visit mt pilatus

Visiting Mount Pilatus, Switzerland: A Comprehensive Guide

Mount Pilatus is one of the most famous mountains in Switzerland , best known for local legends, fabulous hiking trails, and stunning panoramic views. Thanks to a cogwheel railway and cable cars, the mountain summit is easily accessible to anyone willing to pay the ticket.

It’s also possible to hike to the top of Pilatus from the towns at its foothills. Such easy access is precisely why Mount Pilatus has been receiving visitors since the 19th century. If you want to be one of the lucky people who have had the opportunity to explore this spectacular Swiss summit, you’ll find all the information you need to plan your trip right here!

Table of Contents

General Information

Where is mt. pilatus located.

Mount Pilatus is located in central Switzerland, southwest of Lucerne. The mountain massif stretches through the canton of Lucerne, but also through the half-cantons of Obwalden and Nidwalden.

The History of Mount Pilatus

Mount Pilatus has a very interesting history, which is one of the main things that attracts so many tourists. For one, there’s a folk legend that a dragon with healing powers used to live on the mountain. There are also three very different tales about the mountain’s name.

One claims that the mountain is named after Pontius Pilate who is buried there. Another says that the mountain resembles the belly of Pilate lying on his back, who is a very large man. And a third legend (which is the most plausible one) states that the name is derived from the word “pileatus”, which means “cloud-topped”.

The cogwheel railway to the summit opened in 1889, so Pilatus has been attracting visitors ever since the late 19th century. Some of the most famous people to have ascended the summit of this majestic mountain include Queen Victoria, Conrad Gessner, and Theodore Roosevelt.

How to Get To Mt. Pilatus

Pilatus Kulm is easily accessible by either a cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad or a cable car from Kriens . Those are the two main towns from which you can travel to the top of the mountain, and I’m about to tell you how you can easily travel to either of the two towns.

From Lucerne

Lucerne is the closest city to Mount Pilatus with a few different routes to the summit.

If you have a car in Switzerland, driving to Kriens or Alpnachstad is much faster than train, bus, or boat. It’s only 10 minutes to Kriens, and most of that time will be spent on getting out of Lucerne. There’s a parking lot near the bottom station of the gondola lift.

It’s 15 minutes from the city to Alpnachstad, and parking is available at the Mount Pilatus railway station.

By Public Transportation

There are two main ways to reach Mount Pilatus from Lucerne – either via the gondola from Kriens or the cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad. Let’s start with Kriens.

You can take a bus departing from the train station in Lucerne towards Obernau, Dorf. It will take you to the center of Kriens, from where it’s about a five-minute walk to the bottom station of the Mount Pilatus gondola . The gondola ride is about half an hour long, so in total it should take you about an hour to reach Mt. Pilatus from Lucerne via Kriens.

Traveling via Alpnachstad is a little bit quicker. You can take a train from Lucerne to Alpnachstad (just under 20 minutes), and it will take you directly to the bottom station of the Pilatus Railway . Then it’s another half an hour to the top of the mountain, so you could be at Mount Pilatus in under an hour if you don’t have to wait for the train too long.

There’s another option that is doubtless slower, much more fun, and only available in the summer. You could take a ferry from Lucerne to Alpnachstad and cruise on the lake, admiring the views of Mt Pilatus as you come closer. The boat ride is about an hour and ten minutes, and it’s a wonderful experience.

Mt. Pilatus Golden Round Trip

The Golden Round Trip is a great option if you want to thoroughly explore the region, but keep in mind that it’s not something you can do in the winter because it includes a cruise from Lucerne to Alpnachstad. This tour of Mount Pilatus is available only from June to October.

You get to ride on the cogwheel train from Alpnachstad to Mount Pilatus, then on an aerial cableway from Pilatus Kulm to Fräkmüntegg, on a gondola lift from Fräkmüntegg to Kriens, and finally on a bus back to Lucerne.

Tickets are 111.60 CHF for second-class, and you can get a 50% discount with the half-fare card. It’s worth noting that the choice of class matters only for the boat ride; on all other modes of transport, there’s only one class.

Mt. Pilatus Silver Round Trip

The Silver Round Trip is very similar to the Golden Round Trip, and there’s really only one difference – instead of cruising to Alpnachstad on a boat, you ride a train from Lucerne. Everything else is the same, including the fact that the choice of class is relevant only for the journey from Lucerne to Alpnachstad.

You can do the Silver Round Trip any time of the year, and it’s pretty much your only option if you’re planning to do this as a winter trip. The ticket prices are 89.40 CHF for second class and 94.80 CHF for first class, and discounts are available with various travel passes.

From Zurich

Traveling to Mount Pilatus from Zurich is possible, and only takes 40 minutes longer than the previously mentioned routes. That’s how long it takes for the train from Zurich to reach Lucerne, and from there you can do either the route via Kriens or via Alpnachstad.

Trains run from Zurich to Lucerne every 20-30 minutes, although you might want to check the timetable to make sure you’re getting on the quickest train. The fastest one takes just 40 minutes to travel between the two cities, while the slower options can take more than an hour.

Mount Pilatus Tickets & Prices

The Mount Pilatus railway offers tickets from Alpnachstad all the way to Kriens, and there are multiple variations of tickets you can buy. This includes passes to the cogwheel railway and the cable cars.

The standard price of a return ticket from Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm is 78 CHF, although you can get a bunch of discounts on the price. The price is the same for a single ticket from Alpnachstad to Kriens, and from Kriens to Pilatus Kulm. It’s 58 CHF to travel from Alpnachstad to Frakmuntegg.

Seat reservations are another 5 CHF per person. They are not obligatory but are recommended in the peak season if you want to avoid standing in line and waiting.

If you have any of the Swiss travel passes, you can get some sort of discount on the Mount Pilatus railway tickets. Half-priced tickets are available to anyone with the half-fare card, the GA travel card, the Swiss Travel Pass, and the Interrail pass.

Also, if you have the Swiss Travel Pass, you don’t need to purchase tickets for the Silver/Golden round trip. Most journeys are included with the pass for free, and you just need the tickets for the ascent and descent, which you can get for half the price thanks to the pass.

Another thing to note is that if you want to be guaranteed a seat, you must pay the full price of the reservation fee regardless of any passes you might have.

Children up to the age of 16 do not have to pay full price for the tickets either. There’s a 50% reduction in price for kids aged 6-16, and all kids in possession of the Junior Travelcard of Swiss Travel Pass can travel for free when they are accompanied by adults.

The timetable of the cable car from Kriens to Fräkmüntegg is:

The timetable of the cogwheel train from Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm is:

The timetable for the Lucerne – Alpnachstad boats that run only in the summer is:

Best Mt. Pilatus Tours

If you’re not someone who enjoys wandering around on your own, consider booking a guided tour of Mount Pilatus . It’s the easiest way of seeing all the top attractions while learning about their history and significance.

Group tours will be more expensive than doing the trip on your own, but they’ll take a lot off your mind. You just pay for the tour once, and someone else takes care of all the tickets, looking through the timetables, and all you have to do is show up and let yourself be guided around.

There are guided tours from both Zurich and Lucerne , and you can even book a guided hiking trip. Most tours will take you on a round trip across the mountain, so you’ll get to see Pilatus Kulm, Frakmuntegg, Krienseregg, Alpnachstad, and Kriens. During the summer, you can also book tours that include a boat ride on Lake Lucerne.

Weather on Mount Pilatus

Mount Pilatus is at an elevation of more than 2,000 meters above sea level, so the climate is much rougher than in the towns on the shore of Lake Lucerne. The average daily highs are rarely above 15 degrees Celsius even in July and August, while the lows are consistently below 10 degrees Celsius throughout the year.

The winter months usually bring sub-zero temperatures to the mountain, and in December, January, and February, the temperatures are rarely above zero degrees Celsius even during the day. There’s a lot of snow on the mountain in the winter, and you will need footwear that allows you to move through a thick layer of snow if you want to be able to get around and explore during a winter trip.

Keep in mind that I’m talking about the average temperatures; there are, of course, exceptions and it could be warmer or colder while you’re there. In September 2023, Mount Pilatus recorded a temperature high of 21 degrees Celsius, which is unusually warm for fall.

It’s perfectly possible for it to be consistently above 20 degrees Celsius when you visit in the summer, I just wouldn’t count on it and would be prepared for colder weather since it is a tall mountain summit and anything can happen.

Best Time to Visit Mount Pilatus

The best time to visit Mount Pilatus generally depends on what you enjoy doing the most, but I really think it’s summer. It’s when everything on the mountain is up and running, you can do one of those beautiful round trips that include a boat ride on Lake Lucerne, and the days are long so all the cable cars and trains run until the evening.

The hiking trails, adventure park, and rope course are all open, as well as all the restaurants and hotels. You can explore the mountain in a T-shirt or even just lounge in the field, soaking up the sun.

Winter is a fun time to be on the mountain if you enjoy sledding, winter hiking, and similar activities, but keep in mind that you won’t be able to explore as much of the mountain. Many hiking trails become inaccessible in the winter because of snowfall, plus the train and cable car will stop running much earlier in the day.

Also, there are fewer things to do because it’s so cold. If you’re in the area in the winter and thinking about doing a quick day trip to Mount Pilatus, it’s certainly a good idea, especially if you’re lucky enough to be able to visit during the Christmas Market. But if you’re planning a trip to Mt. Pilatus specifically and you want to do it at the best possible time, I would highly recommend going in the summer, maybe even late September.

Summer Activities on Mt. Pilatus

Hiking is the most popular activity on Mount Pilatus and it can keep you busy for days. The mountain has many trails that range from easy and accessible to anyone, to very challenging and suitable only for the most experienced hikers.

Something most of these trails have in common (except for those that are mostly through the forest) is stunning panoramic views of Lake Lucerne and its surroundings. One thing to note is that, in the summer, it is perfectly possible to hike up to Mount Pilatus from the towns at its foothills.

You don’t have to ride the cable cars or trains if you don’t want to, and you can just hike to the summit instead. It takes at least 3 hours depending on your starting point, and it’s generally easier to ascend Pilatus from Kriens.

Mt. Pilatus Rope Park

Head to the adventure park near the Fräkmüntegg station if you want to have loads of fun on Mount Pilatus. The park features an obstacle course through the trees, a Dragon Glider rope course, and a long rope bridge.

Overall it’s a very fun course, perfect for active adults who enjoy running around and jumping. Most parts of the course are suitable for teenagers, although it’s not really recommended for children. There’s an entirely different playground for them that’s equally fun, but much more suitable for the younger ages.

Summer Toboggan Run

Fräkigaudi Toboggan is a summertime activity at Fräkmüntegg. The run is 1,350 meters long, which makes it the longest summer toboggan in entire Switzerland, so it’s an absolute must for adrenaline junkies.

The ride is fun and exciting, and you get to enjoy stunning views while you’re rushing down the mountain. It’s even suitable for children, so it’s a thing the entire family can enjoy. Ticket prices are just 9 CHF for adults and 5 CHF for kids, and children who are between 2 and 5 years old can ride for free if they’re accompanied by an adult.

Dragon Trail

The Dragon Trail is a hiking path on Mount Pilatus that got its name from folklore tales. Local legends say that once upon a time a dragon with healing powers lived on this mountain, which features many crooks, and crevices, and even passes through a cave.

The path is easily walkable in the summer and features railings for maximum security. But it’s not always accessible in the winter because of snow and ice, so if you want to see the dragon’s lair, you’ll need to visit Mount Pilatus in the summer months.

Trail Running

Pilatus is very popular for trail running with loads of trails that are continuously maintained in the summer months. There’s even a trail that allows you to run from Alpnachstad to Pilatus; it’s by no means easy, so consider doing it only if you’re in great shape and you’re looking for a proper physical challenge.

One of the most popular trail running paths on Pilatus is from Gfellen to Pilatus. The shortest version is 13 kilometers long and takes approximately three and a half hours to complete at a constant running pace. Another popular run is the Swiss Trail Run Pilatus , from Kriens to Fräkmüntegg. It can be done in about an hour and 15 minutes, which isn’t outrageously slower than the cable car.

It’s worth noting that, for five years, the Swiss Trail Run Pilatus has been an organized event. It usually takes place sometime in the summer, and it welcomes any trail runners who are willing to join and rush to the finish line at Fräkmüntegg.

Star Gazing

One of the best things about being high up in the mountains is that you can always see the stars, provided that it’s not cloudy. There’s no light pollution and you can see countless stars even without any star gazing equipment.

If you want to engage in more serious stargazing, you’ll be glad to know that astronomy nights are a thing on Mount Pilatus. It’s a pricey event to attend, but it includes a night at one of the mountain’s hotels with welcome drinks and breakfast, so it’s a good deal. It’s also possible to book the offer without an overnight stay, and on those nights there is an additional train descent to Alpnachstad at 11:30 PM.

Krienseregg Playground

The Krienseregg Playground is the perfect destination on Mount Pilatus for all families with children. It’s a huge playground with swings, slides, wooden houses, and obstacle courses, and it will make you wish you were a child again.

The playground is very close to the Krienseregg station, so it’s easily accessible without a lot of walking. There’s also a restaurant nearby, where the adults can sit down and relax while keeping an eye on their little ones as they roam around and play.

Esel and Oberhaupt Viewpoints

The Esel and Oberhaupt viewpoints are both very close to the Pilatus Kulm cogwheel railway station and can be easily accessed by anyone. There are quite a few steps to reach the Esel observation deck, but they’re not really dangerous and there’s a rail you can hold onto. The view from the top is absolutely stunning and worth the climb.

The Oberhaupt viewpoint is on a different part of the summit but offers a similar panoramic view of Lake Lucerne.

Fondue Gondola

If you’re traveling to Mount Pilatus from Kriens, you have the option of riding in the Fondue Gondola . It’s the same panoramic journey but with the added benefit of getting a pot of fondue and 250 ml of white wine to celebrate.

This epic experience is 68 CHF per person and it’s available on weekends from November to April. It’s the perfect way of keeping warm while traveling to the mountain summit and you get about 45 minutes to lick the fondue pot clean.

Winter Activities on Mt. Pilatus

Sledding is always fun, especially on a mountain with numerous runs that range from easy and suitable for kids, to fast and almost dangerous. Of course, it also depends on the type of sleds you rent; there are special sports sleds for adventurers, but also family sleds for those who plan to rush down the mountain with kids.

You can rent sleds at various points atop Pilatus, and at most, it will cost you 20 CHF for the entire day (until 4:30 PM). It’s also necessary to purchase a Snow & Fun day pass so you can access all the different trails and runs on the mountain, and discounts are available to all travelers in possession of the various travel passes for Switzerland.

Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing is the winter equivalent of hiking on Mount Pilatus, and it’s very fun. You can rent snowshoes for 20 CHF if you don’t own a pair and spend the entire day exploring the different marked trails.

The most popular area for snowshoeing is between Fräkmüntegg and Krienseregg. There are three separate marked trails here, all of which will take you to different parts of the mountain. The shortest trail takes about an hour to complete and is suitable for complete newbies to snowshoeing, while the longest trail takes just under two hours and requires some previous experience.

But don’t worry – complete the two easier trails first, and you should be able to complete the third one without a hiccup if you’ve got it in you to spend 4 to 5 hours wearing snowshoes.

Dragon Ride

The Dragon Trail and the Dragon Glider are not accessible in the winter, but the Dragon Ride is. It’s the aerial cableway that’s been in operation since the 1950s, which transports passengers from Fräkmüntegg to Pilatus Kulm. Each cabin can fit about 55 people, and the total travel time is less than four minutes.

This ride offers some of the most impressive views of Lake Lucerne and its surroundings, and it’s absolutely worth doing if you want to see the panorama of Central Switzerland. A one-way ride on the aerial cableway is 19 CHF (return trip is 38 CHF), but you can get 50% off with any one of the Swiss travel cards.

Christmas Market

Every winter Mount Pilatus hosts Europe’s highest Christmas Market . The event takes place over a weekend, so it’s not something you can really stumble upon by accident. It usually takes place in November, from Friday to Sunday. Trains and cable cars run longer on the Christmas Market Saturday so that everyone can get back to their accommodation safely.

The Mount Pilatus Christmas Market includes wooden stalls and vendors you would expect at any Advent event. You can buy food, warm drinks, and all sorts of handmade items. It’s a wonderful event to experience, made even more special by the fact it takes place thousands of meters above sea level, with spectacular panoramic views in the background.

Best Mount Pilatus Hiking Routes

Mount Pilatus is home to many wonderful hiking trails that are accessible in the summer and shoulder months. Many people choose to hike from either Kriens or Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm – the trail is steep and the hike takes several hours to complete, but it’s perfectly doable and plenty of fun, not to mention entirely free.

The ascent to Tomlishorn is another very popular hike atop Mount Pilatus. It’s the tallest summit of the mountain, so naturally, it’s popular with the more experienced alpinists. Many people will also hike from Pilatus Kulm to Fräkmüntegg. It’s a very steep descent with switchbacks, rock scrambling, and muddy parts, but a very thrilling adventure of 3.5 kilometers.

Where to Eat on Mt. Pilatus

There’s at least one restaurant on each station atop Pilatus, whether it’s a cable car or train station. Here’s a quick overview of the best restaurants on the mountain, and their signature dishes that you need to try.

Restaurant Bellevue

Restaurant Bellevue is near the Pilatus Kulm station, in Hotel Bellevue . It’s one of the most easily accessible restaurants on the summit, just a short walk from the observation platforms. The food is decent – it’s nothing mind-blowingly good, but it’s tasty enough and the portions are generous.

The restaurant is pricey, but that can be said for virtually any restaurant in Switzerland, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that most people spend at least 20 CHF per person for a meal here.

Restaurant Pilatus-Kulm

Restaurant Pilatus-Kulm is a Swiss restaurant in the Pilatus Kulm Hotel. It’s one of the two restaurants at the summit, and it has much better reviews than the other restaurant (Bellevue). At Pilatus-Kulm the menu mostly includes Swiss staples, but they’ve also got a good number of vegan and vegetarian dishes. If you do end up visiting this recommend, I highly recommend going for the fondue.

Panoramagrill

Panoramagrill is a fast food stand near the Pilatus-Kulm station. It’s the perfect option for travelers who don’t want to spend 100 francs for lunch atop the mountain, and would rather just get something to eat on the go.

There aren’t many different options here – I think you can only get sausages and french fries, plus a few drinks. But it should be enough to sustain you while you explore the mountain, and it’s certainly cheaper than sitting down at one of the restaurants for a proper meal.

Restaurant Frakmuntegg

Restaurant Frakmuntegg is probably my favorite restaurant on Pilatus, even if it’s just for the cozy wooden interior. It’s at the Frakmuntegg cable car station and it’s a buffet-style restaurant. The prices are reasonable, but you don’t have too many different options. Classic crispy rosti are probably the best thing to try at this restaurant.

Restaurant Krienseregg

Restaurant Krienseregg is near the Krienseregg gondola station. It’s probably got the most variety of dishes, with pasta, salads, and various local staples on the menu. This restaurant overlooks the children’s playground, and it’s very popular with families.

Where to Stay on Mt. Pilatus

Hotel Bellevue 3*

Hotel Bellevue is a three-star hotel near the top station of the Alpnachstad-Pilatus Kulm funicular. The average nightly rate is 390 CHF for a double room, and it’s worth noting that rooms boast sprawling views of the Alps and Lake Lucerne.

Pilatus Kulm Hotel 3*

Pilatus Kulm Hotel is also near the top station of the funicular, in the same area as Hotel Bellevue. The rooms have a wonderful view of the landscapes below the mountain, but the average nightly rate is higher than at Hotel Bellevue at 470 CHF.

Frakmuntegg Tree Tents

Frakmuntegg Tree Tents are the best option for campers on the mountain. The tents are tied to the trees in the forest near the adventure park, and the rate for one tent is 140 CHF per person. I will say that it’s not really cheaper than a double room at a hotel if there are two of you, so it’s not the best option if you’re trying to save money on lodging.

What to Pack For Mt. Pilatus

Comfortable and waterproof hiking boots should be in your suitcase regardless of what you’re planning to do on Pilatus. The same goes for a windproof and water-resistant jacket.

For a summer visit, you can pack shorts and trail sneakers , but I would also recommend packing some warmer clothes so you can be comfortable if the weather changes. A lightweight down jacket could come in handy in the evenings since the temperatures often drop below 10 degrees Celsius.

If you’re heading to Pilatus in the winter, pack your warmest clothes. The temperatures are often below zero, so you will need a warm jacket, warm boots, sweaters, hoodies, and comfy underlayers. Layer up so that you can easily regulate your temperature, especially when you go inside restaurants and hotels where it’s much warmer than outdoors.

Time Needed to Spend on Mt. Pilatus

How much time you need for Mount Pilatus really depends on what you would want to do there. If you enjoy hiking, trail running, and adventure parks, you could easily spend an entire weekend here having loads of fun.

If, on the other hand, your idea of a trip to a mountain includes visiting an observation deck and getting something to eat, an afternoon should be enough. You can do a round trip in a few hours if you rely on the public transport services instead of walking.

In general, there are plenty of things to do at Pilatus and you could stay busy for days here. If you enjoy being outdoors and exploring, don’t hesitate to book a longer stay. At the same time, if you just want to check out what the hype is about, you can easily see the most popular landmarks atop the mountain on a daily excursion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the myth about mount pilatus.

There’s a local myth about Mount Pilatus that a dragon with healing powers used to live on it. You can walk the dragon trail and see where the dragon supposedly lived once upon a time. 

What is Mount Pilatus famous for?

Mount Pilatus is partly famous for the dragon myths, and also for the spectacular 360-degree views of Lake Lucerne. There are two observation decks close to the top station of the funicular, both of which offer impressive panoramic vistas. 

Is Mt. Pilatus worth it?

Mount Pilatus is absolutely worth it, even if all you’re interested in are the views. The mountain boasts a variety of fun things to do in both the summer and winter, including hiking, an adventure park, playgrounds for kids, trail running, sledding, snowshoeing, and many more. 

Are Mt. Pilatus and Mt Titlis the same? 

No, Pilatus and Titlis are not the same mountain. Pilatus is just outside Lucerne and is the home mountain of the city. Titlis is in Engelberg, a town not too distant from Lucerne.

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Complete Guide To Visiting Mount Pilatus In A Day

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Nestled in the heart of Central Switzerland, the awe-inspiring Mount Pilatus awaits your exploration—a testament to nature’s boundless beauty. Gazing down upon Lucerne, this rugged pinnacle reaches a breath-taking elevation of 2132 meters above the tranquil sea.

From the summit, a panorama of unparalleled grandeur unfolds before your eyes, showcasing not only the picturesque city of Lucerne but also the majestic Swiss Alps in all their splendour. A visit to Mount Pilatus is nothing short of an unforgettable experience, a journey to one of Switzerland’s most captivating and scenic treasures.

What is Mount Pilatus

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Mount Pilatus comprises a collection of peaks within the Emmental Alps. Its highest summit stands at 2,132 meters above sea level. Among these peaks, Tomlishorn reigns as the loftiest point, while Esel reaches 2,118 meters and Oberhaupt reaches 2,106 meters above sea level.

Legend weaves a fascinating tapestry around Mount Pilatus, an enchanting tale that reaches back to the 15th century. According to local folklore, a colossal dragon rock descended from the heavens, settling upon the earth’s embrace. Standing sentinel before this enigmatic relic was none other than the Roman governor Pontius Pilatus, his presence lending an aura of mystique to the scene.

As the chronicle unfolds, Pontius Pilatus’s mortal journey reached its end, and his lifeless form found its resting place atop these very mountains, nestled within a tranquil lake. It is here, amidst the serene waters and soaring peaks, that whispers of the supernatural were born, rendering this realm a domain believed to be touched by the ethereal. This legacy of tales has bestowed upon the land a sense of haunting allure that continues to resonate.

In the tapestry of explanations, some contend that the mountain’s name, Pilatus, was etched in homage to the Roman governor. Others, however, find resonance in the Latin term ‘Pileatus,’ a moniker that conjures visions of clouds that lovingly caress the mountain’s crown. This mystique, veiled in cloud-capped wonder, paints the backdrop for the narratives that define Mount Pilatus—a place where history, legend, and the whispers of the unknown converge.

When you’re in Switzerland, the pinnacle of your journey is undoubtedly Mount Pilatus—a destination that captures the very essence of this mesmerizing land. Within the span of a single day, a symphony of experiences awaits you: a serene cruise, a scenic bus voyage, a succession of cable car ascents, and a ride aboard the steepest cogwheel train on the planet. All converge to weave a tapestry of breath-taking moments that will forever define your Swiss adventure.

At the top of Mount Pilatus, there is plenty of opportunity for exploration and adventure. There is an observation deck with stunning views of Lake Lucerne, a restaurant and a couple of trails.  There are two viewpoints close to the observation deck, Oberhaupt and Esel. Each are reached with some stairs, only about a 5 min walk up.

If you want to hike, we recommend the trail to Tomlishorn, the highest point at Pilatus at 2129m. The well maintained path is about 3 km round trip with side rails for safety.

How To Reach Mount Pilatus From Lucerne?

Embarking on a day trip from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus entails an exciting journey across various modes of transportation. To get to the top of Mount Pilatus you can choose the iconic cog railway which leaves from Alpnachstad or the cable car from Kriens .

Travelling from Lucerne to Alpnachstad can either be by train, car or boat; while travel to Kriens would be by bus.

Commencing from Alpnachstad, your passage to Pilatus presents two options: a serene steamer boat voyage across Lake Lucerne or a scenic train expedition via Zentralbahn’s Brünigbahn line.

Alpnachstad serves as the gateway for the Pilatus bahn , the 30 minutes train journey to the top. This railway line boasts the world’s steepest gradient and operates its services from May to November, although occasional inclement weather can lead to temporary halts.

An alternative way to reach Mount Pilatus from Lucerne is by embarking on a journey from Kriens, where the cable car service seamlessly connects Kriens and Pilatus.

To follow this route, commence your adventure by catching Bus number 1 at Bus Stop A in Lucerne—a conveniently located stop opposite the main train station. From there, a brief 10-minute stroll leads you from the Kriens bus stop to the cable car station.

Begin your ascent by stepping into the panorama gondola, transporting you from Kriens to Fräkmüntegg via Krienseregg. This picturesque leg of the journey lasts for approximately 30 minutes.

At Fräkmüntegg, the journey continues as you transition to a second cable car, affectionately known as the Dragon Ride, propelling you towards the summit of Pilatus Kulm. This leg of the journey takes a mere 5 minutes.

Embarking on the 646-meter cableway journey between Fräkmüntegg and Pilatus Kulm is nothing short of a remarkable and distinctive experience. The cabin, designed akin to a cockpit, envelops visitors in an immersive environment. With floor-to-ceiling glazing, it’s as if you’re suspended in mid-air, granting you the sensation of soaring through the sky. As you indulge in this captivating ride, the panoramic vistas that unfold before your eyes are simply breath-taking.

The dragon ride is named after the mythical Mount Pilatus dragon that you read about earlier.

This is a 15-minute ride to Lucerne, you ae picked up just outside the gondola station and taken to the bus station in Lucerne.

Hopefully you now know how you wish to get to Mt. Pilatus. You need to purchase your tickets. You have the option of buying and organising each stage separately or going with a company who will do it for you.

The Golden Round Trip is a popular choice for tourists, this trip starts with taking a boat from Lucerne to Alpnachstad. The boat departs from the pier that is located directly across from the train station, and drops off at a pier that is a quick walk to the cogwheel station. his trip includes four different forms of transportation: bus – cable car – cogwheel train – boat ride. You start at the Lucerne to Kriens in a bus, then take the cable car to Mt Pilatus, a cogwheel train down to Alpnachstad and a scenic boat ride back to Lucerne. This trip starts and ends at Lucerne Railway Station – the bus stop is near the station and also the boat terminal is right at the station as well.

You may purchase tickets in advance from a third party here: Self Guided Golden Ticket Tours , Guided Guided Golden Ticket Tours or there is the option to go on a Private Guided Tour .

The second most popular way to visit Mt. Pilatus is by taking the ‘Silver Round Trip’. Here the entire tour has a bus – cable car – cogwheel train – regular train ride included in the package. You start at the Lucerne to Kriens in a bus, then take the cable car to Mt Pilatus, a cogwheel train down to Alpnachstad and a regular train back to Lucerne. The only difference between the silver and in the Gold is you that you take a train instead of the scenic boat ride between Alpnachstad and Lucerne.

This trip is 20% cheaper than the Golden Round Trip and you are not restricted by the rather limited boat schedule! Purchase your Silver Round Trip Tickets .

Drive from Lucerne to Kriens: If you have your own transport then you may want to ditch the bus ride and drive to Kriens yourself. This would cheapest way and/or in the shortest possible time. There is a big car parking at the gondola station in Kriens and parking here costs just 5 CHF per day.

Bus from Lucerne to Kriens: From Lucerne Railway Station, take a (trolley) bus nr. 1 to Kriens. It’s a bus line in the direction of Obernau Dorf. There are many buses at the station and it looks a bit overwhelming at first. Be sure to look for a TROLLEYBUS, so not a regular bus number 1. The bus ride between Lucerne Railway Station and Kriens takes less than 15 minutes. You will need to purchase your ticket from the ticket machines at the bus stop. If you have the Golden or Silver Ticket this is not needed.

Purchase your Cable Car Ticket from Kriens : Your next stage is to purchase your cable car ticket. The cable car ride from Kriens to Mt Pilatus actually involves two different cable cars. The first is a 4-person gondola to Fräkmüntegg, then the Dragon Ride (a big aerial cableway) to Mt Pilatus. The entire journey to the top takes about half an hour. As already mentioned, you can buy a ticket online in advance , or you can just buy it at the ticket desk once you get there.

Drive from Lucerne to Alpnachstad: If you have your own transport then you may want to ditch the train or boat and drive to Alpnachstad yourself. There is parking available in Alpnachstad just by the Cogwheel Train station and parking also costs just 5 CHF per day.

By Train from Lucerne to Alpnachstad: From Lucerne train station: Take the S5 train to Alpnachstad train station (17 minutes).

By Boat from Lucerne to Alpnachstad: Or from Lucerne by boat from jetty no. 2 (50 – 90 minutes) to Alpnachstad. The ship only operates from May to October.

Take the Cable Car up Cogwheel down, Boat and Train back to Kriens

If you are driving and do want to organise the equivalent of a Golden Ticket Trip a round trip, I recommend parking in Kriens and starting with the cable car to the top. Then take a cogwheel train to Alpnachstad and from there, either a train or a boat to Lucerne. From Lucerne city centre, take RBus no. 1 back to Kriens where you left your car!

You can catch the train direct from Zurich to Lucerne in about 45 mins then join the Golden Ticket Tours or the Silver Ticket Tour . Tours do go direct from Zurich by bus: You can either choose the Lucerne & Mount Pilatus Day Tour or the more exclusive Private Trip From Zurich to Mt. Pilatus Through Lucerne !

Depending on your chosen route, mode of transportation, and activities, you should allocate at least 4.5-5 hours for a visit to Mount Pilatus from Lucerne. If you opt for the Golden Round Trip and wish to savour the panoramic vistas at the summit, plan for approximately 5-6 hours.

The cable car journey from Kriens to Fräkmüntegg takes approximately 20 minutes. Subsequently, the aerial cable car ride from Fräkmüntegg to Mount Pilatus (also known as the Dragon Ride) lasts around 3.5 minutes. However, typically, there might be a brief wait for the Dragon Ride. Overall, you should allocate a minimum of 30 minutes to reach the summit of Mount Pilatus from Kriens.

Depending on the specific stops along the route, the boat voyage between Lucerne and Alpnachstad lasts between 1 hour and 1 hour 20 minutes.

The ride aboard the steepest cogwheel train globally, traveling from Alpnachstad to Mount Pilatus, has a duration of 30 minutes. Conversely, the descent from Mount Pilatus to Alpnachstad requires approximately 40 minutes.

The bus journey connecting Lucerne Railway Station to Kriens typically takes about 12-15 minutes. Additionally, you’ll need around 5-10 minutes to walk from the bus station to the Kriens-Mount Pilatus gondola station.

The sunny months between March and September are the best time to visit Mount Pilatus. If you want to see the Alps covered with snow, then plan a visit in the winters. During peak winters the temperatures drop really low and there are high chances that the cogwheel rail and cable cars are closed during this time, hence check before planning your visit.

If you have a Swiss pass, then you get a 50% discount to travel up Mount Pilatus. You can either choose to go up in a gondola and cable cars from Kriens or on a cogwheel from Alpnachstadt. These Swiss passes can be purchased from tourist offices in Zurich, Berne, Geneva and Lucerne or from any major railway station in Switzerland. 

They both offer different views from top, hence you won’t be replicating your experience. Mt Rigi offers spectacular views of the Alps, the Swiss lakes, and a variety of alpine flora, while Pilatus offers stunning panoramic vista and beautiful hikes that will give you a chance to see the Swiss Alps from different angles. 

• Book your tickets to Mount Pilatus in advance to avoid last minute disappointments.
• Start your trip as early as possible to avoid long queues and to make the most of the trip. 
• All transportation options close by 5 in the evening, so make sure you finish all Mount Pilatus activities and leave by 4:00.
• Wear a light coat over a t-shirt during summer and make sure to wear good walking shoes or trekking shoes as this trip requires short hikes to a few viewpoints.
• The weather up in the mountains is very unpredictable, so pack some warm clothes to handle sudden weather changes. 

Tours and Activities from Lucerne

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Nestled in the heart of Central Switzerland, the awe-inspiring Mount Pilatus awaits your exploration—a testament to nature’s boundless beauty. Gazing down upon Lucerne, this rugged pinnacle reaches a breath-taking elevation of 2132 meters above the tranquil sea. From the summit, a panorama of unparalleled grandeur unfolds before your eyes, showcasing not only the picturesque city […]

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Maker of weather, dragon's lair, home to giants and grave of rulers: Lucerne's very own mountain, Pilatus, 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.

Description

A dragon rock supposedly fell from the sky in the year 1420. The Roman governor Pontius Pilatus might have been buried in Lake Pilatus. Legend has it that a petrified man stands guard in front of a cave. The mountain massif of Pilatus, which towers above the region with its 2,128 meters in height, indubitably captures the imagination. Even today Pilatus is a source of mystical discoveries and is home to places of natural beauty that are steeped in legend and lore. The mountain can be reached from Lucerne by gondola lift and aerial cable car and from Alpnachstad with the world's steepest rack-railroad. Thus a special roundtrip tour is possible, involving journeys by paddle steamer, rack-railroad, aerial cable car and bus. The trip can be combined with various types of sports or hiking tours.

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The Complete Guide to Visiting Mount Pilatus, Switzerland

During my six days in Switzerland this summer, I spent half a day exploring the incredibly beautiful Mount Pilatus. It’s absolutely one of my favorite places I visited during the trip (those views!), and is a must if you find yourself in Lucerne. Below, I’ll cover everything you’ll want to know before visiting Mount Pilatus, Switzerland. 

How to Get from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus

To get to Mount Pilatus from Lucerne, you can either hike up, or use a combo of different transportation options. The latter is broken down into two options that are referred to as the Golden Round Trip and the Silver Round Trip . It’s a little overwhelming at first, but I’ll break down everything you need to know about all of these options. 

The Mount Pilatus Golden Round Trip vs. Silver Round Trip

Both the Golden Round Trip and the Silver Round Trip are great options for getting up and back down the mountain. With both of these trips, you’ll take a half hour ride up the mountain in a cogwheel that dates back to 1889. It’s the steepest cogwheel in the world! On your way back down, you’ll take an aerial cableway and a panorama gondola. All three of these rides offer incredibly scenic views. 

However, keep in mind that these trips are only possible from around mid/late May to mid October , as this is when the cogwheel and boat (more on that below) are operating. If you aren’t visiting during this time, we’ll talk about alternative options below. 

Below is a photo of the map you’ll receive when you buy your tickets for Pilatus. If you’re a visual learner like me, it will help you make a bit more sense of the round trips I outline below.

Mount Pilatus Golden Round Trip from Lucerne

Here’s an overview of this trip: 

Boat (To Alpnachstad) → Cogwheel (From Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm Up the Mountain) → Aerial Cableway (From Pilatus Kulm to Fräkmüntegg Down the Mountain) → Panorama Gondola (From Fräkmüntegg to Kriens Down the Mountain) → Bus (Back to Lucerne)

This trip starts with taking a boat from Lucerne to Alpnachstad. The boat departs from the pier that is located directly across from the train station, and drops off at a pier that is a quick walk to the cogwheel station. Depending on which boat you take, this ride will take approximately an hour to an hour and a half. You can check out the timetable (and purchase tickets in advance, if you’d like) on the Lake Lucerne Navigation Company website (FYI: the acronym is SGV AG!). 

At Alpnachstad, you’ll purchase your ticket for getting up and back down the mountain at the booth (if you haven’t already). Next, board the cogwheel train to take it up to the top of the mountain.

After exploring Mount Pilatus, you’ll board the aerial cableway, and take it down to Fräkmüntegg, where you may decide to stop to enjoy some of the activities in the area (more on that later). From here, you’ll switch over to the panorama gondola, and take it down to Kriens. 

Once in Kriens, you’ll walk about 10 minutes to the Kriens, Zentrum PIlatus bus stop . From there, take bus line 1 back to Lucerne. There are a ton of blue “Luzern” signs along the path, so it’s easy to find the bus stop.

The bus drops you off at the Lucerne train station, and the ride takes about 10 minutes. You can buy a ticket at the machine at the bus stop. Note: if you have a Lucerne Visitor Card (which you’ll receive from your hotel via email if you’re staying in Lucerne), this ride is free!

Cogwheel, Aerial Cableway, and the Panorama Gondola

Mount Pilatus Silver Round Trip from Lucerne

This trip isn’t actually that different from the other option – you simply aren’t taking a boat. Here’s an overview: 

Train (To Alpnachstad) → Cogwheel (From Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm Up the Mountain) → Aerial Cableway (From Pilatus Kulm to Fräkmüntegg Down the Mountain) → Panorama Gondola (From Fräkmüntegg to Kriens Down the Mountain) → Bus (Back to Lucerne)

Rather than taking a boat, this trip starts off with a train ride from the station in Lucerne to Alpnachstad. Just like with the boat, it drops passengers off right by the cogwheel station. The ride is about 17 minutes, and you can easily buy tickets at the station. At the time of writing this, a train departs every half hour, but check the SBB website for current times. Once you get to Alpnachstad and walk over to the cogwheel station, everything is the same as it is in the Golden Round Trip!  

Which Trip is Best?

Ultimately, these are both great options – it just comes down to whether you want to take the boat. The Silver Round Trip saves you a lot more time getting to the cogwheel station and up the mountain, since it’s a less than 20-minute train ride over to Alpnachstad. It’s also the cheaper option. We paid 7.80 CHF per ticket for the train, but a one-way boat ticket currently costs around 28.00 CHF. 

For reference, we went for the Silver Round Trip (meaning we didn’t end up doing a boat ride) and had a great experience! While the boat ride is undoubtedly gorgeous, I’m ultimately glad we had a bit more time to spare up on the mountain. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to save a bit of money (Switzerland isn’t cheap!). 

When to Buy Tickets

While there are options to buy these tickets in advance online directly from the Mount Pilatus site , you don’t have to. In fact, I’d recommend waiting until the day of and just buying them in person. Weather can be unpredictable in the area, and you may decide to switch around your itinerary last minute to have the best visibility when you’re on the mountain. Waiting to buy your Mount Pilatus tickets until you’re actually there (or online the morning of) will give you more flexibility. 

Note: if you end up buying tickets for either of the round trip options online on the Mount PIlatus site, you’ll only be able to purchase your rides for the cogwheel, aerial cableway, and panorama gondola. Boat tickets can be purchased in person or from the SGV AG site . Train and bus tickets can easily be purchased in person at one of the machines.  

Hiking Mount Pilatus

Hiking is definitely the cheapest way to get to Mount Pilatus (since it’s free) – but it’s not exactly an easy trek! There are a few different trails you can take to get up the mountain, including the following: 

• Alpnach – Mount Pilatus (5.2 miles point-to-point): This hike starts right by the cogwheel station in Alpnach, which is a little less than a 20-minute train ride from Lucerne. It goes directly to Mount Pilatus, and is the shortest of the options. 
• Hergiswil – Fräkmüntegg – Tomlishorn – Pilatus – Alpgschwänd (8.8 miles point-to-point): This hike starts in Hergiswil, which is about a 10-minute train ride from Lucerne. Before getting to Pilatus and Tomlishorn, it stops in Fräkmüntegg, so you could stop part way through to enjoy the activities in this area (more on that below!). You could cut this hike short and stop at Pilatus, which would make the hike about 7 miles long. 
• Kriens – Fräkmüntegg – Pilatus (6 miles point-to-point): This hike starts in Kriens (right at the gondola station), and is about a 20-minute bus ride from Lucerne, depending on where you’re coming from. Like the hike below, it stops in Fräkmüntegg, which is a great place to take a quick break. 

Note that the mileage on these are all point-to-point, so you need to account for getting back down the mountain. Keep in mind that you could always hike one way and then take the cogwheel or aerial tramway the other way to make the trek more manageable.

Getting to Mount Pilatus in the Off-Season

If you’re visiting Pilatus in the off-season, you’re still in luck! In the late fall, winter, and early spring, you can get up and down the mountain via the panorama gondola and aerial cableway. If you’re coming from Lucerne, take the bus line 1 from the train station to the Kriens, Zentrum PIlatus bus stop . This takes about 10 minutes. From there, walk over to the Kriens gondola station , which will take about another 10 minutes. Here, you can buy your round-trip tickets and board the first gondola up the mountain. 

Things to do on Mount Pilatus

Ok, now let’s talk about what to do once you’re actually on the mountain. There’s a surprising amount of activities to do on Mount Pilatus, but I’ve broken down the things that (in my opinion) absolutely can’t be missed. These are particularly great for those visiting in the late spring, summer, or early fall!

Note that there are plenty of additional things to do, including season-specific and kid-friendly options. Be sure to check out Mount Pilatus Experiences page for more information. 

Take in the View from One of the Observation Decks

Once you get off the cogwheel or aerial cableway, you’ll immediately get incredible views of the area. These views alone are breathtaking. However, if you’d like to get to a slightly higher viewpoint, do a climb up a few flights of stairs to one of the observation decks.

There are two observation decks at Mount Pilatus. The one we climbed up is on the Oberhaupt peak . From this lookout, you can see Lucerne and the surrounding lakes and mountains, as well as Klimsenkapelle – a tiny chapel set on what is probably the most scenic plot of land ever. The other lookout spot is on the Esel peak , which also offers views of Lucerne and the gorgeous surrounding landscape. 

If you’re able to, I’d highly recommend making your way up to one of these peaks. This is especially true if you won’t be doing any additional hiking while on Mount Pilatus. The views are truly incredible!

Hike the Flower Trail to Tomlishorn 

Anyone visiting Mount Pilatus between June to October should absolutely add this 2-mile out-and-back trail to their itinerary. The Pilatus – Tomlishorn trail (which is also referred to as the Flower Trail) leads you to Tomlishorn, which is the highest peak on Mount Pilatus. Once you make it up to Tomlishorn, you’ll get breathtaking 360-degree views of the area. As the name suggests, you’ll also see plenty of alpine wildflowers along the way. They even have signs to help you identify them. 

This was truly one of my favorite hikes that I’ve ever done. I highly recommend it for anyone visiting in the summer or early fall. 

Keep in mind that you don’t need to go all the way to Tomlishorn if you don’t have the time. As soon as you start on the trail, you’ll get sweeping views of the valley and mountains and see plenty of different wildflowers. Even just going out half a mile or so is worth it! The first portion of the trail is also fairly flat and easy (the elevation gain doesn’t really happen until you’re closer to Tomlishorn), so this works for anyone who doesn’t want to do anything too strenuous. 

Walk Along the Dragon Trail

This is a great option for anyone who doesn’t want to do a full-on hike. The Dragon Trail leads you through a cave with a ton of window-like openings. As you walk through, you’ll see Lucerne, Klimsenkapelle, and the surrounding mountains and scenery. At the very start, you can also see the aerial cableway cars making their way up and down the mountain. 

The start of the trail is easy to find. Just look for the signs when you’re in the welcome center building (where the aerial cableway and cogwheel board and drop off passengers). 

Ride the Toboggan at Fräkmüntegg 

As mentioned earlier, the aerial cableway stops in Fräkmüntegg, where you’ll get off and then board the panorama gondola down to Kriens. However, rather than immediately continuing your journey down, I highly recommend taking a moment to explore Fräkmüntegg. 

There are lots of activities to do in Fräkmüntegg (including some fun winter season options), and you can check out the website to see the full offerings. For those visiting sometime between the late spring to early fall, the activity that absolutely can’t be missed is the summer toboggan . It’s open daily from approximately mid-April to the end of October, as long as the weather is dry. 

At 1350 meters, the Fräkmüntegg toboggan is the longest summer toboggan run of its kind in the country. As you ride down, you’ll see Lake Lucerne right in front of you, as well as Mount Pilatus to your right. You have full control of the speed, so you can go as fast or as slow as you’d like! Once you get to the bottom, they hook your toboggan to a lift that slowly pulls you back up to the start (so you’ll continue to enjoy the views!). 

Currently, a single ride costs 9 CHF, and tickets can be purchased at the machine right by the entrance. 

Eating on Mount Pilatus, Switzerland

It’s also worth noting that there are a few places to get some food on Mount Pilatus. On the top of the mountain, you’ll find these options:

• Restaurant Pilatus-Kulm (in Hotel Pilatus-Kulm): We stopped here for lunch and ate on the patio, which offers (even more) incredible views. While the restaurant inside seems a bit more formal, the outdoor dining is casual. I honestly didn’t have super high expectations, but the food ended up being very good. It’s also vegan-friendly!
• Restaurant Bellevue (in Hotel Bellevue): This self-service spot isn’t quite as well-rated as Restaurant Pilatus-Kulm, but people still seem to like it. It has hot entrees (including some traditional Swiss food), salads, sandwiches, desserts, and more. 
• Panoramagrill : This casual to-go spot (which is located inside the main building) doesn’t exactly have glowing reviews. My favorite sassy comment: “Good for not aware tourists from outside EU.” That said, sometimes you just need something to eat. This works if you aren’t trying to have a sit down meal. They have sausages, french fries, sodas, beer, and more. 

If you stop in Fräkmüntegg, there are also two more food spots. There’s another self-service spot serving Swiss cuisine called Restaurant Fräkmüntegg . There’s also a casual food stand (think hot dogs, soft pretzels, etc.), right by the toboggan.

Helpful Links for Visiting Pilatus

As a final note, there are two helpful links that are worth checking out. The first is this interactive map , which shows transportation stations, activities, lookout points, restaurants, and much more.

The second is the Pilatus live website , which is super helpful to look at a couple days out from your visit. It shows the weather, as well as the status of all of the activities, transportation options, and restaurants in the area. 

Planning the perfect Switzerland vacation? Here are some of my other guides you might find useful:

• The Best Things to Do in Lucerne, Switzerland
• The Perfect Day Trip to Lauterbrunnen and Mürren, Switzerland
• What to See in Zurich in Two Days: A Complete Itinerary

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About Kyra Heenan | Sea to Sequoia

Kyra is the founder of Sea to Sequoia, a site she launched in 2020. As a type A traveler who loves to extensively research destinations to create the perfect vacation itinerary, she’s here to help readers so that their travel planning process is as easy as possible. In addition to running this site, she is a professional content writer in the wellness and skincare spaces, and also works as an actress.

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July 13, 2022 at 5:21 pm

Gorgeous pictures! I have always wanted to visit Switzerland. This place looks like a perfect option. I really want to do that Flower Trail!!

July 13, 2022 at 6:08 pm

love this advice and stunning photos..esp when to buy tickets! Thanks for the inspiration!

July 13, 2022 at 8:56 pm

Wow, what an incredibly scenic destination! Your photos are beautiful. I would love to hike the Flower Trail to Tomlishorn. Thanks for sharing.

July 14, 2022 at 5:58 am

Mount Pilatus looks amazing! We’re down in Crans-Montana, Switzerland right now, but we’re going to make a stop there when on our way over to Germany. You’ve really captured the beauty of Switzerland, it really is gorgeous everywhere you look!

July 14, 2022 at 3:17 pm

Truly one of the most beautiful countries I’ve ever visited! Hope you’re having an amazing time!

July 14, 2022 at 7:55 am

What a spectacular trail! The views from the observation deck are insane! I’d love to visit one day! Thanks for the great guide 💖

July 17, 2022 at 12:18 am

What an incredible trip!! Mount Pilatus looks so, sooo beautiful! I fancy the way you did it, take the silver round trip and spend as much time as possible up in the mountains hiking!

July 20, 2022 at 6:48 pm

I’ve been to Switzerland many times, but have never been up Mount Pilatus! The views from those observation decks are amazing. The Toboggan down sounds hilarious (and a little bit scary)!

July 20, 2022 at 7:34 pm

Wow! This is stunning and it certainly would be a fun (and challenging) hike. Even though I’m a hiker, I would definitely want to take the gondola so that I could take in all of the surrounding beauty. One more place to add to the bucket list.

July 20, 2022 at 7:46 pm

I definitely think the gondola is the way to go! There’s amazing hiking once you’re actually on top of the mountain, so you can still get your hiking fix!

July 21, 2022 at 12:29 am

Mount Pilatus looks incredibly beautiful. I would love to hike it!! Wow!! The information you provided is fantastic. Hope to go there when in Switzerland.

July 21, 2022 at 2:46 am

This looks incredible! What an amazing trip!

July 21, 2022 at 10:26 am

Wow, the views from the observation decks look incredible! I was surprised by the food options at the top of the mountain, what a nice treat after a challenging hike.

July 23, 2022 at 5:21 pm

The view of the mountains is simply breathtaking! I would like to visit and take the hike to have this beautiful panorama under my nose! Switzerland has so many beautiful mountains to see! thanks for sharing about Pilatus mountain!

July 24, 2022 at 7:48 am

Wow, your photos are sooo good! And Mount Pilatus is simply breathtaking! I don’t think there are many countries more photogenic than Switzerland 🙂

July 24, 2022 at 4:12 pm

This is such a great detailed post! I will deffo be referring back to this for a hiking trip in Switzerland. It’ll be hard to choose which trail to do though.

October 25, 2022 at 11:52 pm

Great job on the blog. I’ve changed my whole trip around after reading your posts on Switzerland. Love the look/organization of your website too. I’ve been working on my own travel blog but you definitely have more discipline than I do :).. (I guess you got your passion for hiking from your parents!)

Thanks for all the excellent info and pics, Sara

October 27, 2022 at 12:22 am

Sara, thank you so much! Yes, the love for hiking from my parents…and the type A planning skills from my mom 😉

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Complete Guide To Visiting Mount Pilatus In A Day

Make the most of your trip with our guide on a round trip to Mt Pilatus.

Located in Central Switzerland is Mount Pilatus, a majestic and spectacular natural beauty. This jagged mountain that overlooks Lucerne, stands 2132 meters above sea level. The views of Lucerne and the Swiss Alps from top of Mount Pilatus are simply stunning. Being one of the most scenic spots in Switzerland, a visit to Mt. Pilatus is something that you just cannot miss. Join us on our ascent to Mt Pilatus while taking in the natural beauty of the Swiss Alps.

Table of Contents

Mount Pilatus, A Nature’s Gem 

As per folklore, in the 15th century a dragon rock fell from the sky and the Roman governor Pontius Pilatus stood guard in front of it. Eventually Pontius Pilatus’ dead body was discarded on top of the mountains in a lake and hence this place is believed to be haunted. Some say that the mountain was named after him, however others believe that it got its name from the Latin term ‘Pileatus’ meaning ‘cloud-capped’. Mount Pilatus also known as the Mountain of Dragons is a perfect place for nature lovers.

Why Visit Mount Pilatus?

Mount Pilatus is the most popular spot to see if you are visiting Switzerland. A cruise, scenic bus ride, a series of cable car rides and cogwheel train (the steepest railway in the world) can all be experienced in just a day. There is no better place than Mount Pilatus Mountain to see the spectacular natural beauty of the Swiss Alps. There are many popular day trips from Lucerne which will take you to the top of Mount Pilatus and back.

How To Reach Mount Pilatus From Lucerne?

Lucerne to Mount Pilatus in a day involves a lot of traveling. Your ascend starts from Lucerne: a bus, a gondola, a cable car, cog railway are transportations that you need to take to get up there. If you take the golden round trip to mount Pilatus, then you get to experience five different forms of transportation. There are many popular day trips that offer to take you from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus in Switzerland. If you are an adventure seeker, then you can hike your way up too. There are plenty of guided Mount Pilatus hikes to choose from.

Violet – Bus from Lucerne to Kriens

Green – Cable car between Kriens and Mount Pilatus

Blue – Cogwheel train between Mount Pilatus and Alpnachstad

Red – Boat ride from Alpnachstad to Lucerne

Suggested Day Trips To See Them All In A Day

Golden Round Trip – The Golden Round Trip is the most popular choice among tourists as it is the best way to see them all in a day. This trip includes four different forms of transportation: bus – cable car – cogwheel train – boat ride. You start at the Lucerne to Kriens in a bus, then take the cable car to Mt Pilatus, a cogwheel train down to Alpnachstad and a scenic boat ride back to Lucerne. These trips have guides too, so it’s up to you to decide to do it on your own or with a guide.

Silver Round Trip – The second most popular way to visit Mt. Pilatus is by taking the ‘Silver Round Trip’. Here the entire tour has a bus – cable car – cogwheel train – regular train ride included in the package. You start at the Lucerne to Kriens in a bus, then take the cable car to Mt Pilatus, a cogwheel train down to Alpnachstad and a regular train back to Lucerne. This trip is 20% cheaper than the Golden Round Trip. 

Step-By-Step Guide To Seeing Mount Pilatus In A Day

There are two points from where you can go to the top, one from Alpnachstad and the other from Lucerne. It’s highly recommended that you start from Lucerne as you get to spend more time on the mountains as cable cars start as early as 8:30 in the morning from here. Ending your packed day with a relaxing boat ride is an added bonus. So here’s some details about a fantastic Golden round trip from Lucerne – Mt. Pilatus – Lucerne.

Catch A Bus From Lucerne to Kriens

The first leg of your journey starts by taking a bus from Lucerne. The bus ride takes about 15 minutes to reach Kriens. Once you reach Kriens, a walk of 5 to 10 minutes brings you to the cable car Valley Station. There are plenty of buses at short intervals, so there is no need to plan in advance if you are touring on your own.

Gondola From Kriens To Frakmuntegg

Mount Pilatus cable car ride from Kriens to Mount Pilatus is split into two. The first one is a gondola ride for 4 to Frakmuntegg. This 20 minute ride gives you some great views of the city and lake in the distance. Once here, spend some time exploring the area. You can easily spend time here playing in the rope park that has a zip-line glider, a mountain toboggan and many other activities. 

Dragon Ride From Frakmuntegg To Mt Pilatus

The Dragon Ride with its panoramic windows make you feel like you’re flying high up. This gondola can carry a lot of passengers at a time. The entire scenic ride takes about 4 minutes. After you have come to the end of the cableway, take a short hike along the Dragon’s Path to the summit. 

Enjoy The View From The Top

Once you reach the summit, the stunning views from above are sure to take your breath away. There are panorama view terrace where you can relax and take in the fantastic views. You can also access a number of viewpoints to see the different side to the Swiss Alps. When you are done, have a meal at one of the restaurants and get ready for the descent. 

Cogwheel Train To Alpnachstad

It’s now time to experience the most thrilling part of your day, the descent to Alpnachstad. The ride down takes about 40 to 45 minutes and it is an experience in itself. Mt Pilatus cogwheel train is the steepest train in the world. The journey takes you through narrow tunnels, alpine meadows and striking rock formations. Truly an experience to last for a lifetime!

Boat Back To Lucerne

Once you touch Alpnachstad, take a boat ride back to Lucerne. This relaxing ride will take about an hour and a half to reach Lucerne. Enjoy the scenic ride while you sit back sipping a drink and relishing on some food that is available on the boat. What more can you ask for from this multi experience filled day. This brings us to the end of a memorable trip to the mountains. 

Tips To Keep In Mind While Planning A Trip To Mount Pilatus 

• Book your tickets to Mount Pilatus in advance to avoid last minute disappointments.
• Start your trip as early as possible to avoid long queues and to make the most of the trip. 
• All transportation options close by 5 in the evening, so make sure you finish all Mount Pilatus activities and leave by 4:00.
• Wear a light coat over a t-shirt during summer and make sure to wear good walking shoes or trekking shoes as this trip requires short hikes to a few viewpoints.
• The weather up in the mountains is very unpredictable, so pack some warm clothes to handle sudden weather changes. 
• Get a Swiss Travel Pass as it includes all travel systems of Switzerland, including 50% off on cableway and cog rail to Mt Pilatus.

Suggested Reads: 6 Magnificent Mountains In Switzerland For A Dreamy Alpine Vacation

Where else in the world can one experience five different modes of transport and an amazing mountain, all in one day. If you plan to visit Switzerland someday, make sure to take this adventure and see Mount Pilatus, for you are going to love every bit of it! 

The duration of the trip depends on many factors such as, which route you choose, the mode of transportation, activities you want to do while there and the time you want to stay at the top. However on an average it takes about 5-6 hours if you opt for the Golden Round Trip. 

They both offer different views from top, hence you won’t be replicating your experience. Mt Rigi offers spectacular views of the Alps, the Swiss lakes , and a variety of alpine flora, while Pilatus offers stunning panoramic vista and beautiful hikes that will give you a chance to see the Swiss Alps from different angles. 

One day is enough to see Lucerne city but if you want to head up to Pilatus then we recommend at least two days in the city. Visiting Lucerne and not going up Mt Pilatus is the biggest mistake to do while in Switzerland. To explore at your own pace while enjoying each place you visit, consider extending your visit to 3-days.

If you have a Swiss pass, then you get a 50% discount to travel up Mount Pilatus. You can either choose to go up in a gondola and cable cars from Kriens or on a cogwheel from Alpnachstadt. These Swiss passes can be purchased from tourist offices in Zurich, Berne, Geneva and Lucerne or from any major railway station in Switzerland. 

The sunny months between March and September are the best time to visit Mount Pilatus. If you want to see the Alps covered with snow, then plan a visit in the winters. During peak winters the temperatures drop really low and there are high chances that the cogwheel rail and cable cars are closed during this time, hence check before planning your visit.

The information you’ve shared in this blog is very remarkable. Thanks for sharing such quality information.

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Golden round trip

A trip by boat, cogwheel railway and aerial cableway

The Golden round trip takes you to the most spectacular spots on the Pilatus and to the summit by boat, cogwheel railway, aerial cableway and Panorama Gondolas. Experience the variety of Lucerne's local mountain from May to October .

virtual tour

Lucerne–Alpnachstad (by boat)–Pilatus

The starting point for the «Golden round trip» in the heart of Switzerland is in Lucerne . You will enjoy a boat trip on Lake Lucerne and a view of the surrounding mountains. The amazement continues. In Alpnachstad you will board the steepest cogwheel railway in the world to reach the summit of 2,132 opportunities. At 2,132 meters above sea level you will be received with the inimitable Pilatus warmth. Let us spoil you at one of our restaurants. The gastronomy team is glad to fulfill your wishes. The breathtaking panorama and view of the Alpine massif and its mountain range do their part to make your stay unforgettable.

Pilatus–Kriens–Lucerne

You will glide down to Kriens on the aerial cableway «Dragon Ride» and on the Panorama gondolas. From the valley station it is a five-minute walk to the stop for Bus no. 1 and a convenient ride to Lucerne.

The «Golden round trip» can easily be done in the opposite direction. Kriens or Alpnachstad are also possible as starting points.

Situation Map Lucerne

2,132 opportunities above sea level

Indulge and dream, for extraordinary moments, dragon trail.

Mount Pilatus Day Trip from Lucerne (5 Reasons to Go + Tips)

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There is no trip to Switzerland without visiting the Swiss Alps . It’s the country’s ultimate destination. The spectacular ‘heaven on earth’ scenery is simply unmissable. And let’s not forget all the adventures and once-in-a-lifetime experiences that await us there!

Usually, I’d recommend heading straight to the Jungfrau Region to spend four days  exploring the unbelievably beautiful places around Interlaken , such as Lauterbrunnen and Lake Brienz . However, there are cases where  Mount Pilatus , near the beautiful city of Lucerne , is a better choice . The obvious scenario is if you’re planning to stay in Lucerne for two days , three days , or more. You can still include a visit to Mount Pilatus during a  one-day trip to Lucerne if you don’t mind a subtle rush . Spend half a day in the old town , and the other half at Mount Pilatus .

Why do I think  Mount Pilatus  is a must-see during a trip to Lucerne? Simply put, the awe-inspiring view overlooking  Lake Lucerne  and other alpine summits from Mount Pilatus is absolutely breathtaking (weather permitting)! And there’s more: cable cars, cogwheel trains, toboggan runs, and other amazing experiences await. Even the journeys to the summit and back to the city are unforgettable.  Mount Pilatus  truly makes for a beautiful day trip from Lucerne.

Need more convincing? Let me show you just how amazing this mountain truly is! I’ll also provide tips to ensure your visit is worthwhile if you decide to explore it.

Mount Pilatus is a  2,128-meter-tall mountain  (6,983 ft) in Central Switzerland, known for outdoor fun activities and hikes with stunning views of  Lake Lucerne  and the  Alps . Specifically, its main peaks are found on the borders of the cantons of  Obwalden  and  Nidwalden , but parts of the mountain also fall within the canton of  Lucerne .

Interestingly, centuries ago, some considered Mount Pilatus a  mystic mountain  because of the legends associated with it.  Pontius Pilate  was rumored to be buried on Mount Pilatus, and others believed that a  healing dragon  lived there—hence the name of Mount Pilatus’ aerial cableway.

Consider These Before Going to Mount Pilatus

While I greatly recommend Mount Pilatus (I’m a mountain lover—I apologize for the bias, lol), there are a few things you must consider before deciding to go. Take into account the weather, the season, the duration of your stay in Switzerland, and the people you’re traveling with. And, of course, consider your travel preferences. Visiting Mount Pilatus just because it’s trendy isn’t a compelling reason to explore this magnificent mountain! In my opinion, some of these considerations carry more weight than the actual experiences you can have on Mount Pilatus.

Sometimes, it would be better to skip Mount Pilatus, considering the length of your Switzerland trip and other top destinations in Switzerland offer similar experiences as Mount Pilatus. As much as we can, we should avoid having redundant experiences during the entire length of your stay in Switzerland. You know, Switzerland is an expensive country to visit.

For me, visiting Mount Pilatus is perfect if you only plan a weekend or 3-day Switzerland trip, which includes Lucerne ( assuming that you plan to visit other places in Switzerland at some other time). However, if you intend to see the  Jungfrau Region  or  Zermatt on your Switzerland trip, I would not suggest visiting Mount Pilatus. Almost all the experiences you can have at Mount Pilatus are also available at these two top attractions.

However, if you plan to stay in Switzerland for two weeks or longer, it would be nice to include Mount Pilatusin your itinerary. That’s the case if you want to experience the best of what this country can offer.

Many consider Mount Pilatus a beautiful day trip from Lucerne, but we must remember that it is a mountain, and it may only be suitable for some.  Do you have any health conditions that may be exacerbated by the altitude?

Anyhow, I think that Mount Pilatus is a fantastic destination for family travelers . If you are traveling with your kids, your little ones will absolutely love the outdoor fun that awaits them in Mount Pilatus.

This place in Mount Pilatus is called “Pilu Land,” a park themed like dragon land. It has a castle, mini woods, and a playground. While the kids play, parents can stay on the benches or cook sausages on the nearby grills. Pilu Land and other outdoor activities are only some of the reasons why I think you should visit Mount Pilatus. I’ll tell you more as we go along. 

Although Mount Pilatus has indoor facilities enjoyable all year (opening hours may be limited during winter), visiting Mount Pilatus is definitely more enjoyable during non-winter months.

More facilities are open during the non-winter months, like the Pilatus Railway—it’s a bucket list attraction! If you are visiting Switzerland during the winter, it would be best to skip Mount Pilatus and go to some of the best ski resorts in Switzerland instead. Some of them are Zermatt, St. Moritz, and Davos. These resorts offer a wide range of ski runs, other winter activities, beautiful scenery, and world-class amenities.

I’ve been to mountaintops several times before.  Based on experience , I can say that the scenery you can see from them can either make you say, “I’m surely gonna be back here” or “I want a refund for this!” after the trip. It’s  “heaven on earth”  when no clouds cover the view, and it’s like facing a giant gray or white wall otherwise.

This is why it’s better if you can be flexible on your Switzerland trip . As much as possible, set your travels to the mountains (for example, Mount Pilatus) during dry and sunny days. It’s when you can see the majestic scenery of the Swiss Alps, totally worth the effort, time, and money! You can utilize different weather apps for this, as most can accurately predict the weather already.

Let’s say you’re now in Lucerne and are not sure if it’s worth going to Mount Pilatus with the current weather. In that case, you may check the live view of the webcams on the official website of Mount Pilatus ( linked at the end of this post ). Using the scenery shown in the live panorama, you can tell for yourself if it’s worth going to Mount Pilatus.

5 Reasons To Visit Mount Pilatus From Lucerne

As explained earlier in the “things to consider”, Mount Pilatus is not a destination for everyone and not a place to visit all year. However, in general, landscape photographers, outdoor enthusiasts, traveling families, and adventure seekers will most likely find Mount Pilatus worth visiting. I’ll bet that typical tourists who haven’t been to the mountains before will be filled with awe , especially when they visit the mountain without clouds blocking the view!

1. Proximity To Lucerne

Mount Pilatus is definitely the most practical choice for travelers wanting to see a stunning view of the Alps from Lucerne. It only takes a short bus ride or train ride (boat ride optional) to get to the start of the main journey to Mount Pilatus. There are two places at the foot of Mount Pilatus where you can choose to begin your journey up the mountain:  Alpnachstad  and  Kriens .

Alpnachstad is only a  17-minute train ride from Lucerne central station . Alternatively, you can also reach Alpnachstad by boat, but it takes much longer—around 1 hour and 20 minutes. Once you arrive at Alpnachstad, simply transfer to the cogwheel that runs straight to the summit of Mount Pilatus. The cogwheel ride takes 30 minutes going up and 40 minutes going down.

On the other hand, Kriens (also known as Kriens, Zentrum Pilatus) can be reached from Lucerne through a 15-minute bus ride (Bus #1) . Once you arrive at Kriens, you have to walk for 5 minutes to Kriens’ gondola lift station, where the 2-part, 30-minute cable car ride to Mount Pilatus’ summit starts.

From  mid-May to mid-October , you can select either of these places as start and end points for your trip to Mount Pilatus. However, please note that the cogwheel train from Alpnachstad to Mount Pilatus isn’t accessible for the rest of the year. For the latest timetables and announcements, you can check the official website of Mount Pilatus(linked at the end of this post). 

2. To Experience World’s Greatest

For people who have a travel bucket list of visiting different “world’s greatest”places,  Pilatus Railway is the reason why you’d like to go to Mount Pilatus.

Pilatus Railway is an engineering marvel— the steepest rack railway in the world ! I just want to share that Pilatus Railway is one of the places in Switzerland that made me salute the Swiss for creating impressive infrastructures. I was even more impressed when I learned that the Swiss finished Pilatus Railway as early as 1889. Imagine how they built it without today’s modern tools!

Impressively, this railway has an average gradient of 35% and a maximum of 48% . The gradient of a railway refers to the steepness of the track. It is typically expressed as a percentage, with a higher percentage indicating a steeper gradient. That said, I think riding Pilatus Railway would be a unique and potentially adventurous experience!

The squeaking metal sound you’ll hear along the ride , and the breathtaking views will definitely make you thrilled. If you can stay near the front part/driver’s area of the cogwheel wagon, do it. You’ll see the best view when entering the tunnels, going through dizzying slopes, passing by the sharp cliff sides, and so on.

Overall, Pilatus Railway is a 30-40 minute spectacular ride and an absolute “must!” But remember that there are other remarkable and stunning train rides in Switzerland. There is the  Bernina Express ,  Glacier Express , and the  Jungfrau Railway .

3. For Beautiful Scenery

For me, the most compelling reason to go to Mount Pilatus is the beautiful scenery one can see from the top. It’s where you can witness a dramatic shift in Switzerland’s landscape, transitioning from flat to alpine . Sometimes, a sea of clouds occurs . It is an otherworldly sight that makes you feel like you’re somewhere in heaven.

Good to know : The stunning views from Mount Pilatus are comparable to what you can see from the attractions in the Jungfrau Region such as  Harder Kulm  above  Interlaken ,  Männlichen above  Wengen , and  Birg above Mürren .

You’ll be rewarded with spectacular views even before you reach the summit—without any hiking involved! Thanks to the mountain’s scenic infrastructure, most notably the  Dragon Ride .

The Dragon Ride is an aerial cableway that transports visitors from  Fräkmüntegg (the last station of the panorama gondolas from Kriens) to Pilatus Kulm (the summit station) in a breathtaking 3.5-minute ride . It’s a big gondola with jaw-dropping views. Make sure to stand by the windows facing Pilatus Kulm for the best experience. Anyhow, anyway, alright! Below are the views you can expect to see from Mount Pilatus.

There are different viewpoints in Mount Pilatus. The three most famous are:

• Oberhaupt — approximately it’s a 10-minute hike from Pilatus Kulm. A 360-degree view of the lake, mountains, and city awaits you here. Facing east, you can photograph Restaurant Bellevue in front of Esel with Lake Lucerne and the Swiss Alps in the backdrop.
• Esel — it’s also approximately a 10-minute hike, but the path has more stairs. There is a 50-meter elevation gain to Esel from Pilatus Kulm (10-meter higher than Oberhaupt). It’s best to visit if you want an unobstructed view of Lake Lucerne and the Swiss Alps.
• Tomlishorn — it’s the highest peak of Mount Pilatus. It takes 40 minutes to reach by hiking the Flower Trail. It has the best view, in my opinion, because you can see the full form of the “rugged” knife-edge peak of Mount Pilatus from here. 

4. To Have Adventure

Aside from the sightseeing and hiking activities mentioned previously, more outdoor fun awaits you in Mount Pilatus . A sense of adventure surrounds the summit ! There are activities for both young and adult visitors. Here are my top picks: Pilatus Rope Park, Dragon Glider, Treetop Path, Summer Toboggan Run (longest in Switzerland) .

Learn more about them from the official website of Mount Pilatus ( linked at the end of this post ). You might also want to compare the activities I mentioned with other adventurous activities in Switzerland to the free adventures you can have in Grindelwald —the adventure hub of the Jungfrau Region.

For everyone, especially those with kids, you should definitely check out the  Pilatus Rope Park . It is the largest rope park in Switzerland (located at Fräkmüntegg)! The park offers a fun and exciting adventure with 10 different parcours of varying difficulty levels . You can challenge yourself at your own pace. However, the best part must be the rope course, where you balance and walk on suspended hanging planks with safety ropes—truly thrilling!

Want more fun? Try the  Dragon Glider , also located in Fräkmüntegg. It features a comfortable paraglider seat that allows visitors to soar through the air at a leisurely pace of up to 12 km per hour . The glider has a length of 500 meters, and the exit point is at the Drachenalp. This is a great way to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Mount Pilatus from a unique perspective.

If you are traveling with your family, don’t miss the  Treetop Path , also located at Fräkmüntegg. It features a narrow wooden footbridge that leads visitors from tree to tree, providing a more laid-back, fun adventure. Along the path, there are 13 nests where you can stop and hang out, enjoying the peaceful surroundings and taking in the fresh mountain air.

Suppose you only have a short time to spend in Mount Pilatus. In that case, you may want to skip every adventure I have previously mentioned but not the summer tobogganing , which is also located in Fräkmüntegg. It is the longest summer toboggan run in Switzerland, spanning 1350 meters . You can try many more activities in Mount Pilatus, such as trail runningand tandem paragliding!

5. A Family Friendly Destination

As the activities and attractions mentioned previously indicate, Mount Pilatus is a great destination for families with children. One of the family-friendly attractions in Mount Pilatus is the park called  Pilu Land.

It is the home of Pilu, a friendly dragon and a fictional character whose mascot resides in the park.  Pilu Land offers inviting picnic areas and a free adventure playground . It also features a barbecue station where families can cook their own meals and enjoy them in the beautiful surroundings. Overall, it’s a nice place for kids to run around, burn off some energy, and for families to have quality time together.

Another family-friendly attraction is  Dragon’s Moor , a great place to learn about the history of Mount Pilatus and its flora and fauna . If you have time, you may explore its loop trail, which can be completed within 1.5 hours. Both Dragon’s Moor and Pilu Land are located at Krienseregg middle station, the first station of the Panorama Gondolas from Kriens’ valley station.

Another reason why Mount Pilatus is a family-friendly destination is that you can see ibexes and other alpine animals on Mount Pilatus . I think kids will find it amazing to see these alpine animals. So, where can you find the ibexes in Mount Pilatus? You can spot a few ibex roaming around along the  Flower Trail , connecting Tomlishorn and Pilatus Kulm.

If you really want to learn more about these ibexes, you may join the  Ibex Safari tour  offered by the tourism office of Mount Pilatus. The tour is led by local experts who will provide insights about the ibex in their natural habitat. The tour package includes a beverage before the safari, a 4-course evening meal at the Restaurant Pilatus-Kulm, accommodation at the Pilatus Kulm Hotels, morning coffee or tea, and a hearty breakfast buffet. It is available in German, French, and English, and is only offered from mid-June to October.

In the sources section of this post , I linked a YouTube video to give you a preview of the ibexes in Mount Pilatus.

How To Go To Mount Pilatus From Lucerne

Have I convinced you to visit Mount Pilatus? If so, you need not worry about how to reach it. Let me briefly explain the two most common ways: The Golden and the Silver Round Trips .

In short, the Golden Round Trip starts in the city of Lucerne and takes visitors to the top of Mount Pilatus. The trip typically includes a boat ride on Lake Lucerne, a ride on the world’s steepest cogwheel railway in Alpnach, the Dragon Ride in Fräkmüntegg, and the Panorama Gondolas in Kriens. And, of course, there’s time for sightseeing and exploring the summit of Mount Pilatus.

The Silver Round Trip is almost the same as the Golden Round Trip. What’s their only difference? The means of travel between Lucerne and Alpnachstad. You’ll use the trains instead of the boat for the Silver Round Trip.

You can check the prices for Golden Round Trip (self-guided tour) and Silver Round Trip (self-guided tour) here. Note that the Golden & Silver Round Trip is only available from mid-May to mid-October when Pilatus Railway is operational.

Below is the sequence of the Golden Round Trip . Remember that you can also do it in reverse .

• Start at Lucerne Railway station.
• Ride bus #1 to Kriens, Zentrum Pilatus (Obernau, Dorf direction). Travel time is 15 minutes.
• Walk to the Panorama Gondola valley station in Kriens to Mount Pilatus. You should be able to find directions from the signages posted in the area. The walking time is 5 to 10 minutes.
• Ride a Panorama Gondola to Fräkmüntegg. Travel time is 30 minutes. 
• At Fräkmüntegg, transfer to the Dragon Ride aerial cableway. Travel time is approximately 5 minutes.
• Finally, arrival at Mount Pilatus summit! Explore and visit the viewpoints.
• Go down from the mountain through the Pilatus Railway cogwheel train. Travel time is 40 minutes.
• Arrival at Alpnachstad. Walk to the dock and ride the boat to Lucerne. Travel time is 1 to 1.5 hours.

Best Time To Visit Mount Pilatus

Undoubtedly, it is during summertime or from mid-May to mid-October that it’s best to visit Mount Pilatus . That’s when you can try the Golden/Silver Round Trip and ride the Pilatus Railway—the complete Mount Pilatus experience.

If you’re doing the Golden Round Trip  (or even the Silver Round Trip), it’s best to start early in the morning , following the  Lucerne-Kriens-Pilatus-Alpnachstad-Lake Lucerne sequence . By using this sequence, you can reach Mount Pilatus earlier than other tourists who start their Golden Round Trip with a boat ride on Lake Lucerne. Arriving early at Mount Pilatus, you can enjoy its tourist spots without the crowd. The peacefulness of the mountain is so nice! And, of course, no photo bombers when you take photos—LOL.

The last time I checked the timetables, the first ride on the Panorama Gondola to Mount Pilatus was  8:30 am. That means you can reach the summit a little past 9:00 am, assuming you don’t make a stop at Fräkmüntegg or Krienseregg .

Compare that with the case where you start the Golden Round Trip with a boat ride. The boat’s first trip takes place after  9:30 am , and the boat ride is  1+ hour long . After that, there’s the 30-minute journey on the Pilatus Railway. It’ll be almost lunchtime when you reach Pilatus Kulm! 

How Much Time To Spend In Mount Pilatus

Now that you know how and when to visit Mount Pilatus, let me help you plan your itinerary. Let me begin by telling you how much time you need at Mount Pilatus to enjoy it. In my opinion, you will need an entire day to fully experience Mount Pilatus in an enjoyable, laid-back approach.

Some visitors who were quick in visiting Mount Pilatus’ places of interest were able to spend only 5 hours in the mountain , though. But I won’t recommend that . Let’s calculate the time you’ll need based on the time you’ll spend on your way to/from Mount Pilatus and on each attraction in the mountain.

For this, I’m assuming you are traveling to Mount Pilatus to have only its unique and best experiences. And I also think that the weather is fantastic when you visit Mount Pilatus. Meaning, you’ll really take time sightseeing, and you can explore the mountain all day.

Here are the estimates:

• Panorama Gondola — 25 minutes
• Summer Toboggan Run — 1 hour (optional)
• Dragon Ride — 5 minutes
• Visit the viewpoints: Oberhaupt, Esel, Tomlishorn — 1 hour (relaxed mode! Take many photos as you want)
• Hike the best parts: Flower Trail, Dragon Trail — 2 hours (including some time to spot/find ibexes)
• Lunch at the restaurant — 1 hour 
• Pilatus Railway — 40 minutes
• Lake Lucerne boat ride — 1.5 hours

From the estimates, we can say that it takes nearly  8 hours for a round trip from Lucerne to Mt Pilatus and back . If you start the round trip (Golden) at  8:30 am , you’ll be back in Lucerne before  5:00 pm —just perfect for a bit of rest and then watching the sunset/golden hour in the city.

If you finished your trip to Mount Pilatus from Lucerne earlier than expected , make the most of your day by visiting the city’s  free-to-visit landmarks and unique attractions . Specifically, explore the  Chapel Bridge ,  Jesuit Church ,  Musegg Wall ,  Lion Monument , and the  Church of Saint Leodegar . For an extraordinary experience, try the walking tour of Old Town Lucerne with the Night Watchman . Lastly, here’s the map of Old Town Lucerne , should you want to explore on your own.

Resources for Visiting Mount Pilatus

So that wraps up everything you need to know about visiting  Mount Pilatus . For more information and further planning, please refer to the links below.

• PILATUS – Mountain adventures near the city (official website)
• Fondue Gondola
• Ibex Safari Video
• Mount Pilatus webcam

Hey there! I sense that you’re planning a trip to  Mount Pilatus . If you’re staying in  Lucerne  for a couple of days or more and haven’t found a place to stay yet, here’s my partner’s website where you can find the best hotel deals in  Europe . Please note that it’s an affiliate link. When you book through that link, I may earn a small commission without any extra cost to you . If you do book, consider the commission I earn as your donation to  WanderInEurope . It’s a great way to support me in creating more helpful content like this. Thank you!

If you need an idea on how to visit Lucerne and Mount Pilatus along with other amazing nearby destinations in Switzerland, my  4-day Switzerland extended weekend itinerary  and my  6-day Switzerland week-long itinerary  might help! Check them out! 😊

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8 Reasons To Love This Mountaintop Experience In Switzerland

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If you’ve ever wanted to feel like you are on top of the world, Mount Pilatus is a great place to start.

Mount Pilatus is a mountain massif (range) in central Switzerland. It consists of several summits, including the highest, Tomlishorn, at 7,000 feet. On a clear day from the summit of Mount Pilatus, you’ll get a panoramic view of more than 70 Alpine peaks. Any day with 70-plus Alpine peaks is a good day!

My husband, Dean, and I are glad we decided to visit Mount Pilatus; we loved the whole experience. The day trip from Lucerne (also called Luzern) to the summit, the time spent on the glorious mountaintop, and the journey back to Lucerne. Broadly speaking, it’s all a mountaintop experience! Here are some of the reasons I loved it.

1. The Charming City Of Lucerne

One (tremendous) benefit of Mount Pilatus is that the journey can begin in the charming city of Lucerne. According to the ticket clerk at the train station in Basel where we started our trip, Lucerne is “the crowned jewel of Switzerland.” What? Not Geneva? Not Zurich?

• Skeptical Me: “Do you say that to all the tourists?”
• Optimistic Me: “I can’t wait to see it! And the dramatic Mount Pilatus!”

Lucerne is a beautiful Swiss town with wonderful shops and restaurants. Ducks, swans, and other waterfowl glide on the peaceful Reuss (river). The boulevard between city hall and Chapel Bridge along the Reuss is commonly called Old Town. This historic floral Chapel Bridge is a highlight.

The Chapel Bridge

Built in the 14th century, the wooden Chapel Bridge displays art (some 100 pictures) inside its rafters, depicting scenes from 12th-century Swiss history and city life. The bridge is overflowing with fresh flowers on both sides, even in October!

Tickets To Mount Pilatus

Unless you routinely hike mountains, most people need some help getting to the summit of Mount Pilatus. Pilatus Railways (Pilatus Bahnen) is your link between Lucerne and the summit of Mount Pilatus. They sell tickets from May to October, and you have options (see the route and various modes of travel on this interactive map ). For our money, we purchased a Golden round-trip ticket package at the Lucerne Railway Station.

• Getting There: Boat from Lucerne to Alpnachstad and cog railway train to the summit.
• Returning To Lucerne: Aerial cable car from the summit to Fräkmüntegg, a panorama gondola to Kriens, and (our choice) walk back two miles to Lucerne.

Another popular option is the Silver round-trip , which offers a 20-minute train ride or bus ride from Lucerne to Alpnachstad instead of the boat, and the rest is the same.

Pro Tips: Cloudy in Lucerne? Check weather conditions and webcams because chances are the weather at the summit of Mount Pilatus will be different! That’s exactly what happened to us. If we had decided to skip the trip because the weather in Lucerne was cloudy, overcast, and rainy, we would have missed all its wonder. Tell-Pass is another way to explore the Lucerne area. Purchase one ticket and get unrestricted travel on trains , buses, boats, and aerial cableways throughout the Lake Lucerne area.

2. The Spectacular Boat Ride On Lake Lucerne

We took an hour-long boat ride on Lake Lucerne, stopping at four small docks to exchange passengers along the way.

This is one of my favorite photos from the boat. I was admiring this quaint Swiss town on the shores of Lake Lucerne, picturesque and perfect. Suddenly, I noticed a mountaintop suspended above the range of white puffy clouds. The top of Mount Pilatus? That’s where we were headed! It was thrilling!

3. The Resounding Sound Of Alpine Horns

When the boat docked at Alpnachstad, we had a short walk up a paved incline to a plaza area — a hub of activity. This is where we would catch the cogwheel train, but it required a separate voucher.

As we approached the plaza area, we heard horns. We couldn’t have scripted it better. I had never seen these before, but someone said they were alpine horns. Well, of course they are. In what turned out to be a storybook adventure, the sound of alpine horns greeted us at the plaza. Seven adults and one young boy were playing the song “Amazing Grace”, and it was amazing. The Alps towered around us, the weather had completely cleared, and we were one step closer to the mountaintop.

Our train tickets were for 1:10 p.m., so we had about an hour to wait. Dean and I went to the counter of a little outdoor restaurant. The man who took our order didn’t speak English, but we muddled through. We each ended up with a large bratwurst served with two pieces of crusty bread, a generous squirt of mustard on a paper plate, and a bottle of beer. Does everything taste better in the Alps? I bet that can be scientifically proven!

4. The Steepest Cog Railway Train In The World

The railway from Alpnachstad to the Mount Pilatus summit isn’t just any cog railway. It’s the world’s steepest cogwheel railway with a 48 percent grade! As we started the incline, we gazed out over small farms, alpine meadows, and forests, until that all gave way to views of mountains, rock walls, and rock faces.

Hearing Alpine Horns: Part Two

At the summit, we departed the train through a walkway and out to a large outdoor viewing platform. As if sweeping views of neighboring mountains and Lake Lucerne weren’t enough, we heard the unmistakable sound of more alpine horns. That beautiful sound!

Pro Tip: When you go, dress in layers. It can be windy at 7,000 feet above sea level.

5. Thrilling Hiking And Expansive Views

On the mountaintop, we took a self-guided tour. It’s easy. Plenty of hiking trails took us to several vantage points, all with spectacular views.

Esel Viewpoint

The Esel is the second-highest peak in the Mount Pilatus range. The hike starts behind a circular-shaped building, the (20-room) Hotel Bellevue Kriens . We took our time and used the railing when it was available. On top, we overlooked Lucerne and Lake Lucerne in one direction.

In the other direction, we could see the viewing platform and Hotel Pilatus-Kulm . Birds soared overhead. Large signs helped us identify nearby mountains, and we could see the zigzagged hiking trails for those ambitious souls who chose to travel on foot.

On the way back down, I noticed a sign I hadn’t noticed before. It was Psalm 66:5, written in German and bolted right into the side of the mountain: “Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind!”

Oberhaupt Viewpoint

The third highest Pilatus Mountain peak is Oberhaupt, to the East. It takes only a few minutes to hike to the viewpoint. The hiking at Oberhaupt is an easy incline and popular. The round, state-of-the-art building is the Hotel Bellevue Kriens.

Corridor Through The Mountain

As we hiked around, we noticed a corridor that went toward one of the mountain peaks from the inside. We ended up on a lovely path that led through the rock to a place where we could see additional mountain lookout points in the distance.

6. Paragliders Soaring Overhead

From the viewing platform, we saw paragliders soaring above Mount Pilatus. When I showed this photo to a friend, she joked, “You and Dean?” No, these people were far braver or crazier than we are. It appeared to be one instructor or guide and one person, risking life and limb. There was no landing zone and no easy descent area. Just a series of big, magnificent, and unforgiving mountains.

7. The Trip Back To Lucerne

All good things must come to an end, and so it is with a mountaintop experience like this one. Getting back to Lucerne is different, and yet as interesting, varied, and beautiful as getting there.

Aerial Cableway “Dragon Ride” 

We started our descent from the summit by a cable car, called the “Dragon Ride.” Holding about 20 people, the cable car has top-to-bottom windows in the front for amazing views. It’s also fast! In less than four minutes, the cableway transports you from the top of Pilatus to the little hamlet of Fräkmüntegg.

Pro Tip: If this isn’t the mode of travel for you, the cogwheel train can also get you back down the mountain.

Panorama Gondolas

In the small town of Fräkmüntegg, we transferred from a cable car to a panoramic gondola that seated four people (we had one to ourselves). This 30-minute ride took us through Krienseregg to our next destination: the small hamlet of Kriens. As we neared town, we saw cattle grazing in fields, dirt hiking paths changed to paved ones, and a few ambitious hikers and one ambitious young man on a bike heading up.

Pro Tip: Fräkmüntegg has a lot to offer. We just passed through but two highlights here are the Toboggan Run , the longest summer toboggan run (almost three-quarters of a mile long) in Switzerland; and the Pilatus Rope Park , featuring 10 courses from zip lines to “monkey trees,” for more memorable experiences.

8. Church Bells Of Lucerne

From Kriens, we had an easy two-mile (flat) walk back to Lucerne, and it was a beautiful day. In Lucerne, church bells were ringing. Their melodious peals filled the air. Like the sound of the alpine horn in the Alpnachstad plaza and atop the mountain, this was another feast for our ears. It was idyllic — like a dream!

A Mountaintop Experience

We loved every little thing about Mount Pilatus. Can’t get to Switzerland? This virtual tour video highlights some of the experiences (note: it’s shown in reverse of the way we did it). I hope you can go see it in person, and if you do, these travel tips will help. The whole thing is a mountaintop experience and you’ll have so many reasons to love it, just as we did.

Pro Tip: Looking for another mountaintop experience? Mount Titlis is another popular day trip from Lucerne. Titlis Rotair sounds amazing; it’s the first revolving cable car in the world .

For more tips on traveling to Switzerland, check out these articles:

• 7 Fabulous Experiences Around Lake Lucerne In Switzerland
• 9 Incredible Experiences In Beautiful Interlaken, Switzerland
• 4 Quaint Mountain Towns To Visit Near St Moritz, Switzerland

Although it’s hard to pick a favorite travel experience, the top of the list includes these extremes: a week-long rafting trip through the Grand Canyon and relaxing in an infinity pool on a cruise ship off the coast of Monaco. Apart from her love for writing and travel, she enjoys cooking, cycling, and photography, and she has a strong faith. She finds joy in the simplest things and is always ready for the next adventure.

Mt. Pilatus

Mt. Pilatus is located in Central Switzerland near Lucerne and offers spectacular views of 73 Alpine peaks. Towering over the region with an altitude of 2,128m/6,982ft, the Pilatus begs endless enjoyment all throughout the year. Visitor accessibility is made convenient with frequent gondola and aerial cable car connections leaving directly from Kriens near Lucerne or via the steepest classic cogwheel train from Alpnachstad. The mountain’s alpine region offers plenty year round attractions and activities making it an enjoyable excursion for any visitor.

Summit facilities feature a terrace with stunning panoramas, culinary highlights, a hotel and serve as an ideal starting point for many excursions. During summer months, visitors can explore extensive hiking trails, paragliding opportunities or alpine rope park. Winter experiences are equally thrilling and include bobsledding, snowshoeing and the chance to discover the mountains mythical legends on the dragon trail. Despite countless activities, the Mt. Pilatus summit itself provides memorable outlooks over the Lake Lucerne region and vast range of Alpine peaks.

Excursion to Mt. Pilatus

Free with lake lucerne tell pass.

Holders of the Lake Lucerne Region’s Tell-Pass are granted free access to Mt. Pilatus’ summit using alpine transports like aerial cableways or cogwheel railways. Holders of the Swiss Travel Pass are granted a 50% discount.

Route from Lucerne

Mt. Pilatus can be reached from the underlying Lake Lucerne region using various modes of transport via Alpnachstad or Kriens.  Visitors approaching the summit from Alpnachstad board the world’s steepest cogwheel railway whereas from Lucerne travel with panoramic gondolas and the “Dragon Ride” aerial cableway via Kriens.

Duration of excursion

Visiting Mt. Pilatus is a half-day excursion however can easily be extended with round trip tours and many more exciting excursions to full day. The cogwheel railway departing Alpnachstad brings passengers directly to the summit in 30 minutes. The panoramic gondolas have a similar duration with an additional 5-minute ride aboard the aerial cableway.

Mt. Pilatus’ is accessible year round using the panoramic gondolas and the cableway via Kriens. The cogwheel railway operates beginning mid May through November with 40-minute interval departures.

Preparation

When visiting Mt. Pilatus it’s recommended to dress in layers or pack a windbreaker at any time during the year. Consider checking local weather forecasts for days with clear visibility and always equip a pair of good walking shoes.

Location and Map

Mt. Pilatus is centrally located in the Canton of Lucerne and overlooking various regional lakes. It is just south of Zurich and approximately 115 km/71 miles) east of Bern. From Lucerne it takes approx. 60 minutes to reach the top while from Berne it takes about 2 hours.

Pilatus Switzerland

Central Switzerland Elevation 2,128m/6,982ft

Nearby Destinations

Nearby Hotels

4-stars hotels.

Art Deco Hotel Montana

3-stars Hotels

Hotel Waldstätterhof

Lucerne to Mt Pilatus: How to Get There & Best Way to Visit in 2024

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: January 1, 2024

Visiting Lucerne in Switzerland and wondering how to get to Mount Pilatus from Lucerne ? Or maybe you already know all the options and just can’t decide how to best plan your day trip to Mount Pilatus? In this guide, you can learn about the best ways to visit Mt Pilatus from Lucerne. We explain all the best transport options, tickets, tours, and also include a map to help you orient. Find out!

Mt Pilatus is the most popular place to visit near Lucerne and so if people make just one excursion from Lucerne , they usually opt for the Lucerne – Pilatus – Lucerne day trip. (If you have time for two, consider Mt Titlis too).

But even though Mt Pilatus is located just near the city, there are so many different ways to get there that planning a visit to Pilatus might feel daunting at first… At least that’s how it felt for us… So if you are also feeling overwhelmed by all the options, I hope that this guide will help you decide how to best visit Mt Pilatus and how to make the most of your day. Find out!

Good to know – SUMMER. In the summer season, there are two ways to reach the peak of Mt Pilatus itself – a cogwheel train from Alpnachstad or a cable car from Kriens . Plus, you have different ways to reach Alpnachstad (by car, train, or boat) and Kriens (by bus or car). This article focuses on all the options on how to visit Mt Pilatus from Lucerne in the high season (+-June to mid-October) , with the most popular option being the self-guided ‘golden’ tour (more info below).

Good to know! Some tickets for the summer season are usually only bookable from around January – February, when the prices for the new season are set. So if you click on the link for a ticket and can’t see it yet, it usually means that it’s still a bit too early to book.

Good to know – WINTER. In winter, the cogwheel railway doesn’t operate. There are no trains going up to Mt Pilatus from mid-November to April and also the boat between Lucerne and Alpnachstad only runs between mid-May and mid-October. So if you are visiting Mt Pilatus from Lucerne in the winter season , the best way to get there is by taking a bus from Lucerne to Kriens and then a cable car from Kriens to Pilatus and back the same way you came. You can get the tickets for this self-guided Mt Pilatus tour here (it’s a round-trip ticket from Kriens to Mt Pilatus).

It’s also important to check if the cable cars/trains/boats are running on the day of your trip (see live info here ). It doesn’t happen a lot in summer, but cable cars might shut down if there’s too much wind (which happens occasionally, usually in winter).

MAP. To make it easier to understand all the different transportation options, we created this map of the Lucerne – Mt Pilatus area . This should give you a better overview and make it easier to plan your time.

Here’s an overview of what you see on the map:

• Yellow line is the bus between Lucerne and Kriens.
• Green indicates the cable car (gondola + Dragon Ride) between Kriens and Mt Pilatus.
• Red line is the cogwheel train between Mt Pilatus and Alpnachstad.
• Blue line is the boat trip between Alpnachstad and Lucerne.
• Black line shows the regular train between Alpnachstad and Lucerne.
• Golden Round Trip (bus, gondola, cogwheel train, boat).
• Silver Round Trip (bus, gondola, cogwheel train, train).
• Do-It-Yourself (either gondola or cogwheel train).
• By bus (+ gondola).
• By car (different options).
• By train (+cogwheel train).
• Hiking to the top .
• With a tour .

These are the best ways to visit Mt Pilatus from Lucerne:

Golden Round Trip

The Mt Pilatus Golden Round Trip from Lucerne is the most popular option among tourists visiting Mt Pilatus for the first time. It includes a bus ride between Lucerne city center and Kriens, a cable car to Mt Pilatus (Pilatus Kulm), a cogwheel train ride between Mt Pilatus and Alpnachstad, and a scenic boat ride between Alpnachstad and Lucerne.

This trip starts and ends at Lucerne Railway Station – the bus stop is near the station and also the boat terminal is right at the station as well.

You can do the Golden round trip on your own or with a guide:

• SELF-GUIDED TOUR: If you book a ticket for the Golden Round Trip , you don’t have to worry about doing much research or reserving separate tickets for each leg of the journey. The only thing you can decide to add is upgrading your ticket to the upper deck on the boat. You can simply do this on the boat itself – just ask to upgrade to 1st class when you board.
• GUIDED TOUR: Alternatively, you can do the Mt Pilatus Golden Round Trip with this very popular and highly-rated guided tour . There is also a private guided tour available, but I’m not sure if it’s really worth the extra money compared to the group tour.

No matter if you opt for a self-guided or a guided tour, the Golden Round Trip is the best way to see the beautiful surroundings around Lucerne and experience the very best of what Mt Pilatus has to offer in just one day .

LEARN MORE: Mt Pilatus Golden Round Trip

Which direction is best?

Good to know: Depending on where and how you book your tickets, you can choose to do the Golden Round Trip in any direction because you simply make a loop starting and ending in Lucerne. If you are not sure in which direction to go , it doesn’t matter that much for the views. However, it matters for the timing (mainly because of the boat schedule), the crowds, and your experience.

Our experience: We took the first boat from Lucerne in the morning (9.38 AM). By the time we arrived in Alpnachstad, it was almost 11 AM already – the busiest time to get on the train to Mt Pilatus. We wasted so much time waiting for the train that by the time we were at the top of the mountain, it was past noon already… The whole day felt quite rushed this way.

Our recommendation – do the trip anti-clockwise! Do the Golden Round Trip starting with the cable car and ending with the train/boat. That way you can start early in the morning (cable cars from Kriens start to run at 8.30 AM in high season). This allows you to beat the crowds and be at Mt Pilatus at 9.30-10 AM already. You can then explore everything at the top and take a cogwheel train down to Alpnachstad, from where you can take a boat back to Lucerne. It will also be nice to relax on the boat after a busy day. This is also the direction in which the guided tour does this trip in summer.

If you go without a guide, you’ll have to keep an eye on the boat schedule to be sure you don’t miss the last boat from Alpnachstad to Lucerne (usually at around 4.30 – 5.30 PM). But if you start early in the morning, it shouldn’t be a problem at all and you’ll probably be able to take one of the earlier boats back already (there are usually several boats around noon – 1.30 PM).

If for whatever reason you would miss the boat from Alpnachstad, don’t worry – you can also take a regular train back to the city. But that would be a waste of the Golden Ticket. If you are planning not to take a boat, see the cheaper options below.

Silver Round Trip

Mt Pilatus Silver Round Trip from Lucerne is the second of the most popular ways to visit Pilatus from Lucerne.

Silver Round Trip ticket includes a bus ride between Lucerne city center and Kriens, a cable car to Mt Pilatus, a cogwheel train ride between Mt Pilatus and Alpnachstad, and a regular train between Alpnachstad and Lucerne.

This is a very good option for those who want to experience Mt Pilatus from both sides (cable car and cogwheel train), but don’t want to be restricted by the rather limited boat schedule.

The Silver ticket allows you to start the trip as early as the cable cars start running (from 8.30 AM in the summer) and end it as late as the cogwheel train schedule allows (the last train from Mt Pilatus departs at approx. 5.45 PM). So this is also one of the best options for those who want to spend more time on the mountain, do some fun activities, or go hiking.

Good to know: The Silver Round Trip ticket is about 20% cheaper than the Golden Round Trip ticket. It also gives you more flexibility time-wise. The only difference is that you take a train instead of the scenic boat ride between Alpnachstad and Lucerne.

Do-It-Yourself Pilatus Visit

If you want to keep complete flexibility on the way you travel to/from Mount Pilatus, then you can also opt for the cable car ticket (if not available in the low season, check on Viator which is usually a bit more expensive though) or a cogwheel train ticket .

You can choose between the cable car or cogwheel train. However, it doesn’t include transportation to Kriens and/or Alpnachstad.

This is a good option for those who just want to see Mt Pilatus in the cheapest way and/or in the shortest possible time. It’s also perfect for those who are visiting by car as you can just drive to either Kriens or Alpnachstad and easily visit the Pilatus peak from there. The cable car ticket is what you’ll need if you are visiting Mt Pilatus in winter.

You can also just buy these simple return tickets at the ticket desk in Kriens or Alpnachstad. In the high season, the price is exactly the same no matter which way you travel – Kriens-Mt Pilatus-Kriens, Kriens-Mt Pilatus-Alpnachstad, Alpnachstad-Mt Pilatus-Alpnachstad, or Alpnachstad-Mt Pilatus-Kriens. If you have a Swiss Travel Pass , you get a big discount. Kids with Junior Travelcard travel free with a paying adult.

Good to know: Also with this simple ticket, you can still make a loop starting in either Alpnachstad or Kriens. However, you’ll have to arrange your own transportation and tickets between Lucerne and Kriens and/or Alpnachstad.

So if you are planning to take both – the cable car and the cogwheel train – we recommend the Golden tickets or the Silver tickets as mentioned above; it will just make your life so much easier and it’s cheaper when you get it as one round trip ticket.

Mt Pilatus from Lucerne by Bus

The fastest and the cheapest way to visit Mt Pilatus from Lucerne is by taking an RBus to Kriens (“ Kriens, Zentrum Pilatus ” bus stop), followed by a 5-10 minutes walk to the cable car station, and then a cable car from Kriens to the top of Mt Pilatus (Pilatus Kulm).

From Lucerne Railway Station, take a (trolley)bus nr. 1 to Kriens . It’s a bus line in the direction of Obernau Dorf . There are many buses at the station and it looks a bit overwhelming at first. Be sure to look for a TROLLEYBUS, so not a regular bus number 1 as that one goes somewhere totally different.

There are buses between Lucerne and Kriens every couple of minutes, so you don’t have to plan much in advance. The bus ride between Lucerne Railway Station and Kriens takes less than 15 minutes.

If you don’t have a ticket for the bus yet (included in the Silver and the Golden tickets mentioned above), you’ll have to get one at the ticket machine before you board the bus. There are ticket machines at every bus stop and it’s quite easy to use them.

A one-way adult bus ticket from Kriens to Lucerne costs around 4 CHF. If you are interested, you can find the bus schedule and exact ticket prices on the official website of the Lucerne public transportation company website (in German), but it’s really easy to figure it out on the go.

Below, you can see the map of where exactly to walk between the bus stop and the gondola station in Kriens . Because it’s such a popular tourist route, there are also signs indicating the two places along the way.

The cable car ride from Kriens to Mt Pilatus actually involves two different cable cars – a small 4-person gondola to Fräkmüntegg, followed by the Dragon Ride (a big aerial cableway) to Mt Pilatus. The entire journey to the top takes about half an hour. As already mentioned, you can buy a ticket online in advance , or you can just buy it at the ticket desk once you get there.

Mt Pilatus by Car

You can also easily visit Mount Pilatus by car , but you’ll also have to decide what exactly you want to see. There are several options:

• You leave your car in Kriens and take a cable car to Mt Pilatus and back the same way. There’s a big car parking at the gondola station in Kriens and parking here costs just 5 CHF per day. You’ll need a regular gondola ticket if you do this.
• You leave your car in Alpnachstad and take a cogwheel train to Mt Pilatus and back the same way. Also here, there’s a big car parking and it also costs 5 CHF per day. You’ll need a cogwheel train ticket if you do this.
• You leave your car in one of these two stations, or in Lucerne city center and then make a round trip , just as you would do without a car (see the Golden Round Trip and the Silver Round Trip options above). Keep in mind that driving into/out of Lucerne by car will take more time. Furthermore, parking in the city center is much more expensive (about 20-30 CHF per day) than in Kriens of Alpnachstad (5 CHF per day). You can do this with the regular ticket, plus get your own train/bus/boat tickets on the go, but it would make more sense to buy one of the combi-tickets (either Golden or Silver described earlier).

Our suggestion: If you do a round trip, we recommend parking in Kriens and starting with the cable car to the top. Then take a cogwheel train to Alpnachstad and from there, either a train ( silver ticket ) or a boat ( golden ticket ) to Lucerne. From Lucerne city center, take RBus no. 1 back to Kriens where you left your car.

Mt Pilatus by Train

If you are traveling to Mt Pilatus by train , the easiest way is to simply go to Lucerne and then follow one of the options described above – either the Golden Round Trip or the Silver Round Trip.

However, you can also take a train from Lucerne to Alpnachstad and visit Mt Pilatus via the cogwheel train from there.

Whether this makes much sense, depends a bit on where you are traveling from, but it’s definitely possible. It’s not the fastest or cheapest way, nor is it the most scenic route, however.

TIP: If you are looking to visit Mt Pilatus from Zurich , instead of taking a train to Lucerne and trying to arrange everything yourself, you can also just join this highly-rated day tour . It includes exactly the same itinerary as a Golden Round Trip, so you get to see just as much, but in the most efficient way that you wouldn’t be easily able to do on your own.

Hiking to Mt Pilatus

While there are hiking trails between Alpnachstad, Mt Pilatus, and Kriens, we really do not recommend hiking all the way to the top of the mountain.

Even the shortest hiking trail to the top of Pilatus Kulm from Alpnachstad would take you at least 4.5-5 hours of pure hiking time, one way.

Best Tours to Mt Pilatus from Lucerne or Zurich

We already mentioned the best guided tours and excursions to Mt Pilatus from Lucerne and from Zurich above, but here is a summary of the best options for those of you who jumped to this section right away.

Here are the best GUIDED tours to Mt Pilatus:

• Mt Pilatus from Lucerne group tour . This is the best and the most popular guided tour. It covers the same itinerary as the self-guided Golden Round Trip, allowing you to enjoy the panoramic views from the cable car, experience the steepest cogwheel railway drive in the world, and enjoy the scenery of Lake Lucerne from a boat. The only difference is that you do this with an experienced local guide and they help you navigate everything, tell you more about what you see, visit the best spots, and follow the timing to be sure that you don’t miss the last boat, etc.
• Mt Pilatus from Lucerne private tour . This tour is practically the same as the one above, except that you are traveling alone with the guide and not as part of a group.
• Mt Pilatus from Zurich group tour . It also follows the same Golden Round Trip itinerary, but also includes transportation from Zurich and a guide.

So, this is our guide to the best ways to visit Mt Pilatus from Lucerne. Hope that it answers all your questions and helps you plan a fun, relaxing, and memorable day trip to Pilatus.

TIP: If you are looking for more stunning mountain destinations to visit in Switzerland, we highly recommend Mt Titlis . It’s also just near Lucerne and you can easily visit it on a day trip. Furthermore, Mt Titlis is a great year-round destination, and probably a better option in winter than Mt Pilatus is. Via the link below, you can find our detailed guide and what there’s to see and do at Titlis. Check it out!

READ ALSO: How to Visit Mt Titlis

Depending on which route, transport, and activities you choose, you’ll need at least 4.5-5 hours to visit Mount Pilatus from Lucerne. If you do the Golden Round Trip and take your time to enjoy the scenery at the top, count 5-6 hours.

The gondola from Kriens to Fräkmüntegg takes about 20 minutes, and an aerial cable car from Fräkmüntegg to Mt Pilatus (aka the Dragon Ride) takes about 3.5 minutes. However, usually, you have to wait for the Dragon Ride for a few minutes. All in all, it takes at least 30 minutes to get to the top of Mt Pilatus from Kriens.

Depending on where the boat stops along the way, the boat ride between Lucerne and Alpnachstad takes between 1 hour and 1 hour 20 minutes.

The journey on the steepest cogwheel train in the world from Alpnachstad to Mt Pilatus takes 30 minutes. The journey down from Mt Pilatus to Alpnachstad takes 40 minutes.

The bus ride between Lucerne Railway Station and Kriens takes about 12-15 minutes. Plus, it takes about 5-10 minutes to walk from the bus to Kriens – Mt Pilatus gondola station.

READ ALSO: What to See & Do in Lucerne

Have a great trip!

More travel inspiration for the Swiss Alps:

• Best Day Trips from Lucerne
• Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe
• Mt Titlis (near Lucerne)
• Jungfraujoch vs. Mt Titlis
• Grindelwald-First
• Interlaken Day Trip
• Best Things to Do in Zermatt
• Gornergrat (must-see in Zermatt!)
• Schynige Platte  (a hidden gem!)
• Riffelsee Lake (Zermatt)

Some of our favorite hikes in Switzerland:

• Oeschinensee Lake
• Bachalpsee Lake
• Longest Suspension Bridge in the Alps
• Matterhorn Glacier Trail
• Stoos Ridge Trail (near Lucerne)
• Schynige Platte Hikes
• Gornergrat Scenic Trail
• Riffelsee Lake Trail

Winter travel inspiration:

• Jungfrau Region in Winter
• Skiing in Wengen
• Skiing in Engelberg
• Affordable Places to Ski in Switzerland

If you found this post useful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin these images!

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Saturday 3rd of February 2024

Hello- First of all- I absolutely love your blog. You are so incredibly informative and I have read all of your articles on Switzerland. With that being said- I have to admit I am incredibly overwhelmed and having a hard time making an itinerary. We will be traveling to Switzerland in Sept 2024 and have about 13 days to take in all Switzerland has to offer. We are flying into and out of Zurich. We are in our mid 50's and traveling with another couple. We really enjoy being outside and hiking. Nothing too overly strenuous but moderate hikes are right up our alley. Your articles on hiking have been so helpful. Any suggestions on what cities to hit and in what order? I just can't seem to wrap my brain around the best way to take it all in. We are considering renting a car. Thank you so much- any suggestions would be a huge help.

Sunday 25th of February 2024

@Jurga, Thank you so much for your response. We followed your advice and it was very helpful! Great idea. Your blog definitely helped us pick out some highlights that we want to see. Thanks again.

Hi Jane, I can imagine that it's quite overwhelming. However, I really can't help you much with a detailed itinerary - there are just way too many options and everyone has different interests. Do you want to visit cities? Mountains? A mix of both? Renting a car might make sense or not at all, depending on which places you want to visit. Otherwise, take a look into getting a Swiss Travel Pass - Switzerland is really easy to visit by train. Plus, some places can't even be reached by car. So you'll need to pay for parking and take a train or a gondola, etc. Anyway, once again, it depends on the exact places you want to see. Here are some places that I think are worth it the most on the first trip: Lucerne area, Interlaken (+Grindelwald/Jungfraujoch/Wengen/Mürren...), Zermatt. You can easily spend 3-4 days or even longer in each of these areas. If you want to see more cities, add Bern and Geneva. But there is so much more - e.g. Bernina Express or Glacier Express, and many, many other places. Try to make a list of what you really want to see, put it all on the map, and then it will become clearer how to fit it all in. Hope this helps a bit. Good luck!

Sunday 28th of January 2024

Hello Jurga, Thank you for all this information. Just a quick question. How much time would it take to walk from cogwheel train to Alpnachstad ferry terminal? How much time between the two should I give myself to board the ferry? Thank you!

Monday 29th of January 2024

Hi Nadia, the station is just across the road from the ferry and it's well indicated (or you just follow the crowds). It's like 5 minutes walk, maybe a few more minutes if you walk slower. Don't trust Google Maps on this one because it doesn't seem to know there's a pedestrian tunnel and shows a ridiculously long walk. Also, the schedule of the boat is usually adjusted to that of the train so normally they would wait if the train is late for some reason. But it's Switzerland and everything usually runs very smoothly, so no worries. Have a great trip!

Saturday 25th of November 2023

this is fantastic information. we will drive to Kriens and take the gondola. we havent been in years and wondering since we are going the beginning of march, what to expect. do you know what is included in the price? I recall there being a ropes course park and maybe toboggan run. do you know what there is to do once we get to the top?

Sunday 26th of November 2023

Hi Heidi, the activities you mention are summer activities, so it's not really an option in March. There are some sledding slopes but you have to bring your own sleds or rent them at the Kriens valley station before you go up. Snowshoeing is also possible (if you have snowshoes). For the rest, it's simply a gondola ticket to the top where you can enjoy the views, have lunch at the restaurant, etc. Depending on conditions, you may be able to walk around a bit, but regular hiking paths are normally covered by snow in March. Hope this helps.

Monday 4th of September 2023

Hi Jurga, thanks for the informative guide! I am planning to take a 9am morning bus from Lucerne train station to Kriens, however i tried searching for the morning bus schedule using the official website link that you provided,and found that the earliest time slot for Bus no.1 was 10:42AM which is too late. Am i searching it wrongly?

Also, will 1.5hrs at the top of Mt Pilatus be sufficient if including lunch time? Because i am thinking of taking the 12:49PM cogwheel down, otherwise it will have to be 2:43PM to match the boat schedule. Thanks in advance!

Saturday 30th of September 2023

@Jurga, thanks for your detailed explanation! Just wondering if I don’t pre-book, will the cogwheel train or boat be fully occupied and I can’t board in time? Also in general, is it also not necessary to prebook other trains like the train to jungfraujoch for example?

Tuesday 5th of September 2023

Hi JY, I just checked the bus schedule on the official website and I see that there are buses every 7-8 minutes. The earliest bus of the day is at 4:42 am. Around 9 am in the morning, I see buses from Lucerne Station at 8:38, 8:45, 8:53, 9:00, 9:08, etc. I think you may have forgotten to change the hour and it automatically showed you the next available buses at the moment when you searched. As for 1.5 hours at the top, it depends. If you just walk to the main viewing platforms and have a very quick lunch, then it should be enough. But if you plan to do any hiking, it's not. It also depends on the weather. You can just see how it goes when you get there and decide at that time. You don't have to (and can't) prebook a specific time slot for train or boat, so you can always take a later one if you are not in a hurry (just don't miss the last boat). Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!

Thursday 3rd of August 2023

Thank you so much for reply. The only reason we chose April is because it’s my wife birthday. Now we are hoping to amend our holiday booking to June. I understand the weather is better in June and hopefully get some sunshine.

Would you recommend visiting Lucerne early or mid June for better weather.

Saturday 5th of August 2023

Hi Kahn, June is incomparable vs April since most places in the mountains should be snow-free by then. In general, the later you go, the less snow and the more hiking trails accessible. As for sunshine, nobody can predict that and you can get rain or sun at any time of the year.

Lucerne to Mount Pilatus: How to Visit Independently

Published by sarah vaughan on november 22, 2023 november 22, 2023.

An imposing peak that towers over the city, taking a day trip from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus is a can’t-miss adventure in Switzerland!

The day trip from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus includes several different forms of transportation, including boat, cogwheel train, gondola, cable car, and bus. But fear not, reaching the peak is relatively easy thanks to top-notch Swiss transportation!

With a peak almost 7,000 feet above sea-level, Mount Pilatus is one of the tallest mountains in the area and the summit provides unmatched views of the Swiss Alps high above the clouds. Visiting this stunning peak is one of the best things to do in Lucerne.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know to make your trip to Mount Pilatus go smoothly.

Lucerne to Mount Pilatus Map

Variations to the route, step 1 | boat from lucerne to alpnachstad, step 2 | train from alpnachstad to pilatus, what to do on mount pilatus, step 3 | gondola from pilatus to fräkmüntegg, step 4 | cable car from fräkmüntegg to kriens, step 5 | bus from kriens to lucerne, how much does it cost to get to mount pilatus, other tips for a great trip to mount pilatus, other switzerland resources.

Lucerne to Mount Pilatus | Overview

• Trip time | 4 – 6 hours
• Total cost | $40 – $115 (depending on whether you have a Swiss Pass)
• Hiking Distance | roughly 3 miles (around the peak)
• Why you’ll love it | A fun adventure from Lucerne, involving several unique methods of transportation to a summit with stunning 360-degree mountain views.
• Types of transportation | boat, train, gondola, cable car, bus
• Book your tickets | Purchase all tickets needed for Mount Pilatus here .

The map below displays the route and types of transportation you will use to reach Mount Pilatus from Lucerne:

• Step 1 | Boat from Lucerne to Alpnachstad ( travel time: 90 minutes )
• Step 2 | Cogwheel train from Alpnachstad to Pilatus (travel time: 40 minutes )
• Step 3 | Gondola from Pilatus to Fräkmüntegg (t ravel time: 10 minutes )
• Step 4 | Cable car from Fräkmüntegg to Kriens (travel time: 20 minutes )
• Step 5 | Bus from Kriens back to Lucerne (t ravel time: 20 minutes )

• To view more details about each location, click on the marker on the map.
• To save this map for future use, click the star next to the title. From your phone, open the Google Maps app and click the “saved” tab, followed by the “Maps” icon. From your Gmail account, navigate to Maps –> “Saved” –> “My Maps” –> “Maps” tab.
• To email this map to yourself, click the three dots in the upper right corner.

In this article, we cover the route to Mount Pilatus that takes you up via cogwheel train from Alpnachstad and down by cable car to Kriens. We think this is the best route because it allows you to avoid long lines for the ferry and cogwheel train if you start early, gives you the option to stop in Frakmuntegg on the way back (time allowing), and allows you to see both sides of Mount Pilatus.

However, there are a few different variations of the trip you could take:

• Reverse the order | Start in Kriens, end in Alpnachstad
• Hike up from Kriens | 13 kilometer hike one-way. To get back, take the cable car back to Kriens OR train down to Alpnachstad.
• Hike up from Alpnachstad | 8 kilometer hike one-way. To get back, take the train back to Alpnachstad OR cable car down to Kriens
• Hike up from Alpnachstad and down to Kriens (or vice versa) | 21 kilometers total

Lucerne to Mount Pilatus | Trip Details

In the following section, we’ll break down all the details on how to get from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus .

• Ticket Cost | 28 CHF, free with Swiss Pass
• Departure Times | Once per hour at 38 minutes past the hour (first departure at 7:38 AM )

The first step of your journey is a beautiful boat ride on Lake Lucerne from Lucerne to the small lake-side village of Alpnachstad. You will board the boat at the Luzern Banhofquai (ferry terminal), located across from the train station on the bank of Lake Lucerne.

The boat departs once an hour at 38 minutes past the hour (they really mean this!), starting at 7:38 AM. We recommend beginning your day early to avoid the crowds and to make sure you have plenty of time for tobogganing in the afternoon.

The boat ride takes a total of about an hour and a half, but it won’t feel nearly that long as you sit on the deck of the boat, sipping a morning coffee and soaking up the sunshine and mountain views.

Pro tip | You can purchase tickets for the cogwheel train to Pilatus on the boat to skip the lines at Alpnachstad

• Ticket Cost | 72 CHF roundtrip, 36 CHF with Swiss Pass (Includes return trip to Alpnachstad or Kriens)
• Departure Times | Operates from mid-May to mid-November Ascent: every 30-45 minutes from 8:10 AM – 5:10 PM Descent: every 30-45 minutes from 8:45 AM – 5:45 PM

For the second leg of the journey, take the cogwheel train from Alpnachstad to Pilatus. A cogwheel train is simply a train that is built at an angle and equipped with specialized gear for handling steep inclines. The cogwheel to Pilatus is the steepest in the world, reaching a maximum angle of 48 degrees!

Once you arrive in Alpnachstad, the train station is just a quick walk up the hill – you can’t miss it. We hopped right on a train with no lines after taking the first boat out of Lucerne in the morning.

The train ride takes a total of about 40minutes but goes by in a flash.

On a clear day, you can see mile after mile of snow-covered peaks from the top of Mount Pilatus. There are a few short hikes and things to do once you arrive. We recommend taking a quick hike to both Tomlishorn (2 miles) and Oberhaupt Peak (1 mile).

Hiking to Tomlishorn on Pilatus

Tomlishorn is the highest peak on Mount Pilatus. You can get there by taking an easy two-mile round-trip hike. The trail begins on the opposite end of the platform from the train station and leads along a ridge, through a natural tunnel, and ends with a quick ascent up to the peak.

Oberhaupt Peak

With just a 20-minute walk, you can also visit Oberhaupt peak , another jaw-dropping viewpoint. As we walked up, the clouds started to roll in. Nonetheless, the sight of the cliffs dropping off into an abyss of clouds was eerily beautiful.

The trail to Oberhaupt peak starts behind the hotel on the side of Pilatus closer to the train station.

Pilatus Kulm Hotel & Restaurant

The Hotel Pilatus-Kulm is located at the top of Mount Pilatus. Staying there will definitely cost you, but I can only imagine how incredible it would be to wake up on Pilatus for the sunrise views.

There is also a restaurant at the top, but the food is pricey. We recommend packing a lunch for a picnic with a view from Tomilshorn instead.

• Ticket Cost | included with purchase of cogwheel train ticket

Once you’ve explored the peak and seen every possible view, take the gondola down to Fräkmüntegg . On a cloudy day, this gondola ride can be somewhat terrifying if you are afraid of heights. It’s difficult to tell if you are even still moving as you inch your way through a blur of white.

Luckily, the entire ride takes only about 10 minutes.

Tobogganing in Fräkmüntegg

• Ticket Cost | 9 CHF per person, 7 CHF for children < 16 years old

We recommend stopping in Fräkmüntegg to ride the toboggan at Fräkigaudi . A toboggan (aka. alpine slide, as we call it in parts of the United States) is a small cart with a brake you pull on to slow down that follows a narrow track down the mountain.

You’ll zip down the mountain whizzing around curves and speeding through tunnels, all while passing by Swiss cows happily grazing with a perfect view of Lake Lucerne below you. If you haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing a toboggan ride before, this will make you feel like a kid again!

Note that the last toboggan rides end at 5:00pm, so make sure you leave Pilatus by 3:30pm or so to ensure you have enough time. If you do not plan to go tobogganing, you can hop immediately onto the cable car to continue your journey to Kriens.

Once you are ready to finish your journey, jump in a cable car to Kriens for a 20-minute ride. While the trip may be coming to an end, the views aren’t over quite yet.

As we broke through the clouds, we were surprised by another incredible view of the town of Kriens and Lake Lucerne below.

• Ticket Cost | 4 CHF (one-way), free with Swiss Pass

Once you arrive in Lucerne, follow signs down the hill to the bus stop. The bus leaves every 20 minutes and the trip back to Lucerne takes about 15 minutes.

Lucerne to Mount Pilatus | FAQs

With a Swiss Travel Pass , transportation for the entire day trip will only cost 36 CHF (about $40) per person! The train to Pilatus, cable car, gondola down to Kriens are 50% off with the Swiss Pass, and the remaining transportation is fully covered.

Without a Swiss Pass, the full round trip will cost 103 CHF (about $115) per person.

The Swiss Pass is not cheap, but if you’re planning to spend about a week in Switzerland, it’s likely worth the money.

If you don’t have a Swiss Pass, you may consider purchasing a Golden Round Trip or Silver Round trip , which includes all your tickets to reach Mount Pilatus from Lucerne.

Book your tickets | You can purchase Mount Pilatus transportation tickets here in advance, or wait until the day of your trip.

• Wear layers | It may feel warm in Lucerne, but it gets chilly on the boat and on top of the mountain.
• Pack a lunch and enjoy it on the top of Tomilshorn to save a little money. The restaurant on top of Pilatus is very expensive.
• Start early! Pilatus gets crowded so get an early start to beat the crowds and avoid lines
• If you have more than one day in Lucerne, pick the day with the clearest weather for your trip to Pilatus. It can be cloudy on Pilatus, obstructing the incredible views.

Planning a trip to Switzerland? Check out these great resources for more inspiration!

One Week in Switzerland: the Perfect Itinerary for Adventure Lovers

12 Best Things to Do in Lucerne on a Budget

Five Lakes Hike in Zermatt: Best Matterhorn Views

Paragliding in Interlaken: An Epic Adventure

Harder Kulm Hike: How to Find the Best Interlaken Views

Emmental Cheese Route: E-Biking Adventure in Switzerland

Schilthorn, Lauterbrunnen, Murren & Gimmelwald: The Ultimate Day Trip from Interlaken

How to Spend 2 Adventurous Days in Interlaken, Switzerland

Questions or comments about the trip from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus? Let us know in the comments section below!

Sarah Vaughan

Hello! I'm Sarah, one half of the couple behind Two Outliers! In 2023, I quit my job as a Data Scientist to travel around the world on an epic 15-month journey in search of the world's greatest hikes and outdoor adventures. Matt and I started Two Outliers in 2021 as a place for visitors to find concise, accurate, and honest information to plan their own adventures. We hope our experiences inspire you to hit the trail! Happy Hiking! Sarah

Satarupa Barma · September 28, 2022 at 8:54 am

This was an incredibly detailed post and helped me so much in the pursuit of making a birthday come alive! Thank you folks =)

Two Outliers · December 2, 2022 at 9:24 am

Hi Satarupa, happy we could help. Hope you had an awesome trip!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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A Complete Guide to the Golden Round Trip to Mount Pilatus Lucerne Switzerland

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: August 5, 2022

Everything you need to know about the Golden Round Trip to Mount Pilatus including tips, ticket options and what to expect during one of Switzerland’s most scenic mountain excursions.

When you visit Switzerland you are genuinely spoilt for choice with beautiful towns and villages , scenic train journeys , mountains to climb and amazing views to admire!

One of my favourite excursions from Lucerne in Switzerland is the golden round trip to Mount Pilatus.  This is one of the best day trips from Lucerne and involves trains, boats, gondolas and more – a truly wonderful way to see and appreciate the Swiss countryside and a real Swiss bucket list experience!

If this is a trip you are considering taking you will find everything you need to know about it in this post. This includes the various options you can choose to take this trip independently or with a tour.

SAVE MONEY and enjoy unlimited travel in Switzerland by train bus, boat and public transport with the Swiss All-in-One Travel Pass.

• Travel all over Switzerland with a Swiss Rail pass, valid all over the country.
• Choose between a 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 consecutive day pass.
• Make your trip to Switzerland as easy as possible with a rail pass that gives you unlimited access to the Swiss train network
• Explore the Glacier Express, Golden Pass Line, Bernina Express, and other panoramic train routes

Why visit Mt Pilatus?

Summary of the itinerary included on the golden round trip to mount pilatus, 1. take the boat from lucerne to alpnachstad, 2. take the cog railway, 3. arrive at the top of mount pilatus, 4. take the aerial cableway to mount pilatus, 5. take the gondola, 6. take the bus back to lucerne, 7. arrive back in lucerne, other things to do in the lucerne area, enjoy your trip to switzerland.

Mount Pilatus on the shores of Lake Lucerne is steeped in legends and folklore with stories of dragons and hidden caves. Legend has that there is a dragon’s lair and once giants roamed the mountain side. Or maybe they still do? Keep a lookout for these mystical creatures on your visit!

The summit of Mount Pilatus at 2132 metres high gives a stunning panoramic view of Lucerne and its beautiful lake but also of the Bernese Alps, Jungfrau and Titlis and on to the French Alps. On a clear day, a total of 73 Alpine Peaks can be viewed from Mt Pilatus!

I have made the trip twice – once on a lovely clear day and the second when a cloud stubbornly refused to move from the top. Trying to get a day when the weather is clear can be quite difficult and even though the forecast was clear for the second trip that cloud was not moving. I would recommend going on a clear day if you can – the views are spectacular and it is worth it. 

THE GOLDEN ROUND TRIP TO MOUNT PILATUS

Lucerne to Mount Pilatus on the golden round trip option involves a day travelling on lots of different transportation. If this interests you then this is the Mount Pilatus trip for you!

From Lucerne you take a boat, a cog railway, a cable car, a gondola, a bus then return to Lucerne by train.

It is however not cheap (it is Switzerland after all) but more of that below!

If you take the ‘ GOLDEN ROUND TRIP TO MOUNT PILATUS’ option this involves 5 different forms of transportation

• A boat across Lake Lucerne to Alpnachstad.
• Mt Pilatus cogwheel train from Alpnachstad to the summit of Pilatus
• Aerial cableway – a trip on the Mt Pilatus cable car
• Panoramic gondola to Kriens
• Bus to Lucerne

The  boat from Lucerne to Alpnachstad takes about an hour. Enjoy sailing across the lake and admire the million dollar houses on its shores!

After arriving in Alpnachstad transfer to the cog railway which will takes 40 minutes to climb the 7000 feet to the summit of Mount Pilatus. The views are spectacular so have your camera handy. The steepness of the climb will take your breath away at times (if you don’t like heights do not look down!)

After spending some time at the top you then descend for 3 1/2 minutes via an aerial cableway (the so-called Dragon ride though to be perfectly honest I didn’t see one) and then finally a 30 minute descent in a panorama gondola (more great views) to Kriens before catching a bus back to Lucerne – a great day out! (If you want you can do this trip the other way around and start in Kriens)

What are the other ticket options? Well you could take the ‘ Silver Round Trip ‘ which is basically all the above but instead of a boat to Alpnachstad you catch a train from Lucerne!

Learn More – My complete guide to the best Mt Pilatus tours

A step by step guide to the Golden Round Trip to Mount Pilatus

Below you will find pictures and details of each step of your journey on the Golden Round Trip to Mount Pilatus so you know what to expect when you take the trip.

Once you arrive in Lucerne train station walk out of the station and across the road to the piers to catch the boat. You are heading for Alpnachstad to catch the cog railway so you need Pier 2.

The boat trip is wonderful in itself – what can be better than sailing across a beautiful lake with the sun shining and the beauty of Switzerland all around. The boat ride lasts about an hour.

The cog railway is the steepest in the world with in parts a gradient of 48%!! It was opened in 1889 (amazingly engineer Eduard Locher came up with the idea of constructing two horizontally revolving cogwheels to enable the railway to climb the mountain).

There is one stop on the way up at Amsigen as this is the train passing point. Look out for the farmer’s house with the enormous cow bells!

If you are considering a holiday in Switzerland then these 20 photographs will certainly inspire you to get it booked asap!

The views of Lake Lucerne are spectacular. I was lucky also to get a great shot of the car passing us on its way down the mountain. I think this gives an excellent idea of just how steep it is!

Once at the top there are lots of viewing areas, walks to take a couple of restaurants, toilets and a gift shop. There are also 2 hotels at the top of Mount Pilatus.

If you wish you could book a stay and enjoy a night or two. Although I haven’t stayed on Mount Pilatus I can imagine how wonderful it would be.

The Hotel Pilatus Klum  or the  Hotel Bellevue offer guests fabulous views!

There are a number of walks that you can take at the top of the mountain which range from easy to medium and take between 10 mins and 35 mins.

The cableway takes you from the top of Mt Pilatus to the gondola station at Frakmuntegg. There are lots of activities available there such as the Pilatus rope park and a toboggan run.

The panoramic gondolas take you from Frakmuntegg to Kriens (where you catch the bus) The gondolas take about 30 minutes to descend.

Once in Kriens it is about a 5 minute walk to the bus stop. There are signs and if you use the map you will soon find the bus stop for Bus No.1

Learn more – A complete guide to Lucerne including itinerary options

Don’t forget to have a look around Lucerne! It is one of my favourite cites to visit when I am in Switzerland and I generally get there once a year for a stroll around!

Highlights for me are the Kappelbrucke (Chapel Bridge) constructed in 1333 and the Lion Monument a rock relief carved out of the rock face in 1820/1 by Lukas Ahorn.

There are many beautiful places to visit in Switzerland – amazing cities, mountains and beautiful lakes – read all about these in a guide to the best places to visit in Switzerland.

FAQs – What you need to know if you are planning to take the Golden Round Trip to Mount Pilatus

• As described we took the Golden Round Trip to Pilatus which included the boat, cog railway, cableway, gondola and bus.
• There is also the Silver Round Trip option which involves a 20 minute train/bus ride from Luzern to Alpnachstad along the lake (so no boat trip) before you catch the cog railway. If you have the time I would the golden round trip as the boat trip is truly beautiful!
• Click here to book the Silver Round Trip Option
• If you are wondering which tour is best for you check out my Ultimate Guide to the best tours to Mt Pilatus
• For more Swiss travel inspiration you may enjoy my round-up of the most scenic train trips to take in Switzerland and the most beautiful towns and villages to include in your Swiss travel itinerary.

From Lucerne: Titlis Full-Day Tour – Eternal Snow & Glacier

Discover a fascinating glacier world and a beautiful landscape of eternal ice and snow on Titlis Mountain. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Swiss Alps and visit an ice cave.

CLICK HERE FOR PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

Lucerne: 2-Hour Gourmet Lunch Cruise on Lake Lucerne

Enjoy a First Class lunchtime cruise on Lake Lucerne. Admire the Alpine landscapes as the staff serves you a delicious 3-course meal made from fresh regionally sourced products.

CLICK FOR PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

Classic Rigi Round Trip from Lucerne

Enjoy a unique combination of boat, rack railway and cable car travel in Rigi. This varied tour in the heart of central Switzerland is suitable for both a half or full-day tour.

Read more about visiting Switzerland

• Best cities to visit in Switzerland
• Beautiful towns you can’t miss in Switzerland
• Things to do in Lucerne
• Books to read about Switzerland
• Guide to Swiss food and drink
• Swiss bucket list
• 8 Scenic Swiss train journeys
• Check out – “5o unique things to do in Switzerland”

Lucerne To Mount Pilatus: How to get there

Mt. Pilatus is one of the most popular places to visit near Lucerne. Also called the Dragon Mountain, it is a must-visit destination when visiting Switzerland. Most people, when visiting Lucerne, make a day trip to Mt. Pilatus an essential part of the itinerary. 

However, with so many different transport options and ticket choices, knowing how to get from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus can be overwhelming. 

If you are feeling unsure about the best way to visit Mt. Pilatus, this travel guide will help you decide. We will cover all the best transport options, tickets, and tours to help you plan your day trip to Mt. Pilatus.

Mt. Pilatus in Summer and Winter

Mount Pilatus is essentially a range of summits, all nestled within the Emmental Alps. Its highest peak, called Tomlishorn, sits at 2,128 meters above sea level. The mountain is popular with tourists visiting Lucerne . 

People are particularly captivated by its cogwheel railway. The steepest in the world, this train makes for a journey that is as awe-inspiring as it is breathtakingly picturesque. 

Once at the top, visitors can hike, bike, and indulge in a range of activities, depending on the weather. 

For those planning to visit Mt. Pilatus in the summer season (mid-May to mid-October), there are two ways to reach the summit:

• Via the cogwheel train from Alpnachstad
• Cable car from Kriens

Both starting points are accessible by various means. You can get at these spots by car, train, boat, or bus. 

During the winter season, which lasts from mid-November to April, the cogwheel railway does not operate. Additionally, the boat from Lucerne and Alpnachstad only runs during the summer months. 

Therefore, the best option to reach Mt. Pilatus during the winter is to take a bus from Lucerne to Kriens. You can then ride the cable car up and down the same way.

We highly recommend checking the live information on the day of your trip to ensure that cable cars, trains, and boats are operating. This is because strong winds can sometimes cause the cable cars to shut down, particularly in winter. 

Map of the Different Routes

(can be left as is, i will edit this section myself), to make it easier to understand all the different transportation options, we created this map of the lucerne – mt pilatus area. this should give you a better overview and make it easier to plan your time., here’s an overview of what you see on the map:.

Yellow line is the bus between Lucerne and Kriens.

Green indicates the cable car (gondola + Dragon Ride) between Kriens and Mt Pilatus.

Red line is the cogwheel train between Mt Pilatus and Alpnachstad.

Blue line is the boat trip between Alpnachstad and Lucerne.

Black line shows the regular train between Alpnachstad and Lucerne.

How to get from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus – OVERVIEW:

Golden Round Trip (bus, gondola, cogwheel train, boat).

Silver Round Trip (bus, gondola, cogwheel train, train).

Do-It-Yourself (either gondola or cogwheel train).

By car (different options).

By train (+cogwheel train).

Golden Round Trip

The Golden Round Trip from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus is the most sought-after day excursion, especially for first-time visitors. And, there is a good reason for that. It certainly represents the ultimate charm of the Lake Lucerne region. 

In this ticket, a picturesque boat journey takes you from Lucerne to Alpnachstad. This is followed by a cogwheel train ride up to the summit of Mt. Pilatus – Pilatus Kulm. This is the previously mentioned steepest cogwheel railway in the world. 

Once you have explored the peak of Mt. Pilatus, you can board the cable car, Dragon Ride, to descend to the middle station at Fränkmüntegg.

From there, visitors switch to a small bubble gondola that will take them down to Kriens. 

To return to Lucerne from Kriens, you can take a short 10-minute walk to the bus stop from where the bus journey will last 20 minutes. The Lucerne train station, bus station, and boat jetty are all located in close proximity to each other.

Visitors can buy tickets for a self-guided Golden Round Trip online. So, there is no worrying about standing in long queues. For people interested in learning about the local history and tales of Mt. Pilatus and why it is dubbed the Dragon Mountain, a guided private tour to Mt. Pilatus is a better option. 

Guided or Self-Guided Tour 

When you reserve a ticket for the Golden Round Trip, you don’t have to worry about doing a ton of research or booking separate tickets for each leg of the journey.

You can choose to upgrade your ticket to the upper deck on the boat itself. Simply request an upgrade to 1 st class when you board.

Alternatively, you can opt for the guided tour with a group. A private tour is also another option that one can take. 

Whether you prefer a self-guided or a guided tour, the Golden Round Trip is the perfect way to discover the immense beauty of Lucerne and relish the best that Mt. Pilatus has to offer in a single day.

Which direction is best?

When figuring out how to get from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus, a common question is which direction is the best to take.

When planning your trip, please keep in mind that you can start and end in Lucerne, regardless of which direction you choose. However, there are some factors to consider when making your decision.

If you begin with the boat from Lucerne to Alpnachstad, be mindful that the cogwheel train just before lunch can get busy. 

On the other hand, if you choose to end your trip with the boat cruise, make sure you time it right so that you don’t miss the last boat back to Lucerne. Check the boat timetable and calculate a 45-minute ride back down to Alpnachstad.

We recommend doing the trip anti-clockwise. That is: start with the cable car and end with the train or boat. This allows you to beat the crowds and enjoy the trip at a more relaxed pace.

Cable cars from Kriens begin running at 8:30 AM during peak season. So, you can start early and be at Mt. Pilatus by 9:30-10:00 AM. This is also the direction in which the guided tour operates in the summer. 

Visitors should keep an eye on the boat schedule to ensure they don’t miss the last boat back to Lucerne. Starting the trip early allows one to take the earlier boat back.

If you happen to miss the boat, you can take a regular train back to the city, too. 

Itinerary Pilatus Golden Round Trip

Provided below is a rough schedule for a full-day outing at Mount Pilatus. It can be adjusted as per your activities on the mountain:

8:55 AM – Board RBus No. 1 from Lucerne bus station (STAND A) in the direction of Kriens-Pilatus Zentrum. The bus station is located across the main road from the train station. The journey takes around 28 minutes.

9:23 AM – Get off at the Kriens bus stop and follow the marked path to “Pilatus Bahn” or follow the dragon. It’s a 10 to 15-minute uphill walk to the cable car station.

9:45 AM – At the cable car station, exchange your online tickets for the actual tickets. Get into one of the small bubble cable cars and take a 20-minute ride up to Fränkmüntegg. 

Note: If you want to explore the Adventure Tree Park, let your kids play on the fantastic playground in Krienseregg. Or, you can also experience the adrenaline rush at the summer sledging run. 

10:15 AM – Change to the Dragon Cableway and take a short ride to Pilatus Kulm, the summit of Mount Pilatus. This ride takes less than 4 minutes. Once at the summit, you can enjoy panoramic views of Lake Lucerne.

10:20 AM to 3:45PM – This is just an estimated time frame. You can spend as much time as you would like at the summit.

Note: The 3:45 PM cogwheel train is the last one to Alpnachstad to catch the boat.

3:45 PM – Take the cogwheel train down to Alpnachstad, and enjoy the slow downhill ride that takes around 40 minutes.

4:37 PM – Board the boat for the return journey to Lucerne. Take in the stunning views and reflect on the incredible day you had on Mount Pilatus while experiencing the Golden Round Trip.

5:45 PM – Arrive in Lucerne, marking the end of the Pilatus Golden Round Trip.

Please note that if you or someone in your group requires assistance due to a wheelchair, it is crucial to book it at least 24 hours in advance. Also, bicycles cannot be transported on the cogwheel train. To confirm the timings, it’s best to double-check the boat schedule.

Silver Round Trip

The Silver Round Trip from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus is the second most popular trip that tourists love to make. This trip’s ticket package includes a comprehensive number of transportation options, including:

• Bus ride from Lucerne city center to Kriens
• Cable car ascent to Mt. Pilatus
• Cogwheel train ride to Alpnachstad 
• Regular train back to Lucerne 

By opting for this package, tourists can experience both the cable car and cogwheel train rides. This way, they can avoid the limitations of the boat schedule.

The Silver ticket provides visitors with flexibility, allowing them to start their trip as early as 8:30 AM and end as late as 5:45 PM. It’s perfect for those who want to spend more time on the mountain, engage in activities, or simply go hiking. 

Additionally, the Silver Round Trip is 20% cheaper than the Golden Round Trip, with the only difference being that the train replaces the scenic boat ride between Alpnachstad and Lucerne. 

Mount Pilatus from Lucerne by Bus

From Lucerne to Mount Pilatus, the cheapest and fastest way to travel is by taking an RBus to Kriens, followed by a short walk to the cable car station which will take you to the summit.

The bus ride is 20-minutes long only. It is the quickest and most direct route to the Pilatus peak. So, you can even make a half-day trip to Lucerne. 

People who’d like an entire day trip to Mount Pilatus should be mindful. The short time frame may not allow them to fully explore all viewpoints at the peak of Pilatus Kulm. 

Despite the short time, it is still a favorable choice for many thanks to its affordability, as it allows visitors to enjoy some of the best views of central Switzerland from the mountain. 

During winter, this direct route is the only option. Moreover, the Adventure Tree Park activities at Krienseregg and Fränküntegg are closed. Therefore, visitors can proceed straight to the Dragon Ride Gondola for a four-minute ascent to the top, where breathtaking views greet them.

You might also like the following article:

Zurich to Lucerne: All there is to know

Mt Pilatus by Car

Mount Pilatus can be easily accessed by car. You can choose from three different options based on your needs:

• Leave your car in Kriens and take a cable car to Mt. Pilatus. You can then return the same way. The gondola station at Kriens provides ample car parking space for a fee of 5 CHF per day.
• Park at Alpnachstad and take a cogwheel train to Mount Pilatus. To return, you can use the same route. The car park here also costs 5 CHF. 
• Park your car in Lucerne city center. You can then embark on a round trip similar to the Golden Round Trip and the Silver Round Trip. This option, however, is more expensive, costing approximately 20 to 30 CHF per day.

Hiking to Mt Pilatus

You can also hike up Mt. Pilatus. However, the way up is quite steep and we do not recommend hiking all the way to the top of the mountain. It is a steep 4.5 to 5 hours uphill hike even for the shortest route. Moreover, the distance all the way up is about 8 kilometers (5 miles) with an ascent of 1670 meters.

Mount Pilatus Tickets

You have two options when purchasing Mount Pilatus tickets: 

• Purchase individual tickets for the cogwheel train or cable car, plus train, bus, or boat tickets for the trip from lucerne to Mount Pilatus
• Opt for the Golden Round Trip tickets, which cover the fare for every sector

Ticket prices vary depending on the chosen route. Varying child and adult prices available for the cable car, dragon ride, and cogwheel train to Pilatus. To provide a comparison of prices, adult return fares are as follows: 

• Mount Pilatus from Alpnachstad or Kriens – CHF 72
• Golden Round Trip – from CHF 103.60
• Mount Pilatus from Alpnachstad/Kriens with Swiss Travel Pass/Interrail/Eurail – CHF 38

How long does it take to visit Mt Pilatus from Lucerne?

When visiting Mount Pilatus from Lucerne, you should expect to spend at least 4.5 to 5 hours. The time would largely depend on the route you take, mode of transportation, and the chosen activities. 

If you opt for the Golden Round Trip and want to fully savor the picturesque vistas at the summit, allow for about 5 to 6 hours.

How long is the boat ride from Lucerne to Alpnachstad?

The duration of the boat ride between Lucerne and Alpnachstad varies between 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes. This would also depend on the specific stopping points during the journey.

How long is the cogwheel train ride from Alpnachstad to Mt Pilatus?

The steepest cogwheel train ride in the world will take about 30 minutes to reach from Alpnachstad to Mt. Pilatus. From Mt. Pilatus back down to Alpnachstad, you can expect the journey to last about 40 minutes. 

How long does a bus ride from Lucerne to Kriens take?

It takes about 12 to 51 minutes to travel from Lucerne Railway Station to Kriens through a bus. An additional 5 to 10 minutes of journey is made on foot to reach the Kriens-Mt. Pilatus gondola station. 

How long is the cable car ride from Kriens to Mt Pilatus?

The cable car ride from Kriens to Fräkmüntegg typically takes around 20 minutes. After this, you need to take the aerial cable car, or Dragon Ride, from Fräkmüntegg to Mt. Pilatus. This takes an additional 3.5 minutes.

There may be some waiting time at the Dragon Ride which should be added to the overall journey time. Therefore, you can expect it to take about 30 minutes to reach Pilatus Kulm from Kriens. 

Lake Lucerne Region: Best Places & Things To Do

Final Thoughts

A visit to Mt. Pilatus is an unforgettable experience that offers a wide range of activities and unbeatable views. Knowing how to get there and travel from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus adds to the fun of the trip as you can choose an option that best suits your interests. In fact, the journey itself is part of the experience and should be taken in and enjoyed to the fullest. 

After moving here for studies, I fell deeply in love with this country. Through my articles and photography, I aim to share unique insights and authentic experiences, capturing the beauty of Switzerland from an expat perspective. Let's discover together the diverse and charming aspects of Swiss life.

Home » Activities » Mountain Viewpoint

Mt Pilatus Golden Round Trip: boat cruise + mountain excursion

• Lake Lucerne Region

• Last Updated: 21 Nov 2022
• By Tanya, Founder of Swiss Family Fun

If you buy something through a link here, we may earn a commission. See our disclosure policy . Note that p rices and opening times may change without notice.

The “Golden Round Trip” is a full day excursion from Lucerne, visiting the nearby Mt Pilatus. The outing includes a boat ride on Lake Lucerne, steep cogwheel mountain train to the top of Pilatus. At the top, you can enjoy the views from the observation deck, eat at one of the restaurants, and optionally hike. Then ride a cable car down the other side of the mountain, with more amusements like the alpine slide and ropes adventure course.

This outing is a great way to experience the best of the Lucerne area, enjoying a variety of classic Swiss experiences. Below is all the information you need to plan your day on the Pilatus Golden Round Trip.

Overview of Golden Round Trip

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Here is an overview the Golden Round Trip.

1. The outing starts in Lucerne, where you catch the boat, which follows the red line to the base on the Pilatus mountain.

2. At Alpnachstad, you get off the boat and get on the cogwheel train, which follows the blue line up to the top of Mt Pilatus.

3. At the top, you can enjoy the view from the observation deck and restaurants. You can optionally hike to other viewpoints.

4. When you are done at the top, you ride the cable car down the green line to Frakmüntegg, where you’ll find the alpine slide and ropes course.

5. Then ride the gondola (also on the green line) down to Kriens.

6. Then the bus on the purple line to Lucerne.

Buy tickets now

Planning Your Day

You will need a minimum of 5 hours for this outing. On our last visit, we caught the 9:38 boat and arrived on Mt Pilatus at 11:30. We spent 2.5 hrs on the top and did the alpine slide on the way down. We arrived back in Lucerne at 16:00.

Here are sample times for each leg of the trip.

• Boat ride – The boat ride takes 1hr15. You should arrive at least 20 mins before your boat departure time so you can secure a good seat on the boat.
• Cogwheel train – The cogwheel train ride takes 32 mins. But expect to wait in line for 10-30 mins before boarding the train.
• Mt Pilatus – I suggest planning for at least 1 hour at top. Add 1 hour if you plan to eat at the restaurant. Add 2 hours if you plan to hike to Tomlishorn.
• Cable car – The full journey from Pilatus Kulm to Kriens (cable car + gondola) is 36 mins. On busy days (especially in the late afternoon), you may need to add time waiting in line, 15-30 mins.
• Alpine slide – add at least 30 mins if you plan to ride the slide, more if it’s busy. This includes walking to the slide, waiting in line, the ride and walking back to the gondola.
• Bus – The actual bus ride is about 15 mins. But add waiting time in case you don’t arrive in Kriens exactly when the bus departs.

Operating times

The Golden Round Trip is possible from late May through mid October when the boat and cogwheel train are running. In 2023, this round trip is scheduled to be open from 18 May – 30 Oct 2023. Outside of this time, you can still visit Mt Pilatus by riding the Kriens-Pilatus cable car. See my Mt Pilatus post for more information.

To make things simple, you just need to choose your Lucerne boat departure time and everything else will fall into place. I’ve noted the 2022 schedule below, but check the current schedule here .

• 9:38 – Daily from 26 May – 11 Sept 2022; Sat/Sun from 12 Sept – 16 Oct 2022
• 10:38 – Daily from 26 May – 16 Oct 2022
• 12:38 – Daily from 9 July   – 21 August; Sat/Sun and public holidays 26 May – 8 July and 22 August – 16 Oct 2022
• 13:38 – Daily from 26 May – 16 Oct 2022
• 14:38 – Daily from 26 May – 16 Oct 2022

The boat schedule is coordinated with the cogwheel train, so you don’t need to necessarily worry about the cogwheel train schedule. They run multiple trains up the mountain to accommodate everyone who gets off the boat.

If you are starting your day with the Alpnachstad train, you can check the official schedule here .

The Pilatus cable car runs every 15 mins. At Frakmüntenegg, you transfer to a gondola with many small cars that runs continuously. 

The full journey between Pilatus Kulm and Kriens is about 36 mins, assuming no waiting in line. On busy days, there can be a long line for both the cable car and gondola, especially near closing time. 

Bus 15 picks up at the Kriens. Pilatus Bahnen stop, directly in front of the Kriens Pilatus gondola station. Before 15;00, it runs hourly on the xx:22. After 15:00, it runs about every 30 mins. See current schedule for bus 15 .

Ride Bus 15 four stops to Kriens, Hofmatt-Bellpark . Get off the bus and transfer to Bus 1, direction Ebikon, Fildern , which will take you to the Lucerne main train station. This full journey is about 17 mins.

If you miss this bus, you can walk about 10 mins to the Kriens, Zentrum Pilatus bus stop, where the bus runs more frequently. Catch Bus 1, direction Ebikon, Fildern . This bus runs about every 8 mins and takes about 12 mins to reach the Lucerne main train station (Luzern, Bahnhof).

Ticket prices

In 2024, a Pilatus Golden Round Trip ticket costs

• Adult – CHF 113.80
• Child (6-15) – CHF 56.90 (free with SBB Junior Card or Family Card)
• Child under 6 – free

You can get a discount with the following travel passes and railcards.

• Adult with rail passes – CHF 39 (e.g. Swiss Travel Pass , Swiss Travel Pass Flex , Interrail, Eurail Pass)
• Adult with SBB Half Fare or GA – CHF 56.90

Note: No discount for SBB Day Pass, Saver Day Pass, Gemeinde Day Passes or other discount day passes

If you are arriving by public transport, you can get a discount through the SBB Railaway offers .

You can purchase a 1st class ticket for the boat ride, which allows you to sit on the upper deck. There is no 1st class for the other parts of the journey.

Free with Lucerne Region Tell-Pass . 

You can optionally reserve seats on the cogwheel train in Alpnachstad on the Pilatus website . This should alleviate the long waiting times, which can happen on weekends and high summer season. Typically you need to reserve a couple days before your scheduled trip. 

You book for a specific day and time. It costs CHF 5 per person per ride. If you are doing the Golden Round Trip and are arriving by boat, you should coordinate this time with the boat arrival.

It’s easiest to purchase tickets online , which gives you a voucher with a QR code. You can use this ticket directly from your phone or optionally print out the voucher. You can ride the boat and bus just with this QR code. When you get to the Pilatus cogwheel train, you need to present this voucher at the ticket booth and get a bar code ticket for both the cogwheel train and cable car.

You can also purchase tickets in person at the Lucerne boat dock (see on map) or Pilatus ticket offices.

You cannot make reservations unless you are a group of 9 or more.

I would suggest staying in Lucerne, where you can enjoy the charms of the city after your adventure and have access to many restaurants. Our friends suggest Hotel des Balances , which is right on the river near the famous tower bridge. We’ve also enjoyed Hotel Anker , which has a cool, funky vibe and a great breakfast. For a budget stay, you might consider Ibis Budget Hotel near the Lucerne train station.

How to get there

This excursion is located in Lucerne in central Switzerland. See location on Google Maps .

I suggest starting with the boat ride in Lucerne. The Golden Round Trip leaves from Pier 2, directly in front of the Lucerne main train station, as shown on the map below. See on Google maps .

By public transport: Take a train to Luzern, Bahnhof , the main train station in Lucerne. Walk out the main entrance to Pier 2 across the street.

By car: I suggest parking at the Luzern train station, which is near the boat dock ( Bahnhofpl. 1, 6002 Luzern ). There are multiple parking lots at the train station. Parking 3 is slightly cheaper. After parking, you walk through the train station and outside directly to the piers.

When you drive in, you’ll see P1 and P2 to your left and P3 to your right, a bit farther away. They all start at CHF 4 for the first hour, but P1 & P2 are slightly more expensive at CHF 2.50 for each additional hour, while P3 is CHF 2 for each additional hour. See all Luzern parking options   and download a PDF with a price comparison between all garages.

Alternatively, you could park at the Kriens cable car and take the bus into Lucerne at the start of your day. This would allow you to coordinate your arrival with the infrequent bus schedule. This would take a little more planning but this is what I would do next time.

I prefer to travel clockwise, starting with the boat ride and ending with the cable car ride because:

• there are only a few boat rides per day so I find it easier to schedule my day starting with the boat
• since the Alpnachstad boat departure times are few and far between, it can be tricky to time your cogwheel descent to catch the boat on time.  If you have to wait an hour or more, you can lounge at the lakeside café and get ice cream.
• with the cable car last, we can stop at the alpine slide at the end of our day

Some prefer to travel counter clockwise, starting with the cable car and ending with the boat because:

• you can get to Mt Pilatus earlier in the day and avoid some crowds at the top – first ride up 8:30
• you avoid a long wait for the cogwheel train at Alpnachstad on busy days
• you end the day with a relaxing boat ride, instead of a busy city bus to Lucerne.

But don’t stress. Just travel whichever direction makes sense for your group.

Photo story of the Golden Round Trip

From the train station, walk through the arch and directly to the water. The Golden Round trip leaves from Pier 2.

We were able to board the boat about 15 mins before departure. It helps to be one of the first ones to board so you can get a good seat. You don’t show your tickets when you get on the boat. The staff will come around the boat later and ask for your ticket. You can buy a ticket directly on board if necessary.

All sides of the boat are nice but the right side of the boat faces Mt Pilatus as shown in the picture here.

You can freely wander the boat during the ride to get different views. 

Upstairs requires a first class ticket.

From the boat, it’s a short walk to Pilatus-Bahn station where you get on the cogwheel train.

As you approach the station, these is a little ticket stand (the blue umbrella in the pic below) where you need to show your voucher and receive a bar code ticket for both the cogwheel train and cable car down the other side of the mountain. On non-busy days, they may not have this temp ticket stand. Instead go to the ticket office on the left side of this picture.

The line for the cogwheel train can be very long on busy summer days. We were there on a Friday in early June and there were at least a couple hundred people in line.

The boat arrival is coordinated with the cogwheel train departure schedule. The first train filled up quickly and there were still lots of people in line. So I was worried that we would have to wait a long time for the next train. But three more train cars came to collect everyone. It seems that the trains are continually running up and down the mountain on busy days.

Like at other tourist destinations in Switzerland, the Pilatus Bahn staff want you to sit where they tell you sit. So when walking up the stairs, don’t just sit in the first cabin so you can get a window seat or you might get scolded. They want you to fill up the seats in order so every seat gets filled. But if possible, it’s best to sit on the far side, away from the stairs, which has a better view when you get above the tree line.

I stood up a few times to see the steep tracks ahead of us. It’s an exciting ride.

The journey takes about 32 mins to reach Pilatus Kulm. The steepest grade is near the top.

The train drops you at the observation desk shown below. The cogwheel train and cable car stations are both here.

At this complex, you’ll find restaurants, gift shops and many viewpoints. Many people just spend their time wandering the observation deck and taking pictures. Below I give suggestions on other ways to spend your time here. But for more detail, see my Mt Pilatus post .

The large building is a hotel and restaurant with outdoor seating. There is another self-serve restaurant near the cable car station with indoor and sometimes outdoor seating in good weather. Inside, there is also a café with sandwiches. Sometimes they have a kiosk selling sausages on the observation deck. This pic is taken from the Esel peak just above the cogwheel train station. 

If you can manage stairs, I suggest you hike up to one of the taller peaks flanking the observation deck. In the pic below, we are standing at the Oberhaupt peak and looking across the the Esel peak. Both hikes are a little steep with switchbacks but should only take you about 10 mins each way.

Here are the stairs leading up the Esel viewpoint with Lake Lucerne in the distance.

Here is the viewing area from the Esel peak.

I also recommend the Tomlishorn Flower Trail (aka Blumenweg), which skirts along the cliffs shown here. To start the trail, follow the path past the hotel/restaurant that leads along the cliffs.

You can just walk along the path for a few minutes and turn back when you are tired. With my 74 year dad, we walked for about 20 mins down the trail and turned back. He loved the views and was very glad to have done it.

There is a fence along the cliffs, but if you are afraid of heights or with small children that might slip under the fence, perhaps skip this one.

The full trail is about 3 km there and back (plan about 1 hour+) to reach the Tomlishorn viewpoint ( see hiking map here ). About the last 15 mins of the trail is steeper, with stairs and uneven terrain with lots of rocks. If you aren’t a hiker, you probably want to turn back when you reach the stairs.

When you are done at the top, go inside the complex to the cable car station, which descends on the left side of this picture, opposite of the cogwheel train. It leaves about every 15 mins.

The cable car drops you at the Frakmüntegg middle station, where you can transfer to a gondola that takes you the rest of the way down to Kriens.

Or you can stop for awhile at Frakmüntegg to participate in various amusements like the alpine slide (info below), dragon glider and ropes course .

You can see the Frakmüntegg alpine slide in this picture, the squiggly line on the left. It’s 1350m long, the longest in Switzerland. It’s open 10:00 – 17:30 (last ticket sold at 17:00) in good weather. It’s not open in winter.

From the Frakmüntegg cable car station, it’s about a 5-10 min walk uphill to reach the top of the alpine slide (path on the left in the pic below). My 74 yr old dad found the trail a bit steep for his bad knees but he managed.

Here’s the entrance to the alpine slide. There is a small cafe here and picnic tables.

You can purchase your tickets here at a machine. Children under 8 must ride with an adult over age 16. In 2022, it costs CHF 9/adult, CHF 7/children aged 8-16, and CHF 5/children aged 6-7, children under 5 ride free with an adult. See current prices .

You cannot take any bags with you on the slide, so store them in the free lockers. You also cannot use a camera or phone on the slide, a CHF 100 fine if you do. However, you can use your phone on the ride back up, which would be a nice opportunity for pictures.

At Frakmüntegg, scan your bar code ticket to get on the gondola to Kriens. The small gondola cars run continuously, so there usually isn’t a long wait except at the end of a busy day.

In Kriens, exit the gondola station and wait at the bus stop directly outside the station, shown here. Bus 15 leaves here at 13:22, 14:22, 15:07, 15:37, 16:07, 16:37, 17:07, 17:37. See current schedule for bus 15 .

Ride Bus 15 four stops to Kriens, Hofmatt-Bellpark . Get off the bus, cross the street and walk a few meters to the bus stop, which is shown below. Catch Bus 1, direction Ebikon, Fildern , which will take you to the Lucerne main train station. This full journey is about 17 mins. 

A short video of our day on the Golden Round Trip in June 2022.

As I described in the sample schedule above, I would plan for about 5 hours for the Golden Round Trip. That gives you enough time to enjoy various attractions and gives a buffer for possible waiting times.

If you are on a tight schedule, I suggest starting with the cable car ride and taking the first ride up at 8:30. The cable car ride takes about 40 mins. This gets you to Pilatus by about 9:10. Spend 1 hour at the top. Catch the 10:10 cogwheel train to Alpnachstad, which gets you to the 10:57 boat to Lucerne. You will arrive in Lucerne at 12:17.

If that is too long, don’t do the full Golden Round Trip. Instead just ride the cable car up and back, which is much quicker.

You can bring a stroller on the boat and bus. But you will need to fold it on the cogwheel train, cable car and gondola. You can use the stroller around the Pilatus observation deck, which has elevators to avoid the stairs. But you cannot take it on any of the trails.

The gondola and cable are accessible for manual and electronic wheelchairs, but electronic wheelchairs must register in advance. The cogwheel train is also wheelchair accessible but both kinds must register in advance. Max dimensions and additional information is available in the Pilatus accessibility policy here .

At Pilatus Kulm, the toilets and elevators are wheelchair accessible, providing access to the panorama terrace and restaurants.

If you are doing this trip counter clockwise, you will ride the cogwheel train down to Alpnachstad, where you can catch the boat back to Alpnachstad. However, if there is a long wait, you might not get on the cogwheel train at the right time to catch the boat. In this case, you can instead take a train back to Lucerne. The train station is adjacent to the boat dock.

Yes. Just drive or take a train directly to Alpnachstad and start your day with the cogwheel train. The timing is a little tricky on the second half of your day to get back to Lucerne in time for the last boat. So check the schedule carefully.

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13 Responses

Tanya, Your detailed post on Mt Pilatus has been extremely helpful. I will have the Tell Pass when visiting Mt Pilatus in early September 2023 and would like to know the best strategy of reserving seats, if that is even a possibility while using a Tell Pass. Thank you! Laura

Hi Laura, You can book just the “Boarding Pass” for your desired date and time on the Stanserhorn website. You probably can do this just a couple days before your desired journey. https://shop.e-guma.ch/cabrio-stanserhorn/en/tickets

Hi Tanya, love your blog and Youtube video. Very helpful. We have a Swiss Travel Pass for four and want to reserve a seat for the cogwheel train to Pilatus Kulm. I read there is a 50% discount for Swiss Travel Pass but I couldn’t see any options in the Pilatus website when ordering online the Golden Round Trip tickets.

The website says, “Reductions (GA, Half-Fare travelcard, SwissTravelPass) must be showed at the turnstile, please have the IDs ready. Travel with a discounted ticket but without valid discount (GA, Half-Fare, Swiss Travel Pass) is considered as dodgy driving and is sanctioned accordingly. ”

https://shop.e-guma.ch/pilatus-bahnen/en/tickets/golden-round-trip-lucerne-alpnachstad-pilatus-kriens-lucerne-3503187

Hi Mike, to get the discount you need to get your tickets on site and show the STS. It’s not a big deal since tickets do not sell out. Just go a bit earlier to the ferry dock ticket office (or the day before) and get your tickets. With the STS, the boat ride is free and you get a discount on the mountain train and cable cars. Have fun!

How do I book for kids online with family Swiss card if there is no option for that discount. Kids ride free and if true, how to reserve a ticket for them? I wanted to book first class golden trip ticket. Or do we not book at all and just show the family Swiss pass at the gate? Thank you! Your info helpful!

Hi. If you have a 1st class Swiss Travel Pass, that includes 1st class on the boat but not the cogwheel train or cable car (no first class on either of those). So go a little early to the Lucerne ferry dock ticket booth. Show your Swiss Travel Pass there and they will sell you the tickets you need for the parts of the Golden Round Trip not included with the Swiss Travel Pass, including the free tickets for the kids. Often with kids, they don’t need a ticket but just go along with the parent. On the boat, you just get on the boat and the ticket taker will look at your Swiss Travel Pass at some point during the journey, including the associated family cards. Hope this answers your question.

Thank you for this detailed itinerary!! The problem I’m having is finding the proper link to purchase the Golden Ticket that is not a guided tour and includes the boat ride from Lucerne and all cogwheel, gondolas etc. Can you kindly provide the correct link? Thanks! Rhonda

You can book the self-guided tour directly on the Pilatus website, but since the tour is not available until May, that option is not on their website right now. If you want to book ahead, you can book with Get Your guide at the following link, which allows you to refund your ticket 24 hours in advance. I hope this helps. https://www.getyourguide.com/lucerne-l867/golden-round-trip-from-lucerne-to-mount-pilatus-t94602/?partner_id=GAOQYDD&utm_medium=online_publisher&placement=%22other%22

Hi, thank you for this very detailed post on the Mt. Pilatus Golden Round Trip, it’s very much appreciated. Loved how you outlined the different kinds of passes available.

I’m planning my trip to Switzerland but I am confused as to what pass I should get. I was thinking to get the Swiss Travel Pass, but I can’t find any information online as to how to book tickets online using the Swiss Travel Pass. For example, when I try to book the Golden Round Trip on this https://shop.luzern.com/en/product/pilatus-golden-roundtrip-from-lucerne website, the options are “Half-Fare Card”, “Guestcard”, and “Guestcard and Half-Fare Card”. If I have the Swiss Travel Pass, can I select “Half-Fare Card”, or is that strictly applicable to the Swiss Half-Fare Card?

Hope you can clarify!

That is a good question! I would verify the validity of the Swiss Travel Pass on this route using the validity map. If you get 50% with this pass, then I would select the Half-fare Card option. But I’m not 100% sure since I haven’t personally traveled with the Swiss Travel Pass. You might contact the Lucerne tourism office to inquire.

Sorry Tanya – I meant to say Pilatus trip not Rigi!

Hi Tanya & family,

We used to regularly holiday in Switzerland as a family. Our base was always Brunnen and we did this Rigi trip many years ago. It was such a treat to see it again recorded in your photographs. It IS a wonderful day trip. Thank you for bringing the memories back. I’m now trying to think of the best way of preserving it as a slideshow to play on our tv screen. Happy days. Thanks again, Brian, Barbara & family

Hi Brian, Glad I could help you relive some good memories from your Swiss trips. Yay!

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Hi! I’m Tanya and our family has been living & hiking in Switzerland since 2005, collecting dozens of fun hikes and activities for all ages and abilities. More about us…

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Mt. Titlis, Mt. Pilatus or Mt. Rigi – Which makes the best day trip from Lucerne?

With their spectacular setting between the serene waters of Lake Lucerne and the snowy peaks of the Alps, the mountains make for an attractive day trip from the colourful medieval streets of Lucerne . 

However, many travellers find it difficult to choose between Mount Titlis, Mount Pilatus , and Mount Rigi and whilst they all make wonderful Lucerne day trips, most folks only have time to visit one.

In this guide, we compare the three most popular day trips from Lucerne, so you can decide which is the best for you.

Rest assured – no matter which of the Lucerne mountains you choose to visit, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of Lake Lucerne and the surrounding Alps (weather permitting!).

[ This post may contain compensated links. Please see my  disclosure policy  for more information. ]

Mt. Titlis vs Mt. Pilatus vs Mt. Rigi comparison chart

Mount titlis day trip from lucerne.

Highlights: Rotating cable car, highest suspension bridge in Europe, year-round snow, central Switzerland’s only publicly accessible glacier,

Best suited to: Those who wish to see and touch snow, regardless of the time of year

Summary of activities available: Titlis Cliff Walk, Ice Flyer, Glacier Cave, Titlis Glacier Park, Titlis Adventure Park, Trübsee Flyer zipline, hiking, scooter bikes, row boats, alpine flower park, mountain biking, Trübsee snow park, skiing, snow shoeing, tobogganing (not all activities available year round).

Pre-booked transport option: We like the Titlis Eternal Snow World full-day tour – click here for details and prices .

🇨🇭 Read our full guide to visiting Mt. Titlis here .

First ascended in 1739, Mount Titlis lies to the south of Lake Lucerne and is often visited as an alternative to the Jungfrau. It is the highest peak in Switzerland’s Uri Alps north of the Susten Pass, rising to 3,238 metres above sea level.

It is also home to the world’s first rotating cable car, known as the Titlis Rotair , which offers dazzling panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

At the top station, an illuminated tunnel carved through the ancient blue ice of the glacier leads to the Glacier Cave, while for the more actively-minded, there are various hiking trails that start at the end at the Trübsee cable car station. 

If that’s not enough, the Titlis Cliff Walk boasts the highest suspension bridge in Europe.

During the summer months, it’s possible to rent a row boat and explore Trübsee lake at a relaxed pace, or zoom across the sky attached to the Trübsee Flyer zipline.

Opting to make the journey from Lucerne to Mount Titlis also gives visitors the chance to get a bird’s eye view of the mountain’s glacier – the region’s only accessible glacier – from the Ice Flyer chairlift. 

Operating over both the summer and winter months, when it doubles as a ski lift for the ski run, the Ice Flyer Titlis provides a unique means of getting to the mountain’s free, child-friendly snow tubing and sledging run.

When it comes to warming up, there are a number of cafes and restaurants dotted about the mountain, generally around the cable car stations, which offer hot drinks, snacks, and traditional Swiss mountain cuisine.

How to get to Mt Titlis from Lucerne

• Lucerne to Engelberg – train (or car)
• Engelberg to Stand to Titlis – cable car 
• Titlis to Stand to Engelberg – cable car
• Engelberg to Lucerne – train (or car)

Getting from Lucerne to Mt Titlis is easy, whether you travel by car or train.

Train travellers can reach Engelberg station on the railway operated by Zentralbahn in just 45 minutes, 

A free shuttle bus transfers passengers from Engelberg to the valley cable car station in just a few minutes more.

By car, Engelberg can be reached from Lucerne in around 40 minutes.  There is a large car park at the valley cable car station.

From the valley station, the Xpress cable car travels via Trübsee before reaching Stand station at 2,400 metres. Passengers then change to the Rotair cable car for the final leg of the trip to the Titlis summit at 3,020 metres.

Reaching the summit takes approximately 30 minutes from the valley station in Engelberg.

• Buy your tickets from Engelberg to Titlis here .
• Swiss Travel Pass holders receive 50% off tickets to Mt. Titlis – Buy your Swiss Travel Pass here .
• Swiss Half Fare Card holders receive 50% off tickets to Mt. Titlis – Buy your Swiss Half Fare Card here .
• Berner Oberland Pass holders receive 50% off tickets to Mt. Titlis – Buy your Berner Oberland Pass here .
• Tell Pass holders can travel to Mt. Titlis for free – Buy your Tell Pass here .

The two cable cars are open throughout the year, except for a short period at the beginning of November when the Rotair car is closed for maintenance.

Click here to check cable car closure dates for this year.

Another way to travel from Lucerne to Titlis is by joining an organised Mount Titlis tour.

We like this tour which includes return coach travel from Lucerne, tickets on the Titlis cable cars, a ride on the Ice Flyer chairlift and the services of an experienced guide.

Staying overnight at Mount Titlis

Those wishing to stay overnight at Mt. Titlis can stay at Trübsee Alpine Lodge which is located at the intermediate station of Trübsee (at 1800 metres). 

The lodge, which is also known as Berghotel Trübsee, offers comfortable, modern rooms for overnight guests. Click here to check details and prices .

Mount Pilatus day trip from Lucerne

Highlights: World’s steepest cogwheel railway, Golden Round Trip offers multiple transport methods to reach the summit, incredible sunset and sunrise views for overnight guests,

Best suited to: Those who would like to experience various modes of transport, visitors who would like to stay overnight on a mountain summit

Summary of activities available: Christmas Market, Dragon Glider zip line, Flower Trail, Pilu Land, Pilatus Rope Park, Fräkigaudi summer toboggan run, Dragon Trail, sledding, bobsledding, snowshoeing (not all activities available year round).

Pre-booked transport option: Our top pick is the Mt. Pilatus Golden Round Trip – click here for details and prices .

Self-guided transport option: If you prefer more flexibility, you can pre-purchase your tickets but travel when it suits you – click here to check details and prices .

🇨🇭 Read our full guide on How to Visit Mt. Pilatus here .

Mount Pilatus, or Monte Pilatus, is a mountain massif consisting of several individual peaks that is easily-identifiable from its position overlooking Lucerne. Its highest peak is Tomlishorn, which rises to a height of 2,128 metres above sea level.

One of the main activities to enjoy while taking in the incredible views is hiking.

There are some 20 different routes, ranging from easy trails lasting an hour and a half to those rated difficult, which shouldn’t be tackled without the appropriate equipment and experience and can take six hours to complete. 

Winter sees many of the hiking trails closed, however, there are still plenty of activities on offer on the mountain, including skiing, tobogganing, and sledging.

Mount Pilatus also has the longest summer toboggan run at Fräkmüntegg, while Pilatus Rope Park has all manner of ropeways to clamber up and across.

How to get to Mt Pilatus from Lucerne

• Lucerne to Alpnachstad or vice versa – boat or train
• Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm or vice versa – cogwheel train
• Pilatus Kulm to Fräkmüntegg to Kriens or vice versa – cable car
• Kriens to Lucerne or vice versa – bus

The heights of Mount Pilatus can be reached by the Pilatus Railway, which runs from Alpnachstad on Lake Lucerne to the summit at 2,132 metres.

With an average gradient of 35% and a maximum gradient of 48%, the railway holds the record for being the world’s steepest cogwheel railway line. 

Alpnachstad can be reached from Lucerne via the lake’s steamer services, giving you the chance to enjoy a Lake Lucerne cruise, or by trains on Zentralbahn’s Brünigbahn line.

The Pilatus Railway operates from May to November, weather permitting.

Getting from Lucerne to Mt Pilatus outside of these months is still possible, however, thanks to the cable cars running from Kriens (which can be reached by bus number 1 from Lucerne) that take passengers to the summit.

Round trip tickets from Kriens cost CHF 78 per adult – Buy your tickets here . Round trip tickets from Alpnachstad cost CHF 78 per adult – Buy your tickets here . Swiss Travel Pass holders receive 50% off tickets to Mt. Pilatus – Buy your Swiss Travel Pass here . Swiss Half Fare Card holders receive 50% off tickets to Mt. Pilatus – Buy your Swiss Half Fare Card here . Tell Pass holders can travel to Mt. Pilatus for free – Buy your Tell Pass here .

Cable car closures are limited to a short period in October/November. ( See closure dates here .)

During the summer months, visitors can purchase a Pilatus Golden Round Trip ticket , which entitles them to take a boat from Lucerne to Alpnachstad, ride the cogwheel railway up the mountain, and return to Lucerne via the cable car and a bus ride.

> Click here to check details and prices.

Staying overnight at Mount Pilatus

When it comes to accommodation at Mount Pilatus in Switzerland there are two options –  Hotel Bellevue or the historic mountain Hotel Pilatus-Kulm.

• Hotel Bellevue Pilatus is situated at the summit of Mt. Pilatus and offers twenty comfortable rooms with views of the Alps and Lake Lucerne.  Click here to check further details and prices.
• For a bit more luxury, the other Pilatus hotel, Pilatus-Kulm should be your choice.  With thirty superior rooms and junior suites, this is the ideal location to a restful night’s sleep surrounded by a stunning alpine panorama.  Click here to check further details and prices .

Mount Rigi day trip from Lucerne

Highlights: Oldest mountain railway in Europe, thermal spa,

Summary of activities available: Mineralbad & Spa Rigi Kaltbad, toboggan runs, hiking, paragliding, horse-drawn carriage rides, rope park, cross-country skiing, sledging, skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding (not all activities available year round).

Best suited to: Visitors who would like to experience various modes of transport, railway enthusiasts,

Pre-booked transport option: Enjoy the Classic Rigi Round Trip – click here for details and prices .

🇨🇭 Read our full guide on How to Visit Mt. Rigi here .

Sometimes known as ‘the Queen of the mountains’ (Rigi comes from Regina, the Latin word for queen), Mount Rigi is another mountain massif. 

It is surrounded by lakes Lucerne, Zug, and Lauerz, and on a clear day, it’s possible to see seven different bodies of water from the top. 

The summit, Rigi Kulm , lies 1,798 metres above sea level, in the Schwyzer Alps, due east of Lucerne across the lake.

The mountain claims ownership of not only the oldest mountain railway in Europe, but also the highest standard gauge lines on the continent – the Rigi Railways.

Like Mounts Titlis and Pilatus, Rigi is a popular site for hiking in summer with skiing and tobogganing possible in winter. 

Mt. Rigi boasts a hiking area of 90 square kilometres, covering some 120 kilometres of marked trails, which offer various viewpoints with expansive vistas across the region. 

The Classic Trail remains popular and leads from Rigi Kulm to Rigi Kaltbad (where you can relax with a hot drink or ice cream, depending on the time of year and prevailing weather conditions) via Staffel.

At just four kilometres in length, with a difference in altitude of only 300 metres and well-maintained paths leading down, it’s a great route for families looking to get a sense of the mountain.

How to get to Mt. Rigi from Lucerne

Classic Rigi Round Trip:

• Lucerne to Vitznau – boat or train
• Vitznau to Rigi Kulm – cogwheel train
• Rigi Kulm to Rigi Kaltbad – cogwheel train
• Rigi Kaltbad to Weggis – cable car
• Weggis to Lucerne – boat or train

There are a couple of different ways to travel from Lucerne to Mt. Rigi. You can travel either via Vitznau, Arth-Goldau or Weggis.

The first option is to take a train and bus, or boat, to Vitznau which takes about an hour. Services operate year round. You can then board the Vitznau-Rigi-Bahn rack railway to Rigi Kulm (via Rigi Kaltbad).

The second option entails catching a train from Lucerne to Weggis, a gondola lift from Weggis to Rigi Kaltbad, a resort town at 1,400 metres, and then a cable car for the final leg to Rigi Kulm.

Combining route options one and two above results in what is commonly known as the Classic Rigi Round Trip .

The third option is to get to Arth-Goldau which can be reached by train in around 35 minutes from Lucerne. From there the Arth-Rigi-Bahn rack railway transports passengers to Krabel where they join a cable car to travel on to Rigi Kulm.

The Weggis cableway is closed for a short period in November and then again in March/April. Click here for closure dates.

Mt Rigi ticket prices depend on the route you choose to travel. To save time queuing for tickets at the station, you can buy your train tickets here .

If you’d rather travel one way by train and the other by cable car, round trip tickets can be purchased here .

• Swiss Travel Pass holders travel to Mt. Rigi for free – Buy your Swiss Travel Pass here .
• Swiss Half Fare Card holders receive a 50% discount – Buy your Swiss Half Fare Card here
• Tell Pass holders can travel to Mt. Rigi for free – Buy your Tell Pass here .

Staying overnight at Mt. Rigi

For an unforgettable overnight stay on Mt. Rigi, book a room at Hotel Rigi Kaltbad . 

A member of the Swiss Quality Hotels group, Hotel Rigi Kaltbad offers stylish 3-star superior accommodation and fine dining with a spectacular view.  Guests also have direct access to the Mineralbad and Spa Rigi Kaltbad. Click here for more details and prices.

Planning a trip to Switzerland? At Holidays to Switzerland we are passionate about sharing our love of Switzerland and helping you to plan the perfect trip. Read our guide to planning a trip to Switzerland to kick start your travel plans and join our free Switzerland Travel Planning group on Facebook to chat with other past and future travellers. Want monthly news and podcast updates, helpful travel tips and special deals sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to Holidays to Switzerland and we’ll send you a bonus copy of our 10 Useful Things to Know Before You Visit Switzerland guide. 🇨🇭 Check out our exclusive discount offers and save on your Swiss vacation. 🇨🇭

Preparing yourself for the mountains

As each of these mountain peaks lies high above the snowline, and often above the cloud-line, you should not expect that the weather in Lucerne to be indicative of that on the mountains themselves. 

While you should prepare for low temperatures, it can get warm on the peaks, particularly in summer, so the best option is to dress in easily added or removable layers.

Gloves, sunglasses, and a warm hat shouldn’t be forgotten, alongside sturdy, closed shoes. 

Keep a close eye on the Mount Rigi, Mount Titlis, or Mount Pilatus weather before considering any trip into the mountains.  

Many hotels in Lucerne, as well as the Tourist Office, have webcams showing live video from the mountain summits. 

These live-streamed images can help you to determine if the Mt. Pilatus, Mt. Rigi or Mt. Titlis weather is suitable for a day trip.

Visiting Mt. Titlis, Mt. Pilatus and Mt. Rigi from further afield

Whilst the transport details above are for visitors wishing to start their excursion to the mountains from Lucerne, it is also possible to enjoy a day trip to Rigi, Titlis and Pilatus from other locations.

You should allow a full day for a Zurich to Mount Titlis day trip or an Interlaken to Mount Titlis excursion. Day trips from Zurich to Pilatus and Zurich to Rigi tours are also best enjoyed over a full day.

Private tours to all three mountains are also available from Lucerne, Zurich, Interlaken and other destinations in Switzerland.

I hope this guide has helped you to choose between Mt. Pilatus, Mt. Titlis and Mt. Rigi for your day trip from Lucerne.

🇨🇭 To read our full guide to Lucerne  > click here . You can also read our Lucerne Hotels Guide .

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Carolyn Schönafinger

Carolyn Schönafinger is a frequent visitor to Switzerland, the country she fell in love with more than 30 years ago. She now visits Switzerland every year in her quest to explore every inch of the country. Carolyn is a certified Switzerland Travel Expert and she has achieved the Swiss Travel System Travel Expert diploma. She loves sharing her Switzerland travel expertise and helping others to plan their dream Swiss vacation on this website and the Holidays to Switzerland Travel Podcast. Read more

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