Getting around · Lucerne · Switzerland
Getting around Lucerne
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Andrew Bossi, CC BY-SA 2.5
Quick answer
Central Lucerne is compact: the station, the Kapellbrücke, the old town and the Lion Monument are all within 15 minutes on foot. Buses cover the suburbs, and boats and mountain railways handle the excursions. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- ZRH, BSL
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Swiss Travel Pass
Ways to get around
Walking
Walking is the easiest way to see the centre; the lakeside promenade continues to the Museum of Transport and Tribschen in about 25 minutes.
Bus
City buses run frequently from the Bahnhofplatz to the Lion Monument, Kriens (for Pilatus), the Museum of Transport and suburbs.
Ask your hotel whether your booking includes a visitor card or local transport discounts.
Ferry
Scheduled boats from the piers in front of the station serve Weggis, Vitznau, Alpnachstad, Brunnen and Flüelen, and double as sightseeing cruises.
First-class decks on the paddle steamers are less crowded on summer weekends.
Train
SBB and Zentralbahn trains link Lucerne with Zurich, Bern, Engelberg and Interlaken, and S-Bahn lines serve the suburbs and Verkehrshaus station.
Cable car
Cogwheel railways, funiculars and cable cars climb Pilatus, Rigi, Stanserhorn and the Bürgenstock; most are integrated into Swiss rail passes with free or discounted travel.
Tickets and passes
Swiss Travel Pass
Unlimited travel on most Swiss trains, buses and lake boats, free entry to many museums, free travel up Rigi and discounts on Pilatus and other mountains.
Swiss Half Fare Card
Halves the price of most train, bus, boat and mountain tickets for a month; often better value than a full pass for slower trips.
Tell-Pass
A regional pass for central Switzerland covering boats, trains, buses and many mountain railways around Lake Lucerne.
From the airport
Zurich Airport is about 65 km away; SBB trains reach Lucerne in roughly 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes, often with a change at Zurich HB or Zug. Basel EuroAirport is about 1 hour 45 minutes by bus and train.
Do you need a car?
No. Trains, boats and mountain railways cover every popular excursion, and parking in central Lucerne is limited and costly. A car only helps for remote Alpine passes.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Rigi | About 1.5 hours by boat and cogwheel railway | Boat to Vitznau, then the Vitznau–Rigi cogwheel railway |
| Engelberg and Titlis | About 45 minutes by train, then cable cars | Zentralbahn train from Lucerne to Engelberg |
| Stanserhorn | About 40 minutes by train, funicular and cable car | Zentralbahn to Stans, then funicular and CabriO cable car |
| Bürgenstock | About 30 minutes by boat and funicular | Boat to Kehrsiten-Bürgenstock, then the Bürgenstock funicular |
| Interlaken via the Brünig Pass | About 1 hour 50 minutes by train | Luzern–Interlaken Express (Zentralbahn) |
| Bern | About 1 hour by train | SBB InterRegio from Lucerne |
| Zurich | About 45–50 minutes by train | SBB trains from Lucerne to Zurich HB |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Lucerne?
No. Trains, boats and mountain railways cover every popular excursion, and parking in central Lucerne is limited and costly. A car only helps for remote Alpine passes.
+How do you get from the airport to Lucerne?
Zurich Airport is about 65 km away; SBB trains reach Lucerne in roughly 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes, often with a change at Zurich HB or Zug. Basel EuroAirport is about 1 hour 45 minutes by bus and train.
+What is the best way to get around Lucerne?
Walking: Walking is the easiest way to see the centre; the lakeside promenade continues to the Museum of Transport and Tribschen in about 25 minutes.