History · Lucerne · Switzerland
8 historic sites to see in Lucerne
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Gürkan Sengün, Public domain
Quick answer
Start with Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), Lion Monument and Swiss Museum of Transport. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 7–9 hours across 4 areas; 7 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 7
- Time to see them all
- 7–9 hours
- Areas
- Old Town, Wesemlin and Lido
Historic sites in Lucerne
Landmark · Old Town
1.Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge)
Triangular 17th-century paintings of Lucerne's history hang under the roof; many were lost in a fire in 1993, and the bridge was rebuilt within a year.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
- Couples
Landmark · Wesemlin
2.Lion Monument
Designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen and completed in 1821, it is one of the most moving monuments in Switzerland and a ten-minute walk from the old town.
- Time needed
- 15–20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Iconic
- Art
Museum · Lido
3.Swiss Museum of Transport
It sits on the lakeshore about 25 minutes' walk east of the centre, with its own boat pier and S-Bahn stop.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Neighbourhood · Old Town
4.Weinmarkt, Kornmarkt and the old town
On Tuesday and Saturday mornings a produce market sets up along the Reuss quays under the arcades.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Shopping
- Photo spot
Historic site · Old Town
5.Musegg Wall and towers
Several can be climbed for free in the warmer months, including the Zyt Tower, whose clock is the oldest in the city and traditionally strikes a minute before the others. The views reach over the rooftops to the lake and Pilatus.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- History
- Active
- Kids
Landmark · Old Town
6.Spreuer Bridge
Under its roof hangs a 17th-century Dance of Death cycle by Kaspar Meglinger, a series of painted panels in which Death visits people of every rank.
- Time needed
- 15–20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Art
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · Old Town
7.Jesuit Church
The white-and-gold stucco interior with its pink marble-effect columns is a short detour from the Kapellbrücke, and the onion-domed towers frame classic river views.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- History
Religious site · Hof
8.Church of St. Leodegar (Hofkirche)
Inside are carved altars and a large historic organ, and the arcaded cemetery around it holds old family tombs.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town | Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), Weinmarkt, Kornmarkt and the old town, Musegg Wall and towers, Spreuer Bridge and Jesuit Church | 20–30 minutes + 1–2 hours + 1 hour + 15–20 minutes + 20 minutes |
| Wesemlin | Lion Monument | 15–20 minutes |
| Lido | Swiss Museum of Transport | Half a day |
| Hof | Church of St. Leodegar (Hofkirche) | 30 minutes |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 7 free, 1 expensive. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Swiss Museum of Transport; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 2 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Old Town and Wesemlin): Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge) → Weinmarkt, Kornmarkt and the old town → Musegg Wall and towers → Spreuer Bridge → Jesuit Church → Lion Monument, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Lido and Hof): Swiss Museum of Transport → Church of St. Leodegar (Hofkirche), at least 4 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- January: highs of 3°C (37°F), about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cold and often grey under a layer of low fog, while the peaks above can be sunny; good for snow trips to Titlis and quiet museums.
- November: highs of 8°C (46°F), about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds. Damp, grey and quiet, with some mountain railways closed for maintenance; Christmas markets open late in the month.
- March: highs of 10°C (50°F), about 11 rainy days, quiet crowds. Changeable weather and some mountain lifts closed between seasons; the lakeshore starts to green up.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Old Town (Altstadt) — Painted guildhouses, small squares and riverside cafés on the right bank of the Reuss
- Haldenstrasse lakefront — Belle Époque grand hotels and a plane-tree promenade facing the Alps
- Baselstrasse and Bruch — Multicultural street of kebab shops, bars and small galleries below the Gütsch hill
More of Lucerne
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Lucerne?
Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge). The covered wooden footbridge crossing the Reuss at an angle dates from the 14th century and is the city's emblem, with the octagonal stone Water Tower standing in the river beside it.
+Which of these are free in Lucerne?
Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), Lion Monument, Weinmarkt, Kornmarkt and the old town, Musegg Wall and towers, Spreuer Bridge, Jesuit Church and Church of St. Leodegar (Hofkirche).