Walking around Lake Lucerne, Switzerland

With tremendous mountains and landscapes all around, Lake Lucerne is Switzerland's most idyllic lake. Historic steamers ply the resplendent blue waters, connecting the handsome city of Lucerne with the pretty villages along the shore. High above the lake, walkers take in the magnificent peaks and views. The rack railways give easy access to panoramic high paths, allowing you to admire this gorgeous area to the full.

This unique walk combines excellent walking with thrilling boat, rail and cable car journeys (all included) that take you right to the heart of the mountains, avoiding too many steep parts on foot. This high-altitude walk is suitable for all of average fitness, including a mix of short uphill routes and longer flat routes. The landscapes through which you walk are incredibly varied, and the shape of the lake, together with the reflections of the light, make for a constantly changing panorama of which it is impossible to tire. In late June and throughout July, the flowers are in full bloom, while September is a favourite time for walkers.

The start point Romantik Hotel Wilden Mann in Lucerne is situated close to the city’s famous bridge, the Kapellbrücke. This romantic 4 star hotel has been beautifully converted from several 16th-century townhouses. The interior is handsome and atmospheric, and you can choose to dine in the hotel’s own superb restaurants (pay locally) or in one of the city’s many eateries.

Traveller Reviews of This Trip

Hard to choose one particular highlight! Picnic lunch at the Brisenhaus. The jacuzzi at the Hotel Edelweiss on the Rigi. The Ice Flyer on Mt Titlis. The amazing view from the bathroom window at the Hotel Central in Weggis. And of course the wonderful weather - we were so lucky. The only time we didn't have perfect sunshine was 3 minutes after we arrived at the hotel in Beckenried, and we sat on the balcony and watched the most amazing thunderstorm across the lake. Otherwise we picked the best week of the summer!
Please thank all the hotel staff for their excellent service and kindness. We usually travel independently so we really noticed (and appreciated) getting special treatment the minute we mentioned the magic word Inntravel. Mrs Potts, Hampshire, 20/08/2011

As always, the hotels you selected were marvellous. We would like to point out that just after we left Engleburg the area was hit by an enormous thunderstorm (which we foolishly walked through) and a landslide blocked both the road and the railway out of Engleburg (our bags had not left at this stage). When we reached the Hotel Nidwaldnerhof soaked right through and longing for a change of clothes they very apologetically told us that our bags would be delayed, maybe not arriving at all. The proprietor kindly put our party of three into a 3-bedroomed apartment where we could bathe and change, wrapping ourselves in towels and drying out our clothes.
At 6.00pm our bags arrived due to the extraordinary kindness of Peter at the Hotel Edelweiss who had driven over mountain passes to get our bags to us. We would like to thank him for this and make you aware of what a wonderful gesture this was on his behalf as he must have had many duties to perform at his own hotel as people were trapped in the town. Suzanne and Peter at the Edelweiss are really extraordinary people. Mrs EA Stevenson, Bath, 25/06/2011

The sheer variety of the experience of Switzerland provided by the holiday. We have thoroughly enjoyed our first holiday with you. Mrs M Aldred, Preston, 27/09/2009

For more reviews of this trip, see: Reviews of Walking around Lake Lucerne, Switzerland