Zurich to Lucerne
from 41 min
Lucerne makes an easy day out from Zurich for a lakeside market, and direct trains run about twice an hour (40 each way on a December weekday, computed from the timetable). The Swiss Travel Pass covers the trip, which helps if you plan several Swiss days.
Photo Roland zh · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 and others, credited in the gallery
See the line from Zurich to Lucerne
See how the trains run in December 2026
| Date | Zurich to Lucerne | Lucerne to Zurich | Fastest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 2 Dec | 40 trains, 05:35 to 00:08 (next day) | 40 trains, 04:52 to 23:35 | 41 min |
| Sat 5 Dec | 42 trains, 05:35 to 03:35 (next day) | 42 trains, 04:52 to 03:35 (next day) | 41 min |
| Thu 24 Dec | 38 trains, 05:35 to 00:08 (next day) | 38 trains, 04:52 to 23:35 | 41 min |
| Fri 25 Dec | 38 trains, 05:35 to 00:08 (next day) | 38 trains, 04:52 to 23:35 | 41 min |
| Thu 31 Dec | 38 trains, 05:35 to 00:08 (next day) | 38 trains, 04:52 to 23:35 | 41 min |
We worked these figures out from the published GTFS timetables listed below. For each date we count every train that stops at the first station and later at the second, in both directions, leaving between 04:00 and 04:00 the next morning, and take the fastest and the median journey time. On a date with no direct train we search for connections with one change on the same timetable, using its own minimum change times and allowing up to an hour's wait. We drop a connection whenever another one leaves later and still arrives sooner. The figures were computed on Sun 11 Oct 2026, and a timetable change can move them, so check the operator's planner before you travel.
- Timetable data: opentransportdata.swiss. Swiss timetable 2026 (GTFS), covering Sun 14 Dec 2025 to Sat 12 Dec 2026.
- Timetable data: opentransportdata.swiss. Swiss timetable 2027 (GTFS), covering Sun 13 Dec 2026 to Sat 11 Dec 2027.
Quick answers about Zurich to Lucerne
How long is the train from Zurich to Lucerne?
The fastest train from Zurich to Lucerne takes 41 min, and a typical one on a December weekday takes 50 min. Every train counted runs direct. These times are computed from the published timetable.
What time does the last service back from Lucerne to Zurich leave?
The last train from Lucerne back to Zurich leaves at 23:35 on a December weekday, computed from the timetable. Check the day you travel, since weekends and holidays run differently.
Can you get from Zurich to Lucerne by rail on Christmas Day?
Yes. 38 trains run from Zurich to Lucerne on 25 December 2026, from 05:35 to 00:08 (next day), computed from the timetable. A December weekday has 40.
In the journal
