The classic among Swiss excursions, perfectly paced: our proven schedule for a day in Lucerne with a private chauffeur – from the airport or from Zurich, with return in the evening.
Lucerne is the excursion almost every visitor to Switzerland makes – and rightly so: medieval bridges, a lake with mountains on all sides and two summits reachable directly from the city. With a private chauffeur, the classic becomes a relaxed day without timetables. Here is our proven schedule.
Getting there: 75 minutes from the airport
The Zurich Airport–Lucerne transfer takes around 76 minutes via the A4 and A14; fixed price per vehicle, based on our per-kilometre tariff. From Zurich city centre it is about an hour. For the day trip with return we recommend the hourly booking: vehicle and chauffeur stay with you all day, the luggage in the boot. What else Lucerne offers as a base is in Zurich Airport–Lucerne in detail.
Calculate the fixed price for your ride
Per vehicle, incl. VAT- Business ClassMercedes-Benz E-Class · up to 2 paxCHF 242.90
- Business & Family ClassMercedes-Benz V-Class · up to 7 paxCHF 266.22
- Premium ClassMercedes-Benz S-Class · up to 3 paxCHF 393.15
Fixed-price route ZRH → Lucerne (63.3 km). Luggage, arrival waiting time and child seats included.
Morning: old town and Chapel Bridge
Start at the Chapel Bridge, the 14th-century landmark with its water tower. Across the bridge into the old town with its painted façades on Weinmarkt and Hirschenplatz, on to the Musegg Wall, whose towers you can climb – the best view of city and lake. To finish, the Lion Monument, "the saddest stone in the world", as Mark Twain wrote.
Midday: by the lake
Lunch on Schweizerhofquai or in one of the restaurants on Nationalquai with a view over Lake Lucerne. If you like, take the lake steamer to Vitznau or Weggis afterwards – the driver collects you there and takes you onwards.
Afternoon: Pilatus or Rigi
Pilatus is reachable from Lucerne by the world's steepest cog railway from Alpnachstad (summer) or by gondola from Kriens; the driver takes you to the valley station and waits on the other side – the famous "Golden Round Trip" without time pressure. The Rigi, the "Queen of the Mountains", is reached via Vitznau or Arth-Goldau. Both are feasible in half an afternoon; in winter the Rigi with snow is particularly charming.
Evening: back or onwards
The driver takes you back to Zurich, to the airport or – if you stay in the region – to the hotel on the Bürgenstock, in Weggis or in Engelberg. For families the Business & Family Class is the right choice; child seats are included. Book the excursion in advance so the driver is ready in the morning – enquire here.
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