While my time in Lucerne was unfortunately limited to only one day, that didn’t stop it from being probably the most picturesque city I’ve ever laid eyes on. With towering mountains overhead and vast crystal blue lakes between them, there aren’t many places that showcase the world’s natural beauty like Lucerne.

So, regardless of how long you stay in this beautiful city, here are a few things you should check out.

Chapel Bridge

Right in the heart of Lucerne is the medieval Chapel Bridge (or the Kapellbrücke), a covered wooden footbridge spanning over the river Reuss which cuts through the city. It’s the oldest covered wooden footbridge in all of Europe, being almost 800 years old, and it’s an incredible sight to see. On either side of the bridge are stunning views of the Swiss Alps looming over Lucerne, and you can feel the age of the wood underneath your feet.

Mount Pilatus

I’ve been to dozens of national parks here in the US and seen plenty of mountains, but none of them truly compared to Mount Pilatus. The view of the surrounding Swiss Alps is absolutely breathtaking, with the land looking like rigid paper creases for miles in every direction. There’s a gondola that takes you up to the visitor’s center, with another path that takes you up to the peak, and you will find that the gondola ticket is a small price to pay for the views you receive. On one side of Mount Pilatus you’ll have mountains as far as the eye can see, and on the other you’ll see the vast blue of Lake Lucerne and the tiny buildings of the city and towns on its shore.

I spent three whole hours at the top of Mount Pilatus, taking in the views, and to this day it’s still probably the prettiest scene I’ve ever laid eyes on.

Walk Around Lake Lucerne

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen water clearer and bluer than Lake Lucerne’s. I highly recommend going for a walk along the shore of Lake Lucerne and taking in the views, since the medieval Swiss architecture of Lucerne and the surrounding towns only adds to the beauty of the area.

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I’m sure I missed at least a few things to do in Lucerne since my time there was so limited, so let me know in the comments what I should see upon my return! Regardless, I can guarantee that the views that Lucerne has to offer are unparalleled, and you won’t regret paying this beautiful city a visit.

As always, thanks for reading and have a great week!