LUCERNE TRAVEL GUIDE – NOVEMBER

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As I mentioned, I visited Lucerne in November which was great! As such, this Lucerne travel guide is perfect for visiting in the fall however, can be utilized year round! The November weather was cool but perfect for exploring and wandering around. The streets weren’t overly crowded and prices were less expensive than the summer months.

I generally recommend visiting Europe during the shoulder season since summers are crowded. The weather is still nice in the off months but, it’s less predictable. The warmest and busiest months in Lucerne are June, July, and August.

Traveling in Switzerland tends to be expensive so finding an inexpensive hotel can be a challenge. We stayed at the Ibis Budget Hotel less than a mile from the Old Town and it was fine. Traveling on a budget is different in Switzerland as I would consider this hotel to be expensive in other European cities! I wouldn’t really recommend it because it wasn’t very comfortable but it was clean and walkable to the city center so we had no complaints. I highly recommend utilizing booking.com in advance to find the best deals.

For this Lucerne travel guide, I recommend spending at least two days in town. You really only need one full day to explore Lucerne. The second day will give you time to visit the nearby Swiss Alps. If you prefer travelling at a slower pace, add another day to your itinerary. If you’re headed to Switzerland, spend at least one week exploring the country!

The Swiss Alps are an absolute must! I went to the information center at the train station when I arrived in Lucerne and easily booked a trip to Mount Titlis for the next day. There are a ton of options for both guided and independent trips to the Alps. I actually wanted to book a trip to Mount Pilatus, but unfortunately it was closed. Mount Titlis was the next best option, and it ended up being a perfect day trip!

A day trip to Mount Titlis includes a train ride from Lucerne to Engelberg which is the city at the base of the mountain. From there, you take a total of three cable cars to reach 10,000 feet! The last cable car rotates which was awesome because you get a 360 degree view of the Alps! When you reach the top, there are a number of activities to check out. My favorites were the cliff walk and glacier cave.

Although I did not visit Mount Pilatus, I would check it out if it is open while you’re in Lucerne. It is on my bucket list to make the excursion next time I’m there!

Booking a tour to the Swiss Alps –

• Mount Titlis
• Mount Pilatus

The Kapellbrücke Bridge is the main pedestrian bridge in Lucerne spanning over the Reuss River. The name translates to Chapel Bridge is the wooden bridge and connects Lucerne’s downtown. Built over 650 years ago, the Kapellbrücke Bridge is the oldest wooden bridge in Europe. It was initially built to help protect the city of Lucerne from attacks but now serves as one of Switzerland’s main tourist attractions. The bridge is over 170 meters long with gorgeous paintings along the roof of the walkway.

The Church of St. Leodegar is most well-known for its Renaissance architecture in Switzerland. The original church dates back to the 8th century but burned down in 1633. The Roman Catholic Church was built on the foundation of the previous church and was completed in 1639. It is also known for its organ which had the tallest and heaviest pipe in the world. It has been extended several times and now there are 7,374 pipes and 111 registers weighing 30 tons.

Similar to most European cities, Lucerne has an Old Town and a New Town making it a great place to wander around. The Old Town is truly picturesque with beautiful well preserved streets. I suggest going on a walking tour to learn more about the history and notable buildings in town. The cobblestone streets are filled with a ton of restaurants and shops so take your time and enjoy. We found a number of philanthropy shops that had really cute accessories and decorations. The New Town in Lucerne is across the river from the Old Town by the train station.

If you happen to visit during the holidays, the streets are filled with holiday lights and decor! There are a few Christmas Markets throughout the city as well most of which open the first week of December.

Lucerne is a walled city with nine towers forming around the town. The Musegg Wall and Tower date back to the 13th century consisting of an inner and outer ring. The fortifications are considered the longest and most well-preserved defensive walls in Switzerland. They’re open to the public from April through November. Unfortunately, if you’re visiting in November you won’t be able to walk them but you can learn about each of the towers and their role in history.

Switzerland is known for cheese fondue which began as a way to use aged cheeses and bread during the winter months in the 18th century. Villagers purchased cheese in the summer months to be used in the cold winter months. The more the cheese aged the worse it tasted so people started to heat the cheese with garlic and herbs. This way they could dip the stale bread into the flavorful cheesey mixture. It’s a very rich dish but it’s a staple on a trip to Switzerland. I ate at the Fondue House and highly recommend it.

While there are a number of chocolate shops in Switzerland, Läderach was one of my favorites! There’re Läderach’s all over Switzerland, so be sure to stop in for some Swiss Chocolate.

Personally, I enjoyed chocolate fondue more than cheese fondue… probably due to my obsession with chocolate. We went to Zunfthausrestaurant Pfistern for chocolate fondue and it was amazing! They gave us a ton of options of fruits and sweets to dip into the fondue.

I hope this Lucerne travel guide helps you plan your trip to Lucerne, it’s such a gorgeous city with so much to offer! The cobblestone streets and shops along the lake are a site to see. Making it back to Lake Lucerne and Switzerland in general is high on my bucket list!

Safe Travels,

Sarah :)

I’ve linked a few of my favorite travel essentials below! See our travel shop for more essentials including my favorite baby travel gear. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below, I’m happy to help!