The Swiss city of Lucerne, on the northwestern tip of Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee), attracts millions of tourists annually for winter skiing and summer water sports.

After the day’s activities, visitors head to Lucerne’s Old Town. Tucked among narrow streets, colorful frescoes and lively squares, the nightlife scene features lakeside lounges, historic pubs and rooftop bars showcasing alpine views.

PHOTO: © SWITZERLAND TOURISM

Winter nightlife often centers around cozy Christmas markets. In warmer months, the focus shifts to outdoor bars that spring up in the city’s public spaces wherever there’s a place to swim in the Reuss River or in Lake Lucerne. Check out the ones at Ufschötti, Reusszopf and Inseli parks or Europaplatz square.

Standout year-round venues include Mr. Pickwick Pub for a pint of ale and Bar Capitol for the latest elixirs. Penthouse Bar Lucerne, sitting atop the eight-story Hotel Astoria, claims the title of highest rooftop bar in the city.

Jazz aficionados frequent the Louis Armstrong-inspired Louis Bar for live blues, post-work aperitifs and panoramic views of the lake. It’s located inside Art Deco Hotel Montana, one of the region’s dozens of Out Now-certified hotels signifying an inclusive environment for LGBTQIA+ travelers. Access the hillside hotel by funicular, or standseilbahn.

Culture vultures go to concerts at KKL Luzern or to dinner theater at Stadtkeller Luzern. The restaurant combines Swiss folklore performances, live music and regional cuisine. Housed within a former public indoor swimming pool, alternative cultural center Neubad Lucerne hosts lectures and programming.

PHOTO: © SWITZERLAND TOURISM

For dinner, Hotel des Balances in Old Town serves barbecue as well as Mediterranean and French favorites. On the north shore, Mandarin Oriental Palace operates two fine-dining restaurants within the grand Belle Époque-era hotel: Colonnade, offering French cuisine and an extensive wine list, and Minamo, where Chef Yutaka Kobayashi serves high-end omakase.

Dance to late-night DJs spinning techno at Old Town’s Das Schwarze Schaf (The Black Sheep) or Rok Klub, two of the city’s best-known clubs.