You can have a great time in the Lucerne area with kids for a few days. You should go out of town especially then, as this is where most of the fun is for families with kids. Therefore, the city of Lucerne is a great base for spending a few days in the mountains or exploring various cities in the region. Most travelers will visit Lucerne as part of a vacation to Switzerland. We list the best activities in Lucerne with kids.
Lucerne with kids #1: traffic museum
Lucerne is a nice city to visit and has a beautiful old center, which you should definitely take a stroll through. Should you want to get a good look at the downtown area in a short time, and at the same time get information about the history of the city, among other things, a fifteen-minute ride on the blue Citytrain is a nice option. It runs several times a day from April to October.
In addition, the city of Zurich lies on the great Lake Zurich which ensures that the waterfront is also a good place to be during the summer months. For example, there are several little beaches you can go to from the city by the water. A fun activity you’ll find at the lake is the Verkehrshaus der Schweiz, which is all about transportation. You can walk here from downtown. This museum is very large and count on at least half a day to be entertained here (a full day is fine too).
The museum really has all kinds of things for kids to do and the museum also has several buildings. The museum is also very interactive and kids can play a lot here (there is a large playground in the middle of the museum). This museum is also a good option if the weather is a little cooler in town and you still want to do something with the family. For more information on opening hours, admission prices and the various exhibits, check out the museum’s website.
Another museum located in the middle of town that is suitable for kids is the nature museum. This museum is also quite interactive and kids can learn all kinds of things about nature here. Check the museum’s website for more information.
Lucerne with kids #2: Alpamare water park
You can also go to a fun water park in the Lucerne area with kids. Water park Alpamare is about three-quarters of an hour from the center of Lucerne by car and is the largest water park in Switzerland. You can have a great time here for a whole day with all the slides this water park has for kids.
The water park has more than 10 slides, and there is no age or length restriction on most of them (except the Jungle Run slide). At the various slides, you either go down the slide with a tire or without one. There is also an area for the smallest kids to play.
There are both indoor and outdoor pools at the water park, and during the summer months you can also enjoy lying outside on a bed in the sun on one of the lawns. In addition to pools and slides for kids, there are also spa facilities such as several hot tubs. For more information on opening hours, entrance fees and the various slides, check out the water park’s website.
Lucerne with kids #3: Mount Rigi
You can easily go on a mountain hike in Lucerne with kids. Near the city are several mountains that can be climbed. One of these mountains is Mount Rigi and count on having a whole day of entertainment here if you also go hiking on the mountain. From Lucerne, you can take a boat to the town of Weggis. The ferry takes about 40 minutes, but then you have a nice ride right across the large lake that is near the city.
From Weggis you can take the cable car up the mountain and from this point it is a short walk to a little train that takes you even further up the mountain. From here, of course (if the weather is clear) you have a beautiful view of the surrounding area. You can purchase the Tell pass , which allows you to use the various boats, trains and cable cars in the region for two or more days. Kids get a hefty discount if they travel with parents.
If you also want a day trip to the snow in the summer, Mount Titlis comes highly recommended. From Lucerne, you take the train in just over half an hour to the town of Engelberg and from there you take the cable car up the mountain. You also have Europe’s tallest suspension bridge on this mountain, and you can also visit an indoor glacier cave here. You can visit this cave for free. Just keep in mind that food and drink prices on the mountain can be quite high.
The last mountain that is fun to visit is Mount Pilatus and this mountain can be reached by two different routes: a cog railway from Alpnachstad and a cable car from Kriens, a suburb of Lucerne. This cog railway is the steepest in the world and goes through a beautiful landscape with all rocks. On this mountain you have a climbing park and a toboggan run that are fun for kids.
It is also possible to do the so-called “Golden round trip.” You then board the boat in Lucerne. After more than an hour of sailing you arrive in Alpnachstad. Here you take the “cogwheel” up to Pilatus in about half an hour. Be sure to reserve a time slot in advance during high season! On top of the mountain you have the choice of short climbs to lookout points.
The way back down you continue by taking several cable cars where you pass fun playgrounds and a climbing park. The last part of the trip consists of the bus that takes you back to Lucerne from Kriens. This roundtrip costs a bit, of course, but the good news is that kids up to 5 years old are completely free. All the information can be found on this website.
Lucerne with kids #4: Jungfraujoch
Another (very long) day trip you can take from Lucerne with kids is to Jungfraujoch. Here you have the highest train station in the country. After all, here you are in the middle of the alps at an altitude of 3454 meters. You are surrounded here by mountains that have an altitude of up to 4,000 meters and you very much get the Switzerland feeling here.
In total, you’ll be on the road from Lucerne to JungFraujoch for about four hours, so it’s a very long day with a total travel time of eight hours. Of course, the various trains and cable cars you take along the way are also part of the activity. From Lucerne, take the train to Interlaken-Ost and then take a connecting train to Lauterbrunnen before reaching a beautiful stop below the Eiger at Kleine Scheidegg.
Kleine Scheidegg is a mountain pass at 2,061 meters altitude where all trains to Jungfraujoch depart. From this station, you board a rack and pinion train that slowly ascends toward Jungfraujoch. Check the weather conditions beforehand and dress your kids warmly. It may be wonderful weather in Lucerne and very cold in Jungfraujoch.
Lucerne with kids #5: Day trip Basel / Zurich
You can make great day trips to several other cities from Lucerne with kids. Thus, you can be in the city of Zurich in forty minutes by train. There is enough to do in Zurich to keep you entertained for at least a day. For example, in Zurich you can take the family to the zoo, there are plenty of nice beaches on Lake Zurich where you can enjoy the weather and views with the family, and there are also several family-friendly museums in the city.
Also, there is plenty of greenery in the city of Zurich and you have several places in the city, where you have a nice view of the lake and the city. We found it a very nice place to spend a day when we ourselves were on our way to Lake Garda with our daughter. We wrote the blog Zurich with kids about this city.
Another city that is easy to reach by public transportation from Lucerne with kids is the city of Basel. By train you can reach the city in an hour. The city has a beautiful old center and also a zoo you can visit. You also have several nice museums and city parks, and you can swim near the river in several places during the summer. We also found this a very pleasant city to spend a day. We wrote the blog Basel with kids about this city.
Where to stay in Lucerne with kids?
Staying overnight in Lucerne with kids is not cheap. There are not that many budget options. Still, we have listed the best option in each price category.
Budget hotel: ibis budget Hotel Lucerne City
Mid-range hotel: Holiday Inn Express – Lucerne – Kriens, an IHG Hotel
Luxury hotel: Hotel Hermitage
For a list of all accommodations in Lucerne, take a look here.
Supplement:
Another good budget option in Zurich is“Backpackers Lucerne. This is where our blogger Ilse slept with her family and this hostel was completely renovated during the Corona pandemic and looks incredibly nice. On 2 floors are all the rooms. You can then book your own bedroom with your family. Baby cribs are also available upon request.
Across from the rooms are all the (incredibly clean!) toilets and showers. Downstairs are 2 kitchens and dining and living rooms. So you save quite a bit on expenses by being able to cook for yourself. A big plus is that this hostel has a nice playroom for kids. There is a foosball table and books, drawing stuff and a train track.
The hostel is slightly out of the center but for tourists, bus transportation (including to the center) is free. Parking does cost money, but through the hostel this can be done with a discount. A lovely beach with park is a 2-minute walk away. For more information on this budget accommodation, take a look here.
