I hear Lucerne is a great place at this time of year because of Carnival. Is this true? If so, what are the best things to do, places to go on a day trip...would it be better so spend a night there (ie. is there must see or must do things at night that warrant staying overnight)?

Thanks!

Calling Dougal's Breakfast and Mathnut!

Fastnacht starts Thursday and it is quite a sight.

There are parades on Thursday, Monday and Tuesday, it is a bit rauccus at night and if you are staying, I wouldn't recomend a hotel in the old town during the festival.

There's more to do in the summer for day trips, with boat trips, hiking, a trip up pilatus or just strolling around old town.

That's not to mean it's devoid of attractions in winter, there's the transport museum, the rosengart city walks and all manner of things.

Fastnacht is terrific but a completely different atmosphere to normal workaday Luzern. Both are worth the trip. For a standard non-Fastnacht day out, try the Rigi-Vitznau-Luzern trip mentioned on this thread. (best on a clear day)

If you're coming to Fastnacht and there's any way you can stay out all night, I highly recommend doing so. Trains start running again at 5am, so you can still get back to ZH, have a shower and divest yourself of confetti before heading in to work.

..and you'll not be needing street lighting or anything to find your way home as you'll have stars in your eyes...

The Verkehrsmuseum is worth a visit. If the weather is fine there are many mountains around Luzern, Titlis, Brienzer Rothorn, Pilatus, (Stanser Horn and Bürgenstock is not operated in winter season).

If you get up early, you can reach Junfrau Joch. It is also relaxing and a short tripp to hop on ship for a minicruise, with the option to get off in Weggis to visit the mountain Rigi.

I don't know if you Googled Lucerne, but there might be some ideas worth looking at here.

boatrip , visit all the wilhelm tell places ; heiligegasse, rutli , and of course the transport museum , it is a well known fact will was a coronado pilot and may even have beaten concorde to the worlds first supersonic flight by a passenger airplane, but then gessler took his apples and he lost it a bit , i digress........the lake is beautiful and there are many places to stop off and have a wander round ..truly a lovely place ,

if you get bored in lucerne you arent doing it right .

have fun