Lucerne

Travelers' Takes

Rates and Deals

Lucerne, Essence of Switzerland

A June 2005 trip to Lucerne by MayanSecrets

Lucerne is a dream city destination, small and pretty and a must for every Switzerland fan. Centrally located in Switzerland, Lucerne can be easily tied into any Europe trip. Sightseeing musts include a trip up Mt. Pilatus, a lake steamer trip, and visits to KKL and Rosengart Collection.

  • 7 reviews
  • 1 story/tip

Lucerne, Essence of SwitzerlandBest of IgoUgo

Overview

Lucerne is a dream city destination, small and pretty and a must for every Switzerland fan. Centrally located in Switzerland and in Europe, it can be easily tied into any Europe trip. When visiting Lucerne, a must is a trip up Mt. Pilatus, a lake steamer trip through Lake Lucerne, a visit to the new Culture Center called KKL, a visit to the Rosengart Collection, and plain just discovering the pretty town.

I went this June and couldn’t have been blessed with better weather. Every day, the temperature was an average of 85°F, and the city has beautiful outdoor bathing/swimming areas. One of them I can highly recommend - the Lido, where you find a real sandy beach and have spectacular views towards Mt. Pilatus.

One of the highlights of my trip was a visit to the Rosengart Collection. An art-aficionado’s hidden treasure, Angela Rosengart’s collection consists of more than 60 Picassos, 125 Paul Klee Paintings, Chagall, Miro - the list goes on and on, and to make a point, art lovers have to visit the Rosengart Collection.

Quick Tips:

A prison as a hotel? The new "it" thing to do in Lucerne is to stay overnight at the Jailhotel. Rates are spectacular, only approx per person, and the Jailhotel has also a cool hotspot called the Alcatraz Club - and don't miss the Prison Bar!

Best Way To Get Around:

Public Transportation is the WAY TO GO, with no parking hassle. Every time I travel to Switzerland, I get myself a Swiss Pass, which covers all my rail travel, public transportation, and lake steamers. It also gave me a discount for my Pilatus trip.

Palace LuzernBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

The Palace Lucerne - I felt like Cinderella in my cozy featherbed, like a little princess having cute and tasty Swiss-chocolate pralines on my perfectly made bed every day. It is the ultimate in luxury.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by MayanSecrets on June 8, 2005

Palace Luzern
HALDENSTRASSE 10 Lucerne, Switzerland 6002
41 41 416 1616

Palace LuzernBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Palace Lucerne"

The Palace Lucerne - I felt like Cinderella in my cozy featherbed--like a little princess having everyday cute and tasty Swiss chocolate pralines on my perfectly made bed - the ultimate in luxury.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by MayanSecrets on June 8, 2005

Palace Luzern
HALDENSTRASSE 10 Lucerne, Switzerland 6002
41 41 416 1616

RED (Real Elegant Dining)Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "RED"

RED stands for the colour red? NOT!! It stands for Real Elegant Dining, so the name says it all. This new upscale restaurant is set in the new Convention Center of Lucerne. The restaurant itself is a design piece, so it's no wonder it was designed by no one other than Jean Nouvel. The whole eating experience can be best described as a decadent one: the tuna steak is to die for, and so is its presentation. A definite must is the Ultimate Chocolate Cake with a hot chocolate filling!
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by MayanSecrets on June 8, 2005

RED (Real Elegant Dining)
KKL Lucerne, Switzerland

RED (Real Elegant Dining)Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "RED"

RED refers to the colour red? NO! It stands for Real Elegant Dining, and the name says it all. This new upscale restaurant is set in the new Convention Center of Lucerne, and the restaurant is a design piece in itself. It's no wonder it has been designed by none other than Jean Nouvel. The whole eating experience can be best described as a decadent design eating experience--the tuna steak is to die for, and so is its presentation, and a definite NOT-miss is the Ultimate Chocolate Cake with hot chocolate filling!
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by MayanSecrets on June 8, 2005

RED (Real Elegant Dining)
KKL Lucerne, Switzerland

The Rosengart FoundationBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Visit to the Rosengart Collection"

The Rosengart Collection blew me away. In no way would I have expected such an abundance of Picassos, Paul Klees, Chagall, Miro... an art lovers heaven! Don't miss it! Angela Rosengart is the sweetest person you could ever meet.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by MayanSecrets on June 8, 2005

The Rosengart Foundation
Pilatusstrasse 10 Lucerne, Switzerland
41 41 220 1660

Lido LucerneBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Hang Loose at Lake Lucerne"

Can you find a sandy beach in Lucerne? Yes, you can. At the Lido Lucerne, they built a beautiful beach area on the shores of the beautiful Lake of Lucerne. You can get to the Lido by public bus, or do as I did and stroll along the gorgeous lake from the city up to the Lido, which takes you about 20 minutes. Entrance is 6 Swiss franc (about $4).

There are beautiful green lawns or sandy beach to choose from, and the Lido also has a beautiful outdoor restaurant. Unfortunately, I only had a half-day to experience the Lido, but I will be back!

  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by MayanSecrets on June 8, 2005

Lido Lucerne
Lidostrasse 6a Lucerne, Switzerland 6006
041 370 38 06

Mount Pilatus - Natural Thriller!Best of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

One of the highlights was riding up the steepest cogwheel train in the world to the top of Mt. Pilatus! The person that built this train over 100 years ago was pure genius. In the morning, we took the train to the village of Alpnachstad. There, we boarded the famous steep cogwheel train. The ride up is a pure natural thriller! On top of the mountain, you have a spectacular view of the Lake of Lucerne and the whole Central-Switzerland region, so forget your fear-of-heights attitude!

About the Writer

MayanSecrets
MayanSecrets
Marina Del Rey, California

Get the Word Out

Share this travel journal beyond IgoUgo with your favorite sharing tools.