Why this place is never busy is beyond me, because it's a godsend if you are looking for an English…read morebook library. Nowhere else can you buy recent magazines for a swiss franc or gently used books for a few $$. Please, please support this place by becoming a member and reading some new books! If no one goes, it won't be around for long.

This is a beautiful library that takes a classic, clean, simple facade and elevates it up many…read morenotches. The natural lighting compliments the area perfectly. It's a perfect place to study because of how well lit, quiet, and peaceful the building is. If it's your first time inside you'll likely be distracted by the architecture which is perfectly understandable.

Definitely worth a visit just to admire the impressive architecture by Santiago Calatrava, which…read moreyou wouldn't suspect to be hiding inside by the outer looks of the building. Make sure to also take the glass elevator all the way up. It's easiest to enter the building from the back. When entering from Rämistrasse, it's slightly tricky to find the way to the library. There are lockers to leave your bags, which you're not supposed to bring inside (need a 2CHF coin). No flash photography so that the people studying there won't be disturbed.

Great spot for drinks, coffee, or light snacks and meals. It's a coffee shop/ bar/ bookstore…read more Nice location with many seating options inside and outside. It's self-serve with many drink and food options. It's also a good spot for studying, working, or to relax with family and friends. I like this cafe a lot, and would recommend stopping by. The food and the drinks are okay, but it's more the atmosphere the scores the points.

Great place to relax with coffee, beer or other beverage. Next to Limmat so you see people with…read moredogs, baby or old couples. Even if it's a book cafe, most people here just come in for drinks and hanging out. During the day, you see some working/studying here. Good and reasonably priced cappuccino (can choose small 4.50 CHF or large5.xx CHF) and wine/beer (less than 7 CHF). Muslie was great but haven't tried other food. you can pick up some pre-made salad or sandwiches. Great to sit outside or backside to hang out.

Of course there is a lot of knowledge available, but this is one of the modern public buildings I…read morereally like. How did they do the different walls, what material is in the ceiling? What about the front? Lots of relaxing areas. Not to mention the lakeview.

I was born in Luzern and I've seen this monument countless times. Mostly now I go visit with my…read morestudents whenever we have the French Revolution as a subject in school. This time again I came here with my students, just before visiting the Gletschergarten next to. The Lion Monument (Löwendenkmal) is a world-famous rock relief carved directly into a former sandstone quarry. Designed by Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen and hewn by Lukas Ahorn in 1821, it depicts a dying lion impaled by a spear, sheltering a shield with the French fleur-de-lis. The monument serves as a poignant memorial to the hundreds of Swiss Guards who were massacred in 1792 while defending the Tuileries Palace in Paris during the French Revolution. American author Mark Twain famously praised it as "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world." As a piece of art it's already an impressive sight and worth a visit. But knowing the backstory of it makes it even more interesting and impressive. Very sad that sometimes some vandalism is going on here. Once it was bombed with paint-filled water balloons. The rock here is very sensitive and cleaning it could have damaged the lion. Luckily the restoration went fine. The pond in front gets cleaned regularly and the coins (for luck) are being collected and used to restore and preserve this wonderful monument.

Yelp Review 2026 #86:…read more "HELVETIORUM FIDEI AC VIRTUTI" = "To the loyalty and bravery of the Swiss" If you're looking at pictures of this lion monument thinking "what a cute lion" or wondering if it's for a zoo nearby, think again. This monument carved out of a stone cliff (with a pond at the bottom) was to commemorate fallen Swiss soldiers during the French Revolution. Look closely at the expression on the lion's face - it shows anguish and dying. Its body stuck with a broken piece of a spear. It's laying on a shield with fleur de lis (symbol of France) and another shield with the Swiss coat of armor. At the bottom are the names of the Swiss soldiers that were massacred. It's free to visit despite its popularity. There are signage you can read about the history and story behind the monument. It's more than just a photo op spot. We came here at 7am when nobody was here yet. A few minutes later a few people showed up so we left. Around lunch time, we went to a restaurant nearby and there was a tour bus dropping off people here.