Staying on Swiss Time: Exploring Lucerne and Zurich

Switzerland's reputation abroad often comes down to two things: chocolate and watches. Our 4-night Lucerne and Zurich land package, available on select Rhine River itineraries, invites you to step beyond the country's well-known exports (although there's always time for chocolate on our watch), spending real time in two cities that showcase Switzerland's history, natural beauty and culture. Add it to the start or end of your journey for a closer look at both.

Set against a backdrop of soaring Alps, Lucerne grows from the point where its namesake lake meets the Reuss River. Small cobblestone streets, fountain-lined squares and frescoed buildings define the old town. Its most iconic landmark is the medieval, covered Chapel Bridge, among the oldest of its kind in Europe. Built in 1333 and anchored by a former prison tower, its painted gables tell a story of their own: commissioned in the early 1600s under the direction of city chronicler Renward Cysat, the panels depict Lucerne's own history alongside legends from the lives of the city's two patron saints, Leodegar and Mauritius. Nearby, the Spreuer Bridge carries a very different story: a 17th-century "Dance of Death" cycle by local painter Kaspar Meglinger, in which a skeletal figure of Death leads kings, popes and peasants alike into the same dance, a reminder, painted during an era shadowed by plague, that death spares no one regardless of rank.

Directly across from the Chapel Bridge stands the Jesuit Church of Lucerne, its turquoise domes rising above the rooftops in a striking Baroque display. Nearby, the twin towers of the Church of St. Leodegar rise from a site with roots stretching back to the 8th century, when a monastery first stood here. Fire destroyed nearly the entire building in 1633, and only the towers and a single altar survived; the church that stands today was rebuilt around them within twelve years, blending Gothic remnants into an otherwise Renaissance and early Baroque design.

Your time in Lucerne continues into the mountains, no hiking boots required. A historic cogwheel railway carries you from Arth-Goldau up to the summit of Mount Rigi, known as the "Queen of the Mountains," with free time at the top to take in the view over a coffee or lunch. A newer train then continues the journey down the far side of the mountain to to Vitznau on the shore of Lake Lucerne.

Zurich makes its own case for contrast, holding centuries-old landmarks and a distinctly modern creative energy within the same few city blocks. A local expert leads you through Niederdorf, the city's Old Town, its medieval houses and cobbled streets lined with cafés, restaurants and nightlife, offering something for nearly every kind of traveler. The walk also takes in St. Peter's Church, Zurich's oldest, known for the largest clock face in Europe, and the Fraumünster, whose stained glass pairs two eras at once: Augusto Giacometti's windows fill the north transept, while five windows designed by Marc Chagall glow in the south.

Free time in Zurich opens up a city that has long served as a creative hub, most notably as the birthplace of Dadaism, the avant-garde art movement of the early 20th century. Art lovers can choose among the city's many museums, including Kunsthaus Zürich, Switzerland's largest art museum, home to major collections by Alberto Giacometti and Edvard Munch alongside work by Picasso, Van Gogh and Warhol.

Shoppers will find plenty to explore too, from the haute couture storefronts along Bahnhofstrasse to Zurich West's Im Viadukt, a stretch of shops, restaurants and bars built into the arches of a former railway viaduct. When it's time to eat, look for Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, thin strips of veal in a white wine and cream sauce served with rösti, the city's defining dish. For something sweeter, seek out Confiserie Sprüngli's Luxemburgerli: invented in 1957 by a confectioner who brought the recipe from Luxembourg, these macarons are smaller and airier than their French counterparts, made fresh daily in flavors that shift with the seasons.

History lovers will find plenty to sit with here, from Lucerne's centuries-old bridges to a church rebuilt around the two towers that survived its own fire. Art and museum enthusiasts have Zurich's Kunsthaus and the Fraumünster's stained glass to look forward to, while anyone drawn to mountain scenery gets a full day of it on Mount Rigi without needing any special gear. And travelers who simply want a change of pace from a river cruise, more walking, higher elevations, a different rhythm to the day, will find that shift built into nearly every stop on this land package. It works equally well as a pre-cruise addition or a way to extend the trip once a sailing has ended.

Ready to add Lucerne and Zurich to your Rhine River journey?