What to skip in Lucerne
Built from every Lucerne verdict we publish. Each links to the full reasoning and what to do instead.
Skip this option
- Rental car, from Zurich airport or train to Lucerne: which way?
- Interlaken on a Lucerne day trip, from Lucerne or Interlaken: which Swiss base?
- The outer budget belt (Meggen, Horw, Kriens), from Where to stay in Lucerne: which area?
Only if it fits your trip
- Is a Lake Lucerne cruise worth it?: It depends which boat: the one-hour Discovery Cruise at CHF 15 is the painless yes for first-timers, a scheduled day pass covers the whole lake for CHF 86, and the five-hour gourmet sailings are special-occasion buys at several hundred francs.
- Is a Lucerne food tour worth it?: Depends what you book: Lucerne eats brilliantly on its own, the dedicated guided-tour shelf is thin, and the reports that loved the city most grazed the old town themselves with one beer tour or chocolate visit on top.
- Is Mount Pilatus worth it?: It depends on the sky and the budget. On a clear summer day the Golden Round Trip, boat, the world's steepest cogwheel, the Dragon Ride cableway and gondolas, is the marquee excursion from Lucerne. At CHF 119.80 an adult it is also an expensive bet on weather, which is why everyone in the reports checks the webcams before committing.