In Love with Luzern

As COVID-19 restrictions began to lift in Switzerland, we were eager to finally board a train and continue exploring! With our borders still closed following our weekend in Interlaken, we continued to organize domestic travels. With the arrival of summer, we felt it prudent to continue to target destinations with water. It led us straight to Luzern!

Though we lack beaches, we have around 1,500 lakes, and it's not difficult to find ideal holiday destinations near water. With incoming flights grounded, we sought to use the chance to experience Luzern with solely domestic tourism. Luzern is one of the most stunning places in Switzerland and should be high on everyone's travel bucket list!

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In Love with Luzern

Our Guide to One of Europes Most Beautiful Cities

Luzern's earliest history is somewhat vague, but some historians believe the city to have originated as a fishing village. The Luzern name is said to have likely originated from Luciaria, meaning weir basket. The first known abbey was built in 750 AD, and at least one bridge has been mentioned as earlier as 1168 over the Reuss river. With the country's neutrality, especially during the two world wars, cities like Luzern are well preserved. You can unquestionably feel the cities history.

We've now visited Luzern three times over the past few years and have compiled our favorite places to visit, eat, and relax! You can comfortably enjoy Luzern on a day trip, for a weekend, or even longer! With Luzern's proximity to so many other great places in Switzerland, it's an excellent location to include in multi-city travels!

Where To Stay

beau sējour, le petit grand hotel

Haldenstrasse 53, 6006 Luzern | 041 410 16 81 | Website

Looking for a combination of history, art, and a funky-fresh, eclectic design? Beau Sējour, le petit grand hotel has it all, including a little play on words with the hotel name. A "grand hotel" often refers to a large and luxurious hotel with great architectural style. With only 28 rooms, it may not be "grand" per se, but it comes packed with loads of style and local art. This family-run business has outstanding staff and creates an intimate, hip environment where you can admire local art, take in a view of Lake Lucerne, or enjoy a delicious cocktail on the hotel front porch.

Manuel, the hotel co-owner and manager, is obsessed with details and takes pride in hand-selecting every aspect of the hotel's design. Built in 1875, there's a charming mix of traditional and modern interior design. Beautifully maintained wooden floors and crown molding are juxtaposed with modern future designed specifically for the hotel by famous Swiss furniture maker, Daniel Hunziker. All pieces are handmade in Switzerland. You also can feel the imprint of local artist, Nina Staehli, in many of the rooms, my favorite of which is the 'telephone room.' Manuel's brother, Claudio, maintains the front desk and is a beekeeper with 7 bee colonies on the hotel's roof. These brothers stay very busy and even have a boxing club to boot. You can buy their boxing sweatshirts, honey, and other handmade local products in the hotel lobby, including sock monkeys from a local 75-year-old Swiss woman.

It's easy to feel the energy and passion that goes into this hotel and the genuine care for their guests. If we hadn't packed our weekend full of so many exciting adventures, I could have admired the spectacular view of Lake Lucerne from our balcony for hours while sipping wine. Given the pandemic and constraints on tourism, hotels and other small businesses are really struggling. It feels good to do our part in supporting them while being able to appreciate all of their hard work in creating such a warm and inviting environment. Regardless, Beau Sējour will remain on our list of top places to stay in Lucerne. Next time you are there, forgo the big grandiose hotels and opt instead for this one-of-a-kind boutique hotel.

What to See and Do

There’s no shortage of things to do in this fantastic city!

Lake Luzern

Switzerlands fourth largest lake, Lake Luzern, is a beautiful place to visit! Whether you want to ride the boat to one of the nearby lakeside villages or just have a picnic or drink by the lake, it’’s an excellent place to relax! We enjoy lakeside walks here and taking the boat to Viznau for hikes and some of the best sushi in Switzerland!

Visit Rigi

Peak: Rigi Kulm

We've covered hiking in Switzerland quite a bit recently, and I can't stress just how many great hikes there are to enjoy! Switzerland has one of the most intricate and organized networks of trails, all of which clearly marked with signage. One of our recent walks, just before COVID-19 impacted Switzerland, was from Rigi Kulm, the summit of Rigi. As with many Alpine mountains, there is an opportunity to take a railway or cable car to each peak, so you can hike down.

Chapel Bridge / Kapellbrücke

Kapellbrücke, 6002 Luzern

A sight I always look forward to when arriving in Luzern is the beautiful Chapel Bridge. This majestic bridge was originally built in 1365 and nearly burned in 1993. Two thirds of the interior paintings were destroyed but thankfully they were able to repair the bridge and the majority of paintings restored. This is an iconic place for photos and is widely considered as one of ’s top tourist attractions.

Lion Monument

Denkmalstrasse 4, 6002 Luzern

The Lion Monument is of the most touristic cites in Luzern, if not all of Switzerland! It definitely should not be missed! Mark Twain was quoted saying it’s “the most mounful and moving piece of stone in the wo” This masterpiece was created in 1820-1821 by Lukas Ahorn and designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen to honor and commemorate the Swiss Guards that were massacred in the French Revolution.

Hofkirche St. Leodegar

St. Leodegarstrasse 6, 6006 Luzern

A visit to a major European city is merely incomplete without visiting one of the beautiful churches! The Church of St. Leodegar in Luzern is no exception! This beautiful church was constructed in the mid-1630s, but the site itself had an abbey on it in the 8th century.

Swiss Transport Museum

Lidostrasse 5, 6006 Luzern | Website

Located just off Lake Luzern is one of the most famous Swiss museums! Exhibits from Switzerland's railway, automotive, aviation, and space history are all found here! The museum features the most extensive collection of painter and sculptor, Hans Ernie, as well!

Where To Eat and Drink

With a high rate of tourism comes great food with plenty of variety.

Sens Asia by Yama

Seestrasse 80, 6354 Vitznau | Website

After a relaxing boat ride on Luzerns SGV boat, we arrived in Vitnau excited for for a surprise lunch with friends. They know we love sushi and they were excited to share Sens with us. With plenty of regard from Michelin and Gault Millau, owners Moni Leipniker and Mario Banko plate up the best sushi in Switzerland! Mario’s’s Tokyo Sushi Academy training is evident in each presentation.

Brasserie Bodu

Kornmarkt 5, 6004 Luzern | Website

This dimly-lit brasserie, warmly outfitted with white table cloths and red seats, feels like we are in the middle of France. The menu features bold and vibrant Bordeaux wines and offers one of the best steak dishes in Switzerland. Thanks to its proximity to Luzern's center, it's convenient to watch the sunset by the bridges and then enjoy a fantastic meal all in good time!

Restaurant Thai Garden

Pilatusstrasse 29, 6003 Luzern | Website

I'm a lover of tasty Thai cuisine, and Thai Garden is a fantastic example. With 14 points by Gault Millau, it won't be challenging to find the perfect dish to fit your craving. The dark and stylish vibe inside this beautiful restaurant is unique and incredibly memorable.

Restaurant La Cucina

Pilatusstrasse 29, 6002 Luzern | Website

While you may not expect an Italian recommendation in the middle of Switzerland, the food in La Cucina is a great stop for pizza, risotto, or a classic dish with Tuscan inspiration. The warmth of the dining space will make you want to relax and unwind. Grab a glass of Brunello and make yourself at home!

Restaurant Balances

Weinmarkt, 6004 Luzern | Website

With 14 Gault & Millau points and recommendations from Michelin, you can reliably have an enjoyable dining experience when visiting Balances. This is where the culinary arts indeed come into play. Chefs Andy Fluri and Niko Eichner are fantastic! We visited for a delicious lunch overlooking the waterway, with the bridges in the backdrop, an incredible memory!