What is wrong with Lucerne?
 

Hi, I have booked 3 nights in Lucerne for June. Looking through the message boards people either love it or hate it. I actually just saw a post that said it was "YUK." How could it be that YUK when other people think its breathtaking? Is the YUK a little too harsh? I am beginning to get nervous about staying there as I have flip-flopped between Interlaken and Lucerne (even changing my hotel bookings) - any suggestions, I was using Lucerne as a base to visit Murren etc. but should I just stay in a small little town altogether? HELP!!

How recent were the posts,the *YUKS*?If it was preregistration, my guess would be the poster was an imposter.Probably never been to Europe at all.Lucerne is fabulous.My advice=GO.

Nothing wrong with Lucerne!

Thanks SO much. I was getting so worried. The following was from "NICE HOTELS IN LUCERNE" It seemed pretty genuine and I was shocked, I dont know what he is used to:

Author: John G
Date: 04/30/2002, 01:01 am
Message: Is this hotel on the lake? If not, Im surprised it isn't very noisy. Hotels near the trainstation (bahnhof) tend to get all the noise of the train cars coupling and uncoupling all night.

I hate Luzern (tacky), but when I was there I stayed at the Palace Hotel, which is right on the lake and very serene.

I would also recommend the Grand and the Schwietzerhof (sp?). I had meals at both and they seemed like very nice hotels.

Why anyone would want to stay in Luzurn is beyond me. YUK!

I really enjoyed Lucerne when I visited back in 1995. I can't imagine why someone would say "YUK." Obviously people like certain cities more than others, which is reasonable. But I would not hesitate to go there at all. If that is the only negative comment on the city you saw, I would take it for what it's worth, which in my opinion is nothing at all.

Anne

Lucerne can be a little crowded with tourists at times, but it's still a lovely place to stay. We enjoy many parts of Switzerland, but I can't imagine anyone finding Lucerne "YUK". The reason we like it so much is that it not only has lots to offer in the town, but it offers such variety nearby. On one trip, we stayed in Lucerne seven or eight nights and did side trips to the nearby mountains (Pilatus, Rigi, and Titlis), to the monastery at Einsedeln (sp?), and to Appenzell. In the pedestrian parts of the old town, you forget the traffic for a while. The Berner Oberland has more beautiful scenery right outside the door, for sure, but I think Lucerne has the added pluses of more really good restaurants and nice shopping that can provide variety to the vacation.

If someone said Yuk to Luzern, I think I would not agree with them. It is a classy place in my opinion.
The transportation museum has lured me there twice. I enjoyed it both times.

It's been a number of years, but I loved Lucerne when I was there.

I wouldn't worry about what others say. Not every destination is for everyone.

Spent an overnight in Lucerne on a bus tour - walked the bridge, enjoyed touristy folklore show, and thought the area was very picturesque. Have always wanted to return, and will do so this Sept. Seems like there are a number of interesting things to see and lovely lake/river, somewhat mountainous views.
Can't wait to slow it down and enjoy a couple of days just wandering.

We have been to Lucerne about a half dozen times and never get tired of it. It has a vibrant Old Town, a beautiful lake and many restaurants and shops. On our last visit (May 2002), we discovered a fabulous Greek restaurant called Styraki which was near the Bahnhof. I highly recommend it and I didn't even know I liked Greek food!

I didn't think Lucerne was so bad, even though the weather was...

Thank you everyone, from what you said it seems lovely. I plan to do much the same things that many of you have mentioned, Im sure it will be great and I am really looking forward to it. I just got a little surprise, I got a great deal in Hotel Balances CFH199 a night an they just emailed me that they have reserved a lovely room with a river view, so that is nice. I booked through myswitzerland.com, checked all the hotels and that was under a last minute deal.

Aine,

Lucerne has its plusses and minuses. Like anyplace else, one's mood and the weather have a lot to do with it.

Our attitude soured a bit when we couldn't find an accessible ATM after 8:00 PM in the Bahnhoff (in Switzerland!). Good window shopping, but they roll up the streets at 6:30 (that's the Swiss for you).

Getting past that: Riding the lake steamers is great in almost any weather. If it's sunny, cruise over to Mr. Pilatus. If it's overcast, steam over and take the funicular up to Birkenstock.

Sorry, Beachboi, I have been to Luzern, and while I think the scenery around the city (and Lac Leman) is pretty, the town itself is a horrid tourist trap. There is nothing culturally redeeming about Luzern. If you want to walk around a Disney-like setting, that is fine. But, there are far more interesting REAL cities in Switzerland that are culturally and aesthetically satisfying. Everyone is different and has different needs while on holiday. I think the kind of people who like London, Paris, Rome would not like Luzern. However, if you like pokey little places like Stratford, Brugge, or Garmiche, you would probably like Luzern. Different strokes for different folks, as you Yanks say.

Not everyone is going to like the same place, in the same way. Most people I know love Paris but I also know a few that hate it.

One person's YUK is another person's KUY.

Lucerne is beatiful. GO!

Make a point to go to the Hotel (pronounced "Gooch") and have a drink at the bar, in the sofa overlooking Lake Lucerne. Breathtaking.

Lucerne! I have great memories of this town.

I was drafted in the Army in 1969 after graduating college and getting married. Lucked out and got sent to Germany instead of Viet Nam. One of the first places my wife and I went was Switzerland. I was walking across the street in Lucerne overlooking the beautiful lake and commented to my wife, "I think this really beats being in Viet Nam". We have been back a few times since and I still remember that night and the way I truly lucked out in my military service.

Lucerne? Great place for me! But 3 nights may be one night too many.

Hi

Lucern is one of those towns I revisit every few years.

Worth a visit !

Sadly the old bridge was burnt out together with the original paintings. The bridge has been restored, but the photos of the original paintings can't replace the originals.

Peter
http://tlp.netfirms.com

We just got back on Wednesday. I loved Lucerne, but might have stayed one night less (we were there for four). We also used it as a base: One day to BO, one day to Engelberg, one day on the lake and to Weggis, one day in town. Interlaken is a better base for the BO, but like others, I think we may have been a little bored if we had chosen it as our base, since we like bigger cities. I will say that the scenery around Engelberg was just as striking to me as the BO (Murren and the Schilthorn), because to me, the height of the peaks gets lost as a matter of perspective. But others are fascinated by the really big ones, so who can argue? Des Balances looked nice...we stayed at Des Alpes--both on the river which I'm sure you will love. Check the forecast--it was hot last week!

Hi - Rest Assured - I think it is one of the most beautiful places I have been to. I was there in 1997 and then again in 1999 and would love to go there again. It is beautiful and that is truely an understatement. I have also been to Zurich and Geneva and I felt it was more industrialized and not much of the traditional Switzerland feeling. Lucerne however is amazing. Once you get there - you will have a 360 degrees view of snow capped mountains as the backdrop - with a beautiful lake in which there are gorgeous white swans swimming. There is a covered bridge you can walk through - all the architecture is beautiful. It is sooooo heavenly!!! And then there are the little shops and places to eat - and ofcourse a pizza hut on days you don't feel like exploring!

While you are there - you HAVE to look into going to the swiss alps. There is a local train you take - the train ride is AMAZING! The windows are huge panoramic windows and you see neverending green pastures with cows with huge bells around their necks!! The views are breathtaking. Its about 30-45 minutes ride and once you get there - there is a cable car ride up to the swiss alps - where you can play in the snow, go into the ice cavern, sit in the restaurant, etc, etc. There is so much to do there - make sure you take plenty of film because you will never get sick of taking pictures. There is no way you should back out of this one - you will be raving about it to all your friends when you return! DO NOT listen to the posts where people say YUK - I don't know what is wrong with them!!