Things to do for families in Lucerne
Lucerne is a safe and friendly city for families and combines the convenience of modern cultural and sporting facilities with a wealth of family-friendly outdoor activities. Keep an eye on the Hello Switzerland Events page to learn about upcoming events in your area. Lucerne Tourism as well as local newspapers also provide an abundance of useful information about family excursions and hiking.
There are several options for excursions near to Lucerne. Head for the mountains and visit the cheese making exhibition at the monastery or, for the more adventurous, the rodelbahn at Pilatus. A short 45 minute train ride will bring you to Engelberg, Brunni Engelberg and Morschach Stoos where you can partake in a number of fun family activities in summer or winter.
Check with the schools your children attend for information about sports camps and activities planned during holiday periods. Find more great suggestions in the article Enjoying Lucerne.
Outdoor family activities in Lucerne
Summer is ideal for hiking, swimming and heading to one of the many lidos or lakeside beaches near to Lucerne. There is something for children of all ages at the Lido Luzern (DE) as well as many other public areas on the lakeside to choose from. Find a list of all the lidos in the area here. At Hohlgassland you can also rent boats and pedalos.
The Gletscher Garten and several other parks and gardens in Lucerne make for a great day out. For an alternative way to see the city, participate in Foxtrail scavenger hunt. A visit to the Tierpark Goldau (DE) (animal park), which is open all year round, is also highly recommended. If you are looking for a rope park try, Engelberg rope park or Seilpark Rigi (DE).
Winter is great for skiing lessons, sledging, snowshoeing and ice skating. Bring the family to Engelberg for ski lessons and other winter activities or visit Melchsee-Frutt for skiing lessons and winter hiking. You can also find ski lessons at Klewenalp (DE). Have you ever stayed overnight in an igloo? It's time to give it a try!
Rainy day activities with children in Lucerne
- The Verkehrshaus (Transport Museum) has a vast selection of transport modes and can entertain the whole family for several days.
- Swiss Holiday Park
- The Natur Museum (DE) is a great place to visit with kids.
- Technorama is a fun science museum.
- Alpamare is open 365 days a year and has many indoor sections.
Babies and small children
With a little German you could visit one of the mother-child playgroups that operate in each local area. Nearby Stans has Kinderfit (DE), which also offers a Fit Baby group. Check out the baby swimming courses at Zwergmaus (DE).
Essential tips for planning family activities
- Check with SBB/CFF for special discounts and family tickets. SBB/CFF trains also sometimes have family carriages and offers for family outings.
- Become a member of the Touring Club Suisse (French/German/Italian) for security while travelling by car.
- Check the Swiss weather forecast in order to plan your activities.
Photo: swiss-image.ch/Damian Amstutz
