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After spending five nights in Lucerne and exploring every nook and cranny, I created this ultimate Lucerne self-guided walking tour to help you experience as much of Lucerne as possible in the most efficient way.
This walking tour lets you explore Lucerne at your own pace, no rushing required.
The whole route is about 2 miles, so if you didn’t stop at all (which you totally will!), it would take around an hour to walk.
Table of Contents
What You See on this Lucerne Walking Tour
You could easily see everything in one day, especially if you start early.
- Lucerne Railway Station
- Chapel Bridge
- St. Peter’s Chapel
- Old Town
- Jesuit Church
- Spreuer Bridge
- Musegg Wall
- Lion Monument
- Glacier Garden
- Church of St. Leodegar
- Lake Lucerne
Lucerne Self Guided Walking Tour Map
The tour route begins with the train station and ends at Lake Lucerne, across the street from the train station.
Since the route is a loop, you could easily start at any point along the way and go from there.
How to Use This Map: Click the tab in the top left corner of the map to see a list of the points of interest and to turn the layers on/off. Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest.
To save this map, click on the little star next to the title of the map. That will add it to your Google account. Next, go to your Google Maps app, select ‘Saved’ and then select ‘Maps’. The map title will now appear in your list.
Stops on this Lucerne Self Guided Walking Tour
There are 11 stops along this walking tour route but you will certainly pass by so many other places as you go along. Feel free to detour as often as you want. Lucerne is easy to navigate.
I’ve included the time it takes to walk from one stop to the next to help you gauge your time. That is the time I have in the parenthesis.
How long you spend at each stop is up to you! Lucerne is very compact and walkable so there’s no need to rush the walking tour.
1. Lucerne Railway Station (starting point)
Lucerne Railway Station
Most visitors to Lucerne arrive by train so it makes sense to begin the walking tour at the train station. It’s known for its distinctive façade and grand entrance.
Inside, the station you’ll find everything from Swiss souvenir shops to boutiques and convenience stores. There are also cafes and restaurants where you can grab a meal or a snack before heading out.
Tip: Across from the Railway Station, be sure to notice the boat docks. That’s where your final stop of the day will be.
2. Chapel Bridge
(5 min. walk)
The Chapel Bridge, beautiful from every angle.
Head west out of the railway station to the famous Chapel Bridge.
This covered wooden bridge crosses the Ruess River and is said to be the oldest covered wooden bridge in all of Europe!
The Chapel Bridge was originally built in 1333 and once featured paintings by a local Catholic painter from the 17th century. But unfortunately in 1993 there was a fire which destroyed a good portion of the bridge and paintings. The city spent over a year doing extensive renovations and it was reopened to the public in 1994.
The Chapel Bridge is named after St. Peter’s Chapel across the river and the next stop on your tour.
3. St. Peter’s Chapel
(5 min. walk)
St. Peter’s Chapel (on the left) is where the Chapel Bridge gets its name from.
Once you’ve made your way over the Chapel Bridge, you’ll be at St. Peter’s Chapel, a small white Baroque-style church.
The chapel has a long history dating back to the Middle Ages. It was originally built in the 12th century and is the oldest church in Lucerne.
The inside of St. Peter’s Chapel has medieval frescoes depicting scenes from the life of St. Peter, and as of 2024, it now also has an AI generated Jesus. How’s that for blending old and new?
4. Old Town
(2 min. walk)
Frescoed buildings line the streets of Old Town.
Next, you’ll head west and wander down Kapellgasse straight through the center of Old Town.
With cobblestoned streets and buildings decorated with frescoes, Old Town is a mix of shops, boutiques, and restaurants.
You could easily wander away the day here looking for that special gift to bring back home!
Old Town is also a hub for different cultural events and festivals. Depending on the time of your visit, you may stumble upon markets, music performances, or other fun events happening.
You’ll also find the Lucerne Town Hall in this area. It’s worth a quick stop to go up to the attic to watch and feed the Rathaus doves. The Lucerne Town Hall is located between St. Peter’s Chapel and the Pfistern restaurant.
5. Jesuit Church
(3 min. walk)
Swiss fondue at Pfistern, overlooking the Jesuit Church!
After you’ve finished strolling Old Town and grabbed a bite to eat, head back across the river using the metal bridge between the Town Hall and the Pfistern restaurant.
You’ll see the Chapel Bridge on your left and the Jesuit church will be across the river, to the right.
The Jesuit church was designed by Father Christoph Vogler, a Jesuit priest, and Brother Kaspar Meglinger. Meglinger is also known for his work on the triangular paintings on the Spreuer Bridge, which you’ll be crossing next.
Go inside and take a look at the ornate stucco work and frescoes, a prime example of 17th-century Catholic Baroque architecture that helped shape the spiritual landscape of Lucerne City.
6. Spreuer Bridge
(5 min. walk)
Wildly fascinating scenes of death!
Continue walking along the river to the Spreuer Bridge.
Like the Chapel Bridge, this is also a covered wooden bridge. It was built in the 16th century and has a steep roof, which is decorated on the underside with a series of triangular paintings.
These paintings, created by Kaspar Meglinger, depict the Dance of Death (Totentanz). The Dance of Death is a medieval allegory on the universality of death, representing people from all walks of life, from peasants to kings, being led to their graves by skeletons.
It’s a little morbid but quite fantastic to see!
7. Musegg Wall
(8 min. walk)
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Climb the towers and walk along the Musegg Wall.
After crossing the Spreuer Bridge, turn left and then go up Museggstrasse to find the Musegg Wall.
The wall was built in the 14th century as part of the city’s fortifications. Lucerne was an important medieval city, and the wall helped to protect it from invaders.
You can certainly admire the wall and its nine towers from a distance but, if you’re able to climb stairs, I highly recommend that you walk along the top of the wall. You can also climb stairs inside the medieval towers for outstanding panoramic views of Lucerne, the lake, and the surrounding mountains.
8. Lion Monument and Park
(13 min. walk)
The Lion Monument
Next, you’ll walk east along Museggstrasse to the dying Lion Monument. The Lion Monument is a quiet tribute to the 1,000 Swiss Guards who were serving in the Royal Palace of Versailles and massacred during the French Revolution.
When I was there, I learned that one of the Swiss guards was on leave the day of the massacre. He was home, in Lucerne when his fellow guards died. And it is he who initiated the creation of the Lion Monument.
Talk about getting emotional. Whew. Maybe it was the peaceful, park-like setting, quiet and tucked away from the street. Maybe it was the lion, carved in stone, reflecting in the still water. I don’t know. Everyone around me stood in silence, as if instinctively honoring the space.
9. Glacier Garden
(2 min. walk)
Be sure to go in the Labyrinth at Glacier Garden and try to find the peacocks!
Next to the Lion Monument is Glacier Garden. This is such a unique park, almost like a living natural history museum
You’ll see glacial potholes and rock formations formed during the last Ice Age, around 20,000 years ago. Glacial movements shaped the landscape, leaving behind fascinating rock formations and potholes.
There is also a Labyrinth with a mirror maze, which was surprisingly fun!
10. Church of St. Leodegar
(8 min. walk)
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Enjoy a glass of wine at the steps of the church of St. Leodegar.
After finding your way out of the mirrored maze at the Glacier Garden, find your way south towards the church of St. Leodegar.
When you look at classic pictures of Lucerne, it will usually include one of two things. Either the Chapel Bridge over the Reuss River, or the city skyline along Lake Lucerne with towering twin spires reaching up to the heavens. Those spires are the church of St. Leodegar.
In the picture at the top of this post, you can see the church spires in the background.
The church is named after Saint Leodegar, a Frankish bishop and martyr and was built between 1633 and 1639 on the foundation of the Roman basilica which had burnt in 1633.
11. Lake Lucerne Boat Tour
(11 min. walk)
Like a fairy tale!
Your final stop will bring you back to the water (and across from the railway station,) for a boat tour on Lake Lucerne.
Several companies operate boat cruises on Lake Lucerne, and they vary in duration, from short 45-minute excursions to full-day trips. Services on Lake Lucerne are also seasonal, with more options available during the warmer tourist seasons.
You can book your tour ahead of time online or you can purchase your ticket from the ticket booth at the ferry docks. And if you have a Swiss Travel Pass, most of the tours will be totally free!
Where to Stay in Lucerne
When looking for where to stay in Lucerne, you’ll want to focus on being near the Chapel Bridge or the train station. That way you can be close to everything and can easily walk from place to place.
During my visit, I stayed five nights at the boutique Hotel Central Luzern and it was fabulous! It was a quick five minute walk from the train station and tucked around the corner, just off the main street.
Hotel Central Luzern is quiet, safe and in the perfect location. You can read about my stay in this post: Review of Hotel Central Luzern in Switzerland.
Looking for More Things to do in Lucerne?
Are you looking for more than a Lucerne self guided walking tour? Or do you have more than one day to spend in Lucerne and the Lake Lucerne region? If so, check these options out.
They are some of my most memorable experiences when I visited Lucerne city and make fantastic day trips!
Resources to Book Your Trip
Book Flights
I like using Skyscanner to find flight deals. It searches hundreds of airlines and booking sites so you can compare prices, dates, and even airports in one place.
Book Stay
Booking.com is my go-to for hotels, guesthouses, and apartments. I like that you can filter for free cancellation and check reviews before you book.
Plan Activities
For tours and experiences, I recommend GetYourGuide and Viator. Both have everything from walking tours to day trips, plus instant booking and mobile tickets.
Stay Connected
I use Airalo for internet access when I travel. You can install the eSIM on your phone before you even leave home and there’s no need to swap physical SIM cards. Use code LISA41639 for $3.00 off your first eSIM.
To/From Airport
Welcome Pickups is a pre-booked airport transfer service with fixed pricing and a meet-and-greet driver. It’s an easy option for getting from the airport to your hotel without figuring out transport after a long flight.
Protect Trip
SafetyWing offers flexible travel insurance with coverage for medical emergencies, delays, and baggage. It’s worth comparing plans and checking exclusions before booking.