Zurich & Lucerne Travel Guide
First Time in Zurich and Lucerne
The practical primer for a first visit — getting in from the airport, the Swiss Travel Pass and its alternatives, mountain closures, money, Sunday closing, tipping, tap water and the etiquette that keeps Swiss life running smoothly.
Switzerland is one of the easiest countries in the world to visit. Trains run on time, cities are clean and safe, English is widely spoken in Zurich and Lucerne, and the scenery is as good as the pictures. But it has its own rhythms and its own costs, and a little planning saves a lot of money. Here is what to know before your first trip.
Getting in from the airport. Zurich airport has its own railway station under the terminal, and trains reach Zurich main station in around ten to fifteen minutes, with several departures an hour. Direct trains and easy connections also run from the airport to Lucerne. Taxis are available but very expensive; the train is faster and far cheaper. Buy tickets at the machines, at the counter or in the SBB app, which is the most useful app for any trip in Switzerland, with timetables, platforms, tickets and real-time information.
Getting between Zurich and Lucerne. Direct trains connect the two cities in under an hour, several times an hour, from early morning to late evening. There is no need to reserve seats on Swiss domestic trains; just buy a ticket or show your pass and board. First class is more spacious and quieter at peak times, but second class is perfectly comfortable.
The Swiss Travel Pass and its alternatives. The Swiss Travel Pass gives unlimited travel on trains, buses, city trams and lake boats across most of the country for 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 consecutive days, or as a Flex pass for a set number of days within a month, in first or second class. It also gives free entry to more than 500 museums, free travel on Rigi, and discounts on many other mountains, typically 50 percent, including Pilatus and Titlis. Children under six travel free, and children from 6 to 16 travel free with a parent holding a pass if you request the free Swiss Family Card. The pass is excellent value if you travel a lot; if you will stay mostly in one city with one or two excursions, compare it with the Swiss Half Fare Card, which halves most fares for a month, and with regional passes such as the Lucerne-region Tell Pass, which covers Pilatus in full. Prices change each year, so check the current rates.
City transport and city cards. In Zurich, trams and buses are frequent and cover the whole city; a day ticket for the central zone is good value, and the Zurich Card adds free public transport, including the airport train, and discounts or free entry at many museums. In Lucerne, the centre is walkable, and buses reach the Swiss Museum of Transport and the outskirts. Visitors staying in Lucerne hotels usually receive a guest card with local benefits; ask at check-in.
Mountains and seasons. Mountain railways and cable cars run to their own timetables and close for maintenance, usually for a few weeks in spring and in November. In 2026, Pilatus's cable cars are closed from 19 October to 27 November, its cogwheel railway runs until 29 November and then closes for the winter, and on Rigi the Weggis cableway is closed from 16 to 27 November except at weekends. Titlis is open with ongoing construction of a new peak station until 2029. Always check the operator's website and webcam on the day: if the summit is in cloud, change plans.
Money and costs. The currency is the Swiss franc, and prices are high: restaurant meals, hotels and mountain tickets cost more than in neighbouring countries. Cards and mobile payments are accepted almost everywhere, but carry a little cash for small kiosks and market stalls. Save money with picnic lunches from the Coop and Migros supermarkets or the bakeries, by drinking tap water, which is excellent and free from the many public fountains in Zurich, and by using passes cleverly. Service is included in restaurant prices; rounding up or adding a little for good service is appreciated but not expected.
Opening hours and Sundays. Shops in Zurich and Lucerne generally open from morning until early evening on weekdays and close earlier on Saturdays; most are closed on Sundays, except in and around the main stations, where shops and supermarkets stay open. Many museums close on Mondays, including the Kunsthaus, the Swiss National Museum and the FIFA Museum. Restaurants often stop serving hot food by late evening, so do not plan on very late dinners outside the nightlife areas.
Etiquette and practicalities. The Swiss value punctuality, quiet and order: arrive on time, keep your voice down on trains, which have quiet zones, and dispose of rubbish carefully, as recycling is taken seriously. Greet shopkeepers with a hello; in Zurich and Lucerne, the local greeting is Grueezi. German is the language of both cities, and the Swiss German dialect differs from standard German, but almost everyone in tourism speaks English. Plugs are Swiss type J, which accept two-pin European plugs in most cases but not all, so bring a Swiss adapter. Emergency number: 112.
When to go. Summer, from June to September, brings long days, lake swimming, open mountain railways and the Golden Round Trip on Pilatus. Autumn is quieter, with golden colours and frequent fog in the lowlands while the mountains are in sunshine. Winter has snow in the mountains, short days and the Christmas markets from late November. Spring brings blossom and green meadows but also mountain maintenance closures. There is no bad time to visit, but there are good and bad days, so keep your plans flexible.