Lucerne Itinerary for 2 Days (City, Nature, and Adventure)
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After exploring Lucerne and discovering its beautiful sights, unique attractions, and landmarks that are free to visit, I’ve realized that any traveler simply needs more than one day in Lucerne. I would recommend at least two days.
Well, it’s because…
Yes, you may already see the highlights within a half day walking tour… Also, yes, just a day’s journey in Lucerne should be enough for you to explore what makes the city such a amazing place to visit.
HOWEVER, it takes a full two days to soak up all the fun, adventure, learning, and breathtaking scenery that Lucerne offers.
Actually, if you’re in leisure mode, two days may still feel short.
You might like to extend your trip to 3 days if that’s the case! Not to mention, Lucerne can be a great home base for exploring central Switzerland. From Lucerne, you can have a day trip to Mount Rigi, Mount Pilatus, Bern, even Interlaken!
But yeah, for most people, two days in Lucerne is ideal.
You can pack in a city walking tour, mountain adventure, a museum visit, and relaxing sightseeing around Lake Lucerne within that timeframe. With that in mind, isn’t it exciting to think about visiting Lucerne for two days? This city is an all-in-one destination!
In the two-day Lucerne itinerary that I’m going to share with you, you’ll see how you can enjoy a well-rounded trip to Lucerne, encompassing all the aspects mentioned. Let’s begin.
First Day
For this day of your stay in Lucerne, we’ll focus on Old Town Lucerne’s landmarks and the museums in the city.
These are the places of interest in Lucerne which are nice to see even if the skies aren’t so blue or when you need to stay indoors. Here’s a quick summary:
- Morning:
- Old Town Lucerne (Chapel Bridge, Jesuit Church, Spreuer Bridge, Musegg Wall, Lion Monument, Hofirche, and squares in the Old Town)
- Bourbaki Panorama
- Afternoon: Swiss Transport Museum
Morning: Old Town Lucerne
Grab your most comfortable shoes because Lucerne is one of Switzerland’s most enjoyable cities to explore on foot.
Especially the Old Town Lucerne—there’s something to photograph at every corner!
The Old Town is nestled at the heart of Lucerne, around the point where the Reuss River and Lake Lucerne converge. If you’re arriving in Lucerne by train, you’ll disembark directly at the Old Town. The tourist attractions are just minutes away on foot.
Boasting the most notable landmarks in Lucerne, the Old Town is unquestionably a spot in the city that shouldn’t be missed.
If the weather forecast is promising for your two-day trip to Lucerne, start your visit here. It’s home to the city’s most significant landmarks.
Expect a beautiful first impression that lasts!
Below are the points of interest you’ll find in Old Town Lucerne. They are arranged in a sequence that you can follow on a DIY walking tour of Old Town Lucerne.
- Chapel Bridge — the world’s oldest truss bridge and Europe’s oldest covered bridge. It’s Lucerne’s most iconic landmark! Take pictures. Walk through it. Marvel at its unique gable paintings.
- Jesuit Church — this church is the first large Baroque church to be built north of the Alps. It’s Lucerne’s “don’t judge the book by its cover” landmark. You’ll love the apperance of its interiors!
- Spreuer Bridge — another wooden bridge in Lucerne where the largest cycle of Danse Macabre paintings is located.
- Musegg Wall — Switzerland’s most preserved wall! Walk on its ramparts. Climb the towers for 360-degrees view of the city. Discover old clock mechanisms.
- Lion Monument — a famous landmark described by Mark Twain as “the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world.” Visit the monument to be moved by its emotion-filled lion sculpture.
- Hofkirche — Lucerne’s unique architectural landmark, mixed of German Renaissance and Gothic. Come to behold the ornate facade and portal.
- Hirschenplatz, Sternenplatz, Kornmarkt, and Weinmarkt — the squares in Old Town Lucerne where the most colorful houses in the city are located. You can see their exact location in my map of Old Town Lucerne.
For a more insightful experience, I recommend joining a tour or hiring a local guide who can show you the hidden gems/picturesque parts of the city.
Learn more about the highlights of Old Town Lucerne.
You might find these interesting!
Late Morning: Bourbaki Panorama
Assuming you take the walking tour route in Old Town Lucerne that I’ve prepared, you’ll encounter Bourbaki Panorama as you journey from the Lion Monument to Hofkirche.
Bourbaki Panorama is housed within a rectangular building featuring a glass facade and a circular roof, located on the left side en route to Hofkirche.
Given its size, details, and historical significance, Bourbaki Panorama is undoubtedly one of Lucerne’s most noteworthy piece of art. It’s worth seeing for a few remarkable reasons.
Afternoon: Swiss Transport Museum
The Swiss Transport Museum is one of the finest museums in Lucerne and throughout Switzerland.
I am overwhelmed by the epic experiences it offers that both kids and adults can enjoy! I’m not typically drawn to museums that don’t focus on history, architecture, or culture, but given fun and intriguing exhibits inside the Swiss Transport Museum, I highly recommend giving it a visit.
In essence, as its name implies, the Swiss Transport Museum is a vast display of all sorts of vehicles used for transporting people and goods.
Every type of vehicle you can imagine is here, representing mobility on water, rail, air, and road. You can check the ticket price for Swiss Transport Museum here.
Evening: Night Watchman Tour
Maximize your stay in Lucerne by filling your evening with more experiences.
There are also activities available in Lucerne, even at night! One activity I highly recommend for history buffs and those seeking unique experiences is the historical tour of Lucerne with the night watchman.
It’s your best opportunity to discover different parts of Lucerne and the history behind them. Unlike some ordinary historical tours of Lucerne in the morning or afternoon, this one is special.
A medieval personality, a night watchman, will accompany you to the most interesting parts of Lucerne and reveal the intriguing history of the city.
You can learn more or book your Lucerne tour with the night watchman here.
Second Day
By visiting Lucerne, you bring yourself closer than ever to some of the world’s most spectacular landscapes—the Alps.
What are the two most accessible natural attractions you can visit from Lucerne? They are none other than Lake Lucerne and Mount Pilatus. These will be the next absolutely spectacular places you’ll visit to complete your 2-day stay in Lucerne.
There’s no need to explain how you can reach Lake Lucerne because it’s literally beside the Old Town. For Mount Pilatus, there’s a special way to get to the summit—it’s exciting, and we’ll talk about that later on.
Here’s what’s important:
- Lake Lucerne has more to offer than just calming scenery. By exploring the towns, villages, and resorts on its shores, you can find little gems that can turn your Lucerne trip into a memorable experience.
- Mount Pilatus, on the other hand, is packed full of fun, enjoyable outdoor activities. Of course, you can expect heaven-on-earth scenery from the top. If you are visiting Mount Pilatus during non-winter months, included in the trip to and from the summit is a ride on one of the most remarkable feats of engineering in the world.
Good news, you can have a combination of the two!
And that is what I recommend more (Mount Pilatus Round Trip). However, you have the option to spend an entire day at Lake Lucerne or Mount Pilatus alone.
- If you want an epic but popular experience, pick Mount Pilatus.
- For unique and off-the-beaten-path destinations, try visiting the places around Lake Lucerne. Let’s get into the details!
More Information
And there you have it! That’s your two-day itinerary for Lucerne.
I hope you have an enjoyable trip and remember to have fun. I’d love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to leave a comment below.
Also, I’ve included some links where you can find more information about some of the tourist attractions I mentioned in the itinerary.
- Bourbaki Panorama Visiting Information
- Swiss Transport Museum (Official website)
- Meggenhorn Castle (Official website)
- Lake Lucerne ferry timetables
- Bürgenstock resort official website
Plan Your Trip Now
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Still planning your dream trip to Switzerland? My 4-day Switzerland itinerary involves spending 2 days in the canton of Lucerne and another 2 days in the canton of Bern. It’s perfect for an extended weekend getaway to this beautiful country. My 6-day Switzerland itinerary, however, does not include Lucerne. Instead, it allows you to explore Bern, Thun, Lake Thun, and the Jungfrau Region.