Luzern city is a convenient base for excursions all over central Switzerland. The countryside here is tame, and the vast Vierwaldstättersee offers a prime opportunity for a lake steamer cruise. Where the River Reuss flows out of Lake Luzern, Luzern's Old Town straddles the narrowed waters.
There are a couple of discount passes available for museums and sights in the city. The Lucerne Museum Card, which costs 36 SF, grants admission to several museums over a two-day period. If you're staying in a hotel, pick up a special visitor's card; once stamped by the hotel, it entitles you to discounts at most museums and other tourist-oriented businesses. Both passes are available at the tourist office, which will give you a free public transit pass if you make your hotel booking through them.
