Arriving and Getting Around
Lucerne can be reached easily by train and car. The nearest airport is in Zürich (one hour from Lucerne; trains every 30 minutes).
Swiss Motorways
Make sure you buy a motorway toll sticker (“Autobahn-Vignette”) at the border if you intend to drive on Swiss motorways. The speed limits are 50 km/h in residential areas, 80km/h on country roads and 120 km/h on the motorways.
Swiss Rail Services
The best way to explore Switzerland is by train. The country has an extensive and efficient rail service. If you intend to stay for a year or plan lots of trips in Switzerland, you should consider buying a half-fare pass (Halbtax-Abo for one year CHF 150). This will entitle you to half-price fares on all rail services plus on many of the buses, boats, mountain railways, and cable cars. You should enquire about the different offerings of SBB at the rail stations or on Internet.
Lucerne Public Transport
The Lucerne public transport area is divided into 10 zones. Apart from single and multiple tickets, a "Passepartout" (season ticket) is available for seven days, one month or twelve months. For example, a one-month pass for two zones costs CHF 63 and the twelve-month pass CHF 630 (for people under 25 even less). The pass covers most public transport services in the area, including buses, trains and boats. You can find the office of local transport authorities on the lower ground floor of the train station in Lucerne. Most tickets can also be purchased at ticket machines at the bus stops.