2 Magical Nights in Lake Lucerne

Lucerne had us at hello—or more accurately, at “Would you like to stay in a castle?” Because yes, yes we would. And thus began our 48 hours of fairy-tale magic, Swiss-style.

🏰 Check-In Like Royalty in Lucerne

We rolled into Lucerne from Zurich via train in the late afternoon and made our royal entrance at Château Gütsch—a real-life castle perched above town with next-level views and a spacious room that actually fit our family of four withoutresembling a game of Tetris.

There’s a full hotel review coming (spoiler alert: we’re obsessed), but let’s just say—if you’ve ever wanted to drink wine while pretending you’re the misunderstood duchess of a European kingdom, this is the place to do it.

🍽️ First Night Feels: Schnitzel with a Side of Funicular in Lucerne

After soaking in the views (and arguing over who got which bed), we rode the funicular down into Lucerne’s charming old town—because why take stairs when there’s a magical hillside train?

Thanks to the concierge, we snagged a reservation at Old Swiss House, where we had the most delicious Wienerschnitzel prepared table-side. Think sizzling butter, crisp coating, and enough culinary drama to make Gordon Ramsay weep. Absolute must-do.

We took a quick nighttime stroll through Lucerne, gasped at how pretty everything looked under the lights (and how our kids were still somehow not tired), then headed back to our castle-in-the-clouds to rest up for Day 2.

🚡 Mt. Pilatus: Where My Fear of Heights Met Its Match

The next morning, after another absurdly perfect Swiss breakfast (how do they make bread taste like happiness?!), we set off for Mount Pilatus. We’d planned to take the Golden Round Trip (boat, cogwheel, cable car), but alas—our timing was a few weeks too early. Plot twist!

Instead, we hopped a bus to Kriens and made our ascent via gondolas and cable cars. Now, let’s talk about that cable car.

Was it terrifying? YES.Did I look down? NOPE.Did I survive to write this? OBVIOUSLY.Was it worth it? 1000x YES.

Once at the top, the views were unreal. We walked around, took photos, and I bravely rewarded myself with a mountaintop beer. You can stay for 15 minutes or 3 hours depending on your group's level of interest, energy, and snack supply. We clocked in at just over an hour before heading back down.

🛷 Toboggan Time (aka Chest Cam Chronicles)

On the way down, we stopped at Fräkmüntegg and discovered what might be the most fun part of the entire trip: the toboggan run. Even if you're kid-free, do it. They’ll even give you a little contraption to hold your phone for filming. Genius!

Of course, my 12-year-old managed to record 3 solid minutes of his shirt. Oscar-worthy stuff.

We grabbed some sausage and a celebratory beer at the snack shack (Switzerland: where the hot dogs are gourmet), then rode the gondola down and caught a bus back into town.

🚤 Lake Vibes & The Drink of My Dreams in Lucerne

Back in Lucerne, we hopped on a quick one-hour Lake Lucerne boat cruise, where I discovered my new favorite beverage: the Hugo. It’s like a mojito got a Swiss passport and became sophisticated.

Post-boat, we hit the town’s biggies: Chapel Bridge, Lion Monument, and a few souvenir shops that may or may not now be funding our kids’ college fund with fridge magnets and cow bells.

We grabbed a light dinner and raced back up to our room to watch the sunset from our balcony—pure magic. That view is something we’ll never forget.

🛁 Bubble Baths & Bonus Boats

Our final morning in Lucerne was all about slow travel goals. We filled the tub, opened the windows (yes, with the lake view), and soaked in one last luxurious moment. After breakfast (yes, still amazing), we packed up and took one last boat ride to Vitznau—longer, peaceful, and the perfect way to say goodbye to this storybook city.

From there, it was off to Chur to begin our Bernina Express adventure. (That post is coming soon and it includes glaciers and more parental bravery in the face of sheer drops.)

Final Thoughts?

Lucerne was the perfect blend of adventure, luxury, and cheese. If you’re traveling Switzerland with kids—or even without—don’t skip it. Just be prepared for cable cars, chest cam footage, and possibly questioning your whole life when you realize how well the Swiss do public transport, schnitzel, and scenery.