Lucerne is under 50 minutes by direct train from Zurich and covers the essentials of Swiss lake, mountain, and historic architecture in a compact day. The Kapellbrücke (1333) is the oldest surviving wooden covered bridge in Europe. The Lion Monument, carved into a cliff face in 1821, commemorates the Swiss Guards killed in Paris in 1792. Lake Lucerne and Mount Pilatus (cogwheel railway, approximately CHF 70+ return) complete the picture. Trains from Zurich Hauptbahnhof every 30 minutes.
city
Lucerne
A Swiss city at the northern end of Lake Lucerne, under 50 minutes by direct train from Zurich. The Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge, 1333) is the oldest surviving wooden covered bridge in Europe. The medieval old town, the Lion Monument carved into a cliff face, and Lake Lucerne backed by Mount Pilatus are the essentials.