Imagine a world so beautiful that you have trouble forgetting it’s not a dream.
Places like that exist.
One of those places happens to be Lucerne, Switzerland. As a matter of fact, Switzerland as a whole is a beautiful country.
I remember taking the train from Venice to Lucerne using my Eurail Pass, which took me across the Northern Italian alps - AKA the Dolomites -, into the Swiss Alps.
It was one of the most stunning train experiences I’ve ever undergone. I felt like I was in Narnia or something - it was a weird fairy tale feeling.
You see the landscape transform in front of you, from being a little warmer, a little greener, to becoming this white, mountainous, snow covered terrain - i.e. as you cross Pizz Gallagiun, a mountain separating Italy and Switzerland. And it all happens within the span of minutes.
When you cross that border, you’re essentially transported into a brand new culture; a world of lakes, rivers, and snow covered summits.
So let’s delve more into what it’s like to visit Lucerne, which is a must-see for anyone visiting Switzerland.
Here are three must-do activities that you will love and never regret doing - and ones that also happen to be really budget friendly.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. Lucerne on Foot: Trails, Tales, and Dips in the Lake
This one’s going to sound super obvious, and it’s a must-do activity for anyone visiting Lucerne.
That’s right: take a hike.
Not from this blog post; around Lucerne.
This is one of the best ways to experience the city without spending a single dime - unless of course you want to indulge in chocolate, ice cream, or just some general food.
There is so much to see and experience in this city, and no, a lot of it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money, despite whatever preconceived notions you might have about Switzerland being expensive.
Activities like taking a dip in the supremely warm waters of Lake Lucerne - which you can do even when there’s snow on the mountains, since the actual weather can be quite warm, like when I visited in late May / early June of 2019 -, walking along the chapel bridge - AKA The Kapellbrücke, built in 1333 - and taking photos of its stunning water tower, flowers, as well as the surrounding lake and village known as Old Town, which has buildings dating back to the 1400s -, walking along Spreuer Bridge, and hiking up the steep hill atop Old Town to the medieval Musegg Wall - AKA Museggmauer -, a city fortification built in the 13th century, which includes bell & block towers; which you can climb for free.
Me standing atop the Chapel Bridge.
Taking a dip in Lake Lucerne, which is surprisingly warm.
Old town.
More Old Town.
One of the Musegg Wall Towers.
Views from my hike up to Musegg Wall.
Musegg Wall.
More Musegg Wall.
Views from one of the Musegg Wall towers.
This is just the tip of the iceberg of the things you can see, do, and experience in Lucerne, all by walking / hiking, and all of which cost little to no money.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s discuss…
2. Across the Waters: Ferry Adventures on Lake Lucerne
One of the best things you could do in Lucerne is take the ferry / sightseeing cruise across Lake Lucerne.
While not especially different from sightseeing cruises you may have taken in other cities, Lucerne stands out in its scenery, with its stunning Swiss Alps, and lakeside cottages surrounding your voyage. The tour also comes with an audio guide!
So make sure to get a ticket and book a one hour sightseeing tour, which admittedly is a little bit pricey, and usually costs about 32 CHF - $48 CAD or $35 USD - and it’s worth it - if you plan your budget accordingly that is.
Still hesitant? Check out some of the photos that I took below, and see for yourself if it’s worth it for you:
Me with my audio guide headset on whilst on the cruise.
Views from the cruise.
You get the point.
3. Lucerne's Double Delight: Ice Cream and Chocolate Factory Finds
Ice cream cone from Bachman’s.
And finally, we have what Switzerland is known for: chocolate.
There are several chocolate shops and factories you could visit while you’re here, including Lindt, Läderach, and Max Chocolatier Boutique.
There are also lots of really good ice cream stands and shops. While not exactly the gelato king like Italy, Switzerland has really good ice cream, and Lucerne has plenty of gelaterias; cafes where you can get a really good cone for a pricey yet worth it cost.
Some of the best ice cream shops in Lucerne include Amorino - an Italian gelato chain -, Gelateria dell'Alpi, and my personal favorite, Bachman, a bakery whose Gelateria on the quay location in Lucerne has the most delicious cones and ice cream that I had while I was there. Again, it’s a little more on the expensive side, and that’s Switzerland.
If you plan accordingly, you should have no trouble sticking to your spending plan regardless.
Anyways, that’s all for this one; trust me, I’ll have plenty more Lucerne tips & trips for you next week.
In the meantime, if you’re finding value in these blog posts, then like our social channels on Facebook, Twitter / X, and Instagram to get immediate updates every week when we release more content like this that could help you navigate your backpacking adventures on a budget.
Feel free to comment with your own travel experiences, as well as any tips or ideas that you feel it would be pertinent for us to incorporate in one of our blog posts.
Otherwise, keep learning, keep seeing the world, keep growing, and use backpacking as a way to develop yourself as a person.
Stay strong, safe, and resilient out there.
We’ll see you all next week!