If you only think of the Kapellbrücke and boat trips when you think of Lucerne, think again. The city also has plenty of music to offer – from classical and jazz to film music.
Excursions in Switzerland
For those spending a day in Lucerne, there’s plenty to see besides the better-known sights such as the Kapellbrücke, the Wasserturm and the Löwendenkmal. Nestling between the mountains and the water, the city on the shores of Lake Lucerne has something for everyone. Here are the best tips, whatever the weather.
Right on the shores of Lake Lucerne and in a central location next to the station, the KKL is an important meeting place for all lovers of music. The architecture, courtesy of Jean Nouvel, is impressive, as are the acoustics, conceptualised by Russel Johnsen. The KKL is a feast for the eyes and the ears and offers a colourful programme of concerts, with something to suit every taste. The regular film music concerts, during which the KKL becomes a live cinema, are particularly impressive. As the film takes place on the big screen, the orchestra plays the entire soundtrack live, goosebumps guaranteed! Tip: Spontaneous visits can be a little difficult, so we do recommend that you make a reservation beforehand.
Those who are keen to explore things in greater depth should book one of the regular tours for their next trip. In addition to the 60-minute public viewings, the KKL offers tours with specific themes, such as music tours, tours which focus on technology and entertainment, and combined tours together with Kunstmuseum Luzern.
Richard Wagner is one of the most famous composers of the 19th century. He lived in Switzerland for many years, including in Tribschen, near Lucerne. This is where he completed ‘Meistersinger von Nürnberg’ and ‘Siegfried’.
Visitors can learn more about his life and works in the permanent exhibition. The greatest treasure of the collection is Richard Wagner’s Érard grand piano, made in Paris in 1858. The instrument can be heard during the public guided tour of the museum. The museum also hosts talks on a regular basis, a themed tour on Wagner’s anti-semitism and salon concerts with students from Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
What’s more: A visit to the Richard Wagner Museum combines well with a short walk and a boat trip. It takes just about half an hour to walk from the railway station to the museum, along the lakeshore and past the beautiful grounds of Ufschötti Park. The journey back can be made by boat, aboard the ‘Tribschen’. But be warned: the boat only has a few sailings per day, so do make sure you consult the departure times beforehand.
Lucerne offers a broad palette of concerts, including those which take place within the context of the Lucerne Festival. The long-established Lucerne Festival is an international festival for classical music which has been running since 1938. Whether it be a symphony concert, chamber music or a recital – all friends of classic music will find something worth attending. The main festival takes place in the summer and is complemented by shorter festivals in spring and autumn.
The similarly well-established World Band Festival takes place towards the end of September and focuses on music for wind instruments. Over a period of nine days, some 1,000 artists from all over the world display their skills in concerts and competitions. From brass bands, military music and concert bands to folk music and salsa, there’s a bit of everything.
If you like vegetarian and Middle Eastern food BaBa Oriental is the place to be. On the menu: pitta, mezze, and bowls of food in all the shapes and colours you can think of. A real treat is the fresh home-made pitta bread which is taken out of the oven behind the counter at regular intervals. Dishes can be taken away or eaten on location: BaBa Oriental is just the thing if you want a quick, tasty meal without too many frills.
Need some energy for body and soul after a long day of viewings? Then a break at Gelateria Alpineum is just the thing, within a convenient distance of the well-known sights of the Löwendenkmal, the Glacier Garden and the Alpineum. A palette of flavours ranging from traditional flavours, such as banana and strawberry, to more adventurous creations such as cucumber and apple, basil and sea buckthorn awaits those who enjoy chilly treats. A perfect refreshment for when you are on the move!
In the mood for a cocktail? Then it’s time to visit Pilatusstrasse 1! What awaits you is a comprehensive cocktail menu – including classics, special creations and seasonal specialities. And if you find yourself feeling a little peckish, the ‘small plates’ menu offers a selection of snacks large and small – great for sharing, but pretty good for not sharing too!
Café Tacuba doesn’t spoil coffee fans with just any old kind of coffee. Café Tacuba serves coffee which they import from El Salvador and roast in Lucerne themselves. Those who want to take the great taste home with them can buy the coffee right in the café itself. Catering to appetites large and small, Café Tacuba offers a range of baked goods, bowls of food and (warm) sandwiches. There is plenty here for those who don’t drink coffee too: Among other things, Café Tacuba also offers various home-made lemonades.
Those visiting Bistro Mes Amis need the weather to be on their side. From spring to autumn, the cosy container café right under the Musegg Wall (or, more accurately, the Zytturm) welcomes visitors with a colourful range of drinks and small dishes. Included: fantastic views of the old town and the lake.
To be fair, given that the Swiss Museum of Transport is Switzerland’s most popular museum, it is hardly an insider tip. But it is a Mecca for anyone who is interested in the worlds of mobility. In the themed area of road, rail, water, air and space, visitors young and old will find plenty to be amazed by and enjoy a wonderful rainy day.
What’s more: With the offer ‘Explore’n’Rail Swiss Museum of Transport’ not only do you get a discount on admission, but your journey there by public transport will also be cheaper.
Games, as far as the eye can see: Gameorama has a big collection of games of all kinds, from board games to consoles to pinball machines. In the board game café, visitors can choose from a range of over 600 board and card games and try them out in a cosy atmosphere. Those who find they can’t see the wood for all the trees will be able to get help in choosing from the staff.
KKL is a major centre for concerts in Lucerne. Anyone who has always wanted to have a look behind the scenes, to experience the KKL from the perspective of the musicians or to get an insight into technology and entertainment will find just what they are looking for in the regular tours which are given. During the public tours and the special themed tours, KKL Luzern takes visitors on a journey into the world behind the concerts.
150 years old and still relevant: The medium of the panorama is now considered not only a predecessor of cinema, but also as the inspiration for 360 degree film-making and virtual reality. The Bourbaki Panorama by the Genevese painter Edouard Castres is a 112m x 10m circular panorama. It memorialises the internment of 87,000 French soldiers, who sought refuge in Switzerland and the end of the Franco-Prussian War.
Those who are not quite so interested in art and history can also spend a gloomy day of rain in the Bourbaki Cinema or the Bourbaki Bar, both of which are in the same historic building.
