Lucerne Local Customs

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A lot of Swiss German town know the Fasnacht. It officially starts every year on 11th November at 11.11 but the main events are in February. In Lucerne on a Thursday (in 2007 on 15th February). There is a cortège with dressed up groups that play music (Guggenmusic) etc.

Best check with the tourist office when what event takes place.

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Luzerner Fasnacht starts at 5.00a.m. with a giant clash and small and large groups of people in strange masks are parading through the city playing their own kind of music, in fact its mostly just making noise with all sorts of instruments that makes a constant melody, although they are all trying to play something different.
The Fasnacht always starts at Schmutziger Donnerstag - Carnival Thursday - Jeudi gras - Giovedì grasso, that is the thursday before the mardi-gras
Click here for all dates of Jeudi gras untill 2035

The alphorn is a musical instrument once used by shepherds in the alps as a way of communicating. It has been around for some 500 years. It later developed into a musical instrument and has even appeared in works by Leopold Mozart and Brahms.

All major credit cards and travellers' cheques are accepted in Switzerland. No commission is usually charged for converting cash or cheques, but you should shop around for the best rates (hotels usually have the worst rates). Train stations are usually the best place for exchanging money and they are open for long periods. City banks are open Mon- Fri 8.30am to 4.30pm

Tipping : is not usually necessary at hotels, bars and restaurants which already charge a 15% service charge.

If you visit Lucerne in December you may find some really charming Christmas markets all over the city - and in particular along Loewenstrasse. There are plenty of tiny wooden huts that sell all sorts of things, and you can find some interesting and unusual Christmas presents, like for example raspberry wine and beautiful handmade candles. Even if you're not looking for anything to buy a stroll along the Christmas market is worthwhile: it's a true delight in terms of smells - especially because of the gluhwein - a spiced wine served warm... simply delicious!

Its not often you see Donkey rides through the old town centre of Lucerne...but it was someone's special day....a wedding. The brass band was playing "Its raining men" and the bride was being led through the streets on a donkey....really strange sight!

If you are on a tour you will inevitably do the 'folk show and dinner'... This actually ended up being a lot of fun. Dinner was served with everyone sitting at long bench tables with huge steins of local beer to try. It got noisy but no one really cared by the end of the night.
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I really like the new KKL ('Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Luzern') designed by the famous French architect Jean Nouvel. It is now home for a fantastic music hall and many other cultural sights. You can't miss it because it is very centrally located at the lake front and just next to the train station!