If you’re male and are looking for the so-called ‘sins of the flesh’, Lucerne (Luzern) certainly has something to offer. Prostitution is legal in Switzerland, so you can find so-called contact bars, erotic massages, brothels, sex clubs and escort services in and around Lucerne. While Lucerne is far from being an alpine Amsterdam, it is an inviting place if you’re looking for carnal pleasures and women in various states of undress.

Sex Clubs & Brothels

Sex clubs or brothels are probably your best and are also your safest option if you’re searching for a sexual encounter. Clubs usually have a bar area where you can have a drink and probably even eat while you meet potential ‘dates.’ If you agree on a particular service and specific terms with the lady of your choice, you can head over to a private room and the rest is up to you. Clubs usually charge an admission fee and perhaps some additional money depending on the service you require. The ladies aren’t usually employed by the clubs and work as their own bosses. In fact, they often also pay a fee to use the establishments. In brothels and studios it's more straightforward. There's no admission and no bar area. You just book an appointment. But there are no strict definitions and boundaries are fluid. Many of these establishments are located around Baselstrasse and Bernstrasse and in the suburbs of Lucerne, such as Emmenbrücke.

Since 2015 Lucerne's government and parliament have been discussing new regulations for sex clubs in an attempt to make this business safer for everyone. Currently it looks like sex businesses will require a license from 2020 and the police will be able to do inspections without warrants. By then, sex clubs should offer an even safer environment for both prostitutes and customers.

Erotic massages, strip clubs, escort services

Naturally, there are also erotic massage parlours. You'll most likely not be offered any sexual intercourse at these places (beyond what is known in the trade as a happy ending), but there’s still much amusement to be had, from simple hand assistance to a full body massage from one or even two nubile, attractive young ladies or men, depending on your preference.

Street prostitution is also permitted, but is less regulated than in cities such as Zurich (no general registration needed, foreigners need a work permit). Nevertheless in the city of Lucerne it's only allowed in non-residential areas. This is most prevalent in the industrial district of Ibach at the edge of the city. But for obvious reasons, street prostitution is harder to control than clubs, which is why it's believed that the workers you’ll encounter here are much more likely to have been coerced into working as prostitutes or, even worse, are victims of human trafficking.

In Lucerne, the era of strip cubs where half-naked ladies dance around a pole until they're entirely naked is apparently over, as the last strip club we knew of closed in the winter of 2016. What still exists are so-called contact bars where you can meet a prostitute and accompany her to a room nearby.

Finally, there are also escort services in town. You’ll find numerous offers with a quick internet search.

Here then is a list of contact bars, erotic massage parlours, sex clubs and the like. We believe these places to be upstanding businesses, but we still recommend employing simple common sense when delving into the world of adult entertainment. When in doubt, choose not to pay with a credit card and use only cash.