Staying in Switzerland for July 18-23. Scheduled 22nd in Basel. What city should we use as a base for day trips--Lucerne or Zurich. We are in 70's but active
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32350 posts
carol,
My choice would be Lucerne. It's a beautiful city (one of my favourites), easily walkable and has some wonderful hotels and restaurants. I was back there again last September. While Zürich has some interesting sights, it's a larger city and (IMO) not as nice a place to stay as Lucerne. Zürich also seemed more expensive to me.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Luzern definitely. Good starting point for mountain and lake trips, and a nice city to wander around.
See here for a 360° panorama of the town: http://tour.luzern.com/360/en/
The building to the left of the bridge is the station, with the boat landing in front. Access couldn't be easier.
Posted by
Central NJ
3 posts
I couldn't agree more. Zurich is nice for a day, but Lucerne is worth several. We splurged and stayed at the Hotel Gutsch while there. It has a beautiful view of the lake from the bar. Even if you don't stay there, it's worth the hike to see the view. Lucerne is a warm city with an inviting cultural feel. Zurich is a bit austere for my taste.