is Luzern worth a visit?
 

I am thinking of stopping in Luzern for half a day on my way to the Berner Oberland? Is it worth half a day visit to just walk around? Also, can you take the Golden Panoramic train part way from Luzern to Interlaken and then a few days later take the same train from Interlaken to Montreaux?

I think it is VERY worth it. It is a beautiful little place.

Absolutely.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Joanne--we stopped in Luzern for a day on a round-Europe trip a few years ago, and found it to be utterly lovely. We were able to purchase a package that included a boat ride across the lake, then the funicular up the mountain and the trams down. While normally I shy away from such "all-inclusives," this really seemed to be a good way to enjoy all of the town's gorgeous surroundings. Luzern is quite beautiful and tranquil--I have very fond memories of our day there.

Lucerne (a.k.a. Luzern) – is a tourist trap, but does offer a cool bridge with paintings above your head detailing the Swiss history. <BR><BR>The neatest thing this city has to offer is a lion that is carved into a rock mountain.<BR><BR> Lucern is one of the <BR>“quintessential” Swiss towns. It is small, and can be seen in a day. <BR>

Hi<BR><BR>If you are nearby, you must visit Lucerne<BR><BR>Peter<BR>

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Remember the old line, "Is the Pope Polish? Well, it does apply to the question about seeing Luzern. It is an incredibly lovely, small city. Yes, draws a ton of us tourists, and makes no bones about wanting you to spend a ton, but who really cares?--it's a very cool place to visit. Do see it if you can. You'll want to return and spend more time there.

Everyone has their own opinion and tastes, so pardon me for disagreeing with some of the other posters by saying that I HATE Lucerne, Switzerland. I think it is a horrible tourist trap with tacky cookie-cutter architecture.<BR><BR>Yes, the lake is very pretty and a stroll around it, or a boatride, is very relaxing and enjoyable.<BR><BR>There is also a great gourmet restaurant near the bahnhof (the name escapes me) where I had a delicious meal. But, some of the other restaurants are filled with horrible tourists who burp their way through their food. (The servers are also extremely arrogant, worse than any Parisian waiter.)<BR><BR>There is not much to do: visit the Lion of Lucern sculpture, see the glacier, climb the walls of the city, go to Pilitus.<BR><BR>With all the beautiful places in Switzerland, like Interlaken or Grindelwald, I don't know why people flock to Lucerne.<BR><BR>To each his own.

The poster above probably also demeans Niagara Falls as too touristy to bother to stop.<BR>You should see it for yourself. Even Mark Twain visited Luzern on his grand tour of Europe, and purportedly called the dying lion of Luzern the saddest and most poignant piece of rock in the world. The lion monument IS something to behold!<BR>Although the original covered bridge (Kapellbrucke) was dmaged in a fire in 1993, they did a nice job of rebuilding it. There's another bridge that is almost equally famous that was not damaged, the Mill Bridge (Spreuerbrucke). You can also follow more of Twain's footsteps and take the very cool ride up to Pilatus (cog train up, gondola back down). A beautiful city -- even the train station has a beautiful stained glass window with a Gubelin clock.

I am sure that when Samuel Clemens visited Lucerne over a hundred years ago he did not have to contend with low-rent, fat German tourists burping over their beer and sausage.<BR><BR>Oh, yes, the Lion of Lucerne is a marvel, especially since its outline is in the shape of a pig (how apt) because the carver "disfigured" the monument when the town elders refused to pay him for his work.<BR><BR>It is hardly a Bernini.<BR><BR>But, again, to each his own.

I "have" to visit Luzern if I'm anywhere close. I, personally just love it. Steve

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If it's on your way to a final destination do not miss Luzern. It is a very charming town, although there were quite a few tourists there I also saw a lot of locals and Swiss tourists. The Kapellbrucke (covered bridge) with it's paintings depicting Swiss history is very interesting, and the lake is wonderful, complete with a flock of beautiful white swans swimming in it.