A Day in Lucerne - Tour from Zurich

Don't miss the chance to visit the beautiful city of Lucerne! According to folklore, an angel with a light showed Lucerne’s first settlers where to build a chapel. Surrounded by the scenic Lake Lucerne and snow-covered pinnacles, this former fishing village with its wooden Chapel Bridge just rightly connotes the very essence of Switzerland.

Your guided sightseeing tour will take you to the Chapel Bridge and the adjoining octagonal water tower, one of the most photographed monuments of Switzerland. Pick up some local artwork from the shops lining its medieval streets, see the famous Lion Monument, Jesuit Church, and get a glimpse into its history and culture.

You will be picked up in an air-conditioned coach from the Sihlquai bus parking near Zurich Main Train Station. Accompanied by a multi-lingual guide speaking English and Spanish , you will journey over Albis Pass and along the Lake of the Four Cantons to the city of Lucerne. It is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and an important tourist destination due to its location on the shore of Lake Lucerne within sight of Mount Pilatus and Rigi.

You will be taken on a short city tour and shown the following sites:

• Lion Monument: The famous carving of a dying lion by Bertel Thorvaldsen, a renowned Danish/Icelandic sculptor, commemorates the hundreds of Swiss guards who were massacred during the French Revolution in 1792.

• Chapel Bridge: It is a 14th century wooden bridge crossing the Reuss River in the Old Town. The Chapel Bridge with the octagonal water tower is a famous landmark of Lucerne. You will come across 17th century triangular painted roof panels lining the ceiling of this covered bridge, recounting important events from Swiss history and mythology.

• Town Hall: The old town hall of Lucerne has been built in the Italian Renaissance style, but with a very typical Swiss roof. Its adjoining tower dates from the 14th century.

• Jesuit Church: It is the first large baroque church built in Switzerland north of the Alps. Today, it is a major tourist attraction and serves as a concert hall.

• Concert and Congress Hall: It hosts concerts and Congress meetings.

After sightseeing, you have about six hours on your own to discover this unique place. You are recommended to visit the Transport Museum, the most eminent museum for transport and communication in Europe, the Picasso Museum or simply pan through the shops on the medieval streets.

After the tour, return by coach to Zurich. You will be dropped back to the Sihlquai bus parking.