Lucerne is a beautiful city blending history and modern vibes. The old town area is quite compact, making it perfect for exploring on foot.

We usually start at Chapel Bridge, an ancient wooden structure with 17th-century paintings, and stroll through the Old Town's cobblestone streets. Don't miss Weinmarkt, a square with charming Renaissance buildings. The Lion Monument pays tribute to fallen Swiss Guards, while the Musegg Wall offers great views of Lucerne and its medieval ramparts to cap off the tour.

Here are a few walking tours we suggest:

Self Guided Walking Tours

Lucerne has a free audio tour that you can download on your phone. It has suggested routes or you can plan your own. They also have themed tours that change seasonally.

GPSmyCity has a few different self-guided tours with different themes.

If you have kids, you might like the FoxTrail scavenger hunt where you solve riddles as you explore the city. I'd choose one that visits the Old Town.

We have a suggested self-guided walking route for families that hits the highlights.

Guided Tours

Free Walk Lucerne offers a variety of guided tours, most mornings at 10:00. It's free, but you should sign up so they know to expect you. I would also bring cash to tip about CHF 5-10 per person or more if you really like your guide.

In winter, Lucerne Tourism offers guided tours on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. It costs CHF 25/adult but is discounted with your Lucerne visitor card you receive free from your hotel.

The "Kapellbrücke" crossing the Reuss river in the Lucerne old town is the oldest wooden covered footbridge in Europe.

Location: Kapellbrücke 1, 6004 Luzern • 5 min walk from Luzern train station

Open: always open, free to visit

It's the most iconic photo spot in Lucerne, lined with beautiful flower boxes with a background of the charming cityscape. When you walk across, don't forget to look up at the triangle paintings on the roof beams, the main attraction.

It was originally built in 1365. It almost burned down in 1993, in a fire that destroyed the majority of interior paintings. It was reconstructed and now is open to the public.

Learn more about the history on Wikipedia

The Spreuer Bridge, built in 1408, is another beautiful covered wooden bridge crossing the Reuss river in the Lucerne old town. It's not nearly as famous as the Chapel Bridge but still worth a visit.

You can get some nice pictures of this bridge with the river and Jesuit church in frame, by walking to the next bridge, Geissmattbrücke.

It's known for its medieval "death paintings" on the interior, which include a lot of grim symbols related to mortality.

Location: near Pfistergasse 24, 6003 Luzern

Café de Ville is a traditional cafe in the Lucerne old town with views of the lake. They are a popular spot for morning coffee with pastries and afternoon tea with dessert. This would be a great place to warm up after doing a walking tour of the city.

The interior is quite formal and feels more suited to their evening dining on hearty Swiss classics. But service is friendly and I always feel welcome even if I'm just ordering a cappucino while I wait for friends.

The Rathaus Brauerei is a popular restaurant and brewery in the Lucerne old, right along the Reuss river. They have a friendly atmosphere, great views and tasty traditional Swiss dishes.

It's a fun place to have drinks in the warm afternoon sun and watch the world go by. The casual vibe makes it a good place for groups and families (reservations a must for dinner).

Location: Unter der Egg 2, 6004 Luzern (along Reuss river)

Website: www.rathausbrauerei.ch

Sausage is their specialty, supplied by local Lucerne butchers, with the classic Bavarian "Weisswürste" with a pretzel and mustard as well as a house sausages made with their beer.

They brew their own beers right on-site in copper vats. They have a unique system where the beer flows through an underground conduit for 70 meters under the Old Town to their nearby fermentation and storage cellar.