Edition 140   |   4:22 read time

Luzern, Switzerland | @skeyelad According to local lore, Lucerne’s original settlers chose the location of the area’s first chapel after seeing an angel cast light upon it. You don’t have to be a believer to see that, all these centuries later, there’s still something heavenly about this place. The heart of central Switzerland, Lucerne is every bit as mountainous, quaint, and awe-inspiring as you’d hope; few places meet, let alone exceed, expectations quite like it.

Fun Fact: Lucerne gained its independence from the Hapsburgs following the Battle of Sempach in 1386.

Lucerne, Switzerland N 47.05° / E 8.30°

#mylucerne | @gitfo July — August The one downside to Lucerne being so lush and verdant is that it's also fairly rainy. The drizzly weather peaks in June before tapering off somewhat in the later summer months, which are also the warmest of the year. You’ll be far from alone in visiting the city in July and August, but there’s so much to do and see that you’re unlikely to feel overwhelmed by crowds.

Lion Monument | @jenchih Lionheart Mark Twain once described the Lion of Lucerne as “the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world.” He couldn’t have been more right. Built two centuries ago to commemorate the 900 Swiss Guards massacred during the French Revolution, the rock relief carved into a small cliff above a pond is haunting in its beauty. Above the mortally wounded lion, whose expression will stay with you long after you’ve left, is a simple Latin inscription emphasizing its national importance: “To the loyalty and bravery of the Swiss.” Mount Pilatus, Luzern, Switzerland | @nick_tcw Into Thin Air You wouldn’t visit Switzerland without scaling a mountain, would you? The mighty Pilatus overlooks Lucerne from an imposing 6,995 feet, and one way to reach the top is via the steepest cogwheel railway in the world. The views of Lake Lucerne and the surrounding environs are stunning, of course, but there’s more to do than spectate: Skiing, fondue, snowshoeing, and even a dragon exhibit are among the other possibilities (to say nothing of the hotels and restaurants). Chapel Bridge | @zimmermannchrisphotography A Bridge Too Far No charming European city is complete without a picturesque bridge to stand on, and so it is in Lucerne. The Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge) is one of the city’s most enduring symbols, having been built, destroyed, and rebuilt several times since 1365. It should come as no surprise, then, that it’s not only the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe but also the oldest surviving truss bridge in the world. Of more importance to most visitors: It’s simply beautiful. Just on the other side of the bridge is the city’s old-town district, which likewise runs alongside the Reuss River and is just as essential. Museggmauer | @creativetolerance The Whole Nine Yards Lest you think of Lucerne as some podunk town with a mere eight towers to its name, Museggmauer and its nine — that’s right, nine — towers are here to dissuade you of that notion. The iconic wall has been defending the fine citizens of this fair city since the 13th century, a proud tenure that most medieval fortifications can only aspire to. With fun names like Männli (“little man”) and Luegisland (“look toward the land”), the individual towers were built at different times and stand at different heights, giving each a distinct personality. @celine.beyond47   Céline’s Discovery @celine.beyond47 "There are so many beautiful mountains around Lake Lucerne and also lots of tourists. So the best thing to do is to take a boat to the bottom of a mountain and then hike up instead of taking the railways/cable cars. It can be a challenge but the views are amazing and there aren’t as many people on the way as at the peaks and it feels sooooo good to arrive at a mountain top by foot, knowing you totally deserve to be there."

PURA Luzern | @pura_luzern Swiss-Mex Mexican food in Switzerland? It won’t sound so crazy once you’ve eaten at Pacifico. The cantina boasts the best margarita in town, not to mention other favorites like fajitas and guacamole, and all of it is elegantly prepared and seriously tasty. For something more traditionally Swiss, try Stern Luzern. It's especially well known for its Shooting Star specialties, which are smaller dishes served in glass jars — everything from cream of apple and celery soup to hand-cut Swiss beef tartare. They're great for sharing, but you may be tempted to keep them all to yourself. And if you prefer something plant-based, opt for Pura. It has all the avocado toast, pancakes, and veggie burgers you could ask for.

Buergenstock Resort | @buergenstockresort Alpine Abode If you feel like treating yourself, you could do worse than Bürgenstock Resort. Home to four different hotels — the Bürgenstock, Palace, Waldhotel, and Taverne 1879 — and three spas on Lake Lucerne, it’s an extraordinarily ritzy place to lay your head at night and take in some jaw-dropping views of the lake during the day. Less pricey but still quite lovely is Hotel des Alpes, which is centrally located and extremely walkable. Despite being in the heart of it all, the space is as quiet and cozy as they come.

Arnisee | @dino.reichmuth Go Beyond the Familiar "Mount Rigi is quite a well-known place to visit. But it offers so much more besides the well-known places. You can hike up from around on very easy to quite challenging trails." – @dielinsedurch Really Rigi Good "We reached the top of Rigi by taking cable cars with amazing views from Weggis to Rigi Kaltbad and then a train to Rigi Kulm." – @ambrose_wong SUBMIT TO UPCOMING DESTINATIONS!

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