From Zurich: Lucerne & Mount Pilatus Day Tour

Top rated
4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7
933 reviews
Activity provider:
Best of Switzerland Tours
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From Zurich: Lucerne & Mount Pilatus Day Tour
Likely to sell out
Top rated
4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7
933 reviews

Enjoy a bus trip through the countryside from Zurich to Lucerne. Take the cable car up Mount Pilatus, the funicular down to Alpnachstad and the boat back across Lake Lucerne.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
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Duration 9.5 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English, Spanish

Highlighted reviews from other travelers

5
5 out of 5 stars
S
Samantha – United States

Such an incredible day trip! Our guide Lars was super knowledgeable and very helpful. I highly suggest taking this tour!

5
5 out of 5 stars
R
Reza –

Our guide tour person (Minu) was excellent, very helpful and pleasant. She looked after us very well.

Select participants and date

Itinerary

  • Starting location:

    Best of Switzerland Tours AG

  • Central Switzerland

    Guided tour, Sightseeing, Bus tour, Scenic views on the way

  • Lucerne

    Visit, Free time, Sightseeing

  • Central Switzerland

    Guided tour, Bus tour

  • Cable car

    (30 minutes)

  • Pilatus

    Visit, Free time, Sightseeing, Scenic views on the way

  • Train

    (30 minutes)

  • Lake Lucerne

    Boat cruise

  • Central Switzerland

    Guided tour, Bus tour

  • Arrive back at:

    Best of Switzerland Tours AG

Main stop

For reference only. Itineraries are subject to change.

Highlights

  • Enjoy a beautiful ride through the countryside along Lake Lucerne
  • Take a brief stop in Lucerne
  • Scale Mount Pilatus on several cable cars and gondolas
  • Relax on an idyllic 1-hour boat ride back to Lucerne

Full description

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.

Includes

  • Bilingual guide
  • Transportation in a comfortable bus
  • Panoramic gondolas and aerial cable cars (from October 20 to November 07, 2025: ascent and descent by cogwheel train)
  • Cogwheel train
  • 1-hour boat cruise (until October 19, 2025)
  • Lunch voucher (from October 20 to November 14, 2025, if autumn option is selected)
  • Carbon-balanced operations certified by myclimate
  • Food and drinks
  • Personal expenses

Not suitable for

  • Wheelchair users

Meeting point

Your tour departs from Zurich Sihlquai Bus Station near Zurich HB (main train station). Follow track 18 (last track on street level) until the road turns right. Follow the road for 50 meters and find the Zurich Sihlquai Bus Station across from Starbucks. By public transport take tram 4, 6, or 13 to the stop Sihlquai/HB. Please arrive 15 minutes before departure to check in at the counter of “Best of Switzerland Tours.” Please ensure you bring a valid ID and have the QR code on your printed or digital voucher ready for scanning.

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Important information

What to bring

  • Passport or ID card

Not allowed

  • Pets (assistance dogs allowed)
  • Food and drinks in the vehicle

Know before you go

  • From October 20th to November 7th, 2025: the ascent and descent will be made by cogwheel train due to the revision of the cable car
  • From November 8th - 14th, 2025: the ascent will be made by cable car, and the descent will be by cogwheel train
  • From October 20th - November 14th, 2025, there will not be a boat ride so a lunch voucher will be included instead

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.7 /5
4.7 out of 5 stars

based on 933 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.8/5
  • Transportation
    4.8/5
  • Value for money
    4.6/5

Customer photos

+116
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5
5 out of 5 stars
S
Samantha – United StatesJune 16, 2025 – Verified booking
Such an incredible day trip! Our guide Lars was super knowledgeable and very helpful. I highly suggest taking this tour!
5
5 out of 5 stars
R
Reza – June 10, 2025 – Verified booking
Our guide tour person (Minu) was excellent, very helpful and pleasant. She looked after us very well.
5
5 out of 5 stars
C
Constance – United StatesJune 9, 2025 – Verified booking
The very long wait for the tram up the mountain - should stagger the bus drop offs so that not all buses are dropped off at the same time.

Product ID: 11974

Activity provider:
Best of Switzerland Tours

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