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Bleisure Travel in Lucerne: how to mix business with lakes, mountains and leisure

Bleisure in Lucerne

Where I went to pause after the event and why Lucerne might be the perfect bleisure city

After the event ends, what if the best part of your trip is just beginning?

As part of the UK team attending the recent Switzerland Meeting Trophy, a fast-paced event showcasing the best of Swiss destinations and experiences, I loved the chance to pack so much discovery into a short period of time. But the whirlwind schedule also made me crave a slower pace. So, I decided to stay on for a few extra days in Switzerland, heading to Lucerne to give myself space to truly experience the place without the usual deadlines or packed itinerary.

What I didn’t expect was just how much that short pause in Lucerne would shift my whole perspective.

The journey there was already part of the experience. I left Bern by train via Interlaken to Lucerne and watched the landscape open up with lake views, alpine peaks and the kind of calm that settles in when you’re not rushing through an airport terminal. Arriving in Lucerne was seamless. No taxi queues or transfers, just a short walk from the station to Hotel Ameron Flora, where I checked in, dropped my bag and immediately felt the shift.

Lucerne isn’t flashy. It’s elegant in a quiet, peaceful way. Compact enough to explore on foot, but full of surprises, like the goats grazing behind the old Musegg Wall. Kulturhof Hinter Musegg is a small ecologically run farm that’s been cultivated for over 400 years. Highland cattle roam the fields, chickens cluck endlessly and pigs grunt contentedly in the sun. Us humans, meanwhile, can settle in for coffee and cake or sample the refreshing house-brewed Musegg beer. There’s also a charming event space and workshops on everything from brewing to foraging, offering an authentic, unexpected addition to any incentive programme.

That first evening, I took a short stroll to Mill’Feuille, a laidback brasserie perched right on the river. Dinner alone can be daunting, but with the light stretching into the evening and the plates arriving at just the right pace, it turned into one of those unexpectedly perfect moments: just me, the view and no need to make conversation.

The next day began with a walking tour booked via the Lucerne Convention Bureau, who helped me make the most of my time with thoughtful local suggestions. From the painted facades of the Old Town to hidden courtyards and medieval bridges, the history and stories of Lucerne unfolded slowly and beautifully.

Afterwards, I stopped for lunch at Restaurant Fritschi, a historic spot with a charming painted exterior. Sitting outside, I savoured a classic fondue (you simply have to have fondue in Switzerland, even in the summer!) while people-watching. It was the perfect moment to slow down and soak in the city’s rhythm.

And when I wanted to explore further, public transport made it easy (local public transport is free with the Lucerne Guest Card). Buses, boats, funiculars;  everything ran on time and announcements came in three languages, a small but appreciated detail when you’re navigating solo. Just a short ride away, I found the Swiss Museum of Transport, with its lakeside setting, is an unexpectedly brilliant venue and hands-on exhibition space that’s ideal for event extensions or incentive groups. As a self-confessed trainspotter, I was in my element but with over 3,000 exhibits covering the past, present and future of all modes of travel (the space planetarium show was a highlight), there’s genuinely something for everyone.

But it was the next day that really shifted gears as I traded quiet for adrenaline, taking the cable car up to Mount Pilatus, a high-altitude journey with multiple experiences along the way. There were treetop walks, a rope park at Fräkmüntegg, and the Dragon Glider zip line, which swoops through the trees in spectacular style. For incentive planners, it’s a brilliant half-day add-on: light, fun and just challenging enough to nudge adrenaline-seekers slightly out of their comfort zones.

The final stretch by cable car was silent and smooth, lifting me into a sky already turning gold. I checked into Hotel Pilatus-Kulm, a historic mountaintop retreat and events venue with sweeping views in every direction. It’s been welcoming guests since 1890, though Queen Victoria’s arrival was a little different. She came up by mule, riding a sure-footed Flora up the steep paths, long before the cogwheel railway or cable cars existed.

That evening, after a gentle walk along the mountain ridges, with time to admire the wildflowers growing in the rock face, I settled into the hotel’s historic restaurant. With a view overlooking the mist slowly rolling down the mountains, I discovered the quiet joy of solo dinners, no pressure to fill the silence. It struck me how rare that peaceful pause can be when you work in a world of back-to-back schedules and constant networking.

Then came the 4am alarm. I pulled on my coat and stepped out into the dark, the air thin and still. A fellow early riser who’d camped nearby stood beside me, and together, without saying a word, we watched the first light rise over the Alps. It was the kind of moment you don’t plan for, but never forget.

After breakfast, I boarded the world’s steepest cogwheel railway for the descent. The driver must have clocked my excitement, because she invited me to ride up front with her, an unexpected treat I might not have been offered if I hadn’t been travelling solo. From that front-row seat, I watched the landscape unfold as we trundled past wildflower meadows and cows with their Swiss bells gently jingling and providing the iconic soundtrack of the mountains.

A short train ride took me back to Lucerne for one of those perfect afternoons where time seems to stand still: a long lunch sailing across the lake with a ‘picky plate’ of local bites and lemon sorbet on deck for company, as the water glittering beside me. The cleanliness of Swiss water never fails to impress with fresh mountain spring water freely available from more than 200 drinking fountains across the city.

What struck me throughout the trip was how Lucerne lets you move at your own pace. You can shift from action to stillness without friction. You can go deep into history or high into the clouds and you don’t need a car or a guide to make it work.

We often recommend our clients build in some bleisure time around their events. Not just to reward teams, but to give people a moment to slow down, reflect and reconnect with themselves. This trip reminded me why we do that and why we should probably take our own advice more often.

Lucerne made that easy. And memorable.


With thanks to the Lucerne Convention Bureau for helping shape such an inspiring few days.

If you’re thinking about hosting an event in Lucerne, or weaving in a little bleisure time around the edges, just give the Evolve  team a shout. From stylish congresses and scenic incentive programmes to leadership retreats that make the most of the mountains, we’ve got plenty of ideas and venue solutions we’d love to share.

TEL : 020 7610 2808 – EMAIL : anna@evolve-events.com