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Mount Pilatus Summit from Lucerne With Lake Cruise
Badge of ExcellenceLucerne, Switzerland
- 5 hours 15 minutes
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Spend an afternoon in the Swiss Alps during this seasonal trip to Mt Pilatus from Lucerne. Your 5.5-hour round-trip journey includes a 30-minute panoramic gondola ride from Kriens to Fräkmüntegg terminus plus an ascent by aerial cableway to the peak of Mt Pilatus. After free time at the summit, take the world's steepest cogwheel train down to Alpnachstad, where you’ll board a boat for a 1-hour scenic cruise on the tranquil waters of Lake Lucerne. Enjoy commentary from your guide and coach transport from Lucerne.
- Take a panoramic gondola ride to the Fräkmüntegg terminus
- Hop aboard the aerial cableway to the summit of Mt Pilatus at 7,000 feet (2,132 meters)
- Descend from the summit via the world's steepest cogwheel train
- Cruise out onto Lake Lucerne during a 1-hour boat ride (May to October)
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
If the weather doesn’t cooperate for a lake cruise, this Mt. Pilatus tour offers complimentary lunch instead.
What's Included
- Panoramic gondola and aerial cable car "Dragon Ride" (except from 21.10. - 08.11.2024)
- Steepest cogwheel train in the world (from 17.05.2024 onwards)
- 1-hour boat ride on Lake Lucerne (until 20.10.2024)
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Hotel pickup and drop off
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Frankenstrasse 2, 6003 Luzern, Switzerland
Our meeting point is located at Frankenstrasse 2-4, 6003 Lucerne, a side street next to the Lucerne train station. Please wait there on the sidewalk, your tour guide will pick you up.
Start time
12:30 PM
End point
- Luzern Bahnhofquai6003 Lucerne, Switzerland
The tour ends at the pier in Lucerne, only 7 minutes walking distance from the meeting point.
What To Expect
Climb aboard your coach in central Lucerne for an afternoon excursion to the top of Mt Pilatus, situated at a dizzying altitude of 7,000 feet. You’ll make the brief journey to Kriens where your guide accompanies you aboard the panoramic gondola for a 30-minute ride to the Fräkmüntegg summit terminus.
Look down upon forested views, then swap your gondola for the aerial cableway at Fräkmüntegg — it's a quick 3.5-minute ride to the summit. The cabin’s spacious and sleek design on this ‘Dragon Ride’ affords more magnificent views over the Alpine lakes and rugged peaks seen from your vantage point high above.
During your free time atop Mt Pilatus, you can venture on a high-altitude hike, grab lunch (own expense) or enjoy the vista from the terrace. Then meet up with your guide for the descent to Alpnachstad aboard the world's steepest cogwheel train. Ride past sheer rock faces and pretty mountain streams toward the fertile meadows below.
On arrival, enjoy a 1-hour boat ride across picturesque Lake Lucerne and view the scenery from a different angle before your tour concludes here in the evening.
Please note: The aerial cableway is under maintenance between late October and mid-November. In this case, you will ascend and descend Mt Pilatus by cogwheel train. The Lake Lucerne boat cruise operates from early May until late October; if you are traveling when the boat is no longer in operation, you will instead receive a complimentary lunch and return to Lucerne by train.
Look down upon forested views, then swap your gondola for the aerial cableway at Fräkmüntegg — it's a quick 3.5-minute ride to the summit. The cabin’s spacious and sleek design on this ‘Dragon Ride’ affords more magnificent views over the Alpine lakes and rugged peaks seen from your vantage point high above.
During your free time atop Mt Pilatus, you can venture on a high-altitude hike, grab lunch (own expense) or enjoy the vista from the terrace. Then meet up with your guide for the descent to Alpnachstad aboard the world's steepest cogwheel train. Ride past sheer rock faces and pretty mountain streams toward the fertile meadows below.
On arrival, enjoy a 1-hour boat ride across picturesque Lake Lucerne and view the scenery from a different angle before your tour concludes here in the evening.
Please note: The aerial cableway is under maintenance between late October and mid-November. In this case, you will ascend and descend Mt Pilatus by cogwheel train. The Lake Lucerne boat cruise operates from early May until late October; if you are traveling when the boat is no longer in operation, you will instead receive a complimentary lunch and return to Lucerne by train.
Lucerne (Pass By)
Pilatus Luzern
3 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Alpnachstad (Pass By)
Lake Lucerne
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
Lucerne (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 1 day of travel. In this case confirmation will be received as soon as possible, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- 09.-16.05.2024: Ascent and descent by cable car, boat ride and voucher for a soft drink included
- 21.10. - 08.11.2024: Ascent and descent by cogwheel train, no boat ride but lunch voucher included.
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
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Featured review
Susan_C
Of course the views were spectacular, we're in Switzerland! I was very impressed by our guide Monica, who was so efficient , kind and knowledgeable. She cared that everyone have a good time and went beyond what was required or even expected. The variety of transportation was also a great find with the bus, gondola, cog train and boat.
We have been well taken care of in all our excursions and tours by the well trained, professional staff and guides. Viator seems to deal only with the best suppliers. Our greatest thanks.
Reviews
4.5
805 reviews
Lance_F, May 2024
We were sad we couldn't ride the cog railway, but the gondola rides were fine. It shortened our ferry trip, but the bus driver caught us up, so it was nice.
Isabel did a great job herding her group through all the queues and at the top, too. Narration was good
Catharine_K, May 2024
Robert, our tour guide, was wonderful! The entire day was lovely. It was foggy on Pilatus, so we couldn't see the view, and the train wasn't running, but it was still worth the trip. The boat ride was especially beautiful and relaxing.
Dianne_Y, Nov 2023
Our tour was canceled, so we can’t write a review. We definitely wish we had been able to take the tour.
Response from Host, Nov 2023
Dear Dianne_Y,
Thank you very much for leaving this review about our Mt Pilatus tour.
We are sorry to read that the tour got canceled due to the weather conditions and you couldn’t visit Mt Pilatus. In Switzerland, particularly during the autumn season, the weather can be remarkably unpredictable, with rapid changes that might pose risks to the safety of our guests and staff. As a precautionary measure, our mountain partners carefully monitor weather conditions, and if they determine that the weather has become dangerous, they may decide to close the destination.
As soon as Pilatus Railways notifies us, we immediately contact all our guests with the option to visit a similar destination, Mt Rigi, which also includes a boat cruise, cable car, and cogwheel train. Since this tour has a lower rate, we issue a partial refund for the difference in value between both tours. Alternatively, guests can choose to reschedule or cancel the tour free of charge.
We regret to hear that you didn’t opt for our alternative program and hope that you consider joining us in the future, hopefully with better weather conditions.
Best regards,
Ambika from Best of Switzerland Tours
Kevin_H, Oct 2023
Trip well organized. Plenty of time at top of mountain. Great experience. Gladly recommend this tour.
Tom_C, Oct 2023
Viator deceived us. There was supposed to be a gondola ride up the mountain. The gondola was down for its yearly scheduled maintenance, which Viator should have known. The cogwheel train is nice, but should be much cheaper.
Response from Host, Nov 2023
Dear Tom,
Thank you very much for taking the time to write this feedback about our Mt Pilatus tour.
We would like to clarify that this information is clearly stated in the tour description in Viator. To be more precise, under the section of “Additional Info”, the following is written: From Oct 23 to Nov 10: ascent and descent by cogwheel train, no boat ride but lunch voucher included. We regret to hear that this information went unnoticed and that you were looking forward to the gondola ride. The cogwheel train is the true highlight of the mountain and with fixed rates with our partner, Mt Pilatus, it is not possible to adjust the rate.
We hope that you were still able to enjoy the visit to one of the most popular destinations in Central Switzerland and to welcome you on tour on your next visit to Switzerland (hopefully during summer when no lifts are under maintenance).
Best regards,
Ambika from Best of Switzerland Tours
Melinda_L, Oct 2023
My Pilatus trip with konrad was excellent. He’s super funny.
I gave 2 stars because we didn’t get to go in the gondola ride.
We got chf 20 for food voucher to compensate us for not going on the boat ride. I’m not recommending this tour for that much money and not do the gondola n boat ride. Nobody told us they are doing maintenance for 3 weeks.
Response from Host, Nov 2023
Dear Melinda,
Thank you very much for participating in our Mount Pilatus tour and for taking the time to write this feedback.
We would like to bring to your attention that important details about the tour, such as the operating times of the cable car, boat, and cogwheel train, are clearly outlined in the Viator tour description. More specifically, under the "What’s Included" and "Additional Info" sections. We apologize if this information went unnoticed when making your booking, and thus your expectations were not met.
Just like in any alpine region, there can be occasional maintenance and operational changes. During a specific period in the autumn, from October 23 to November 10, the cable car undergoes maintenance, and the boat ceases operation for the entire winter season. As a result, during this time, the ascent and descent are exclusively via the cogwheel train. As compensation, our guests receive a CHF 20.- meal voucher at the restaurant on the summit.
It brings us joy that you value the assistance of your tour guide, Konrad, who with his experience and funny manners helped you make the most of your tour.
We regret again to hear that you were not completely satisfied with our services but hope you were still able to enjoy a great stay in Switzerland.
Best regards,
Ambika from Best of Switzerland Tours
Mary_J, Oct 2023
Such a fun experience!!! Christopher was funny and entertaining while learning new things about cooking. The villa was set up perfectly, and they had everything down to move quickly keeping us engaged! Absolutely loved everything about our night! A must do if you are in the Sorrento area! And the food was amazing!
Kelly_A, Oct 2023
We paid for this tour!! It was not a tour. It was a bus ride and a train ride. No boat, no tram, no gondala. We were not notified until we had gotten on the bus to head to the tram, which was not running. We are very angry and have been taken advantage of. We talked to the guide , who was nice but wouldn’t discuss the issue with me. She kept walking away. She kept saying ok ok , it’s just ok. It’s not OK!
Then I contacted Viator. They said oh I understand but no refund.
We had a Viator trip in Nuremberg last week and we paid for a whole tour, they only did half, but didn’t tell us until we showed up at the meeting point. Two days before that. They canceled our trip in Heidelberg 3 hours before the tour. All of this is unprofessional and costly to us. They are making money and not providing what they have been paid for.
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Dear Kelly,
Thank you very much for taking the time to write this feedback about your recent experience on our Mt Pilatus tour from Lucerne.
Please be aware that we are the tour operator and Viator is a different company that sells our products. We are sorry to hear about your past negative experiences with other tour operators but, for us, transparent and clear communication is very important in order to achieve the high quality standards we strive for.
We would like to emphasize that the details of the tour, such as the operating times of the cable car, boat, and cogwheel train, are clearly stated in the tour description in Viator. More specifically, in the “What’s included” and “Additional Info” sections. We regret to hear that this information went unnoticed when making the booking and thus your expectations were not met.
As in every alpine region, there are occasional maintenance and operational periods and changes. During a specific period in autumn, from October 23 to November 10, the cable car undergoes maintenance, and the boat ceases operation for the entire winter. Thus, the ascent and descent are by cogwheel train during this time. To compensate for the absence of the boat ride, we provide all our guests with a lunch voucher worth CHF 20, which can be used at any of the restaurants available at the summit.
We hope that you still enjoyed your stay in Lucerne and welcome you on the summer season one of our other tours.
Best regards,
Ambika from Best of Switzerland Tours
Kathleen_H, Oct 2023
The ride up the mountain was breathtaking. The mountain itself was awesome and the weather was warm. We were able to eat outside at the top!
shahid_k, Oct 2023
Rained a lot but worth it . Chose a good weather . Yolanda is a brilliant host . Have good stamina before attempting to walk the tracks
...
From $175.80
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Mount Pilatus Summit from Lucerne With Lake Cruise
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