Switzerland
Lucerne in December
🧥 WinterCold and some showers.
🎒 Pack: winter coat, gloves & hat
Why December scores 8.0What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort6.5
- !Cold (5°C highs / -1°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point -1.9°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~78 mm rain)
- Air quality9.1
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~11 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline9.0
- ·Normal precautions
| Dec | Sep | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.0 Very good | 9.4 Excellent |
| Season | 🧥 Winter | 🍂 Autumn |
| High / low | 5° / -1° | 20° / 11° |
| Rain | 78 mm | 109 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt -2° | dew pt 11° |
| PM2.5 | 11 µg/m³ | 5 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Lucerne weather-station normals. Rainfall: Lucerne weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Christmas Day 25–27 Dec · 3 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Nature calendarBlossoms, leaves & seasons in Lucerne
- Snowy daysIn DecemberTypical datesSnow likely Dec–Mar (most in Feb: ~3 days)
Average number of days with snowfall at Lucerne. About 14 cm of snow falls in an average Feb.
Source: Lucerne weather-station normals (national weather service, via Wikipedia climate table)
Explore LucerneEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyA Swiss city on Lake Lucerne, visited for its medieval old town, covered wooden bridges, lake cruises and easy trips up nearby mountains.
No major events on our calendar for December.
Coming up later
Lucerne Carnival (Fasnacht)Date variesUsually February or early March, starting on 'Dirty Thursday' before Ash Wednesday
Masked parades and loud Guggenmusik brass bands fill the streets for several days.
Why go: It opens with a 5 am bang on the Thursday; the old town is crowded late into the night.
Where: Old town
Lucerne Festival in SummerDate variesUsually mid-August to mid-September
A major classical music festival with leading orchestras.
Why go: Popular concerts sell out; book early.
Where: KKL Luzern concert hall
Swiss National DayEvery year1 August every year
Switzerland's national day, marked with fireworks and bonfires.
Why go: It is a public holiday and many shops close.
Where: Lakefront and across the city
Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke)
A 14th-century covered wooden footbridge with painted panels and a stone water tower.
💡 Many panels were lost in a 1993 fire; some burnt ones are still on display.
Lion Monument (Löwendenkmal)
A dying lion carved into a sandstone cliff, commemorating Swiss Guards killed in Paris in 1792.
Mount Pilatus
A mountain above the lake reached by the world's steepest cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad or by cable car from Kriens.
💡 The cogwheel railway runs only in the warmer months, roughly May to November.
Mount Rigi
A mountain between lakes with wide views, reached by cogwheel railway from Vitznau or Arth-Goldau.
Lake Lucerne cruises
Boat trips on the lake, including historic paddle steamers.
Swiss Museum of Transport
A large museum of rail, road, air and space travel.
Luzerner Chügelipastete
A puff-pastry case filled with veal or meatballs in a cream sauce, Lucerne's traditional dish.
💡 Traditional Swiss restaurants in the old town
Fondue and raclette
Melted cheese dishes eaten with bread or potatoes.
💡 Swiss restaurants, especially in colder months
Rösti
Crisp grated potato cake.
💡 Swiss restaurants
Lake fish
Freshwater fish such as perch and whitefish.
💡 Lakeside restaurants
Swiss chocolate
Chocolate from Swiss makers and local chocolatiers.
💡 Old town chocolate shops
Swiss watches
Lucerne has many watch retailers.
💡 Shops around Schwanenplatz
Swiss army knives
Pocket knives and multitools.
💡 Gift shops in the old town