Lake Luzern

Our personal travel and photo guide for Switzerland

---

Milky Way seen from the Rigi

The next beautiful region is around Lake Luzern – a place we call Central Switzerland or Zentralschweiz. This is where Switzerland was founded in 1291 and where so many photogenic places can be found. But this is also a tourist hotspot and can get crowded. By following my route you will get to lesser known places where you will certainly enjoy all the beauty.

Luzern

Luzern is the main city of this area and is a truly beautiful one. I stayed at the Hotel Des Alpes since there is a hidden terrace on their rooftop which can be reached via their laundry room! From there you have a unique view all to yourself across to the iconic Chapel Bridge and Mount Pilatus in the background.

Luzern

Rigi

If you circle the lake clockwise from Luzern you will get to the Rigi – Queen of the Swiss mountains: It’s not a cheap ride to the top and it’s a very popular spot as well but it is well worth a visit. Since we knew that we wouldn’t be alone up there, my wife Clare and I chose to stay at the Hotel Rigi Kulm with our dog Mungo. From here you can enjoy dinner at the restaurant and wait until there are less people (day visitors), then get up early for some sunrise shots or even get up in the middle of the night from your comfortable bed and take photos of the Milky Way.

View from Rigi with Mount Pilatus and Luzern

Brunnen

Further along the lake, you will arrive in Brunnen: Our favorite place with a special charm. If you stay at the Waldstätterhof, directly next to the lake, you will get an amazing view of the lake and the Uri Rotstock. In summer, the atmosphere here is very relaxed, laid-back and a great place to base yourself for some beautiful walks/treks around the area. You can also rent canoes or kayaks and spend the day on the lake.

Uri Rotstock at sunrise

On the road out of Brunnen towards Gersau there is a little cable car to Urmiberg (or if you’re feeling active you can walk up the mountain to get there). From there the more adventurous can climb to the top of Obere Brunniberg (“Duume” meaning “the Thumb”) where the view and the turquoise colour of the lake will amaze you! It is stunning. Spend a while at the restaurant there and enjoy the best pies and cakes!

View from Urmiberg

Stoos & Fronalpstock

Take the steepest funicular in the world to Stoos and enjoy the easy but popular ridge walk with beautiful views. Once again, rather than just a day tour – actually staying on Stoos brings the advantage to start early to get the best light and shots, and the possibility to take a late chairlift to enjoy the sunset from the top of the Fronalpstock. The late chairlifts are seasonal only.

View from Fronalpstock

Niederbauen Chulm

This cable car takes you up to the mountain restaurant at Niederbauen Chulm. We once booked a cozy double room to escape from the thick fog but ended up in the middle of it with no view at all. But that’s nature. A different time we walked to the top of the mountain, had perfect weather and spotted an large male ibex on the rocks with the beautiful blue coloured and heart shaped lake in the background.

Ibex in front of Lake Luzern

Brisen

When you have almost circled the lake you need to take the turn-off to Engelberg to get to Dallenwil. Take the cable car to Niederrickenbach. A short and easy walk from the monastery to a chair-lift which then takes you to the Hotel Haldigrat with superb views. Get up early and go on the Haldigrat ridge hike to the top of Brisen. From here you will feel like a mountaineer enjoying the beautiful views across the lake and alps. 

Top of Brisen

Further south you can easily cross the Alps through the San Gottardo tunnel and arrive at the Italian speaking canton of Ticino with its southern climate. More about this region in another report.

Our other published locations cover the following areas (with links):

Part 1: Berner Oberland

Part 2: Jura

Part 3: Lake Luzern

Part 4: Engadin

Part 5: Appenzell

Part 6: Aargau

Part 7: Emmental

Part 8: Romandie

Part 9: Valais

Part 10: Uri, Schwyz, Glarus

Part 11: Rhein

Part 12: Zürich

"One crowded hour of glorious life is worth an age without a name"

(The Call - Thomas Osbert Morsdaunt, 1730-1809)

Travel blog and travel guide by Aaron Matzinger & Clare Walker

© Aaron Matzinger & Clare Walker

#Switzerland