Lindt chocolate, clock towers, the Alps, rösti – what’s not to love about Switzerland? When it comes to spectacular landscapes, architecture and food, this European country has it all. However, sometimes having it all comes with a price…literally. Time Out London recently released their 2017 list of the Top 10 Most Expensive Cities to Live In, and Switzerland’s largest cities, Zurich and Geneva, are on the list for the umpteenth time. The Swiss city of Lucerne, one of my stops from last summer’s Interrail Adventure, is not exempt from the “pricey” situation either.

What You Need to Know About Visiting Lucerne on a Budget

Now, before you cross a trip to Lucerne off your Eurotrip itinerary, I have some incredibly amazing info to share! Breaking the bank while visiting Lucerne is completely unnecessary! You CAN experience the incredible sites and attractions the city has to offer even if you’re on a budget.

So, put on your best walking (or even hiking) shoes and get ready to spend a day exploring this Swiss city for 20Sfr (Swiss Francs) or less!*

*Accommodation not included, but I’ll tell you about a good deal at the end of this post. You can scroll down to the bottom now if you really want to.*

FREE: Walk Across and Around the Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke)

The Chapel Bridge, known as the Kapellbrücke, is possibly Lucerne’s most famous landmark. The wooden pedestrian bridge crosses the Reuss River in Lucerne’s city centre and is absolutely FREE for visitors to walk across.

The bridge was built in the 14^th century. Inside the bridge, you can find paintings depicting the city’s history. They were added in the 17^th century. However, most of the paintings you see today are restored paintings because a fire destroyed many of the originals over 20 years ago.

This covered, wooden bridge is really a unique sight – it’s actually the oldest one in Europe. So not only do I recommend walking across bridge, but I recommend walking around it too! It’s admirable from every possible angle. You’ll also never see anything like it anywhere else!

READ MORE: Switzerland Train Fare Hacks You Need to Know

The Kapellbrücke

A restored painting inside the Kapellbrücke

FREE: Explore the Musegg Wall and Towers (Museggmauer)

Lucerne boasts yet another landmark from the 14^th century: the Musegg Wall. This fortification was built in the Middle Ages in order to protect the city. Nine towers can be found along the wall and 4 of them are open for visitors to climb up and explore. The Zyt Tower, which is one of the four you can enter, is home to the Lucerne’s oldest city clock.

From the wall and towers, you can get a bird’s-eye view of Lucerne, Lake Lucerne, and the Alps. If you’ve read any of my other posts, such as my Munich post, then you’re well aware of my obsession with bird’s-eye views. In addition to the Chapel Bridge, the Musegg Wall is definitely a site in Lucerne that I wouldn’t dare miss.

The wall and towers are open from April 1^st – November 1^st, 8 am – 7 pm.

View from the Musegg Wall

The Musegg Wall

FREE: Walk Around the Old Town

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Lucerne also has a picture-perfect old town. After all, the city is also home to the surreal Chapel Bridge and the Medieval Musegg Wall. You can seriously spend hours wandering around the Old Town. Personally, I was a fan of admiring the elaborate murals adorning many of the buildings and straining my neck muscles in order to marvel at the clock towers. (It’s well worth the pain).

One of those awesome clock towers

As always, walking is absolutely free.

As well, any of the bridges crossing the Reuss River are a great spot for snapping some stunning Old Town pics.

Photo of the Old Town taken from the Chapel Bridge

Another bridge crossing the Reuss River

Stunning Lucerne just before sunset

Those stunning murals…

 

COST 8.20 SWISS FRANCS: Get a 24-Hour Zone 10 Bus Ticket

Now, before I explain why I recommend buying this bus pass, I want to make it clear that I do not consider riding Lucerne’s public transit an exceptional tourist attraction. I chose to present this ticket as its own point with its own title, so that I could emphasize that this is the only moment where I’m encouraging you to spend some Swiss Francs.

This bus pass, unless you have a bike or car, will let you get to the base of Mt. Pilatus and back. You can take Bus 1 (Kriens) from the public bus terminal at Lucerne’s Hauptbanhof and get off at Kriens, Zentrum Pilatus. Then, follow the signs to the base. This route will only take you to the gondola and hiking trails – not the cog railway. If you want to learn how to reach the cog railway, check out Mt. Pilatus’ arrival information page by clicking here.

Why should you visit Mt. Pilatus?

Well, you’re in Switzerland! It’s THE land of the highest Alps, and Pilatus happens to be mountain massif located on Lucerne’s doorstep. For me, a trip to Switzerland is not complete unless there’s a mountain involved.

If you’re considering renting a bike to get to the mountain base, note that it’s actually cheaper to get a 24 Hour Zone 10 ticket than to rent a bike from Lucerne’s Rent-a-Bike Service (27Sfr for half a day). As well, 2 one-way bus tickets add up to the same price as the 24-Hour Zone 10 Ticket, so you might as well go for the 24-Hour Ticket.

FREE: Hike Up Mt. Pilatus (Well, to Krienseregg at least…)

There is absolutely no charge for using Mt. Pilatus’ hiking trails. If you’re on a quest to see some magnificent mountain views, grand forests, and some cute little waterfalls, embark on a hike up Mt. Pilatus from the Kriens base.

One of those grand forests on the way up to Krienseregg

There’s an easygoing hike from the Kriens base up to Krienseregg, which is the lowest “mountain edge” of the Pilatus massif. It’s possible to continue up to Fräkmüntegg and the higher summits, but you need to be ready to spend hours upon hours committing to the hike. You also need to be well-equipped.

I completed the hike to Krienseregg on a complete whim. The child in me actually wanted to go down Pilatus’ mountain toboggan run, but the inconsistent, stormy weather had shut the run down earlier that morning. I wasn’t too crazy about paying 10Sfr for a 10-minute gondola ride up to Krienseregg or 20 Sfr to Fräkmüntegg (these prices are one-way only), so I decided hike up. It was rainy. I had a half-full water bottle in my hand and old Converse on my feet. Yet, I more than managed to complete the trek and had an incredible time. I wasn’t about to let rain stop me from enjoying my one afternoon in the Alps.

Photos from the hike up

Obviously, Mother Nature rewarded me for my decision, because when I reached the top, the clouds cleared and the sun came out.

Click here to check out a detailed overview of Pilatus’ hiking trails (see page 2).

The individual operating the Pilatus ticket centre in Kriens informed me that it would only take one hour to reach Krienseregg from the base. I’m not sure where that bit of information came from, because it took me nearly two hours to reach it…but then again, I did get carried away with my camera on a number of occasions.

What to Eat

You’ve spent 8.20 Sfr on a Zone 10 Day Ticket. This means you have 11.80 Sfr left for the day. I hope I’m not letting you down when I say that you’re going to have a hard time dining in restaurants with that sum. 11.80 Sfr probably won’t even cover a single meal out…if you’re lucky, it will cover an appetizer.

Fortunately, you can find quite a few grocery stores in downtown Lucerne. My personal favourite was the Coop Luzerne Banhof in the main train station. There, you can get your hands on a multitude of ingredients in order to make your own snacks and meals. If your accommodation doesn’t have any cooking facilities, you can also buy many pre-made dishes from the supermarket.

Of course, if your budget allows, go and eat out. However, if you’re on a mission to save as much money as possible, shopping for food at the grocery store will be your best bet.

**Please note that I’m not that big of an eater so 11.20 Sfr was more than enough for me.**

Where to Sleep

When I was in Lucerne, I stayed at the Luzern Youth Hostel. Overall, there are only a few hostels in Lucerne’s downtown area, and staying in one of them is usually the most affordable accommodation option.

I’m going to stick to telling you about the Luzern Youth Hostel since that’s the hostel I’m familiar with. I paid roughly $41 (USD) per night through booking.com. The price per night I found on booking.com was cheaper than the price found on Hostelworld, so if you plan on staying in the Luzern Youth Hostel, I recommend checking prices on both sites.

I stayed in a 20-bed all-female dorm (solo travel yo!). Sharing a room with 20 other people may sound pretty crazy, but the room itself was huge and canvas partitions divided up the room into smaller sections with only 2 bunks. Breakfast was also included in the price. This massive hostel was super clean and seemed to have this college residence vibe, which made me nostalgic for my university days. (However, I promise you that the dorms were really quiet at night). If staying in a 20-bed dorm is not your cup of tea, there are also 6-bed dorms, quadruple rooms, and single rooms.

The hostel is 2 km from Lucerne’s main train station. You can easily get to the hostel by bus or on foot. I walked to and from the hostel the first few times and really enjoyed the experience. The walk takes you through Lucerne’s Old Town, the Musegg Wall, and the most perfect residential neighbourhood. I’m actually a huge fan of the hostel’s location. It’s super calm at night (in contrast to the train station hostel fiasco I experienced in Lisbon…but more about that another time).

You can check out Booking.com’s Luzern Youth Hostel page by clicking here. And in case you’re wondering: yes, I would stay at this hostel again and again.

To Sum Things Up

Sure – Lucerne, Switzerland can be an expensive city to visit, but with some careful planning, it’s completely possible to explore the city on a budget. Now that I’ve been to Zurich and Lucerne, I’m head-over-heels obsessed with Switzerland, and of course, I know there’s still so much more of Switzerland that I need to explore. You can count on me paying the country more than just another visit and sharing the best budgeting tips and tricks with you!

Stay Tuned and Happy Traveling!

A glamorous shot of the most expensive bottle of Coke I ever purchased. It cost 5Sfr. This expenditure was definitely the result some poor planning. Next time I even consider going on a hike, I WILL pack snacks. The mad craving I got for sugar once I reached Krienseregg was so overwhelming. I gave in and bought the silly soda.

Do you have any tips for visiting Lucerne on a budget?

Share them below!

Interest in checking out other accommodation options in and around Lucerne? Search with Booking.com below:

 

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