Day trips from Lucerne
18 hidden towns and nature spots within 150 km of Lucerne, picked by Europe Revealed. Sorted from nearest to furthest.
13 km01 · Nature spotRigiThe 'Queen of the Mountains', with views over a dozen lakes.
Rack railways climb from Vitznau and Arth-Goldau. A cable car runs from Weggis.
45 km02 · Nature spotLake Brienz (Iseltwald)A tiny village on the turquoise shore of Lake Brienz.
Buses and lake boats run from Interlaken.
50 km03 · Nature spotGrindelwaldA mountain village below the north face of the Eiger.
Trains from Interlaken take about 35 minutes.
60 km04 · Nature spotLauterbrunnenA valley of 72 waterfalls between towering cliffs.
Trains from Interlaken take 20 minutes. Lauterbrunnen is the gateway to Wengen and Mürren, which are car-free.
75 km05 · Nature spotRhine FallsEurope's most powerful waterfall by volume.
Trains run to Neuhausen or Schloss Laufen, near Schaffhausen.
75 km06 · Nature spotAletsch GlacierThe longest glacier in the Alps, seen from car-free mountain villages.
Trains run to Mörel, Betten or Fiesch, then cable cars up to the car-free villages of Riederalp and Bettmeralp.
75 km07 · Nature spotOeschinenseeA turquoise mountain lake below glaciers above Kandersteg.
Trains run to Kandersteg, then a gondola and a short walk.
80 km08 · Hidden townStein am RheinPainted medieval facades on a tiny square by the Rhine.
Trains run from Schaffhausen and Winterthur.
95 km09 · Nature spot · GermanyTitiseeA glacial lake surrounded by the forests of the Black Forest.
Trains from Freiburg take about 40 minutes through the Höllental valley.
95 km10 · Nature spotVerzasca ValleyEmerald water flowing under an old double-arched stone bridge.
Buses run from Locarno and Tenero, about 45 minutes.
100 km11 · Nature spot · GermanyMainau IslandA flower island on Lake Constance with a palace and butterfly house.
Boats run from Konstanz and other lake towns. Buses run from Konstanz station.
105 km12 · Hidden townGruyèresA hilltop castle village famous for its cheese.
Trains run to Gruyères station, then a short walk up the hill.
115 km13 · Hidden town · GermanyLindauAn island town on Lake Constance with a lion statue guarding its harbour.
Trains run to Lindau-Insel station right on the island.
120 km14 · Nature spot · GermanyBlack Forest (Triberg)Germany's highest waterfalls in the heart of the Black Forest.
Trains run on the Black Forest Railway. The falls are a walk from the station.
120 km15 · Popular townZermattA car-free mountain village below the Matterhorn.
Zermatt is car-free: park in Täsch and take the shuttle train, or come by train all the way.
130 km16 · Nature spot · ItalyLake Maggiore (Stresa)A lakeside resort facing the palace gardens of the Borromean Islands.
Trains from Milan take about an hour. Boats go to the islands from the jetty.
135 km17 · Hidden townLavauxTerraced vineyards dropping steeply to Lake Geneva.
Local trains between Lausanne and Vevey stop at the villages, such as Cully and Epesses.
135 km18 · Popular town · FranceColmarColourful half-timbered houses along little canals in the heart of Alsace.
Trains from Strasbourg take 30 minutes. The old town is compact and best on foot.Questions
Day trips from Lucerne: good to know
What are the best day trips from Lucerne?
Our favourite hidden places near Lucerne are Rigi (13 km), Lake Brienz (45 km), Grindelwald (50 km) and Lauterbrunnen (60 km). All 18 are on this page, sorted by distance.
How far are these places from Lucerne?
All of them are within about 150 km of Lucerne in a straight line, close enough for a day trip by car, and many by train or bus too. Check each place for how to get there.