Vierwaldstättersee

May to October is the best time for boats, mountain railways and walks. July and August are warm and busy. Spring and autumn are calm and good for clear views. In winter, the mountain tops are often in snow or cloud, and some boats and railways run less often.

• Chapel Bridge is the covered wooden bridge in Lucerne, and the best-known sight on the lake.
• Old Town Lucerne has painted houses, squares and cafés.
• Spreuerbrücke is a second covered bridge, with painted panels.
• Löwendenkmal is a large stone lion carved into a rock wall.
• Museggmauer is a medieval town wall with towers you can climb.
• Swiss Museum of Transport is a large museum of trains, cars, planes and ships.
• Pilatus-Kulm is a mountain above Lucerne. The Steilste Zahnradbahn der Welt climbs to the top.
• Rigi is a mountain with views over the lake. It is reached by rack railways from the lake villages.
• Hammetschwand-Lift is an outdoor lift in a cliff near Bürgenstock.

• Take a boat or a paddle steamer from Lucerne.
• Go up the Rigi or Pilatus for views.
• Walk across the covered bridges in Lucerne.
• Take a short hike along the lake from one village to the next.
• Swim at a lake beach in summer.
• Visit the Rütli meadow, the meadow linked to the founding legend.

• Lucerne is the main city and base on the lake.
• Weggis and Vitznau are small resort villages at the foot of the Rigi.
• Flüelen and Altdorf lie at the south end, near the Gotthard route.
• Brunnen is a lakeside town near the Rütli meadow.
• Engelberg is a mountain resort with a cable car. It is reached from Stans by a short train ride.

• Lucerne is the main city on the lake.

• By air: Zurich Airport is the nearest main airport. Trains to Lucerne take about 1 hour.
• By train: Lucerne is on the main line from Zurich and Basel. Check times on SBB.
• Lake villages can be reached by boat, by train or by bus from Lucerne.

• Boats connect the villages around the lake. Historic paddle steamers also run in the warm months.
• Trains and buses link Lucerne with the lake towns.
• Rack railways go up the Rigi and Pilatus.
• Lucerne is easy to walk, and the lakefront is flat.

• A car is not needed for the main sights.
• Roads along the lake are scenic but busy in summer.
• Parking at the mountain railway stations can be costly.

Try fresh lake fish such as perch and whitefish. Lucerne has its own local dishes, including Luzerner Chügelipastete, a pastry filled with meat. Cheese fondue and rösti are common.

People speak German with a central Swiss dialect. English is widely understood.

• The region is very safe.
• Lake water is cold. Swim at supervised beaches.
• Mountain weather changes fast, so check the forecast before a trip.
• Tap water is safe to drink.

The lake sits at the centre of the old Swiss Confederation. In 1291, three communities near the lake made an alliance that led to the country. Legends about William Tell are set along its shores.

In the 19th century, steamers and mountain railways brought visitors. The first mountain railway in Europe opened on the Rigi in 1871.

Quick practical facts for Switzerland at a glance: