Just about an hour south of Basel and Zurich, and boasting absolutely jaw dropping mountain views, a charming old quarter and lake cruises, Luzern (spelled Lucerne in French and English and Lucerna in Italian) is one of Switzerland’s most heavily visited small towns. However this destination is definitely not a typical “tourist trap” by any stretch of the imagination.
I visited Luzern back in March of 2008 and still speak of it more than probably most other European destinations to this day. I went in the off season, but there were still plenty of locals and visitors roaming the streets, sitting at outdoor cafes, feeding birds that were hopping around near the lake and just enjoying their Sunday.
If you ever find yourself in Luzern, be sure to cross the extremely popular Chapel Bridge and dine at Rossini’s, which is run by an old Italian couple that moved to this Swiss locale decades ago. The food is outstanding, the service is great and the atmosphere is off the charts. I highly recommend checking out this fairy tale looking town the next time you find yourself nearby.
Lake Luzern in Luzern, Switzerland
