When you’re going to Switzerland, there are plenty of beautiful places you can visit. Two of the best cities are Lucerne and Zurich. Both of these cities have many stunning highlights that you should totally visit and contain some amazing hotels to stay in. However, when you have to make the choice between Lucerne or Zurich: where to stay? We will compare the two cities with each other and tell you everything you need to know about all of the advantages and disadvantages of both spots. This way, you can make your own decision on where to stay.
Lucerne vs. Zurich: Comparison
| Lucerne | Zurich |
| Canton: Lucerne | Canton: Zurich |
| Language: German | Language: German |
| Population: approx. 80’000 | Population: approx. 435’000 |
| Elevation: 435 m | Elevation: 408 m |
| Total Area: 37.4 km² | Total Area: 87.8 km² |
| Lake: Lake Lucerne | Lake: Lake Zurich |
| River: Reuss | River: Limmat |
Lucerne as Base
Lucerne is a beautiful city that’s located in the German part of Switzerland. When you get to Lucerne, you’ll find that it’s actually quite an old city. This is what makes the city so romantic as well, because there are plenty of museums and historic spots you can visit. The city is located near the Alps and the perfect base if you want to go hiking in nature. It’s also quite a small town, which makes it a nice place for a relaxing get-away.
Attractions in Lucerne
If you’re visiting, Switzerland, there are plenty of activities to enjoy in Lucerne.
- One of the top things to do is stroll through the picturesque Lucerne Old Town Square. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Old Town Square is located between City Hall and the Chapel Bridge. Here, you’ll find artisanal craft shops, charming cobblestone streets, and beautiful river views.
- Another must-see attraction is the Town Hall, which is an officially designated cultural monument and considered one of Switzerland’s most attractive public buildings. It’s built in the Renaissance style and overlooks the Reuss River.
- Another landmark to visit is the Chapel Bridge, the world’s oldest surviving truss bridge and a popular spot for photography.
- Other notable attractions in the Old Town Square area include the Spreuer Bridge, which features ancient paintings, and the Reuss Weir, a 19th century dam.
- The Lion Monument is also a popular destination, a sculpture that commemorates the fallen Swiss mercenaries.
- Finally, don’t miss out on a chance to take a boat tour on Lake Lucerne and visit the Swiss Transport Museum.
Advantages of Staying in Lucerne
When you’re staying in Lucerne during your trip to Switzerland, there are a few advantages to choosing this city as your base. One of the biggest advantages is how close the city is to the mountains. Lucerne is much closer to the Alps than Zurich is and this makes it the perfect base when you want to go hiking or be close to nature. The scenery in Lucerne is also more impressive than that of Zurich, thanks to the mountains overlooking the lake.
Another advantage of Lucerne is that it’s very easy to get around here. The town is small and compact, which gives it a wonderful atmosphere. There are also plenty of fun museums you can visit during your stay in Lucerne and historical highlights to see. Lastly, Lucerne is very popular among couples who are looking for a romantic place to stay together. The city has a romantic atmosphere because of how small it is and thanks to the stunning scenery. Especially during the summer you can see some truly beautiful sights here.
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Zurich as Base
When you go to Switzerland, you could also use Zurich as a base of course. This city is also located in the German part of Switzerland. Zurich is the largest city of Switzerland and is therefore the perfect base if you’re looking for a fun, bustling environment to stay in. It has a lot of restaurants, nightclubs and bars where you can enjoy yourself. Through the town you will also find the Limmat River as well as Lake Zurich, which are absolutely stunning as well as the perfect place you can relax during your trip. Another thing that Zurich is known for is the fact that there are less tourists than in Lucerne, which can make the city a lot more quiet.
Attractions in Zurich
Zurich is a city with a rich history and a wide range of attractions for visitors to enjoy.
- One must-see destination is the Swiss National Museum, which has been a staple of the city since 1898 and houses a variety of historical artifacts and exhibits covering Swiss history from prehistoric times to the present day.
- For a taste of medieval charm, visitors should head to the Old Town area, which boasts a concentration of clubs, shopping and entertainment options, and historical buildings from the Renaissance period. The Niederdorf neighborhood, located next to the Limmat River, is also worth a visit for its car-free alleyways, small shops, and restaurants.
- One of the Old Town’s most famous landmarks is the Grossmünster Church, a Romanesque structure with a legend involving the city’s patron saints, Felix and Regula.
- Another popular attraction is the Lindt Chocolate Museum, which offers a look at the chocolate-making process and has the world’s largest chocolate fountain.
- Finally, Zurich has a number of art museums, including the Kunsthaus Zurich, Museum Rietberg, which showcase modern and non-European art, as well as photography and conceptual art.
Advantages of Staying in Zurich
There are plenty of reasons to stay in Lucerne during your trip to Switzerland, but what are the advantages of staying in Zurich? One of the biggest advantages is definitely the difference in tourism. The reason why Zurich isn’t as crowded with tourists as Lucerne is, because large tour buses often stop in Lucerne, which can make it feel overrun by tourists quite frequently. This will make Zurich a peaceful place to visit during your trip and especially the stunning Lake Zurich will make sure you have everything you need for a relaxing getaway.
Another advantage of staying in Zurich is its location. It’s much easier to get to Zurich than to Lucerne when you look at it from a logistical point of view. Obviously Zurich Airport is located closer to Zurich than it is to Lucerne, which makes it easier to travel to Zurich from abroad. The central Zurich Train Station makes it an easy city to travel to. There are also a lot of towns near Zurich that you can visit during your trip to Switzerland. Go to Laufenburg, Einsiedeln, Aarbug, Rheinfelden and Arbon for example if you’re looking for a few fun day trips!
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Which is the Better Base – Lucerne or Zurich?
Which City is Closer to the Mountains – Lucerne or Zurich?
If you want to visit the mountains, the best city to use as a base for your trip is Lucerne. Lucerne is located much closer to the mountains and will therefore serve as the perfect base for your trips there. Lucerne is the ideal base if you want to go hiking in the mountains frequently or want to do other activities in this area. Another advantage of the fact that Lucerne is located near the mountains is the stunning view. A lake in Switzerland is always beautiful to look at of course, but with the backdrop of the mountains it’s even more spectacular.
Which City is Better for a Short Stay – Lucerne or Zurich?
If you’re going to Switzerland for a shorter period of time, it’s probably best to stay in Lucerne. Zurich is usually better suited for longer periods of time, because there are more things to see and fun activities you can do. There are plenty of highlights to see and visit in Lucerne as well, but you wouldn’t need as much time here as you would in Zurich. Lucerne is also a lot smaller than Zurich, which gives you the opportunity to see the entire city in just a few days if you’re looking for a short stay in Switzerland.
Which City is Better for a Family – Lucerne or Zurich?
If you’re going to Switzerland with your family you should definitely go to Zurich instead of Lucerne. Of course there are plenty of activities to do in Lucerne and you would always have a great time here. However, a trip to Zurich simply offers more possibilities since there are so many fun towns nearby that you could visit. In Zurich itself there are also more activities you can do than in Lucerne, which makes it perfect for a family trip to Switzerland. This way, you and the kids definitely won’t be bored during your stay and the kids will get to see and do a lot of fun, exciting things.
