Wilhelm Tell, Historic paddle steamer in Lucerne, Switzerland.

The Wilhelm Tell is a paddle steamer built in 1908, now moored permanently at the Schweizerhofquai in Lucerne and used as a restaurant. Its hull, paddle wheels and visible parts of the original 700 hp Sulzer two-cylinder steam engine were kept, while the boilers were removed and concrete poured in their place for stability.

The ship dates from an era when paddle steamers served as vital transportation links connecting communities and goods around the lake. It stands today as one of the few surviving vessels from that period and is protected as a regional cultural property.

The vessel carries the name of Switzerland's national hero, connecting passengers to stories of freedom and resistance that run deep in Swiss identity. For generations, journeys aboard such ships have marked family outings and celebrations in the region.

The Wilhelm Tell is moored permanently at the Schweizerhofquai in Lucerne and no longer cruises; it is reached on foot from the station or the old town. The hull is periodically towed to the SGV shipyard for inspection. The former first-class salon was restored in 1998.

The ship's bell, long thought lost, was found by chance in the SGV archive in 2009. The engine survives only in its visible parts: the boilers were removed in 1971 to enlarge the galley, and concrete was poured into the middle of the hull in their place for stability.