Posted by Nancy D. Brown

Jesuit Church with SwansMy favorite tips and locations for first-time visitors to Lucerne. Thank you to Christian Haueter of Lucerne Tourism for assistance with this post.

The first place I take a visitor is to Chapel Bridge. The bridge was constructed in the first half of the 14th century as a part of the city's fortifications and named after St. Peter's Chapel, which is located nearby. The paintings that were added in the 17th century illustrate scenes of Swiss and local history, (each with a skelton in the painting.) The Water Tower was built around 1300 as part of the city wall and used as an archive, treasury, prison and torture chamber. It is Lucerne's landmark and the most frequently photographed monument in Switzerland.

When I crave Lucerne cuisine I go to Wirtshaus Taube and order Roesti. My health conscious mother was shocked when I told her it was a combination of grated, crispy potatoes, gruyere cheese, fried egg, tomato and bacon. Yummy!Roesti - Typical Swiss Dish

To escape work I can take a cogwheel railway from Vitznau or Goldau to Mt. Rigi.

For complete quiet, I can take a sailboat or catamaran on Lake Lucerne.

If you come to Lucerne, get your picture taken by Musegg Wall. A part of the rampart walls built in 1386; the wall is almost entirely intact. Three towers are open to the public: Schirmer, Zyt and Mannli. The oldest city clock, built by Hans Luter in 1535, is in the Zyt tower. This clock is allowed to chime every hour one minute before all the other city clocks. Visitors can climb the Musegg Wall (Easter - November 1st) 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Cuckoo!

If you have to order one thing off the menu at Restaurant Burgerstube it has to be Lozarner Chugelipasteli, a puff pastry shell filled with diced veal and mushrooms in a cream sauce.

Lucerne is my one stop shop for fine watches and Swiss chocolate. The car-free old-town center offers exclusive shops such as Bucherer at the Schwanenplatz and Confiseur Bachmann is a leading Swiss confectioner.

When I'm feeling cash-strapped I go to the Farmer's Market along the right bank of the Reuss River. Every Tuesday, Friday (the Fish Market) and Saturday from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m.

For a huge splurge I go to Hotel des Balances (14 points in the Guide Gault & Millau.)

Photo ops in Lucerne include photos from Mount Titlis, the highest viewpoint in Lake Lucerne. Take the Ice Flyer chairlift and go snow tubing in Titlis Glacier Park.

The best vantage points are taken from Mount Titlis, Mt. Rigi or on a paddle steamer on Lake Lucerne.

The most random thing about Lucerne is the Lion Monument. The dying Lion of Lucerne is one of the world's most famous monuments. It was carved out of natural rock in memory of the heroic deaths of the Swiss mercenaries at the Tuileries in 1792. Mark Twain described the Lion of Lucerne as the saddest and most moving piece of rock in the world.

In Lucerne, an active day outdoors involves hiking Mount Titlis or Mt. Rigi or sailing on the lake.

My favorite trail is anywhere on Pilatus Kulm peak. Walkers and hikers will experience Alpine meadows, mountain streams, rugged cliffs and maybe ibex, chamois and Alpine roses.

Lucerne's best concert hall is the KKL Lucerne (Culture and Convention Center) at Europaplatz and is the work of the Parisian architech Jean Nouvel. The 1800 seat concert hall is one of the finest concert halls in the world. The Lucerne Hall, the Convention Center with the auditorium and the Museum of Art - the fourth largest in Switzerland - are also part of the construction.

For a night of dancing, go to Casineum, it's in the same building as the Grand Casino Lucerne.

The Suite Lounge and Bar above the Hotel Monopolis the spot for late night dining.

To find out what's going on at night or on weekends, read Neue Luzerner Zeitung.

Swiss Long Horn PlayersYou can tell a lot about Lucerne from strolling through the narrow streets or public squares and people watching.

In the spring you should attend a real Swiss wrestling event in Beckenried. Here you will see local customs such as yodeling, flag throwing and long horn blowing. I took the boat to Beckenried and returned by public bus and train to Lucerne.

In the summer you should attend the Lucerne Festival. Every year the leading performers from all over the globe gather together on the shores of Lake Lucerne to celebrate music in Jean Nouvel's concert hall known for its phenomenal acoustics and exquisite architecture.

In the fall you should visit the Lucerne Blues Festival.

In the winter you should go to Carnival. Every year, towards the end of winter, Carnival breaks out in the streets, alleways and squares of the old town. Strange characters in masks and costumes appear, while musicians (Guggenmusigen) play their instruments as thousands sing and dance away the winter.

A hidden gem in Lucerne is the Picasso Donation Museum and the Rosengart Collection. The Rosengart offers a selection of Classical Modernist art, with collections by Pablo Picasso thanks to S. and A. Rosengart's friendship with Picasso.

Just outside of Lucerne you can take a train to Schwyz and visit the oldest production site of Swiss accordions or take a train to Entlebuch and hike the Swiss UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

The best way to see Lucerne is by walking or boat.

Nancy Brown rides a cable car at the Transport MuseumIf you have kids, you won't want to miss the Swiss Museum of Transport.Your railpass will serve as entrance to this amazing museum that demonstrates travel by road, rail and water, as well as air and outer space.