Month guide · Lucerne · Switzerland
Lucerne in August
What August is really like in Lucerne: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Gestumblindi, Public domain
Quick answer
August is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 24°C (75°F), lows of 14°C (57°F), about 12 rainy days and roughly 14.2 hours of daylight. Warm and busy; fireworks on the lake for Swiss National Day and the start of the summer music festival.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 24°C (75°F) / 14°C (57°F)
- Rainy days
- About 12
- Daylight
- About 14.2 hours
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in August
August is the 2nd-warmest month in Lucerne: days average 24°C (75°F) against a yearly average high of 14°C (57°F), and nights fall to about 14°C (57°F). Rain falls on roughly 12 of its 31 days. Compared with July (24°C (75°F)), August is about as warm; by September highs drop to around 19°C (66°F).
- Sunrise (15 August)
- About 06:24
- Sunset (15 August)
- About 20:39
- Daylight
- About 14.2 hours
Summer (June–August). Warm days, lake swimming and every boat and mountain route running, with peak crowds, afternoon thunderstorms and the highest hotel prices.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, August rates 5 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in July). Book accommodation early: August is one of the pricier months.
Events in August
- Swiss National Day celebrations and fireworks (1 August)
- Lucerne Festival summer season at the KKL (usually mid-August to mid-September)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in August
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Waterfront · Tribschen
Ufschötti and lake swimming
The Ufschötti is a free lakeside lawn with a shallow gravel shore between the KKL and Tribschen, where locals swim and barbecue on summer evenings.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Active
Museum · Lido
Swiss Museum of Transport
Arrive by lake steamer from the station piers to turn the journey into part of the outing.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Religious site · Old Town
Jesuit Church
Built in the second half of the 17th century on the left bank of the Reuss, this was the first large Baroque church in Switzerland.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- History
Religious site · Hof
Church of St. Leodegar (Hofkirche)
It is a five-minute walk from the Lion Monument, so link the two on the way back to the lake.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 24°C, lows near 14°C and 12 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is August a good time to visit Lucerne?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September are better overall. Compare every month.
Lucerne in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is August a good time to visit Lucerne?
It is a shoulder-season month. Warm and busy; fireworks on the lake for Swiss National Day and the start of the summer music festival.
+How warm is Lucerne in August?
Average highs are around 24°C (75°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Lucerne in August?
Expect rain on about 12 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.