Lucerne is a must-visit city in Switzerland, and it’s the perfect “home base” for exploring more of Central Europe. So I’ve rounded up the best day trips from Lucerne, Switzerland.

Switzerland Travel Guide

To plan the rest of your trip, check out my Lucerne Travel Guide, the best Lucerne hotels, and the top vacation rentals in Lucerne.

Here are the best day trips from Lucerne, Switzerland!

Mount Pilatus

Known For: the world’s steepest cogwheel railway, aerial cable cars, hiking, stunning views.

Distance From Lucerne: 20 minutes by car.

Top Activity Recommendations: Start by taking the aerial cable cars up to the top of Mt. Pilatus, then hike around the peak. Go back down via the world’s steepest cogwheel railway, and take a scenic boat ride back to Lucerne.

Guided Tours: Small group tour, Self-guided tour, Private tour.

Known For: stunning scenery, local shops, hiking, summer tobogganing.

Distance From Lucerne: 1 hour and 30 minutes by car, 2 hours and 45 minutes by train.

Top Activity Recommendations: Ride the cable car to Grindelwald First and walk the Cliff Walk. Next, have lunch and shop in town and ride the Alpine toboggan. Then on your way back to Lucerne, do a helicopter tour to see the Alps from above.

Guided Tours: Full-day guided tour of Grindelwald and Interlaken, Full-day guided tour of Grindelwald and Grindelwald First.

Known For: glacial waterfalls, hiking trails, dramatic cliffs, and quaint villages.

Distance From Lucerne: 1 hour and 20 minutes by car, 2 hours and 30 minutes by train.

Top Activity Recommendations: See Staubbach Falls from the village and the man-made grotto that leads behind the falls, hike to Trümmelbach Falls, drive to the end of the valley, and take the Stechelberg Gondola to Mount Schilthorn. On your way back to Lucerne, do a helicopter tour to see the Alps from above.

Bern

Known For: being the “Beer Capital of Switzerland,” the Zytglogge Clock Tower, medieval architecture, and bears.

Distance From Lucerne: 1 hour and 15 minutes by car, 1 hour and 30 minutes by train.

Top Activity Recommendations: Do a beer tour, stroll through the medieval Old Town, admire the famous Renaissance fountains, climb the tower of Berner Münster, watch the Zytglogge Clock Tower show at the top of every hour, see the city’s famous bears, and walk across the Nydeggbrücke bridge.

Guided Tours: Full-day guided tour, Gruyères Cheese Factory & Maison Cailler Tasting Tour, Tour of the famous Bern Clock Tower.

Zurich

Known For: being one of the most expensive cities in the world (so it’s perfect for a day trip), its Old Town, and water activities.

Distance From Lucerne: 50 minutes by car, 50 minutes by train.

Top Activity Recommendations: Walk along the Lake Zürich promenade, do a walking tour of the Altstadt (Old Town), see the city from the Lindenhof viewpoint, tour the Swiss National Museum, visit the Grossmünster, shop (or window shop) on Bahnhofstrasse street, visit the Fraumünster.

Guided Tours: Half-day city tour, cruise, and Lindt Home of Chocolate visit, Guided city highlights tour.

Known For: being the capital of one of the smallest countries in the world, vineyards, castles, Alpine landscapes, and outdoor activities.

Distance From Lucerne: 1 hour and 30 minutes by car.

Top Activity Recommendations: visit the Gutenburg Castle and Vaduz Castle, stroll along the pedestrian street in the city center, walk across the Old Bridge, and have a wine tasting at The Prince of Liechtenstein Winery.

Guided Tours: Guided walking tour of Vaduz, Vaduz highlights walking tour.

Known For: being the “Adventure Capital of Switzerland,” water activities, Swiss chocolate, fondue.

Distance From Lucerne: 1 hour by car, 2 hours 45 minutes by train.

Top Activity Recommendations: Ride the funicular to the Harder Kulm viewpoint, stroll through Höhematte Park, hike the Schynige Platte trails, walk across the Panoramabrücke Sigriswil, see the St. Beatus Cave and waterfalls, and do a helicopter tour.

Guided Tours: Full-day tour to Interlaken and Grindelwald, Interlaken Rafting Trip.

YOUR TRAVEL CHECKLIST

PIN THIS GUIDE!

This post about the best day trips from Lucerne, Switzerland, is not a sponsored post, and, as always, the thoughts and opinions expressed in this post about the best day trips from Lucerne, Switzerland, are entirely my own. Some of the links in this post about the best day trips from Lucerne, Switzerland, are affiliate links, and, at no cost to you, I may earn a small commission from this post about the best day trips from Lucerne, Switzerland.