Virtual Vacation to Lucerne

Let’s make travel accessible to everyone around the world, virtually, from home! Today, let’s take a virtual vacation to Lucerne, Switzerland! This is a place where we will celebrate culture, language, history, and acceptance of people around the world. Here, families can travel to Lucerne comfortably! Find virtual fun, tours of famous destinations and museums, cooking lessons, and more in our Travel From Home section. Kids will get hands-on experiences and learn about a variety of cities, countries, and regions through these at-home travel guides. Additionally, these resources can be used as an educational tool.

Each one also includes a list of books and movies for all ages to bring the whole experience to life in your living room. This is a wonderful opportunity to inspire young travelers, introduce kids to a place you will travel to in the future, and/or simply teach your family about other places around the world. Enjoy, explore, and create memories together!

Let’s Take A Virtual Vacation to Lucerne

Pack your bags! Our next stop is Switzerland, home of the musical cowbells, Swiss chocolate, and cheese fondue! Between beautiful mountain vistas, serene lakes, lush green pastures, and countless beautiful cities…Switzerland truly has it all. For today’s Travel From Home segment, we will travel virtually to Lucerne, a town blending ancient and modern sensibilities. Lucerne has so much to offer, families surely won’t be disappointed here! Through this virtual vacation to Lucerne you and your kids will play, learn, and laugh together!

Become acquainted with the city by learning its highlights, including Lake Lucerne, Switzerland’s Museum of Transportation, and Glacier Garden. From there, receive more in-depth explanations on these place’s significance with a city tour with Rick Steves. As you start your day of exploring, begin with a hearty Swiss Bircher Muesli breakfast. Kids will love soaking the oats and adding extras like chia seeds, walnuts, or flax. A splash of cinnamon adds a sweet touch of flavor to enjoy!  

Getting Around Lucerne

Familiarize children with Switzerland’s geographical location before you travel to Lucerne to begin your adventure. First, find Lucerne on the map. Next, help your kids learn more about the Swiss flag and the things that make Switzerland unique, such as their composition of 26 Cantons. Once you have found Lucerne on the map, discuss how it is nestled on Lake Lucerne, surrounded by Mount Rigi and Mount Pilatus. 

Then, take an excursion on Lake Lucerne! Create a ferry with legos or out of a box to act as a makeshift boat for your seaside adventure. Together, imagine you are on a ferry ride to the base of Mount Rigi. Steeped in history, Mount Rigi has the first and oldest European cogwheel railway, which was built in 1871. Families can also take a similar trip to Mount Pilatus! 

Musical Melodies on Your Virtual Vacation to Lucerne

Listen to sweet Switzerland tunes as you enjoy your trip up the mountain. While trekking, follow the familiar hum of Switzerland’s classic alphorns. These traditional instruments will really bring your journey to life! Other beautiful Swiss music includes yodeling, which may be a fun experiment for ambitious children, and music made with the Schwyzeroergeli (the Swiss accordion). Discern your children’s interest by asking what they thought of this amazing creation. If they enjoyed it, check out another traditional Swiss song!

Tour the City through a Virtual Vacation to Lucerne

After you’ve immersed yourself in Swiss tradition, we hope you’re ready to further explore Lucerne! There’s just so much to do in this stylish Swiss city, it’s honestly hard to just pick a few favorites. Luckily, exploring the city virtually provides you the leisure to explore at your own pace. Walk across the wooden Chapel Bridge for a stunning view of the cityscape, overlooking the mountain range. Or, explore Lucerne’s most majestic sculpture, the Lion Monument. 

Families can also learn about planes, trains, and automobiles (and more!) at the Verkehrshaus (the Swiss Museum of Transport). Here, have your kids gather their toy cars, planes, trains and blocks and build a city together! Watch their imagination come to life as they create. Then, use small dolls and figurines as tourists exploring the city and its landmarks. Or, build in a sensory activity of washing cars and planes in a tub of water with sudsy soap! 

Get Creative on the Virtual Vacation to Lucerne

Arts and crafts are also a great introduction to Swiss culture. To get kids more interested in your virtual vacation to Lucerne, choose one of these fantastic Switzerland Crafts to get started as a family! Since most are fairly simple, we recommend combining two activities, doubling the fun! Kids can create the Swiss flag, and then put it at the top of their very own mountain, decorated with snow. Little ones will love getting creative while discovering a new city!

Families with older children who are aspiring fashionistas can explore the collections of the Lucerne School of Art and Design. Here, they can learn about the history of silk and view a variety of swatches. Next, design a new outfit for the Swiss guard or create your own paper dolls!

Be Active

Swiss citizens are known to love nature. Put yourself in their shoes and go for a hike – or at least a short walk in the neighborhood! Continue your virtual vacation to Lucerne by putting on your running shoes and pretend to hike to the summit of Mount Rigi, where you can enjoy a panoramic view. Or, take a safe outside route and just pretend by taking a walk around your block. Draw Mount Rigi and an alphorn with sidewalk chalk for others to see as they travel past your home!

Follow Swiss Instagram Accounts   

Parents and teens may also love doing a virtual tour of Switzerland through Instagram. Follow some of our favorite Swiss accounts to get an insider’s look at the city! Switzerland Tourism ‘s (@myswitzerland) official page has gorgeous photos of the entire country for you to browse. Personal accounts such as Nicole Hunziker (@nicolehunziker), Harry & Carrie (@harrysding), and André Stummer (@andrestummerand) highlight niches like Swiss skiing and hiking, in addition to providing travel tips. For a peek at some Swiss desserts made by a loving family, Kerrin Rousset (@mykugelhopf) has you covered. Alexandra Taylor (@alliemtaylor) is particularly great for teens as she’s a teen traveler herself! Parents can follow Kate, an American living in Switzerland, through her family adventures at @mominzurich! 

Let’s Get Cooking

After a day of exploring Lucerne, you surely must be hungry! Try these Swiss classics to please the whole family, even the pickiest eaters! Parents with the proper tools can prepare a Classic Swiss Cheese Fondue, best paired with a baguette or potato chunks. Or, enjoy a wonderful brunch with a Cheese Tart and Celery Root and Apple Salad. Don’t worry – there are plenty of sweet treats for dessert! Kids will love getting busy in the kitchen, creating these Chocolate Cream Desserts or these yummy Swiss Cookies. If you’re not a home chef, don’t panic! Keep dreaming of your next travels to Switzerland with the BBC’s Top 10 Foods to Try in Switzerland.

Snuggle Up with a Good Book

End your day in the comfort of your bed, reading books. Swiss Wimmelbooks is similar to Where’s Waldo, but with Swiss scenes and locations! They are great for all ages. The Bell for Ursli is another Swiss classic book, telling the story of a little boy who lives in a rural village. Almost every child in Switzerland loves Globi and Wolli books – true Swiss cartoon classics! Globi and Wolli are well-known kids characters in two series of books. And of course, Heidi books have been a family favorite for decades. You can enjoy this read-aloud version of Heidi together! 

Older kids may enjoy trying a Mark Twain classic in A Tramp Abroad. Sci-fi enthusiasts will love learning that Mary Shelly’s classic, Frankenstein, is partially set in Switzerland. Madeleine L’Engle (author of A Wrinkle in Time) also penned And Both Were Young about a young girl in a Swiss boarding school!

Catch a Movie

Catch a Swiss movie to conclude your virtual vacation! Younger kids will love classic options like A Bell for Ursli, an adaptation of the book, and Heidi, the story of an orphaned girl. For teens and adults, consider watching popular flicks like The Bourne Identity or James Bond: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. 

Happy Virtual Vacation to Lucerne

Lucerne has so much to offer! In the heart of central Switzerland, you can continue to explore the city and surrounding areas or use it as a launching point to your next destination. Whether you are preparing to travel to Lucerne, Switzerland in the future or looking for ways to travel from home, we hope this virtual vacation helps you and your kids get a taste of Lucerne. From wonderful music to iconic mountains to culinary classics, Lucerne is sure to be a hit with your kids – be it on the ground or from your couch! We hope you have enjoyed your virtual vacation to Lucerne!

Want to see more from Michelle?  Find her on Instagram @adventuretolearn. 

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