Swiss Excursion Part 1: Exploring Lucerne
One of the greatest feelings of excitement I get is when I’m thinking of a new place that I want to explore. Switzerland has always been somewhere that I’ve wanted to venture to, so when Kate asked me where should we go next (it was my birthday so my choice this time around) it was the first place I had in mind. We started in the beautiful city of Lucerne.
Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland and is a hub for various ways of life in the region including media, transportation, and culture. For the first leg of our Swizterland trip, We decided to stay in Lucerne as it’s a great home base while traveling in the region whether you’re here for a day or five. With gorgeous views of Mount Pilatus and Rigi as well as Lake Lucerne itself, there’s a lot to explore.
Things to Do:
Explore the Old Town of Lucerne.
I always enjoy wandering the streets of old towns in cities that look like they popped right out of a postcard. Lucerne is definitely one of the prettiest I’ve seen. With its quirky medieval architecture, cobblestoned streets, and many shops and restaurants, there is a lot to see and explore. The River Reuss runs through the old town and gives it a very serene and calming feeling as you explore your way through the town. If you love Swiss exports such as watches and chocolate, then this is the perfect place to spend money to your heart’s content.
The Jesuit Church
Walk the famed Chapel Bridge.
Serving as the centerpiece of the city of Lucerne, Chapel Bridge cannot be missed. The bridge proudly holds the title of being Europe’s oldest covered bridge, and what a beautiful bridge it is. The medieval bridge was destroyed in a 1993 fire (supposedly caused by a thrown-away cigarette) but has been rebuilt since then. Since then it has been a staple for visitors from all around the world. Fun Fact: The tower was once a person as well as a torture chamber! Oh, how times have changed.
Visit The Lion statue.
Located in a small park not far from Löwenplatz, the statue was created to commemorate the deaths of Swiss mercenaries during the French Revolution in 1792. Mark Twain once described the Lion of Lucerne as the saddest and most moving piece of rock in the world, and I’d attest to that. Fun fact: In defiance of not being paid for his work, the artist that was commissioned for the piece carved out a pig around the lion. If you look closely you can’t unsee it. The park tends to be highly populated but if you wait long enough you’ll be able to get a good shot of the statue.
Lake-side Strolls
One of the best places to stop and relax is or for a nice and quiet stroll is along one of the shores of Lake Lucerne. Both the peacefulness and tranquility of the lake are quite mesmerizing, to say the least, on any given day you may see sailboats, divers or ships plodding along through the lake. For the ones who don’t like getting wet, it’s a great place to relax and people watch. You may see a few swans doing the same with you as well.
Where to Eat:
Wirthaus Taube - This was the first place we stopped to get a bite to eat at once we dropped off our things at the hotel. The top two dishes to try are the Rotsi special and the curry stew. Both tasted amazing. definitely a great choice for a bite of lunch.
Dr. Oetker Cafe Gugelhupf - A great grab-and-go cafe for breakfast. The Rosti (fritter style pan-fried potatoes) is a must-try. Pancakes come served very fluffy and the eggs and bacon are perfect. They also have some of the largest cups of cappuccino I’ve ever seen. You can’t go wrong with that!
List of Additional Restaurants in Lucerne
Where to Stay:
Hotel Drei Könige - This was a nice and cozy boutique hotel right in the heart of Lucerne> The location is very quiet which is a plus when you’ve come back from spending a long day outside exploring. There’s also a cafe right below the hotel if you‘d like to hop outside for a stroll and some coffee
