Day Trips from Zurich to Lucerne

Direct InterCity trains link Zurich and Lucerne in roughly 50 minutes, twice an hour, and Lucerne station stands right on the lakefront. For Lucerne and its lake, we bring together 24 day trips from Zurich. Lucerne outings shown here count more than 3,648 reviews between them, and their average sits at 4.5 out of 5.

Lengths of 9 to 11 hours cover the Lucerne trips we describe; 10 hours is the commonest. Widen the view to the whole Lucerne listing and trips last anywhere from 9 to 11 hours.

Lake Lucerne cruise days with old-town time

A boat day trip is a Lucerne outing that includes time on the water. A 10-hour boat day pairs a "Best of Lucerne" audioguide with a 1-hour panorama cruise when that option is chosen, and the wooden Chapel Bridge is one of its highlights; it runs in English or Spanish. Its score from past guests is 4.3 out of 5.

Time to wander Lucerne alone figures in more than one trip we show. "Explore Lucerne Village with freedom to choose your activities and itinerary", a 9-hour day describes, with a driver-guide on the way and free time in the town.

Guided Lucerne days that climb a mountain

A guided Lucerne day trip is one where a guide comes along from Zurich. With a bilingual guide in English or Spanish, a 10-hour day follows the "Golden Round Trip" by bus, boat and train, going up Mount Pilatus by panoramic gondola and down on the world's steepest cogwheel train. Travellers give it 4.8 out of 5.

Mountains enter more than one Lucerne trip we include. On one 10-hour guided day the peak is Titlis, reached by aerial cable car, and the guide speaks Spanish or English. Its rating reads 4.7 out of 5.

Multi-stop loop including free time in Lucerne

A multi-stop day trip groups several places into one outing from Zurich. "Free time in Lucerne", one 11-hour itinerary notes, and Mount Titlis features in its highlights too; its driver doubles as guide, in English. Guests have rated it 4.6 out of 5.

Small group to Mount Rigi and the lake

A small-group Lucerne day is shared with a few other travellers. One 10.5-hour English-language day climbs by cogwheel train to the Rigi summit and comes down from Rigi Kulm to Vitznau, with an aerial cable car between Weggis and Rigi Kaltbad that is under maintenance in some periods. Its highlights add Europe's first mountain railway, up to Rigi-Kulm, a boat cruise across Lake Lucerne and the old town at your own pace.

Lucerne trips we feature come as cruise days, guided mountain days, multi-stop loops and small-group outings; length, extras and the language of the guide are where they part ways. Of the trips shown here, "From Zurich: Lucerne, Engelberg and Titlis Day Tour" leads on feedback with more than 1,372 reviews and 4.6 out of 5.

Table data is indicative and comes from the GuruWalk catalogue. Each activity's current details, including availability, are the ones shown on its listing when you book.

Chapel Bridge and the Lion Monument

The 14th-century Chapel Bridge, a covered wooden crossing with painted panels, leads into Lucerne's old town. The Lion Monument honours the Swiss Guards.

Lake cruises from the station docks

Cruises on Lake Lucerne of 1 to 2 hours leave from the docks by the station. A 9-hour trip we show offers a first-class yacht cruise for those who choose that option.