Lucerne is one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland if not Europe, and while the city itself has a lot to offer, Lucerne’s surroundings are also stunning and are easy to visit too.
Lucerne’s excellent transport links combined with its location in central Switzerland mean you can visit a lot of amazing places on a day trip from Lucerne. But, there are so many great Lucerne day trips to choose from, that it is a little tricky to decide which ones are right for you.
Not to worry, I have got you covered. Below I run through all the best day trips from Lucerne so that you can pick the ones that suit you best.
Table of Contents
Mount Rigi
Mount Rigi is one of the closest mountains to Lucerne and makes for an amazing day trip.
You can either get there via a train ride or a cruise on Lake Lucerne, the latter being more fun in my eyes.
Visiting Mt Rigi is a must as it offers some of the most spectacular views in Switzerland on a clear day. From the peak of Rigi Kulm at 1,798 meters above sea level, you can look across Lake Lucerne, Lake Laurez, and Lake Zug, all the way to the Black Forest in Germany in one direction.
The other direction features numerous Swiss lakes as well as Mt. Titlis and the peaks of the Jungfrau massif.
Mt Rigi is excellent for hiking, cross country skiing, and you can even bathe in the Rigi Kaltbad mineral baths for a refreshing, rejuvenating experience.
Mount Pilatus
Mount Pilatus is also on the shores of Lake Lucerne and is close to the city of Lucerne too. After a 20-minute bus ride, you will be taking a ride on the World’s steepest cogwheel railway to reach the summit.
Mount Pilatus is known as the “jagged mountain” due to its jagged peaks, and as the “dragon mountain” as Swiss folklore tells tales of dragons living there.
There are a few peaks on Mount Pilatus, the highest being 2,132 meters above sea level. At the top, you can head to the viewing platform to see incredible views across Lake Lucerne to Mt Rigi and into the Swiss Alps too.
There are lots of hiking trails you can access at the top, you can also visit a wildlife sanctuary, and you can even paraglide back down to Lucerne if you are feeling adventurous.
Lake Lucerne Boat Cruise
A lovely day trip from Lucerne which requires close to no travel time to get to is a Lake Lucerne boat cruise. Simply stroll down from your hotel or rental to the dock and hop on the boat for a day.
The boat trip is beautiful of course as you cruise around the lake, and it is particularly excellent in summer when the skies are blue, the sun is hot, and the color of the lakes and mountains really stand out.
There are a number of cruise options to choose from ranging from a one-hour panorama cruise to a 2-hour gourmet lunch cruise, and you can even buy a day ticket and hop on and off boats at little villages around the lake. I would recommend the full-day option personally.
Jungfraujoch
One of the most popular day trips in Switzerland is a visit to Jungfraujoch, also known as the top of Europe. Home to the highest railway station in Europe, it is one of the highest points in the Alps you can get to without doing some serious hiking.
Jungfraujoch and the surrounding area is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and from the summit at 3,572 meters above sea level, the views are insane. You will see multiple 4000-meter peaks, including Jungfrau, Eiger, and Monch, as well as the Aletsch Glacier.
There is a lot to do at Jungfraujoch too including hiking, The Sphinx Observatory, Panorama restaurant, snow tubing, and more.
The only issue with visiting Jungfraujoch from Lucerne in a day is that it is about a 4-hour journey each way, via Interlaken, so you will be on public transport a lot.
Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is a rather special place especially if you like to hike and see waterfalls. It sits in a giant valley formed by a glacier millions of years ago and is known as the valley of 72 waterfalls, as it literally has 72 waterfalls coming down the sheer cliff faces.
It is said this is where Tolkien got his idea for Rivendell, where the elves lived in “The Hobbit” and you can see why.
Hiking around Lauterbrunnen is stunning and you should also visit the Trummelbach Falls, a waterfall that literally cuts through the middle of a mountain and is underground. You will be standing inside a mountain, next to the waterfall, listening to it thunder through.
Bürgenstock
A very easy half-day or day trip from Lucerne that can also be combined with a cruise on Lake Lucerne is a trip to Burgenstock.
Burgenstock is a small mountain on the other side of Lake Lucerne and it is home to the Hammetschwand lift which takes you up an extra 152 meters for even better views. You can look across the lake and see Mt Rigi, Lucerne, and Mt Pilatus all in the same view, it is pretty special.
Getting to the Hammetschwand lift involves a lovely hike along the Felsenweg path, you also have the option to get on a funicular if you would like. You can also stop off for a lovely lunch at the Bürgenstock Hotel along your journey.
Einsiedeln
Einsiedeln is a charming town that is a delight to visit when you want some peace from the busier city streets of Lucerne.
It is a rather famous spot for Christians as it is home to the Black Madonna for which Pilgrims come from far and wide to pray beneath it at the Klosterkirche Abbey church.
It is said that the Bishop of Constance tried to consecrate the abbey in 964 AD but instead, God appeared before him and said he had already done it. This is what makes the abbey and the black madonna such a special place for the pilgrims.
Architecturally, the abbey itself is stunning and very much worth visiting. The marble, the stucco, and the frescoes are all pretty amazing, as is the energy held by the Black Madonna statue.
Stanserhorn
An epic day trip from Lucerne if you love a bit of adventure, the outdoors, and insane views is a trip to Stanserhorn.
Stanserhorn is a mountain that is just a 15-minute train ride from Lucerne. Getting to the summit is a pretty special experience as you will first go on a funicular that dates back to 1893 and then onto the modern CabriO cable car.
The CabriO cable car has an open upper deck that gives you panoramic views across the entire area, and it is amazing to take pictures from.
At the top of Stanserhorn, the views are incredible, there are lots of hiking trails to enjoy, and Park Rangers to teach you about the flora, and fauna, and help you spot marmots and eagles. You can also have lunch at the panoramic restaurant and then paraglide back down.
Bern
Bern is the capital of Switzerland and if you have never visited Bern, I highly recommend it as it is one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland. Going to Bern makes total sense as a day trip from Lucerne as it is just an hour away and you can see most of its top sites in just a single day.
Bern’s Old Town is rather famous. Its cobbled stone streets, small alleyways, and medieval architecture sprawl their way around the Aare River and are so well preserved, Old Town Bern is actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Make sure to explore the Old Town, see the Cathedral, Swiss Parliament Building, and the Zytglogge clock tower on the hour. The Einstein Museum is also pretty cool, he actually lived in Bern, so think about that as you wander the streets.
Meiringen
Just a one-hour train ride away from Lucerne is the stunning town of Meiringen. But, you are not visiting for the town, it is what you can find around Meiringen that is so special.
The main reason to visit Meiringen is to hike or bike around the alpine valleys and see some impressive waterfalls. One of the most impressive sites is the Reichenbach Falls which falls 250 meters over a beautiful cliff face.
Another awesome spot to check out is the Aare Gorge where the crystal blue waters meander their way through insane scenery.
If you have time you might also be able to make it to the longest and highest suspension bridge in Europe in Hasli Valley – crossing it is not for the faint-hearted, but you will get great views of the Trift Glacier below.
Interlaken
Interlaken is a beautiful little town that sits right between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, has a river running through it, and is a gateway to the Bernese Alps of the Jungfrau Region.
A day trip to Interlaken is a great idea if you want to see some very dramatic scenery and do some adventure sports. Hop on the cable car to Harder Kulm for insane views of both lakes, Interlaken, and of Alps including Monch, Eiger, and Jungfrau.
Book some whitewater rafting, go paragliding, canyoning, or simply stroll around the town. It has some lovely restaurants and some good architecture, there is a wildlife park with alpine species, and the lakes are lovely to hang out by during the summer.
Stein am Rhein
A trip to Stein am Rhein, is also possible on a day trip from Lucerne. You will also travel through Zurich, so you can spend some time there on the way or the way back if you like.
Stein am Rhein is a stunningly well-preserved medieval village on the banks of the Rhine River and is a lovely place to spend the day. You can stroll around the Rhine River, go on a cruise, swim, sunbathe, visit museums, and lots more.
Map of Day Trips
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Interlaken a day trip from Lucerne?
Interlaken is a day trip from Lucerne if you are prepared to leave early in the morning, come home late at night, and spend 4 to 6 hours traveling.
The train from Lucerne to Interlaken takes between 2 and 3 hours each way, taking up quite a chunk of your day trip. But, by leaving early and returning late, you should have enough time to make a day trip to Interlaken from Lucerne worthwhile.
Is Lucerne better than Interlaken?
Lucerne is better than Interlaken and it is not, it depends on what you want from your visit.
Lucerne is more of a city with a lot more going plus it has access to local mountains and the lakes, so it has a bit of everything to offer.
Interlaken is more of a town, much smaller than Lucerne but there are a lot more outdoor opportunities on offer and much more adventurous ones than Lucerne.
Also, the landscapes surrounding Interlaken are much more dramatic as you are right next to the Bernese Alps with the 4000-meter peaks of Jungfrau, Monch, and Eiger.
If you are looking to spend time in the outdoors, go to Interlaken, for more of a relaxed city break with some outdoor fun, head to Lucerne. Best of all, go to both if you have the time.
