- Free cancellationFor a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Duration10 hr
- Guide languagesEnglish, Spanish
- Mobile ticket
Free cancellation
You book and pay on Viator, our booking partner, at the same price as booking with them directly.
Overview
Spend a day in the pretty city of Lucerne on a day trip from Zurich, enjoying a short introduction to the city, a cruise on Lake Lucerne, and plenty of free time. After traveling south through scenic landscapes, receive a brief introduction to Lucerne while driving into the city. Then enjoy roughly six hours at leisure to explore the city at your own pace. The day trip includes a ticket for a one-hour panoramic cruise on Lake Lucerne, where you can take in the beautiful lakeside scenery from the water. In 2026, the cruise will be operated by an alternative motor vessel while the Saphir yacht is being converted to a sustainable hydrogen-powered system.
What's included
- "Best of Lucerne" audio guide (available for download on your own device)
- 1-hour panorama cruise on Lake Lucerne
- Transportation by air-conditioned coach
- Partly guided tour by professional multilingual guide (English/Spanish)
- Carbon-balanced operations certified by myclimate
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Personal expenses
Itinerary
- 1
Zurich
Passing by
Start your day with a pickup from Sihlquai Bus Station in the center of Zurich. Enjoy the coach ride through the gorgeous Swiss countryside, and along the shores of Lake Lucerne to Lucerne.
- 2
Luzern Altstadt
5 hr
Enjoy a brief orientation drive, where your guide points out the main attractions of this charming town like the famous Chapel Bridge, the Town Hall, the Jesuit Church and the Culture and Convention Centre (KKL). Explore this unique city on your own during the following six hours of leisure time.
- 3
Lake Lucerne
1 hrAdmission included
Included in your tour rate is a one-hour panoramic boat cruise on beautiful Lake Lucerne. Enjoy the stunning views of the lake, the surrounding mountains, and the charming city of Lucerne from the water - a relaxing and unforgettable experience.
- 4
Zurich
Passing by
In the evening, meet again with your tour guide at the same location where you were dropped off for the return journey to Zurich.
Meeting point and pickup
Meeting point
The official departure point for all tours departing from Zurich is Sihlquai Bus Station, near Zurich’s main train station (Zürich HB). Please check in at least 15 minutes before departure at the “Best of Switzerland Tours” counter with your QR code on your voucher ready, printed or electronically.
End point
Ends back at the meeting point.
Good to know
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- In 2026, the Saphir yacht is being converted to a sustainable hydrogen-powered system and another motor vessel will operate the cruise. No audio guide will be available.
- The tour includes accompaniment from Zurich to Lucerne and back. For the individual stay in Lucerne and the yacht cruise, tickets and a written itinerary are provided
- Please note that some shops in Lucerne may be closed on Sundays.
- We kindly request that you arrive at least 15 minutes prior to departure and check in at the ticket counter marked with ''Best of Switzerland Tours''. Please have your confirmation details and proof of identification (ID) ready. You may present your tour voucher either as a printed copy or electronically on your smartphone or tablet. If you are unfamiliar with the location, we recommend allowing extra time for your journey. Should you have any difficulty finding your way, please contact us as early as possible at +41 (0)44 710 50 50. Our team is available to assist you daily from 7:00 to 21:00.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Traveller reviews
4.0
70 reviews
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- MariaRegina_A · Sep 2026
Lovely Lucerne
Andrea, our warm and friendly tour guide from Best of Switzerland tours, shared interesting information about the history and general trivia about Lucerne. Prior to arriving in the city proper, we were treated to a panoramic ride showcasing lovely views of the mountains and lakes. We had five hours to explore the city on our own. The tour also included a relaxing boat ride around the lake. Lovely Lucerne!
Review via Viator
- M7421IUjanm · Sep 2026
Lurcerne Visit
A visit to Lurcerne is a must. A very enjoyable experience.
Review via Tripadvisor · translated automatically
- Alan_P · Sep 2026
Most Beautiful Lake
Luka was a very engaging guide who gave us much more information than just Lake Bled and made sure we were well taken care of. The Lake tour could be combined with other activities but I added the castle and Island boat trip which was well worth it. Note that entrance to the church on the island is extra. Also note that there is a steep climb to the castle and the church which requires good fitness.
Review via Viator
- jilly042 · Jul 2026
Excellent day trip up Mount Pilatus with cable car and cogwheel railway and boat trip
The day was very well organised. Carola our guide was great and explained very well how the day would progress. She kept us all to time very well and each activity was very enjoyable. I would recommend the experience as a great way to enjoy the area.
Review via Tripadvisor
- Ann L · Jun 2026
Mt Rigi and Lucerne. Was not a tour just a bus trip.
The views were absolutely spectacular both on the mountain and on the boat tour!! my disappointment was that I thought it was a guided tour and it wasn’t. It was just the bus trip. They provided us with a ticket for the train and the boat and a map and a schedule of what time the trains came and what time to be at the bus to go home. The guy that was on the bus spoke very low and I couldn’t hear anything he said, and almost everybody around me said the same thing. So any information he may have given I didn’t hear. I think if I would’ve known, I would’ve studied more what to do in Lucerne so I could’ve made the most of my visit there. Being alone, I was afraid of not being able to find our bus so I spent too much time looking for that.
Review via Tripadvisor
- Sightseer8748 · Jun 2026
You want the Swiss experience - this is it.
The operator is very well organized from the meeting point with its own kiosk marked prominently so you can’t miss it. The tour guide Gonzalo is informative and friendly made our trip one to remember - we will return and make sure to go with The Best of Switzerland Tours in the future. We had a bad experience the day before with another tour operator with no presence LOCALLY - very important factor when travelling globally (we later found out it was in Estonia).
Review via Tripadvisor
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