Lake Lucerne Road Trip: The Ultimate 1-day Guide

Introduction:

Can you road trip around Lake Lucerne? Definitely. And honestly, it’s a lot more scenic than we expected. Sure, there are a few tunnels here and there, but most of the drive gives you open views of the lake, little villages tucked against the hills, and stretches of road where you just have to stop for photos. Even the tunnels felt part of the adventure.

We set aside a whole day for this drive, with just a rough idea of a few places we wanted to see. Mostly, we kept it simple, stopping whenever something looked interesting. There are so many pull-offs, parks, and viewpoints that it doesn’t matter if you miss one; there’s always another one around the corner.

We brought a picnic with us and found a quiet spot by the water for lunch. Sitting there, sandwiches in hand, with the lake in front of us and the mountains behind us—that’s what made the whole day feel so easy and special.

So, if you too, are in Switzerland and visiting Lucerne, we would recommend considering a road trip around Lake Lucerne.

Here are all your accommodation options in Lucerne

How to do it?

We drove to Lucerne in our own car, so getting around was easy for us from the start. But if you don’t have your own wheels, renting a car in Lucerne is straightforward. You can arrange one right in the city center, making it easy to grab a car for a day trip around the lake or further into the mountains without any extra hassle.

We recommend to rent a car through Discover Cars with free cancellation. Book your rental car here.

Every steps of Lake Lucerne Road Trip

Step 1: Lucerne to Bürgenstock

Our first stop on the Lake Lucerne road trip was the little cog railway station at Bürgenstock, about half an hour from Lucerne. The drive starts off easy, but once you pass Parkplatz Harissen Park the road suddenly narrows to a single lane. Only regular cars can squeeze through – vans or campervans wouldn’t make it.

That’s also when the drive really gets good. The road winds tightly along the hillside, and the views start opening up. We honestly sat there for a good ten minutes debating whether to go in, but we went for it – and it was so worth it. On the way back we only had one awkward “face-to-face” moment with another car, and a bit of reversing later we were through.

We parked near Mathisli restaurant and took a short stroll. Early in the morning, it was so calm and quiet, with the Bürgenstock hotel complex sitting up on the ridge above us.

From here, you’ve got two choices:

• Option 1: Hop on the cog railway up to the Bürgenstock complex and continue to the Hammetschwand Elevator.
• Option 2: Leave the car at Parkplatz Harissen Park and walk up along the road to the station – a nice way to stretch your legs before the next stops.

We usually travel with Airalo eSIMs, but when we need unlimited data for work, we go with Holafly.

Step 2: Bürgenstock to Rütli

The next stop was about 40 minutes further on. To get out of Bürgenstock, you have to drive back down that same narrow road (yep, the one-car shuffle again) before rejoining the main route. From there, the road swings past the airport and splits into different itineraries.

Here’s the trick: don’t take the fastest route. Choose the one that hugs the lake. It’s a little longer, but the views are so much better—it’s the kind of drive where you’ll want to pull over for photos every few minutes.

Once you get close to Rütli, you can park the car and take a short walk along the road. The views over the lake from here are just stunning. Rütli isn’t just beautiful, though—it’s also said to be the birthplace of Switzerland, where the country’s founding oath was taken back in 1291. Standing there, it’s hard not to feel like you’re in a spot that really matters.

If you’re up for a longer stop, you can actually hike down to Rütli and its little meadow. From where you’ve parked, you’re standing high above the lake—and Rütli itself sits right at the water level.

That means about an hour of steady downhill hiking to get there, followed by a tough two-hour climb back up. It’s not for everyone, but if you’ve got the time (and the legs for it), the walk down is peaceful, and standing on that historic meadow by the lake is a special moment.

If you skip the hike, the viewpoint from the top already gives you a great sense of the place—and spares you the three-hour round trip.

Read: All our gears and equipments for hiking, blogging, vlogging and so much more…

Rütli to Meggenhorn

If you just drove straight from Rütli to Meggenhorn, it would take about an hour and a half. But that’s not really how this drive should be done.

From Rütli, you head back to the main road, go through a few tunnels, and then suddenly you’re out on the other side of the lake. From there, the road runs between the mountains and the water, and it’s the kind of drive that makes you want to pull over all the time.

That’s pretty much what we did—we stopped whenever we felt like it. Some stops were marked on the map, others were just random places that looked too good to pass. How long it takes will really depend on how many of those moments you give in to.

Tip: Don’t forget to bring a good camera, such as the SONY A7 — it makes all the difference for capturing those unforgettable moments.

Meggenhorn

The last stop of the day was the beautiful Meggenhorn Castle. You can’t actually go inside the castle itself, but the grounds are open, and they’re more than worth the visit. The park around the castle is calm, with perfect views over the lake and the mountains in the distance—it’s the kind of place where you just want to sit for a while.

If you don’t mind a short walk, there’s a little trail—about ten minutes—that takes you down to the Jesus Christ statue by the lake. It’s a peaceful spot to end the day before looping back to Lucerne.

Where to Stay in Lucerne

Here are a few places we really like, depending on your budget:

(€) Capsule Hotel: A simple but clever budget option right in the middle of the old town. You get a private capsule bed, shared bathrooms, and you can walk pretty much everywhere from here.

(€€) KoBi Apartments Hirschenplatz: Great if you like having a bit more space. These serviced apartments are on Hirschenplatz in the old town, close to shops, cafés, and all the main sights—ideal if you prefer apartment-style living but still want to be central.

(€€€) Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern: A beautiful, historic hotel right on the lakefront. It’s more of a splurge, but the rooms are elegant (some with lake views) and the service is spot on—perfect if you want something special.

Here are all your accommodation options in Lucerne