Lucerne, Switzerland Travel Guide Fall 2022

Wow, is all I have to say after last weekend’s trip. The study abroad adventures continue, this time around with a trip to study abroad adventures continue this time around with a trip to Lucerne, Switzerland. The girls and I were dying for a fall getaway in the mountains, and our trip certainly didn’t disappoint.

I was shocked at how much I loved it here—Lucerne was such a quaint town and for once it didn’t feel like there was anything that we had to get to. Instead, we just strolled around, shopping, eating, and taking photos of quite literally everything. I am so sad we couldn’t say here longer; this was by far one of my favorite destinations I’ve ever been to.

Per usual I’m rounding up all the details from our two-day trip. Sharing where we ate, things to do, a packing list, and more.

Transportation

As most of you know by now I am currently studying abroad in Florence, Italy. While there are flights to Lucerne, Switzerland we realized that it was easier (and cheaper) to take the train. We left out of Santa Maria Novella and had two transfers before making it to Lucerne.

Once arriving in the city, we were able to hop on a bus that took us right to our hotel. I was amazed at the public transportation system here. You can get literally everywhere by bus and it’s free. Switch the “Maps” app on your phone to “Bus” and it will tell you when/where/and what time each of the bus lines leaves. Within fifteen minutes you can get pretty much anywhere within Lucerne.

On our return to Florence, we hopped on a Flixbus which is another cheap option we’ve used a few times this semester. It’s definitely a bit longer of transportation but it’s ideal if you’re returning back home late at night or taking a redeye as it’s much easier to sleep on this than the train!

Where To Stay 

This trip the girls and I stayed at an incredible five-star boutique hotel called The Hermitage. This beautiful hotel was nestled between the swiss mountains and Lake Lucerne. Just steps away from the water with breathtaking panoramic views, this was by far one of my favorite hotels I’ve ever stayed at. The staff were just fantastic, our room was spotless, and we were just a ten-minute ride to the city center. It was so peaceful here.

We stayed in one of their Lake View Design Balcony rooms and it was amazing. This new category of rooms has a moody green velvet interior that gives all the cozy vibes. The seating area has plenty of space to sprawl out and enjoy your morning cup of coffee.

Our room also had a large king-size bed with the softest linens. We slept like babies here.

Each room is fully equipped with a sofa bed, safe, 50-inch flat-screen TV, minibar and Nespresso coffee machine, and sustainable care products.

The bathroom is split into two different areas. One with a lake view walk-in shower and large sink area and another with a closed-off toilet and sink. I’ve never had these two be separate from one another but I honestly loved it. It made getting ready in the morning with three people a breeze as there was plenty of countertop space and more than enough mirrors.

Of course, my favorite part of this room was the incredible panoramic view of Lake Lucerne. The balcony was huge with plenty of room to sit and take in the views. I cannot say enough good things about my stay at the Hermitage. If you’re thinking about booking with them, don’t hesitate—click here to view their current rates.

Oh, and how could I forget? We had the most amazing buffet breakfast included in our stay. They had a huge selection of stuff—pastries, sausage, eggs, bacon, granola, fruits, fresh juices, and more. We loaded up each morning and appreciated all of the variety. Breakfast is served daily until 10:30 am and is certainly no ordinary hotel breakfast.

Despite it being colder during our visit, we still enjoyed walking around the property. While the beach club is typically used for lakeside days in the summer, I’m so glad we were able to take advantage of and enjoy the views during the fall. The dock area is gorgeous; highly recommend walking down there if you have the chance.

And don’t skip out on the “Heaven” floor. I watched the most incredible golden hour sunset from here. So serene.

What To Do

We’re so used to traveling to big, busy tourist spots where we have to hit the go-to spots, that it was a nice change of pace getting to travel somewhere with no itinerary. This is the perfect city to just get lost in; we wandered for hours and it felt just right.

Regardless of the season, there’s always something to do here. I loved getting to see the fall foliage but would be eager to spend summer swimming in the lake or winter skiing through the mountains. Two of the things that Lucerne is most popular for are its skydiving and paragliding.

We had every intention of going paragliding while here but it ended up being too windy the day we wanted to go, so we weren’t able to. Oh well, looks like I’ll just have to go back. 😉

Take The Train Up Mount Pilatus

Since it was too windy to jump off a mountain we decided we at least needed to ride up to the top of one. We ended up taking a railway car to the top of Mount Pilatus and it was one of my favorite study-abroad experiences so far. This ride is the steepest in the world and truly so beautiful. It takes roughly a half hour each way so you have plenty of time to take in the scenery.

There are also two different places you can hop off to take pictures, explore, or enjoy a picnic. We ended up getting off at the highest point and it was breathtaking. We wandered around for about an hour, however, you’re able to stay for as long as you’d like. From the top, you’ll see many people actually hiking through these mountains and it’s insane. I can’t imagine!

Truly an unforgettable experience. It’s a little pricey but so worth it. Tickets for this can be bought from the Information Center of the Lucerne Central train station.

Shop The Streets

This quaint town is full of the most amazing shopping, and not just your basic H&M, Mango, and Zara that you see in every city. I’m talking dozens of adorable Christmas shops and stationery stores. I picked up so many small things, both for myself and as gifts for friends and family. The side streets just keep on going, and each store you go in is cuter than the last.

This is my favorite kind of shopping; I could have been here all day!

Explore Chapel Bridge 

Chapel Bridge is in the heart of Lucerne and is one of the only “must-see” spots you need to see while here. This landmark is Europe’s oldest covered bridge and one of the most photographed places in the world. It was originally built in the 14th century and is still just as beautiful. Of course, we had to stop and take some pictures for ourselves!

Self Care Day In

We spent one of our mornings cozied up in our hotel robes, sipping mimosas in our room. With a lakefront view as good as this one, this has to be considered one of the highest forms of self-care. I love a luxurious hotel experience and appreciate all of the boujee relaxation time I can get.

Where To Eat

There is nothing I love more than a good meal. Switzerland is known for its chocolate and fresh local meats so I was thrilled to try the food here. We enjoyed a huge buffet breakfast at our hotel each morning so we didn’t end up eating out too much throughout our trip. However, the meals we did have were amazing. Sharing what few recommendations I do have below for you!

Bierliebe & Friends

We found this authentic beer and brats place amidst the strip of restaurants right outside of Chapel Bridge and had an amazing experience, to say the least. Not only did we get the best seat in the house with a waterfront view, but my burger was hands down the best I’ve ever had. And I’ve eaten a lot of burgers so that’s saying a lot.

I took the waiter’s advice and got their burger of the month which was pumpkin aioli, apples, cheese, arugula, bacon, and more and it was amazing. Truly every flavor in one; I was so impressed. The girls got loaded hotdogs and beers and it was just an amazing, wholesome meal. I’d recommend it to anyone visiting!

✈ Menu // Directions

Restaurant Hermitage

Most of the hotels in this area also have their own restaurant. We ate at the Hermitage restaurant and had an amazing five-star dining experience. This restaurant is also waterfront with an amazing sunset view. We got the appetizer platter to start which had a mix of bread, cheeses, nuts, and teriyaki chicken and shrimp that were delicious.

All three of us splurged and got steaks and they were so flavorful. I recommend the cranberry risotto—so rich and unlike anything else I’ve ever tasted. We finished it off with amaretto sours (their cocktail menu was huge!) and a few tiny deserts. The chocolate mousse was my personal favorite. Such a chic spot!

✈ Menu // Directions

Bachmann

This is a chain local to Switzerland where you can get a sweet treat. They have coffee, pastries, and all kinds of chocolates as well as paninis and salads you can order at the counter. I needed to grab a quick bite before our bus ride home and got their Hawaii sandwich which was ham, cheese, and pineapple. Not only was it huge but it was so rich. Yummy!

I also got a mix of their bark chocolates. I highly recommend milk chocolate with macadamia nuts. Swizz chocolate is so expensive but man is it good. A must for sure!

✈ Menu // Directions

What To Pack

If you’re visiting Switzerland in the fall, layers are going to be your best friend. We lucked out and still had weather in the seventies so we could forgo a jacket most of the weekend. However, temperatures definitely vary drastically from morning to night so you can’t go wrong with having a scarf, hat, and an outerwear piece on deck.

I shared an outfit guide complete with full outfit ideas, links to shop, and directions to each photo location here. Be sure to check that out before planning your trip. In the meantime, here’s a checklist of things you must bring with you!

• A Scarf: You need a scarf here. I bought this large one specifically for this trip to keep my shoulders warm and ended up wearing it every single day. It’s practical and makes every outfit a little bit cuter.
• A Jacket: Although it was warm enough to go without a jacket during the day here, I recommend bringing one regardless. It gets chilly at night and it’s better to be safe than sorry.
• Chunky Knits: This is the mountain trip of your Pinterest board dreams—bring your favorite chunky knit sweaters. You’re going to want them and there is truly no place better fit.
• A Beanie: Highly recommend bringing a beanie. This is something I didn’t have but wish I did. Adds a cute touch to each outfit and keeps you warm too!
• Workout Clothes + Sneakers: If you’re planning on paragliding or sky diving, you need activewear and sneakers. I brought both but, unfortunately, didn’t end up needing them. No worries, it worked out as the perfect travel outfit.

Things To Note Before Traveling To Switzerland 

A couple of things to note before traveling to Switzerland—they use their own currency called the Swiss Franc. As of right now, 1 Swiss Franc is roughly equivalent to $1.01. Despite the value of the dollar being relatively the same, everything here was very expensive compared to other European countries we’ve been to. In general, everything was pricier with the average meal about $25.

However, this was the only country we visited where I didn’t need to do a currency exchange. Everywhere accepted card so no need to take out Francs. This was ideal since transaction fees can get pretty steep when traveling abroad!

This is also a place of many languages. While many people did speak some English, common languages spoken here are German, French, and Italian.

Watch The Weekend

It’s no secret that I’ve put together a lot of travel vlogs over the last year. I have to say, I think the Switzerland vlog has to be one of my favorites ever. There’s just something so wholesome about it—I was feeling all the love this trip and truly so, so grateful.

pin this post for later

We’ve been to a lot of places that I’ve loved but very few I’ve left saying “oh my gosh, I can’t wait to come back here”. And yet Lucerne, Switzerland was definitely one of them. I felt a whole new level of peace here; one that I don’t think I’ve ever felt before. I found myself longing for loved ones, wishing I could share this beautiful place with them.

Grateful for such an amazing trip and for the ability to share these adventures with all of you. I know I’ll be back one day… until then.

With love, McKenz

Latest Post: What to Wear In Switzerland Fall 2022
Related Post: Morocco, Africa Travel Guide Fall 2022
Instagram // Tik Tok // YouTube // Pinterest