down to Rigi Kaltbad
• Head back down (14:15) with the train to Vitznau and by boat back to Lucerne
• Check-in at Hotel Des Balances and get ready for the LILU – Light festival in Lucerne (January only)

Day three

• Enjoy breakfast, and head up to Hotel Gütsch for the viewpoint
• Check-out, store the luggage at the train station and head up Mount Pilatus
• Catch the train home at around 17H00.

Travel Tip: You can store your luggage at the train station on platform 14.

6 hours cost about 10.- and you can pay by credit card. The lockers vary in size and they do have quite large ones available. It worked perfectly, so we used it on both days.

Lucerne Itinerary – Arrival Day

Discover The Old Town
We got to Lucerne City mid-morning and used the time to stroll around the old town and see some of the nearest landmarks.

And this is great if you visit any city during off-peak time. Enjoy wandering the streets without the crowds of tourists, looking at the beautiful old buildings with interesting facades and interiors. Without a doubt, Lucerne’s old town is beautiful and well worth a visit.

Chapel Bridge – Kappelbrücke
World-famous and probably Lucerne’s main attraction is the wooden Chapel Bridge – Kappelbrücke.

This is perfect to combine with the old town as it is very close by, and also close to the lakeshore.

The Kappelbrücke, spanning the Reuss River, was originally built in the 14th century before being partly burnt down in 1993 and then quickly rebuilt. Don’t forget to look at the beautiful paintings along the ceiling of the chapel bridge.

Jesuit Church
Not far from the Chapel Bridge is the dominant Jesuit church. This church was built around the 17th century in the Baroque style. Take some time, enter the church and you will not be disappointed. The beauty is breathtaking inside and out and well worth a visit.

Spreuer Bridge – Streuerbrücke
Often forgotten but as beautiful as its big brother the Chapel bridge is the Spreuer bridge. You will find it just a bit further along the river. Stroll over the Chapel Bridge, admire the Jesuit Church and finish off by crossing the Spreuer Bridge. It is now time to get back to the lake where the boat is waiting.

Get our complete self-guided walking tour in Lucerne for the complete tour.

Boat Cruise on Lake Lucerne – To Vitznau
After grabbing a quick snack for lunch, we joined one of the transport boats (14H00) and made our way over to Vitznau. The cruise is just short of one hour and passes quite a bit of the beautiful Vierwaldstättersee lake shore. A unique landscape with its high snowcapped mountains, like the Pilatus, Rigi and Klewenalp. Definitely well worth doing a boat cruise on Lake Lucerne even if you are not planning to visit Mount Rigi.

Visit Mount Rigi & Overnight at Hotel Rigi Kaltbad

The boat from Lucerne arrives perfectly in time to take a seat on the Rigi train and to be overawed by the beautiful ride up the mountain.

The question of whether we should go to the top first or check in to the hotel was answered by the weather. Clouds came in and it started to snow when we arrived at the station Rigi Kaltbad. So, we got off the train and checked into the hotel. – Hotel Rigi Kaltbad & Spa, the Hotel has an amazing spa and pool area, but it is only open until 18:30. As it was already past 16H00 when we arrived, we decided to finish the day in the pool would be perfect, and it was. Kids are allowed to use the 35-degrees warm indoor and outdoor pool.

The Hotel’s restaurant served delicious food for all the family. The best thing is that the kids have dinner included in the room price. A win from our side!

Travel Tip:  On the train, try to sit on the left side facing direction of travel (lake on your left) as this will give you the best seat for the view. Read our itinerary  Visit Mount Rigi on a day trip from Lucerne without overnighting in the Rigi Kaltbad.

Lucerne Itinerary – Day Two

Sledging at the Rigi
After a relaxed breakfast, we packed up and took the train all the way up to Rigi Kulm. Although the visibility was not the best, actually, it was zero, we walked up to the antenna at Rigi Kulm. It was still nice and with a bit of patience the sun came out for a few minutes. Just enough time to see the surrounding views.

And the fun really started when we collected the sledges and headed down the official sledge run to Rigi Klösterli. The two nights before had brought a lot of fresh snow so it was super nice to be within the snowy trees.

The sledge run- Rigi Kulm – Staffel – Klösterli is 3.1km. At Klösterli you take the blue Rigi train back up to Rigi Kulm and the fun can recommence.

Boat back to Lucerne
The second time we only sledged to Rigi Staffel. It is from here that you start walking down to Rigi Kaltbad, (20 min walk with some sledging on the way). We collected our suitcase and rode the beautiful Rigi train down to Vitznau where our boat was waiting to cruise back to Lucerne.
Find out more on How best to visit Rigi from Lucerne.

LILU Light Festival
We checked in at the most amazing Hotel Des Balances situated in the heart of Lucerne city and overlooking the river Reuss with a view to the Chapel Bridge. Wow, what a view from our room.

The hotel is very elegant but also laid back and perfect for families. If you have to arrive by car, the hotel has a valet service which I believe is Chf 35.- per day.

If you are not visiting during the time when the LILU Licht Festival is illuminating Lucerne city, (beginning of January) then I would suggest having dinner somewhere along the riverfront. It will be nice to dine whilst admiring the twinkling lights and enjoying Lucerne by night.

We got ready, dressed up warm and went to the LILU Festival which we really enjoyed. Read our full article and guide to the LILU – Lucerne Licht Festival for when you plan to stay in Lucerne at the beginning of January.

Lucerne Itinerary – Departure Day 

Check-out and Visit to Mount Pilatus
I woke up and just thought I would quickly look outside to check the weather. All I saw was a red sky whilst the city of Lucerne was still sleepy. Wow, beautiful.

So, if you do stay at the Hotel Des Balances, make sure you ask for a room with a River Reuss view.  And don’t forget to check the morning sky over Lucerne.

From the hotel balcony you can also see Mount Rigi to your left and Mount Pilatus to your right. Just splendid. (see photos above for some more hotel views in the “Where to stay in Lucerne” section)

We had one more winter activity in Lucerne to do and this was ascending Mount Pilatus. But before we went to Mount Pilatus, we had a quick breakfast and visited the Gütsch Hotel Viewpoint. It was only a 10 minutes walk from our hotel to the Gütsch Funiculaire. You don’t need long up there but if you do have the time definitely try to squeeze in this activity in Lucerne.

We stored our luggage again at the Lucerne train station. As the bus is departing from section A, it only takes 20 min to ride and a maximum 10 min walk to the Pilatus Bahn.

The path is well signposted from the bus stop.

The silver lining when travelling during the winter months to summer destinations is you are nearly alone. No crowd, no queue!
At the top, if the weather is good go first outside and admire the views all around. Do the inside walk later or when there is no view due to the fog rising.

For a special occasion, you could plan a stay at the Hotel Pilatus. We already said that we would love to stay up here to experience a wonderful sunset and sunrise at Mount Pilatus.

Is winter a good time to visit Lucerne?

Our Conclusion
Spending a weekend in Lucerne in the winter is a great idea. Two nights are actually not enough when you will be so busy admiring the beautiful scenery and enjoying the fun activities in and around Lucerne.

We had such an amazing time in Lucerne during these winter days, and I highly recommend following our Lucerne Itinerary and enjoying what we did. A City & Peak Winter getaway.

To get a more virtual feel of three days in Lucerne, then check out our Instagram highlights “Lucerne” where you can click through our stories.

Make sure you dress up warm and nothing can stop your fun in Lucerne.

Whether you visit Lucerne in December, January, or February – you and the family will have a  wonderful winter break in Lucerne.

Winter in Lucerne is magical!

Guided Activities and more suggestions when visiting Lucerne in Winter

If you prefer to have a local guide showing you Lucerne and its Lake Lucerne Regions activities you may want to check out the get your Guide site for more options.

More Winter Activities in Switzerland

• GoldenPass Line Train ride from Lucerne to Interlaken
• Visit Mount Rigi from Lucerne
• Lucerne to Mount Pilatus – How to get there the best way
• Lucerne self-guided city tour
• Lucerne – LILU Licht festival- Light festival
• Arolla – How to visit the Glacier cave in Arolla Valais
• Meiringen Hasliberg – The perfect winter resort for families
• Zermatt – Visit the World’s Highest Glacier Palace

I hope that the information provided here will prove useful when planning your Weekend in Lucerne in Winter.

If I have left anything out or you have a question, please ask your questions in the comments below.  This way other readers can join in the conversation and benefit from your queries also.

Note: This visit was in collaboration with Lucerne Tourism – Thank you again. As always, you can be sure that we will express OUR views and enthusiasm here. The purpose of such collaborations is to introduce to you great new family destinations and activities and give you tips and suggestions 1st hand.

Thank you & Never Forget to Explore

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