7 best day trips from Lucerne

Day trips compared

The day trips

25 km · About 1.5 hours by boat and cogwheel railway

1.Rigi

The 'Queen of the Mountains' stands between Lake Lucerne and Lake Zug, with a broad summit at Rigi Kulm and gentle walking trails between Rigi Kaltbad and Rigi Staffel. Make a loop by going up from Vitznau and down by cable car to Weggis.

Getting there

Boat to Vitznau, then the Vitznau–Rigi cogwheel railway

Best for

Families, Couples, First-timers

35 km · About 45 minutes by train, then cable cars

2.Engelberg and Titlis

Engelberg is a mountain village with a Benedictine monastery, and from it a series of cable cars, including the revolving Rotair, climbs to Titlis at about 3,000 metres, with glacier snow year round. Expect winter conditions at the top even in summer.

Getting there

Zentralbahn train from Lucerne to Engelberg

Best for

Families, First-timers

15 km · About 40 minutes by train, funicular and cable car

3.Stanserhorn

From the small town of Stans, a historic funicular and the CabriO, a cable car with an open-air upper deck, climb to a summit with a 360-degree view over ten lakes. A short circular trail loops around the top.

Getting there

Zentralbahn to Stans, then funicular and CabriO cable car

Best for

Couples, Families

10 km · About 30 minutes by boat and funicular

4.Bürgenstock

A resort ridge above the lake with the Felsenweg cliff path, which leads to the Hammetschwand Elevator, an exterior lift climbing 150-odd metres up the rock face to a viewpoint.

Getting there

Boat to Kehrsiten-Bürgenstock, then the Bürgenstock funicular

Best for

Couples, Luxury, Quiet stays

70 km · About 1 hour 50 minutes by train

5.Interlaken via the Brünig Pass

The panoramic train climbs over the Brünig Pass past Lake Sarnen and Lake Lungern to Interlaken, the gateway to the Jungfrau region. It works as a long day trip or as the first leg of a Swiss rail itinerary.

Getting there

Luzern–Interlaken Express (Zentralbahn)

Best for

First-timers, Families

95 km · About 1 hour by train

6.Bern

Switzerland's capital has a UNESCO-listed medieval old town with 6 km of arcades, the Zytglogge clock tower, the Bear Park and the Federal Palace above the Aare river.

Getting there

SBB InterRegio from Lucerne

Best for

Culture, First-timers

50 km · About 45–50 minutes by train

7.Zurich

Switzerland's largest city has the old town lanes around Niederdorf, the lakefront, the Kunsthaus and the shopping street Bahnhofstrasse, all within walking distance of the main station.

Getting there

SBB trains from Lucerne to Zurich HB

Best for

Culture, Shopping, Nightlife

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• Ask your hotel whether your booking includes a visitor card or local transport discounts.
• SBB and Zentralbahn trains link Lucerne with Zurich, Bern, Engelberg and Interlaken, and S-Bahn lines serve the suburbs and Verkehrshaus station.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask