From Basel, travel comfortably to Lucerne for a day of lakeside serenity and mountain-framed history. Explore Chapel Bridge, Old Town, and more at your own pace. With Daytrip’s seamless round-trip service, you can relax and soak up the magic of Switzerland’s most photogenic city.
Enjoy a smooth, on-time ride from Basel to Lucerne with a helpful driver, four hours to explore lakeside sights and Old Town highlights, and a comfortable return without hassle.
Lucerne is a Swiss city that has it all - lakeside views, alpine peaks, and a medieval spirit wrapped in the beauty of the Alps.
Set beside snow-dusted peaks and mirrored waters, Lucerne is where Swiss storybook scenes come to life. Spend your four hours wandering Old Town’s cobbled lanes and ornate guild halls, crossing the flower-lined Chapel Bridge and admiring the baroque grandeur of the Jesuit Church. Stroll the lake promenade, where swans glide past alpine reflections, or visit the Rosengart Collection for Picassos in a peaceful gallery setting. Consider a short lake cruise for unbeatable views. Whether you’re sipping hot chocolate or photographing medieval towers, Lucerne is full of jaw-dropping scenery at every turn.
Lucerne captivates visitors with its perfect blend of natural beauty urban charm and rich history. The city is known for its well-preserved medieval architecture magnificent lakeside setting iconic wooden Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrucke) with its water tower impressive mountain panoramas and proximity to Mount Pilatus and Mount Rigi.
The drive from Basel to Lucerne takes approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes covering about 100 kilometers of scenic Swiss countryside. With a private Daytrip transfer you'll enjoy a comfortable journey with the flexibility to make photo stops or detours along the route.
Don't miss the Chapel Bridge (Europe's oldest covered wooden bridge) with its 17th-century pictorial roof panels, the sorrowful Lion Monument carved into natural rock, the well-preserved medieval city walls (Museggmauer) with their towers, the picturesque Old Town with its frescoed buildings, and the ultra-modern KKL Luzern culture and convention center.
Yes, Lucerne's historic center is compact and pedestrian-friendly, making it perfect for exploration on foot. Most major attractions are within a 15-minute walk of each other, and the scenic promenades along the Reuss River and Lake Lucerne provide beautiful walking routes connecting many of the city's highlights.
Lucerne offers excellent shopping opportunities from luxury Swiss watches to handcrafted souvenirs. Browse the shops along the arcaded streets of the Old Town, visit the Schweizerhof Quay for upscale boutiques, explore the traditional markets, or hunt for Swiss specialties like chocolates, music boxes, and army knives at specialized shops.
Absolutely! Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee) offers numerous possibilities from scenic boat cruises to paddle steamer journeys to beach areas for swimming in summer. A boat trip on the lake provides spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and shoreline settlements and can be customized from 1-hour panoramic cruises to longer journeys.
Lucerne offers excellent opportunities to sample Swiss cuisine from traditional specialties like cheese fondue, raclette, rosti, and Luzerner Chugelipastete (a local vol-au-vent specialty) to international fine dining. Waterfront restaurants offer beautiful views while historic guild houses provide atmospheric dining in centuries-old settings.
With 4 hours, you can explore the main city attractions at a comfortable pace. If you want to include a mountain excursion to Pilatus or Rigi, or a longer boat cruise, consider extending your stay. The weather can change quickly in the Alpine region, so checking the forecast is advisable, particularly for mountain visits.
Day trips offer travelers private round-trip transportation to popular sightseeing locations. One of our professional drivers will pick you up in a luxurious, climate-controlled car, take you to the site of interest, and wait for you while you explore before driving you back to your hotel.
Yes! You’re free to choose the pickup and drop-off times that work best for you. However, the time spent at the destination is fixed and cannot be changed.
Each sightseeing stop has a recommended duration that includes plenty of time to explore. However, it is possible to customize the time spent at each sightseeing stop at a later stage in the booking process to best fit your unique schedule.
Your Daytrip driver will wait for you nearby for the duration of your exploration, meaning you’ll never have to wait for your return trip transportation to arrive. Your comfort and convenience are our top priorities, and we aim to close out your day trip with a return on your schedule.
The price of a day trip does not include any entrance tickets, guided tours, or meals you may partake in at your destination. The price covers round-trip transportation in a luxury vehicle with a professional driver who can provide local insights en route.
Day trip bookings can be canceled up to 24 hours before your trip for a full refund, no strings attached. While the destination and stops are predetermined, it is possible to change your pick-up point, whether it is at your hotel or some other location within the city.