Travel Budget for Lucerne Visit Lucerne on a Budget or Travel in Style

Lucerne, Kanton Luzern, Switzerland

How much does it cost to travel to Lucerne?

You should plan to spend around $218 (Sfr196) per day on your vacation in Lucerne. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $63 (Sfr57) on meals
  • $13 (Sfr11) on local transportation
  • $279 (Sfr250) on hotels

A one week trip to Lucerne for two people costs, on average, $3,049 (Sfr2,738). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $218
    Sfr196
  • One Week Per person
    $1,524
    Sfr1,369
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $3,049
    Sfr2,738
  • One Month Per person
    $6,533
    Sfr5,866
  • One Week For a couple
    $3,049
    Sfr2,738
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $6,097
    Sfr5,475
  • One Month For a couple
    $13,066
    Sfr11,733
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Lucerne cost?

A one week trip to Lucerne usually costs around $1,524 (Sfr1,369) for one person and $3,049 (Sfr2,738) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Lucerne on average costs around $3,049 (Sfr2,738) for one person and $6,097 (Sfr5,475) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Lucerne will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Lucerne on average costs around $6,533 (Sfr5,866) for one person and $13,066 (Sfr11,733) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to Lucerne has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Lucerne expensive to visit?

Prices in Lucerne are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.

Within Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, Lucerne is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to La Spezia or Amalfi.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Lucerne Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Lucerne?

The average Lucerne trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Lucerne travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) Sfr250 ($279)
Local Transportation 1 Sfr11 ($13)
Food 2 Sfr57 ($63)
Entertainment 1 Sfr31 ($35)
Alcohol 2 Sfr10 - 30 ($11 - 33)
Accommodation Budget in Lucerne
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Lucerne is $139 (Sfr125). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Lucerne is $279 (Sfr250). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $139
    Sfr125
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $279
    Sfr250

Hotel Prices in Lucerne

Looking for a hotel in Lucerne? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Lucerne based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $173. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Transportation Budget in Lucerne
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Lucerne is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $13 (Sfr11) per person, per day, on local transportation in Lucerne.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $13
    Sfr11

Recommended Services


Flights to Lucerne
How much does it cost to go to Lucerne? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in Lucerne
The price of renting a car in Lucerne will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.



Food Budget in Lucerne
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Lucerne can vary, the average cost of food in Lucerne is $63 (Sfr57) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Lucerne should cost around $25 (Sfr23) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Lucerne is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $63
    Sfr57


Entertainment Budget in Lucerne
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Lucerne typically cost an average of $35 (Sfr31) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $35
    Sfr31

Recommended Activities

What did other people spend on Entertainment in Lucerne?

Typical prices for Entertainment in Lucerne are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Lucerne, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.


  • 1 Day Bicycle Rental
    Sfr31
  • The Swiss Transport Museum Entrance Fee
    Sfr32


Alcohol Budget in Lucerne
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $22 (Sfr20) on alcoholic beverages in Lucerne per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $22
    Sfr20

Recommended


Lucerne On a Budget
Lucerne Lucerne, Switzerland
Lucerne is a relatively small city in the center of Switzerland. It is located across the lake from Altdorf and it has a thriving tourism industry. It's close proximity to many of the major sights in the country make it a great base for exploration. Many people use it as a jumping off point for exploring Mount Rigi and the Rutli Meadow.

The city itself is quite charming and a pleasure to explore on its own. It has a population of just over 80,000, making it the most populous city in Central Switzerland. It is also a hub for transportation and government in the region.

During the coldest winter months, the average lows in the city fall just below freezing and daytime highs are around about 4 degrees Celsius. During the warmer summer months, averages highs are around 24 degrees Celsius. Snow generally falls between the months of November and March, with occasional dustings during April and October.
Sights
Although many people use Lucerne as a base to explore Central Switzerland, the city itself has a lot to offer travelers. The Chapel Bridge is the landmark of the city. It's the oldest woodbridge in all of Europe and dates back to the 14th century. Unfortunately the original bridge burned in 1993 but was very quickly rebuilt. The old city wall is also interesting to see. It has several towers including the clock tower that chimes one minute before the hour so that it has the first strike in town.

Other interesting sights around town include Alpineum, the Glacier Garden, Bourbaki Panormama, the KKL, and the Lion Monument. Interesting museums include the Swiss Transport Museum, the Lucerne Art Museum, the Rosengart Collection, and the Richard Wagner Museum.
Neighborhoods
Lucerne is a small city and most visitors spend the majority of their time in the Old Town. The city is located on the shore of Lake Lucerne and has views of Mount Pilatus and Rigi in the Swiss Alps. Because of it's proximity to many outdoor destinations, the city makes a popular base for exploring the area.

Activities
Popular activities in the area include climbing Mount Pilatus, the top of which can be reached by either hiking or taking the cable car. If you choose to hike you can expect the ascent to take about four hours. Some people also decide to take a boat tour that will give you a ride between Lucerne and Alpnachstad.

There are a handful of other mountains you can visit that are near Lucerne. Many can be visited as day trips and will offer you a great overview of the beautiful surrounding countryside. Some of the popular mountains include Mount Rigi and Mount Titlis.

Lucerne also has a popular Carnival festival that is quite impressive if you're in the area.
Food and Dining
Food can be expensive in Lucerne, like it is elsewhere in Switzerland. There are a couple of budget options near the train station. Alternatively, you can pick up some food at the market and make a meal out of bread, cheese, meats, and some fruit. Migros and Coop are both huge supermarket chains that are generally affordable. You'll find small Migros and a larger Coop at the train station where you can grab something to eat as you arrive or leave the city. The chains are also present elsewhere around town and make a convenient place to grab some cheap food. If you don't want to prepare your own meal, then there are some delicious, although expensive restaurants around town.

Transportation
It's easy to walk around and reach most places on foot, so a car is definitely not necessary. The Old Town area is quite small, and all of the other, more distant attractions are still within a half hour's walk. Not only is it easy to walk around Lucerne, but it's also very enjoyable and highly recommended.

If you decide to take public transit, then there is an extensive city bus system. Further out attractions such as the Lido Beach and the Swiss Transport Museum can be reached by bus. There are also several boats an hour that can be caught in front of the central railway station. Also near the central railway station are bicycle rental facilities. There are bike lanes on most secondary streets and most drivers around town are comfortable with bicyclists.

If you're using Lucerne as a base to explore Central Switzerland, then you will make good use of the Swiss Federal Railway, the Schifffahrt Vierwaldstattersee, or the private transit companies that travel around the country. There are frequent connections and it is relatively easy to get around the area.


Related:

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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.