This small city in the centre of Switzerland is well placed as a base for day trips to the surrounding region. The city is small and compact, yet it also boasts big city sophistication, some good museums and a charming old town.

Practical Information

Luzurn Tourism

Bahnhofstraße 3, Luzurn

Tel (041) 227 17 17

Website www.centralswitzerland.ch

Open Mon-Fri 8.30am-noon & 2pm-5pm

Coming & Going

There are trains every half-hour to basel, Bern and Zurich, which are all under 1½ hours away. Other cities in Switzerland are further afield but are accessible with hourly trains.

Buses depart from the square in front of the train station.

Local Transport

If you're staying at the HI hostel, chances are you'll use Luzern's bus system frequently. Buses 18 and 19 go to the hostel and cost SFR 2.20.

Accommodation

Backpackers Lucerne

Alpenquai 42, 6005 Lucerne
Tel (041) 360 04 20

Jail Hotel Loewengraben

Löwengraben 18, 6004 Luzern
Tel (041) 410 78 30

Tourist Hotel Luzern

St Karliquai 12, 6004 Luzern
Tel (041) 410 24 74

Youth Hostel Lucerne LU

Am Rotsee Sedelstrasse 12, 6004 Luzern
Bus 18 (stop: Jugendherberge), 19 (stop: Rosenberg)
Tel (041) 420 88 00

Sights

A museum pass (website www.museumspass.ch) is available for SFR 111, which allows one year's unlimited access to 400 Swiss museums.

Kapellbrücke

This 660-year-old covered wooden bridge is Lucerne's major landmark. It is the most pleasant way to approach the old town. The bridge caught fire in 1993 but has since been restored.

Spreuerbrücke

This is another covered wooden bridge that is very similar to Kappellbrücke. Spreuerbrücke features the Totentanz paintings by Kaspar Meglinger.

Museggmauer

The ruins of Lucerne's city walls dominate the skyline of the old town. Three of the towers, Männliturm, Schirmerturm and Zeitturm, have stairs to the top that reward you with spectacular views.

Picasso Museum

Lucerne's Picasso Museum is more a celebration of the artist's life rather than his art. The museum's central focus is a collection of 200 photographs of Picasso's life.

Am Rhyn Haus, Furreng. 21, Luzern

Tel (041) 410 35 33

Website www.kulturluzern.ch/picasso-museum/

Admission SFR 8, students SFR 5

Open Jan-Mar 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm daily; Apr-Oct 10am-6pm daily; Nov-Dec 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm daily

Verkerhrshaus de Schweiz (Swiss Transport Museum)

One of Europe's best museums of transport features over 100 original aircraft, automobiles, boats and trains. The complex also includes an IMAX theatre and a planetarium.

Lidostraße 5, Luzern

Bus 6, 8, 24

Tel (041) 370 444

Website www.verkehrshaus.org

Admission museum SFR 24, IMAX SFR 16, museum & IMAX SFR 32

Open 1 Jan-29 Mar 10am-5pm daily; 31 Mar-3 Nov 10am-6pm daily; 4 Nov-31 Dec 10am-5pm daily

Wagner Museum

Housed in Richard Wagner's lakeside home, this museum features the composer's manuscripts, paintings and a collection of instruments.

Wagnerweg 27, Lucern

Bus 6

Tel (041) 360 23 70

Website www.richard-wagner-museum.ch

Admission SFR 6, students SPR 4

Open 15 Mar-30 Nov Tue-Sun 10am-noon & 2pm-5pm

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