How to Get to Lucerne by Train
A covered wooden bridge, an old town on a lake and mountains on every side. Lucerne is one of the easiest places in Switzerland to reach by train, and the station is right by the water, so you arrive in the middle of it.
What is the fastest way to get to Lucerne?
From Zürich, direct trains take roughly 45–50 minutes and run about every half hour. From Basel and Bern the journey takes roughly an hour to an hour and a quarter, with direct trains on most departures. From Interlaken, the scenic Luzern–Interlaken Express takes roughly two hours over the Brünig line. From Paris, take the TGV to Basel and change to a Lucerne train for roughly five to six hours in total.
How to get around once you arrive?
- On foot: the old town, the Chapel Bridge and the lakefront are all within a few minutes of the station.
- By lake boat: steamers and boats leave from the pier beside the station.
- By train: the mountain excursions start from nearby stations and piers.
When is the best time to go?
- Late spring to early autumn for lake cruises and mountain views.
- Early morning for a quiet Chapel Bridge before the tour groups arrive.
- Check the weather before a mountain day: Pilatus and Rigi are best on clear days.
What to see and do?
- The Chapel Bridge and the Water Tower — the symbol of Lucerne, a covered wooden bridge across the river.
- The Old Town and the Lion Monument — frescoed houses and a carving cut into a cliff face.
- Mount Pilatus — a cogwheel railway and cable car, which can be combined with a boat on the lake.
- Mount Rigi — reached by a lake boat and a cogwheel train for panoramic views.
You have seen it. Now go. Lucerne is a short ride from Zürich, and the lake and the old town are a few minutes from the platform. Every operator, one secure checkout.
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