Tours & tickets

Pilatus

Embark on a day trip from Lucerne and ascend Mount Pilatus by cable car. Go on a hike and kick pack on the panorama terrace, descended the mountain by cogwheel railway, and complete your experience with a return journey by boat. Depart Lucerne and relax aboard a comfortable coach on the drive to Kriens. Then, climb aboard the panoramic gondolas and journey to Fräkmüntegg to board the aerial Dragon Ride cable car up the mountain. Get magnificent views of the snow-capped peaks from the panoramic windows. Arrive at the top of Mt. Pilatus, 2,132 meters above sea level and feel like a bird as you survey your surroundings. Hike to the summit or venture down the Dragon Trail where dragons with healing powers were thought to live in the Middle Ages. Relax on the panoramic terrace and take in the magnificent vistas of the mountains and lakes. Eat at one of the restaurants to enjoy lunch on top of the world. Get ready for the ride of a lifetime as you descend the mountain on the world's steepest cogwheel railway. Arrive in Alpnachstad to embark on a one-hour cruise back to Lucerne on the beautiful "Lake of the 4 Cantons" (only during summer).

Treat yourself to a scenic catamaran cruise on Lake Lucerne. Explore the Alpine landscape and admire sweeping views of untouched nature. Be camera-ready as you pass iconic landmarks and green-covered mountains like Rigi and Bürgenstock. Hop on board a modern hybrid-powered catamaran and depart from the city center to a natural oasis of rugged mountains and vibrant greenery. See Lucerne Bay’s famous landmarks and the awe-inspiring Mount Pilatus, Mount Rigi, and Mount Bürgenstock. Stretch out, capture unique landscape photos, and grab a drink or snack from the vending machine on board. As you make your way round-trip back to the city, soak in the tranquility of the water and the grandeur of the mountains.

Combine Lucerne’s landmark mountain with a cruise on Lake Lucerne. Both of the experiences are an absolute must during your visit to the Lake Lucerne Region. The Golden Round starts in Lucerne. Take bus number 1 (direction Kriens/Obernau) right in front of the train station of Lucerne. After an eleven-minute bus ride to the station "Kriens, Zentrum Pilatus" and a short walk, you will reach the valley station of the panorama gondola in Kriens. Enjoy 15 minutes travel to the middle station Krienseregg. There you can sit and relax on the terrace of Restaurant Krienseregg (own expenses) and enjoy your time while children are playing on the Pilu Land playground. After another 15 minutes travel by panorama gondola, you will reach the middle station Fräkmüntegg. At Fräkmüntegg you can test your agility by climbing in the rope park (own expenses) or try one of the local specialties in the self-service restaurant (own expenses). At Fräkmüntegg you will also change into the aerial cableway "Dragon Ride" and after an exhilarating 5-minute ride you will reach the top of Pilatus Kulm. Thanks to its spacious interior, cockpit-like design and large windows the Dragon Ride gives you the impression of being in a helicopter. From the top you can enjoy the panoramic views over the Lake of Lucerne and the Swiss Alps on the summit and decide if you want to stay inside the panoramic gallery, relax on the terrace, climb one of the peaks (5-10 minutes) or enjoy a local specialty in the restaurant of Hotel Bellevue or Hotel Pilatus Kulm (own expenses). Many hiking possibilities invite you to discover the Dragon Mountain above Lucerne. The world's steepest cogwheel railway (built in 1889) will bring you from Pilatus Kulm through fascinating rock faces, sparkling mountain streams and lush meadows carpeted with Alpine flowers down to Alpnachstad. In Alpnachstad you just pass under the street, and you will be at the cruise landing stage in Alpnachstad. After a breathtaking one-hour boat trip on Lake Lucerne, you will arrive in Lucerne, near the station and your unforgettable half-day-trip will finish. The Golden Round Trip can also be done in the opposite direction, starting by boat from Lucerne. In any case please check the timetable before your visit, especially for the boat ride.

Discover the beauty of Lucerne and Mt. Pilatus on a day trip from Zurich. Reach the summit via bus, cable car, boat, and cogwheel train. For the return journey, hop on a boat cruise across Lake Lucerne. Leave from Zurich Main Station in the morning and enjoy the bus ride through the countryside along the Lake of the Four Cantons to Lucerne. Continue to Kriens and take a panoramic gondola and cable car to the summit of Mount Pilatus (2128 m above sea level). Enjoy the breathtaking view of the Swiss Alpine landscape and the surrounding lakes. Then, ride on one of the steepest funiculars down to Alpnachstad. Afterward, relax on a tranquil boat trip across Lake Lucerne back to Lucerne. From there, get on a bus to Zurich.

The Silver Round Trip starts in Lucerne. Take bus number 1 (direction Kriens/Obernau) right in front of the train station of Lucerne. After an eleven-minute bus trip to the station "Kriens, Zentrum Pilatus" and a short walk, you will reach the valley station of the panorama gondola in Kriens. Enjoy 15 minutes travel to the middle station Krienseregg. There you can sit and relax on the terrace of Restaurant Krienseregg (own expenses) and enjoy your time while children are playing on the Pilu Land playground. After another 15 minutes travel by panorama cable car, you will reach the middle station Fräkmüntegg. At Fräkmüntegg you can test your agility by climbing in the rope park (own expenses) or try one of the local specialties in the self-service restaurant (own expenses). At Fräkmüntegg you will also change into the aerial cableway "Dragon Ride" and after an exhilarating 5-minute ride you will reach the top of Pilatus Kulm. Thanks to its spacious interior, cockpit-like design and large windows the Dragon Ride gives you the impression of being in a helicopter. From the top you can enjoy the panoramic views over the Lake of Lucerne and the Swiss Alps on the summit and decide if you want to stay inside the panoramic gallery, relax on the terrace, climb one of the peaks (5-10 minutes) or enjoy a local specialty in the restaurant of Hotel Bellevue or Hotel Pilatus Kulm (own expenses). Many hiking possibilities invite you to discover the Dragon Mountain above Lucerne. The world's steepest cogwheel railway (built in 1889) will bring you from Pilatus Kulm through fascinating rock faces, sparkling mountain streams and lush meadows carpeted with Alpine flowers down to Alpnachstad. In Alpnachstad take the train back to Lucerne. The Silver Round Trip can also be done in the opposite direction, starting by train from Lucerne. In any case please check the timetable before your visit.

Start your trip at Alpnachstad or Kriens valley station and enjoy the 30 minutes ride with the world's steepest cogwheel railway (from Alpnachstad) or with the panorama-gondola and aerial Cableway "Dragon Ride" (from Kriens). At the top of Lucerne's landmark mountain, you can enjoy the great panoramic view over the Swiss mountains, Lake Lucerne and the city of Lucerne - either from the spacious panorama terrace outside or the cosy panorama gallery inside. After a few minutes, you can also reach one of the three peaks at Pilatus Kulm (Esel, Oberhaupt or Tomlishorn) and enjoy your walk in the Swiss mountains or on the Dragon Path. Pilatus is also called Dragon mountain because of the legends about a dragon living there - learn about these myths in the Dragon World at Pilatus Kulm. At Alpnachstad and at Pilatus Kulm you can try some specialties in one of the restaurants. Even Queen Victoria stayed at the Pilatus mountain, and one of the restaurants at Pilatus Kulm is named after her. When you decide to take the cable car to/from Kriens you can enjoy various leisure activities (at additional costs) like the biggest rope park of Central Switzerland (suitable for visitors from 4 years old), the Dragon Glider or the longest Summer toboggan run in Switzerland at the station Fräkmüntegg. At Fräkmüntegg you will change to the aerial cableway "Dragon Ride" and reach the summit Pilatus Kulm at 2132 meters above sea level in 5 minutes. At Krienseregg and Fräkmüntegg you can try some local specialties in one of the restaurants before heading back to Kriens by cable car.

Embark on an unforgettable small-group tour from Zurich to the legendary Mount Pilatus, where stunning natural beauty and captivating history await. Your journey begins with a scenic drive to Kriens, where you'll board the cable car for an exhilarating ascent to the summit. Discover the mysteries surrounding the legendary Pilate massif, where tales of a fallen dragon stone and the burial site of Roman governor Pontius Pilate await your exploration. On the way up, enjoy the thrilling "Dragon Ride," featuring large panoramic windows that give you the sensation of flying above the Swiss landscape. Once at the top, take in the breathtaking views of 73 Alpine peaks and explore the mountain's restaurants and terraces, offering sweeping vistas at 2,132 meters. Descend on the world’s steepest cogwheel train, making your way down to Alpnach. From there, relax on a serene cruise across the crystal-clear waters of Lake Lucerne, surrounded by majestic mountains. Your day concludes with free time in Lucerne, where you can explore the charming Old Town, admire the iconic Chapel Bridge, or simply stroll along the scenic lakeside.

Journey to the heart of Mount Pilatus in the Swiss wilderness, with opportunities to explore Lake Lucerne, Pilatus summit, and ride the famous dragon aerial cable car, on a guided tour from Lucerne. Discover Lake Lucerne, also known as The Lake of Four Cantons, and admire the Bürgenstock, Rigi Mountain, and Pilatus Mountain from afar cruising along the crystal-clear lake. From May to October, take the boat from Lucerne to Alpnachstad instead. Upon arrival in Alpnachstad, take the cogwheel train to ascend the foothills of Pilatus, all the way to the end of the steepest rack railway in the world. Admire the views over the Alps from 2,073 meters high, as your guide reveals the historical, cultural, and culinary highlights of each area. Afterward, choose to keep soaking up the stunning valley views from a restaurant or enjoy a hike to the summit of Mt. Pilatus for a bird’s eye view of Lucerne. Breathe in the fresh mountain air from the viewing platform as you gaze out over crystal-clear lakes, lush green meadows, and rolling peaks. Learn how Pilatus came to be haunted by legends of dragons and why many believe the body of Pontius Pilate was laid to rest within its foothills. Descend from the mountain aboard the iconic “dragon ride” aerial cable car, suspended in a giant glass cabin that provides 360 views of the region. Enjoy an ever-changing perspective of the Alpine landscape, as Lucerne pulls back into focus as you approach the end of the line.

Fly in The Lucerne Region, with the famous Lucerne Lake under your feet or Engelberg Valley, one of the most famous valleys in Switzerland surrounded the Swiss Alps. We start the activity from the cablecar and lifting up to the takeoff. Get ready in 5 minutes and you will be flying with a Professional Tandem Pilot with an amazing landscape. After the flight, we land at the official landing area and we walk back to the meeting point. What to Bring? - Wear comfortable clothes and sports shoes, ideally boots that support the ankles. If it is winter, bring a coat and gloves. Good to know! - Easy and simple take off for anyone who can run 20 meters. - Paragliding is a Low Risk Sport. - Photos on demand. - Possibility of aerobatic manouvers on demand.

The Tell Pass is ideal if you are a planning to spend a minimum of two days in Central Switzerland. The Lake Lucerne Region offers an incredible variety of wonderful excursions from Lake Lucerne to the mountain Stoos, Rigi, Pilatus, Titlis and Brienzer Rothorn all included in one ticket. It is much cheaper than the Swiss Travel Pass and even cheaper than if you purchase the tickets separately. Save money to discover all corners of the region with the Tell Pass and find scenic, sunny and snowy places. Remarks: https://static.switzerlandtravelcentre.com/sites/default/files/2025-02/TellPass_Streckennetz_DE_Sommer_2025.pdf