Busabout Adventures

A Busabout pass for the Southern Loop will enchant you with the romance, the gastronomic delights and the historic marvels of Italy and the awe inspiring beauty of Switzerland. Start from any city on the loop and travel at your own pace - stay as long as you like at each stop .... then when you've finished exploring, jump on the next bus and move on to the next destination. Click on the destinations in the map to find out more...

The mostly pedestrian-only old town is on the northern bank of the Reuss River. The train station is minutes away on the southern bank. The Internet Shop ((041 211 21 31; cnr Pilatustrasse & Seebrücke; per hr Sfr10; h9am-10pm Mon-Sat, 9am-8pm Sun) is across from the train station. Luzern Tourismus ((041 227 17 17; www.luzern.org; Zentralstrasse 5; h8.30am-7.30pm Mon-Fri, 9am-7.30pm Sat & Sun Apr-Oct; closes 6pm Nov-Mar) is in the train station.

Don’t miss the medieval old town with ancient rampart walls and towers and 15th-century buildings with painted facades. Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), dating from 1333, is Lucerne’s best-known landmark. Also check out the rather dark and dour Dance of Death panels under the roofline of Spreuerbrücke (Spreuer Bridge).

At the Picasso Museum ((041 410 35 33; Furrengasse 21; adult/student Sfr6/3; h10am-6pm Apr-Oct, 11am-1pm & 2-4pm Nov-Mar), nearly 200 photographs show an impish Picasso at work and play in his Cannes home during the last 17 years of his life.

Space rockets, simulators, a planetarium and an IMAX theatre all make the huge Verkehrshaus (Transport Museum; (041 370 44 44; Lidostrasse 5; bus No 6, 8 or 24 from Bahnhofplatz; adult/student/child Sfr21/19/12; h10am-6pm Apr-Oct, 10am-5pm Nov-Mar) one of Switzerland’s most popular.

Many restaurants double as bars. Self-caterers should head to Hertensteinstrasse, where cheap eats are plentiful and there’s a Coop supermarket. The places listed here usually open around 8am and stay open until at least midnight.

Manora (5th fl, Weggisgasse 5; mains Sfr5-15) Mount­ain vistas are plentiful from the small rooftop terrace at this reliable buffet-style inexpensive eatery.

Cafeteria Emilio ((041 410 28 10; Ledergasse 8; mains Sfr6-14) You’ll be rubbing shoulders with other diners at this tiny place, but it has a certain charm and you won’t find cheaper pizzas, pastas and salads.

Rathaus Brauerei ((041 410 52 57; Unter der Egg 2; mains Sfr8-30) Sit outside by the water or inside among the shiny copper beer tanks at this atmospheric restaurant. It serves big home brews and some of the most delicious and varied food in town.

Hotel Bar Schiff ((041 418 52 52; Unter der Egg 8; soups & sandwiches Sfr8-12, mains Sfr20-40) Come for the daily happy hour when a drink and appetizer costs Sfr12.50. Try the local speciality, Kügelipastetli – vol-au-vents stuffed with meat and mushrooms and topped with a rich sauce – at this esteemed restaurant.

Mr Pickwick Pub ((041 410 59 27; Rathausquai 6; sandwiches Sfr6.50, mains Sfr10-23) For Brit beer, food and footy stop at this congenial spot. The pub sandwiches are a real steal and there’s outdoor seating right on the river.

Jazzkantine ((041 410 73 73; Grabengasse 8; mains from Sfr15) A funky, arty and rather smoky haunt of the young and creative. There’s cool music, counter meals, Saturday-night gigs and weeknight jazz workshops.