Season guide · Lucerne · Switzerland
Lucerne in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Simon Koopmann, CC BY-SA 2.5
Quick answer
Christmas markets, Fasnacht and skiing on Titlis, with frequent low fog in town and sunshine above it. Expect highs up to 5°C (41°F) and lows around -2°C (28°F), with about 30 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- -2°C (28°F) to 5°C (41°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 30
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3°C (37°F) | -2°C (28°F) | 10 | 8.9 h | 2/5 |
| February | 5°C (41°F) | -2°C (28°F) | 9 | 10.2 h | 3/5 |
| December | 4°C (39°F) | -1°C (30°F) | 11 | 8.5 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 4°C (39°F) against a yearly 14°C (57°F), and 30 of the year's roughly 132 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- February: Lucerne Fasnacht — carnival with Guggenmusik bands, starting on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday (February or early March)
- December: Christmas markets on Franziskanerplatz and in the old town (usually late November to 24 December)
Good choices for winter
Museum · Löwenplatz
Glacier Garden
Climb the garden's lookout tower for a view over the rooftops towards the lake.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- History
Museum · Tribschen
Richard Wagner Museum, Tribschen
Richard Wagner lived in this lakeside villa from 1866 to 1872 and wrote parts of his later operas here.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Old Town
Natur-Museum Luzern
Pair it with the neighbouring Historical Museum if older children want more.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Museum · Lido
Swiss Museum of Transport
The Verkehrshaus covers Swiss rail, road, air, water and space travel with real locomotives, planes, cable cars and simulators, plus a planetarium, a large-format cinema and the Swiss Chocolate Adventure ride.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Religious site · Old Town
Jesuit Church
Visit outside service times and step onto the riverside terrace outside for a view back across to the old town.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- History
Day trips in winter
- Bürgenstock (About 30 minutes by boat and funicular) — 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.
- Interlaken via the Brünig Pass (About 1 hour 50 minutes by train) — The panoramic train climbs over the Brünig Pass past Lake Sarnen and Lake Lungern to Interlaken, the gateway to the Jungfrau region.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Lucerne?
It is a trade-off: Christmas markets, Fasnacht and skiing on Titlis, with frequent low fog in town and sunshine above it. The best months overall are May–June and September.
+What is the weather like in Lucerne in winter?
Highs of up to 5°C (41°F) and lows around -2°C (28°F), with about 30 rainy days over the season.