After the Zürich Marathon: Lucerne
The Route: Zürich → Lucerne → Zürich Airport Logistics: Direct train from Zürich HB, about 50 minutes. The old town sits across the river from the station and is flat. Marathon Month: April Duration: 1 night
Zürich HB ──(about 50 mins, direct train)──> Luzern station ──(5 min walk)──> Chapel Bridge / Old Town
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Zürich Airport (ZRH) ◄──(train via Zürich HB, check SBB for the best connection)──────┘
The Zürich Marathon finishes at Sechseläutenplatz on a Sunday in April. Lucerne is the right size for the Monday after: one bridge, one lake, one old town, and a station close enough to all of it that a runner who cannot face a taxi can still reach everything on foot.
April in Lucerne: the lake is cool and the mountains behind it often still carry snow. Expect mean daytime highs in the low teens Celsius and a fair chance of rain, so pack a waterproof rather than a sun hat. The covered bridge is useful in a shower.
Night one: Lucerne
Direct trains leave Zürich HB for Lucerne through the day and take about 50 minutes. Fares vary by time and ticket type, so check the current price on sbb.ch and buy ahead if the Monday timetable is fixed. Lucerne station sits on the lake edge, and the old town begins across the Reuss river a few minutes from the platforms.
The Kapellbrücke, or Chapel Bridge, is the first stop and the easiest walk in the city. The covered wooden footbridge is some 650 years old and crosses the Reuss at a slight angle, with the octagonal Water Tower standing in the river beside it. The tower dates from around 1290 to 1300 and is 34.5 metres high. Most of the bridge burned on 18 August 1993, and it reopened on 14 April 1994 after a rebuild, so much of what a visitor walks on is recent timber. The deck is level, wide enough to share, and step-free. It is also wheelchair accessible.
From the bridge, a flat promenade runs along the lake front, passing Schweizerhofquai and the big hotels. It is paved and has benches, which matters for the pace of a post-marathon walk. The Museggmauer, the medieval wall above the old town, is a different proposition: it involves a real climb and steps, so leave it for another trip unless the legs have recovered.
Where to stay
Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern stands on Schweizerhofquai, directly on the lake. It is a five-star house with a Brasserie VICO and a wellness area, a sensible choice if a soak appeals more than a walk. Hotel des Balances sits on the Weinmarkt in the old town, a four-star with a chef-led restaurant run by Andy Fluri. It puts the bridge a minute or two away, and the square outside is flat. Book either early, because lakefront rooms fill up on weekends.
Where to eat
The dining room at Hotel des Balances is the straightforward choice if the hotel is already booked there. Brasserie VICO at the Schweizerhof is the equivalent on the lake side. Both take bookings, and a Monday evening is quieter than a Saturday.
Getting home
For Zürich Airport (ZRH), take a train back to Zürich HB and change for the airport line, or check sbb.ch for a through connection. Allow a buffer for platform changes with luggage. If the flight is early on the Tuesday, consider the return to Zürich the evening before, because the first trains leave soon after dawn.