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    Urban Bliss Life » Travel » Europe » Switzerland » Best Things to do in Lucerne, Switzerland with Kids

    Published: September 19, 2017 / Updated: May 19, 2022 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Best Things to do in Lucerne, Switzerland with Kids

    29 shares

    Traveling with kids to this beautiful Swiss city? Here's a list of the best things to do in Lucerne!

    Lucerne, Switzerland with church in background

    Beautiful Lucerne, Switzerland is one of those cities my family enjoys visiting time and time again.

    This bustling city in central Switzerland features a gorgeous historic wooden walking bridge. There are also numerous shops and restaurants, a scenic riverfront, and stunning wall murals. If you are traveling to Switzerland with kids, you'll find there are so many things to do in Lucerne!

    Things To Do in Lucerne

    kapellbrucke in lucerne, switzerland

    During our summer family trip to Switzerland last month, we did a day trip from Zurich to Lucerne. Be sure to read about our Swiss Alps vacation day trip!

    The train ride from Zurich to Lucerne is just about an hour long, and the train station is located right in the heart of town, near the river.

    Family Travel to Lucerne, Switzerland, on UrbanBlissLife.com

    This was my fifth time visiting Lucerne, my son's third time, and my daughter's second time. It's one of those cities that you can honestly visit over and over and never tire of.

    This time, we went with my husband's brothers and their kids - so there were four adults and six kids total, ages 6 through 13. It's definitely a great city to visit with family!

    While there are a lot of things to do in Lucerne, there are also wonderful opportunities to simply sit back and soak up Swiss culture and the amazing scenery.

    Kapellbrücke: The Chapen Bridge

    things to do in Lucerne: kapellbrucke in lucerne, switzerland

    The Chapel Bridge - or Kapellbrücke, as it's pronounced in German - is Lucerne's most famous and most visited tourist attraction. It goes across the main river, the Reuss river, that divides the city.

    It's the oldest surviving truss bridge in the world, and one of the oldest wooden footbridges in Europe.

    kapellbrucke in lucerne, switzerland

    You can't visit Lucerne without walking on the Chapel Bridge. It is unique in that it has interior triangle paintings that span the bridge. As you walk across, you'll notice that many of the triangles of artwork underneath the rafters are either blackened or completely removed.

    inside the kapellbrucke in lucerne

    There was a fire in 1993 that unfortunately destroyed part of the bridge. Luckily, most of the bridge was able to be saved and restored.

    Family Travel to Lucerne, Switzerland, on UrbanBlissLife.com

    The paintings that survived the fire and remain, tell various stories of the town.

    Churches of Lucerne

    Lucerne has historically been a predominantly Roman Catholic city. Filled with stunning ornate churches, you can still visit many of these structures today, like the Church of St. Leodegar.

    things to do in Lucerne: Church of St. Leodegar

    Lucerne today has quite a diverse population in terms of religion. Now you'll find Protestant churches, Muslim, and Jewish temples throughout the city.

    church in lucerne, switzerland

    Riverfront Walks and Boat Tours in Lucerne

    Down from the Chapel Bridge is a lovely, quieter riverwalk. Here you'll find wider paths, farther away from the noise of shops and restaurants.

    things to do in Lucerne: riverfront in lucerne, switzerland

    You'll also find the main marinas on the Reuss River, where locals dock their boats. It's a beautiful walk, and the kids love feeding the ducks, swans, and geese along the way.

    boats in the Vierwaldstattersee in Lucerne
    Family Travel to Lucerne, Switzerland, on UrbanBlissLife.com

    You can also take one of several boat tours around the river from here.

    things to do in Lucerne: boat tour on the Vierwaldstattersee

    We did a boat tour in Lucerne when the kids were younger, and they loved it! It's a great way to see Lucerne from a different view.

    Lucerne Day Trip: Mount Pilatus

    things to do in Lucerne: Mt. Pilatus

    From Lucerne, you can take a trip up to Mount Pilatus. This is an excellent longer day trip for those looking for some outdoor adventure. There are numerous hiking trails on the mountain, in addition to your classic sightseeing fun.

    Legend has it that Mount Pilatus was formed when dragon rock fell from the sky in the year 1420. With a summit of 7,000 feet, you get incredible, breathtaking views from the top.

    The mountain can be reached from Lucerne by gondola lift and aerial cable car and from Alpnachstad with the world's steepest rack-railroad. You need to plan in advance if you want to visit Mount Pilatus, as it will take a few hours of your day to visit here from Lucerne.

    What to See in Lucerne

    Lucerne is a gorgeous city. Everywhere you look, the building facades are adorned with intricate murals and ornate decorations. Here are just a few of the beautiful works of art that you can admire.

    artistic facade of building in lucerne
    artistic facade of lucerne building
    Family Travel to Lucerne, Switzerland, on UrbanBlissLife.com
    Family Travel to Lucerne, Switzerland, on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Lucerne Restaurants

    riverfront in lucerne, switzerland

    Lucerne has a large number of cafes and restaurants, offering everything from traditional Swiss cuisine to vegetarian & vegan menus to British pub food. Because this is a tourist town (and because it's Switzerland), prices can range higher than your average meals in the US or the UK.

    things to do in Lucerne: Hotel Pickwick

    In the past, we've mostly eaten at any one of the riverfront restaurants located right across from the Chapel Bridge.

    These cater to tourists, but you can't beat the view, and the food and beverages are usually fantastic at any of these establishments.

    Fish and chips at Hotel Pickwick in Lucerne, Switzerland

    On our recent trip, since we had four adults and six kids, we opted for lunch at Mr. Pickwicks Pub. It's a classic British Pub just steps from the bridge. There is indoor seating with a distinct British pub vibe, and outdoor seating along the river.

    Family Travel to Lucerne, Switzerland, on UrbanBlissLife.com
    Cheeseburge at Hotel Pickwick in Lucerne, Switzerland

    This is a great place to stop for a bite to eat if your little travelers are in need of something familiar. Classic pub food fare here includes fish & chips, large salads, burgers, and sandwiches.

    Hotel Pickwick in Lucerne, Switzerland

    Being a classic British pub, there is also, of course, lots of beer options for adults.

    Family Travel to Lucerne, Switzerland, on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Visit Lucerne, Switzerland with Kids

    There are numerous other attractions and things to do in Lucerne.

    You can visit the famous carving of a dying lion (the Lion Monument, or Löwendenkmal), located in a small park just off the Löwenplatz. The carving commemorates the hundreds of Swiss Guards who were massacred in 1792 during the French Revolution, when an armed mob stormed the Tuileries Palace in Paris.

    There is also the Swiss Museum of Transport - which is interesting to young kids and transportation enthusiasts.

    Family Travel to Lucerne, Switzerland, on UrbanBlissLife.com

    If you're visiting Switzerland, I highly recommend a day trip to Lucerne. Visit the Lucerne city website for more information about where to stay, where to eat, and what to do in this bustling, beautiful Swiss city.

    What aspect of Lucerne would you like to visit the most?

    Travel to Switzerland With Kids

    • Day trip to Basel, Switzerland - family travel tips on UrbanBlissLife.com Travel Bliss: Day Trip to Basel, Switzerland
    • Family Travel to Lucerne, Switzerland, on UrbanBlissLife.com Best Things to do in Lucerne, Switzerland with Kids
    • Enjoy a day of adventure and family fun on the Swiss Alps at Mount Titlis! Switzerland travel tips, Swiss Alps photos, and more on UrbanBlissLife.com. Mount Titlis: A Day High Up in the Swiss Alps
    • Tips for Traveling to Zurich, Switzerland with kids, on UrbanBlissLife.com Travel to Zurich With Kids

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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Catherine says

        October 16, 2017 at 3:34 am

        Wow, such a wonderful trip to have with your kids. This place looks absolutely amazing.

        Reply
      2. Rhonda says

        October 06, 2017 at 6:44 pm

        Your pictures are beautiful. Switzerland is on my Bucket list. My daughter visited years ago with her high school senior class. After seeing your pictures, I'm going to elevate this trip on my list. Thanks for sharing.

        Reply
      3. Leo Tat says

        September 29, 2017 at 5:26 pm

        I didn't think much of Switzerland as a tourist destination. Switzerland has always just conjured up the image of big banks for me. I love the historic wooden walking bridge. It's so scenic; I would like take my family to visit as well.

        Reply
      4. Kath Mendez says

        September 28, 2017 at 12:30 am

        Looks really refreshing. Switzerland has always been on my bucket list. I would just want to know if you got travel insurance?

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          October 01, 2017 at 2:17 pm

          Thanks! We do :)

      5. create/enjoy says

        September 21, 2017 at 10:08 am

        Wow, you and your kids have done a LOT of unique traveling! Looks like an amazing place!!

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          September 25, 2017 at 8:24 pm

          We definitely have! It really was!

      6. Cait Weingartner says

        September 20, 2017 at 4:52 am

        From these beautiful photos, it looks like you had an amazing trip. Switzerland is definitely on my travel wish list, so I'm saving these suggestions for future use!

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          September 25, 2017 at 8:24 pm

          Aww that’s great :) I hope you get to visit! Thank you for stopping by!

      7. Syama says

        September 19, 2017 at 9:57 pm

        Sounds like you made some wonderful memories and got beautiful pictures ! This is one city I have heard about so much and would love to visit one day ! Thank you for sharing !

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          September 25, 2017 at 8:23 pm

          I had a great visit :) Hope you can experience it sometime in the future, too!

      8. Elise Cohen Ho says

        September 19, 2017 at 9:20 pm

        It sounds as if you had a wonderful trip. I would love to follow suit one day.

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          September 25, 2017 at 8:23 pm

          We really did! I hope you get to!

      9. Meg says

        September 19, 2017 at 7:46 pm

        Loved seeing all these shots of Lucerne - I'd love to visit Switzerland, especially since some of my ancestors come from that part of Europe. Nice to see a photo of your beautiful family, too. How great that you had an extended family vacation! I bet you all had a really good time. Thanks for giving us a glimpse into your summer vacation!

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          September 25, 2017 at 8:22 pm

          What a nice comment! Thank you, Meg :) I hope you get to visit one day!

      10. Erin (Platings and Pairings) says

        September 19, 2017 at 5:54 pm

        Switzerland is SO beautiful! We made a quick stop there during our trip to Northern Italy and I was so glad we did. Definitely one of the prettiest spots we visited!

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          September 21, 2017 at 11:23 am

          So glad you got to visit it, Erin! I love all parts of Switzerland, and if you went to Northern Italy, I bet you got to go through Southern Switzerland, the Italian part, which is one of my favorite parts of the world!

      11. Dijana says

        September 19, 2017 at 4:51 pm

        These are beautiful. I feel so sad that I lived my whole life so close to there and I've never been! Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          September 25, 2017 at 8:21 pm

          It’s such a fantastic place and I hope you can visit someday!

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      Hi! Thanks for stopping by! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. Here you'll find my fast, easy, and delicious recipes, wine pairings, and travel guides. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

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