5 Day Trips from Lucerne, Switzerland

lucerne day trips Guide by aplins in the alps cover

$39 BUNDLE

5 Day Trips from Lucerne, Switzerland

Focus your time on the highlights of Central Switzerland!

✔️ 5 individual full-day itineraries 
✔️ 3 bonus day trip options
✔️ Best from early-June through mid-October
✔️ Features: Pilatus, Rigi, Titlis, Stanserhorn, Stoos, and beyond!
✔️ Includes Bonuses: Bonus Resources PDF, 5 Digital Maps, 2 Transportation Spreadsheets, and Train Pass Checklist

Note: This Guide does not include the 1-Day City Guide to Lucerne.

INCLUDED: Bundle Bonuses

✔️ BONUS: Bonus Resources | Explains where to stay, rainy day activities, Lucerne Visitor Card, and more!
✔️ BONUS: Daily Maps | Follow each itinerary, find recommended restaurants, and navigate walking directions
✔️ BONUS: Transportation in Central Switzerland Spreadsheet | A visual overview of which transportation routes are running every day of the year
✔️ BONUS: What’s Covered By My Train Pass spreadsheet | Details every single transportation route included in this itinerary, along with the cost of riding each route with all of the major train passes
✔️ BONUS: Swiss Train Checklist | Pick the best train pass for your entire Swiss vacation!


Planning your trip to Lucerne, Switzerland should be exciting. But with so many possible day trips, it can quickly feel overwhelming.

Spending hours researching the endless options is enough to downgrade your vacation planning into a stressful, frenzied chore.

map of lucerne switzerland and central switzerland by aplins in the alps travel switzerland with confidence

Yet, a simple glance at a map reveals that there are DOZENS of day trip options in Central Switzerland alone.

In fact, the most popular transportation pass for this region offers FREE transport to:

39 mountain peaks

4 lakes

8 train & bus networks

how many days do you need to see the best of lucerne switzerland and take nearby day trips poll by aplins in the alps

But if you’re like most people in our audience, then you’re only spending an average of 2-4 days in this area.

So…where do you go with just a few days yet so many choices? 

Without a clear plan, you might miss must-see destinations, waste hours navigating, or spend precious time and money on activities you (and your family/travel group) don’t enjoy.

HERE’S OUR ADVICE:

A few destinations are great for EVERY kind of traveler. → No really, we think everyone would enjoy these day trips!

But some spots are best for families with kids. → Playgrounds, mountain coasters, and kids trails — yes, please!

Other places are can’t-miss for hiking enthusiasts. → Ridge views, alpine lakes, and hours with your boots on the trail.

And some excursions are best for stellar views without too much effort. → Unique transportation rides that deliver you to the top without increasing the number on your pedometer.


imagine effortlessly planning your day trips from Lucerne Switzerland. Shop the Lucerne Day Trips Guide from Aplins in the Alps!
  • Be the vacation planning hero. Use our handy chart to pick the best day trips for your travel group, pace, and preferences.
  • Make your whole travel group happy. Easily balance ideas from your bucket list, find activities your partner will enjoy, and ensure your kids stay entertained — all while experiencing local culture, savoring Swiss cuisine, and following a simple, do-able schedule.
  • Minimize your planning time. Choose from 5 easy-to-follow-and-adapt full-day itineraries.
  • Stay flexible. 3 additional day trip options help you stay calm and flexible during your whole trip. Rain in the forecast? No problem! Our guide includes rainy day activities so you’re never stuck without a plan.
  • Maximize your time on vacation. Digital maps, downloadable PDFs, and insider tips make it easier for you to fully enjoy every moment in the mountains and on the lakes.
  • Stretch your budget. Make every Swiss Franc count! We’ve done the research so you don’t have to, with money-saving tips, train pass suggestions, and even how much cash you’ll need for the perfect day out. 
inside the lucerne day trips guide by aplins in the alps swiss travel guide

From riding the steepest cogwheel train in the world up to Mt. Pilatus or 360° views from the rotating gondola at Mt. Titlis or cruising along the waters of Lake Lucerne, this is the only travel resource you’ll need for your trip to Central Switzerland. 

What happens when you trust our Lucerne Day Trips Guide? You’ll trade a FRENZIED vacation for one that’s EFFORTLESS, seamless, and unforgettable!

5 day trips from lucerne switzerland itinerary by aplins in the alps. includes 5 daily itineraries, bonus day trips options, digital maps, and 4 bonus resources

I love the way you organize the information. Very easy to follow and helpful. I'm planning my next trip with more time in Switzerland thanks to your passion. Review by Ana for aplins in the alps Swiss travel Guides
This is the best guide I have found while preparing for my trip to Switzerland next year. Review by Cindy for aplins in the alps Swiss travel Guides
Your guides helped us a lot on our recent Switzerland trip. From places to stay, eat, hiking spots, and even chocolates! Can't thank you enough for helping me plan our trip! Review by Mileth for aplins in the alps Swiss travel Guides

Hold on a second…just like airline socks and rain ponchos, we all know that one-size-fits-all isn’t true. 

We’ve simplified it for you.

start planning your swiss vacation to lucerne switzerland today in 3 easy steps. buy a swiss travel guide from aplins in the alps. switzerland itinerary and switzerland guide book

Switzerland is gaining popularity as a vacation hotspot. Tourist highlights traps are becoming more common. Blogs and social media are exploding with conflicting information. It’s harder to discern what’s actually the best fit for you through the online noise. 

But we’re real travelers just like you. 

jana annd brett aplins in the alps at engstlensee switzerland lakes

Hi! We’re Jana + Brett.

And we LOVE Switzerland.

We’ve lived near Interlaken, Switzerland since 2023. And we spend our days exploring, filming and writing about the land of cheese and chocolate with the primary goal of helping you travel Switzerland with confidence.

No need to book a tour guide — this Lucerne Day Trips Bundle is like a personal tour guide in your pocket! 

Nope, our recommendations aren’t based on travel agencies, marketing strategies, or the tourism industry. These digital pages dish out the personal, tried-and-true recommendations you’re searching for. Including helpful photos, walking directions, restaurant recommendations, picture spots, and more!  

You can craft an unforgettable vacation for your family/travel group. This guide is your ultimate sidekick.


A one-way ticket to Mt. Pilatus

One entry to the Rigi Spa

One ticket to the Swiss Museum of Transport


Trust the numbers:

5 full-day itineraries

3 bonus day trip options

5 custom maps with navigation

2 transportation spreadsheets


Join other travelers:

70,000+ YouTube subscribers

12,000+ weekly email readers

1000s of happy customers


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Tap the “Buy now” button if:

✅You know you want to visit Lucerne, but don’t know what to do nearby.

✅You want help crafting an itinerary customized to your group’s travel preferences and pace.

✅You have an idea of where to go, but not how to get there or what to do there.

✅You’d like to avoid mediocre meals with a list of recommended restaurants.

✅You’re interested in options for additional hikes or family-friendly activities.

✅You know Swiss transportation can be confusing, so you need guidance on how to travel in Central Switzerland.

This Guide is not right for you if:

❌You’re not visiting Lucerne or Central Switzerland.

❌You don’t care about seeing anything outside of the city of Lucerne. (Psst — we have a Lucerne City Guide for that!)

❌You’re spontaneous and would like to figure things out as you go.

❌Your budget doesn’t include wiggle room to invest in a travel guide.

If that’s you, then this Guide is not a good fit. But our free resources and videos will still help you out!


Absolutely! Most travelers are in this area for 2-4 days, so we’ve structured this Guide to help you choose and plan the best day trips based on your travel pace and preferences. So just follow the days that are the best fit for you!

Yes! In fact, we’ve stayed in lots of towns and villages throughout Central Switzerland! The 5 full-day itineraries start and end in Lucerne, buy you can easily use the SBB Mobile App to navigate from your lodging to the first activity of each day. Plus, we provide tips on choosing another home base if you’d rather stay somewhere other than Lucerne.

(Need more help with navigation? Check out Part 2 of our Ultimate Guide to Swiss Transportation.)

This Day Trips Guide is best for trips early-June thru mid-October, although many of the destinations can also be enjoyed as early as mid-April or as late as mid-November. 

All of the day trips in this Guide are just 30-90 minutes from Lucerne. Bonus: The Guide provides navigation instructions and the cost of tickets for each day.

This is such a common question! (Believe it or not, more than 50% of the questions that land in our inbox are about Swiss transportation!) This Guide recommends which train pass is best for these day trip itineraries, as well as a checklist to help you determine which pass(es) is best for your entire Swiss itinerary.

Absolutely! Lucerne and Central Switzerland pair well with so many nearby Swiss destinations. In general, we recommend spending some time in Lucerne and along Lake Geneva, as well as Zermatt and the Jungfrau Region (the Swiss Alps).

Yes! The itineraries mention playgrounds, kids trails, adventure activities, and more. (Bonus: Kids under 6 are always free on Swiss transportation, and many of these destinations offer discounted rates for kids under the age of 16!)

While this Guide does include hiking trails, the itineraries include shorter/easier adaptations or information on how to bypass the walk using public transportation. In the Guide’s intro, we even list out the best day trips for less-active individuals who want to experience the views without thousands of steps on their pedometer.

Our free blogs and videos are jam packed with practical tips, but they’re more like a preview.

This Guide goes deeper with full itineraries, navigation directions, digital maps, and even more detailed tips that you won’t find anywhere else. It’s your all-in-one resource for stress-free planning!

All of our Swiss Travel Guides are only available for digital purchase, but you can easily print out the PDF itinerary.

The Lucerne Day Trips Guide is designed to help you customize these itineraries to your travel preferences! See our handy chart in the Guide’s introduction to decide which day trips are the best fit for you. 

Plus, browse the other Swiss Travel Guides in our shop to piece together a complete Swiss vacation.

Tip: Shop our most popular Guides in this Bundle and save 20%!


lucerne day trips Guide by aplins in the alps cover

$39 BUNDLE

5 Day Trips from Lucerne, Switzerland

Focus your time on the highlights of Central Switzerland!

✔️ 5 individual full-day itineraries 
✔️ 3 bonus day trip options
✔️ Best from early-June through mid-October
✔️ Features: Pilatus, Rigi, Titlis, Stanserhorn, Stoos, and beyond!
✔️ Includes Bonuses: Bonus Resources PDF, 5 Digital Maps, 2 Transportation Spreadsheets, and Train Pass Checklist


We know how it feels to spend money on something that doesn’t feel worth it. After all, Switzerland isn’t a cheap destination. That’s why our refund policy is all about YOU.

Take 1 week to sample this product, and if you’re not satisfied with the test drive within 7 days, we will fix the problem or deliver a full refund. 

And here’s the cherry on top: you get free lifetime updates! We will regularly update our content and incorporate new info. Anytime it’s updated, we’ll send an email to keep you in the loop.
Questions? Send us a message on our Contact Form.

Visiting other destinations in Switzerland? Browse our Swiss Travel Guides:

SWISS TRANSPORTATION

ULTIMATE GUIDE

JUNGFRAU REGION

1 WEEK

LUCERNE

1 DAY