Zug's real charm is on the water, where the old town ends and a long promenade runs along the Zugersee. In the evening, people stroll, children throw bread to swans, and cafes spread their tables toward the lake, which is the colour of slate and silver and ringed by the green hills of Rigi and Zugerberg. On a clear evening, you can see Pilatus rising beyond the opposite shore. It is a town where life seems to happen outdoors from May to September, and the pace slows accordingly.
There is a darker story under the promenade. In 1887, part of the medieval town, built on soft lake sediment, suddenly collapsed and slid into the water, taking with it several houses and eleven people. The event was one of Switzerland's worst natural disasters of the nineteenth century, and the shoreline you see today was rebuilt afterward with firmer foundations. A small memorial recalls the victims, and it is a reminder that even the prettiest lake can be treacherous.
Coming here on a motorcycle at the end of the Sihlsee ride, you arrive from the east or north along roads that are calm and straightforward. The final approach is flat and easy, mostly through suburbs and fields, with light traffic in the evening. Be aware of trams and bicycles, as well as pedestrians in the town centre, and of the speed cameras on the main roads. The lakeside roads are slow, with limits strictly enforced, but at the right moment the water and the lights are worth the delay.
For food, the lakeside terraces offer fish dishes, salads, pizza and, of course, the Zuger Kirschtorte, a local cake with cherry spirit, which makes a good partner to a late coffee. Fuel is available at several stations in the town and in nearby Baar, with supermarkets and bakeries open until early evening. Motorcycle parking is generally available near the lake and the railway station. Sit by the water, watch the sunset colours spread over the hills, and let the last of the ride settle.