Swiss City Marathon & Half-Marathon
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Lucerne is a city brimming with Swiss charm, sitting on the shores of Lake Lucerne, just beneath Mounts Pilatus and Rigi in the Swiss Alps.
We will give you time to visit some of the iconic landmarks like the Chapel Bridge (the oldest covered bridge in Europe), the old city walls and fortifications, the Dying Lion Monument, and the magnificent churches and architecture.
Our guide will whisk us away on boats, cog trains, cable cars & gondolas to the top of of the Mount Pilatus. From there we will bask in the 360° views of the rugged Swiss Alps with a Swiss beer (or wine) and a light lunch.
Then, we will hop on the “Golden Pass” railway and take the breathtaking beauty of the Swiss Alps. The train winds it way through awe-inspiring scenery as we make our way to our next destination, Lausanne.
Lausanne is in in the French-speaking region of Switzerland, and it is known as the “Olympic Capital.” A stop at the Olympic Museum is a must for any sports-lover. We will spend a day in Swiss Wine Country tasting the local wines and visiting the local vineyards.
But, we will also slow down and give you a feel of the “real” Switzerland– the mountain life, artisanal cheese, Swiss chocolate & wine, and more!
View the full itinerary here!
The Race
The SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne is the Marathon in Switzerland and takes place always on the last Sunday in October. The route leads from the Museum of Transport along Lake Lucerne, around the Horw peninsula, through the football stadium of FC Lucerne, back in the city of Lucerne, through the KKL Lucerne and the old town back to the finish in the Museum of Transport.
The European Athletics Association honours the SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne with the 5-star certificate for safety and high-quality service. And, runners have voted the race the 6th best in Europe in the annual “Marathon of the Year” rankings.
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(* – Subject to change. More details coming soon.)
Additional information
| Accommodations | Luxury 4 or 5 Star Hotel |
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October 29: Arrival
- Arrive in Zurich
- Private transfer to Lucerne
- Our tour officially begins at 5 pm with a meet and greet “happy hour” to get to know your tour operators and fellow guests. We will be providing you with some information about your tour.
- “Welcome to Switzerland” Dinner
October 30
- Optional morning run/walk
- Private Lucerne city tour *
- The afternoon is free for you to explore Lucerne, or relax before your big race!
Check out everything to do in Lucerne!
- Race packet pickup & race expo
- Dinner on your own
October 31: Race Day!
- Swiss City Marathon & Half Marathon
- Race Start: 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
- (Above times are subject to change)
- Afternoon on your own to relax with World-Class Swiss chocolate and a glass of wine, or visit the local sights
- Post-race celebratory dinner
- Our hotel owner (and chef) will be hosting a private grilled Raclette dinner. It’s a Swiss Alpine tradition – melted cheese with potatoes, a variety of grilled sausages & salami, vegetables, cornichons, and pickled onions.
November 1
- Optional morning run/walk (or, just sleep in and eat pastries!)
- Tour to Mount Pilatus *
- Maker of weather, dragon’s lair, home to giants and grave of rulers: Lucerne’s very own mountain, Pilatus (7,000 ft. elevation), is one of the most legendary places in Central Switzerland. And one of the most beautiful. On a clear day, the mountain offers a panoramic view of 73 Alpine peaks.
- Lunch included
- Dinner on your own
November 2
- Optional morning run/walk
- Private Swiss Chocolate making experience *
- Your afternoon is free to explore Lucerne and the surrounding area
Check out everything to do in Lucerne!
- Complimentary farewell dinner
November 3 - Departure
- Optional morning run/walk
- Transfer to Zurich Airport / Train station for the next leg of your journey
November 3 (9-Day Tour Option)
- Optional morning run/walk
- “Golden Pass” panoramic train from Lucerne to Lausanne *
- Enjoy the breathtaking Swiss Alps as we wind our way to our next destination
- Lunch included
- “Welcome to Lausanne” dinner
November 4 (9-Day Tour Option)
- Optional morning run/walk
- Private Swiss wine tasting *
- Dinner on your own
November 5 (9-Day Tour Option)
- Optional morning run/walk
- You have the day on your own to explore Lausanne and the surrounding area. Visit the Olympic Museum, enjoy some more local wine, take a short trip to Geneva, or take an excursion on Lake Geneva.
Check out everything to do in Lausanne!
- Complimentary farewell dinner
November 6 - Departure (9-Day Tour Option)
- Optional morning run/walk
- Transfer to Zurich Airport / Train station for the next leg of your journey (You may also depart out of Geneva. Please contact us for details.)
(* – Subject to change. )
Swiss City Marathon & Half Marathon
The marathon is the ultimate discipline at the SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne, which makes the event a highlight for runners from all over the world. The SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne is the main city marathon of Switzerland, which always takes place on the last Sunday in October. The course is a circuit in the length of a half marathon, which is completed in two rounds. The start and finish will be at the Swiss Museum of Transport. This year the 12th edition of the popular and atmospheric running event will take place.
Course
From the start, the course leads along the traditional luxury hotels of the city and the Hofkirche to the centre of Lucerne. With a view of the Kapellbrücke (chapell bridge) and the Wasserturm (water tower), you cross the main bridge of Lucerne. On the opposite side of the lake, the course passes the famous Culture and Congress Centre Lucerne (KKL). The tour continues with a view of the impressive mountain panorama of Central Switzerland along the beautiful Lake Lucerne around the Horwer Peninsula. The next highlights will follow immediately with the runs through the athmospheric zone in Horw, the modern football stadium of the FC Luzern and then the KKL Lucerne. In the last section, the picturesque old town of Lucerne is crossed before heading for the finish at the Swiss Museum of Transport.
The half marathon is the most popular distance at the SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne with 7000 runners per year. This makes the SwissCityMarathon the largest half marathon in Switzerland. The course is a circuit in the length of a half-marathon, with the start and finish at the Swiss Museum of Transport. This year the 12th edition of the popular and atmospheric running event takes place, which is always held on the last Sunday in October.
We will spending our time in and around Lucerne and Lausanne, Switzerland. Both cities are beautiful and historic. Here’s a list of a few things you can do in your free time – we will help you find activities that match your interests:
In and around Lucerne
- Day trip to Mt. Pilatus
- Day trip to Mt. Rigi
- Stroll through Old Town and visit the shops and covered bridges.
- Lake Lucerne excursion
- Visit the Swiss Museum of Transport
- See the modern art at the Rosengart Collection
- Climb the Musegg Wall
- Visit the Renaissance basilica Hofkirche
- If you are a music-lover, stop by the Richard Wagner Musem
- See the famous Lion Monument
- Day trip to Zurich
- And, there’s lots more!
In and around Lausanne
- Olympic Museum – learn the history and relive past gold medal triumphs!
- Day trip to wineries and vineyards
- Day trip to Geneva
- Visit the old town square – Place de la Palud
- Take an excursion on Lake Geneva
- Visit the Lavaux Vinorama where you can buy & taste hundreds of local wines
- See the Lausanne Cathedral – built in the 13th century
- Art lovers will find Collection de l’Art Brut very interesting. A museum dedicated to folk and “outsider art”
- Walk the beautiful Ouchy Promenade
- Photographers will love the Musée de l’Élysée – over 100,000 photographs
- See some of the best views in the city at the Esplanade de Montbenon
- Take a train to Corsier-sur-Vevey and see Chaplin’s World – a museum honoring Charlie Chaplin in his former home
- Stop by any of the 5 museums at the Palais de Rumine
- Take the charming walk up the 17th century stairs at the Escaliers du Marché
- See the art collection at the Fondation de l’Hermitage
- And, lots more!
What you need to know about this tour:
- Book your flight into and out of Zurich, Switzerland. (Airport Code: ZRH)
- If you wish to begin or end your tour in a different city (such as Geneva, Switzerland), please contact us!
- Your flight will depart the USA on Thursday, October 28, 2021! (It will arrive in Zurich, Switzerland on Friday, October 29, 2021.)
- You should plan your flight to arrive in Zurich approximately around noon, local time in Zurich. That will allow you clear customs, meet your private driver for the drive to Lucerne, and give you ample time before our happy hour meet-and-greet at 5pm. (If your flight will arrive later, please contact us.)
- Driving time from the Zurich airport to our Lucerne hotel is approximately 1 hour.
- Your return flight to the USA should depart Zurich, Switzerland (Airport Code: ZRH) on Saturday, November 6, 2021 (for the 9-day tour) or Wednesday, November 3, 2021 (for the 6-day tour). If you wish to extend your stay, or if you are continuing your journey to other parts of Europe, please contact us.
- The drive from Laussanne to the Zurich Airport is approximately 2½ hours. (Departure out of Geneva is also a possibility. Contact us for details.)
- We will provide you with lunch and dinner restaurant recommendations for any meals on your own. We have personally visited these establishments and can personally vouch for them! Unlike some hotel concierge desks, these are our unbiased and uncompensated recommendations.
- If you do not feel comfortable dining on your own (even though our recommended restaurants all speak English) or going out on your own in a foreign place, you are more then welcome to join us for meals. We are your hosts – we won’t ever leave you to fend for yourself!
- We have many suggestions for things to do on your free days. We will chat about your preferences and give you ideas of activities you will enjoy.
- The Swiss City Marathon Cut-Off Time is 6 hours.
- The Swiss City Half Marathon Cut-Off Time is 3 hours 15 minutes.
- There is also a 10k & a DuoMarathon (a relay where each runner completes a half marathon) – please contact us if you would like run either of these races.
