Lucerne Travel and Things to Do Guide

Welcome to Cvent's Meeting and Event Planning Guide to Lucerne, a guide for meeting professionals. The capital of the canton of Lucerne and the cultural center of Central Switzerland, Lucerne is a resort region known for its focus on wellness, scenery, annual festivals, medieval monuments, and a convenient, easy-to-reach location along beautiful Lake Lucerne. Beyond its reputation as a world-famous tourist destination with an international flair, Lucerne is an ideal setting for conventions and meetings, thanks to its range of lodging and event venues, nearby excursions, and unique cultural activities. Conveniently located on a major north-south axis between the Swiss Plateau and the Alps, Lucerne is set at 436 metre above sea level, nestled amid gentle hillsides and at the edge of the deep blue Lake Lucerne. Still-intact medieval city walls, encompassing the site of the famous 14th-century Chapel Bridge and Water Tower, hug the city. Lucerne sits within a one-hour drive of Zurich International Airport, 65 miles from Basel Airport, and 80 miles from the capital city of Bern and Bern Airport. Zurich Airport is Switzerland's largest and busiest for international flight connections (161 destinations in 63 countries served), and provides direct access to Swiss Federal Railways service. As Switzerland's largest travel and transport company, Swiss Federal Railways links Lucerne with a number of Swiss destinations, including Bern. Bern Airport offers both general and commercial flights, while Basel Airport operates 80 to 100 daily scheduled flights, with a scheduled flight network of 60 to 80 airports in 30 countries. As much a part of Lucerne's cityscape as its centuries-old monuments, the avant-garde KKL Luzern serves as the city's largest convention and event venue. Sitting on Lake Lucerne, next to the rail station and within a short walk of Lucerne's Old Town center, KKL Luzern was designed by renowned architect Jean Nouvel. The venue boasts a roof that projects over Lake Lucerne and water channels that lead directly into the building, as well as three event venues, including the 22,605-square-foot Concert Hall, 13,778-square-foot Lucerne Hall, and Convention Centre with six club rooms, three business and media rooms, and the modern Crystal Lounge. Groups can also gather in such spaces as the 270-seat auditorium, complete with leather seating and the latest technology; as well as using two terraces and five foyers. Aside from the striking, modern KKL Luzern, the city is home to a number of unique venues perfectly situated for group gatherings and events. The Museum Sammlung Rosengart showcases an extensive collection of Paul Klee and Pablo Picasso works, as well as private event capabilities in its elegant entrance hall and exhibition space. Heralded as Switzerland's most visited museum, the Swiss Museum of Transport is home to a variety of interactive exhibits, a planetarium, and even the largest movie screen in Switzerland. In addition to its exhibits and activities, the Swiss Museum of Transport offers private event spaces in its Conference Center, Hans Erni Auditorium, exhibit halls, and two 10th-floor meeting rooms with panoramic city views. Groups can hold events amid the city's Bourbaki Panorama, one of the few remaining circular paintings in the world. Housed in a modern building (also home to a city library, cinemas, shops, and a restaurant), the 1881 panoramic painting depicts the crossing of France's eastern army into Switzerland at the end of the Franco-Prussian War. Gletschergarten Luzern's park and museum serve as an oasis from city life, as well as a wonderful venue for indoor and outdoor events amid a network of paths, flowering plants, and a natural monument of polished rock, glacial potholes, and erratic blocks. Last but not least, the glamorous Grand Casino Luzern houses the neo-Baroque Casineum, which serves as a daytime backdrop for corporate meetings, an evening venue for plays, operas, concerts, and comedy shows, and a late-night space for the party and club scene.