Zug vs Lucern

Beth:

I am a little bit biased as I have extended family in Zug and spent 7 summers there in my college years. With that disclosure, I would stay in Zug for a number of practical reasons. The train from the airport stops there on the way to Luzern so it is easy to get to. It has a great lakeside downtown with a lot of character, but the shops and restaurants are real, and are full of the locals going about their daily life. This is in contrast to the old town part of Luzern which tends to be full of tourists, and people that make a living off of them. The Hotel Lowen is right on the main square, their website gives great views of the town, and yes it really looks like this.

This is the web site: http://www.loewen-zug.ch

There are many more things that I could go on with, but I am not sure of your interests. If you will add some details to your post, I can give you more information. For example, if you like to hike or bike Zug is ideal, and I could give more details.

Mt family is all swiss as well - and my brother studied and lived in Zug for a while. If you want a more local experience with fewer tourists, then Zug may be a great trip for you. Luzern has some great hotels and old town. Also - Thun with its lake town and castle as well would be nice as a side trip too. (and its one the way to Berner Oberland area).

Thanks Kevin and Tom,

We will be in Switzerland for 15 days at the end of Aug. We like modern art and architecture, cities, small towns as well as nature and easy walks, no hiking. Our plans so far are to go to Jug or Lucern (3-4 nights, see some of the towns, mountains, lakes, museums). Basel (3 nights, architecture, art museums, old town), Bern (day trip or 1 night, old town and museums), Wengen (4-5 nights, all the biggies and lakes). Zurich (3 nights, city, museums, architecture, fly home). Taking all public transportation. And are willing to day trip to neighboring towns. We do like less touristy places.

I read about the Hotel Loewen, it looked great.

I would really like to hear any comments and or suggestions.

If you can try to be in Zug at the weekend of their "jazz festival" (it's not really just jazz, it's all kinds of music played all along the lake front and thru old town). It's GREAT! It takes place some time in August - I think...

I have spent time in both Zug and Lucerne. Lucerne is my favorite of the two. My very favorite of all the places we have been is the small villages out of Interlaken such as Murren and Lauterbrunnen.