Mount Pilatus Summit from Lucerne With Lake Cruise
Recommended by 90% of travelers
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Lucerne, Switzerland
+6
- 5 hours 15 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Exploring the villages of the Swiss Alps can be confusing, but this group tour has you covered with mountain transportation all the way from Lucerne to the top of Mt. Pilatus. Your seasonal adventure includes panoramic gondola rides up Mt. Pilatus, free time at the summit, a ride down the world's steepest cogwheel train, and a scenic Lake Lucerne cruise (summer only). Guided commentary and round-trip transportation from Lucerne complete the experience.
- Secure your preferred date for a popular Mt. Pilatus trip online, with ease
- Avoid the often-long lines for tickets with transportation booked in advance
- Leave a complicated Swiss Alps itinerary to local experts, and relax instead
- Enjoy a fun journey, traveling by mountain gondolas, cogwheel train, and boat
What's Included
- Panoramic gondola and aerial cable car "Dragon Ride" (except from 19 October to 27 November 2026)
- Ride on the steepest cogwheel train in the world
- 1-hour boat cruise on Lake Lucerne (until 18 October 2026)
- Lunch voucher up to 20 CHF (valid only from 19 October to 29 November 2026)
- Transportation in a comfortable air-conditioned coach
- Fully guided tour in English by a professional guide
- Carbon-balanced operations certified by myclimate
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Food and drinks (available for purchase at Mount Pilatus summit)
- Gratuities
- Personal expenses
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Best of Switzerland Tours AG, LuzernBus Parking Landenberg, Alpenquai, 6005 Luzern, Switzerland
Please wait there on the sidewalk. Your tour guide will be holding a red flag with “Best of Switzerland Tours” on it.
End point
- Luzern Bahnhofquai6003 Lucerne, Switzerland
The tour ends at the pier in Lucerne, just a 7-minute walk from the meeting point and only 1 minute from the main train station.
Itinerary
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 voucher.
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 voucher.
Lucerne (Pass By)
1
Pilatus Luzern
3 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Alpnachstad (Pass By)
2
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
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- From 19 October to 27 November 2026: Ascent and descent by cogwheel train. The boat cruise is not available, but a lunch voucher is included.
- From 28 to 29 November 2026: Ascent by cable car and descent by cogwheel train. The boat cruise is not available, but a lunch voucher is included.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 48 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
My wife and I planned this bucket list trip months before our Oct.7/25 trip up Mt.Pilatus summit , cog wheel train to bottom ..so cool...and beautiful cruise on Lake Luzern with the Majestic mountains
We lucked out with weather @17 C and blue sky.Viator met all my expectations and people in the area speak well of them as a trusted tour company. The guides were so knowledgeable , kind and willing to share all they were proud of. Thanks Viator and for an extra pat on the back!!! I booked a canal dinner cruise with Viator in Amsterdam it was amazing but this time of year ...I would recommend going on the mid afternoon to experience the beauty of the city because it gets dusk around 7. Amazing narrator and boat captains. Try this company , there easy to trust and keep you well informed of upcoming excursion
Reviews
4.6
based on 1,441 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Only one point... be sure to display the red flag while numerous folks are looking for their bus:)
Overall, our guide was very helpful in making the tour most enjoyable!
Wonderful tour to the top of the world. The bus ride was smooth, the various lifts and trams were efficient, but crowded, and the views at the top were amazing. We did an easy hike called the dragons walk, and watched the paragliders launch off the mountain. Food available was good and moderately priced. After taking the funicular down, there was also a boat ride across Lake Lucerne. Quite spectacular. Judith, our tour guide, did a great job with a large crowd. Highly recommend.
Overall one of the best days in Switzerland by far. The guide Robert was helpful informative and didn’t talk too much. The views were awesome even with fog etc… would do this day again. Everything went smoothly.
One again the meeting point directions were Incorrect. Come on guys this is ridiculous. We met another couple on the same trip same issue. Just made the bus
I recommend this tour for an excellent Lucerne expericene. The scenery is breathtaking and the tour guide was wonderful.
This is less of a tour than it is a convenient way to experience the different ways to travel to your destination of Pilatis. Guide navigates you to and from, there is very little insight into history or geography as you are all spread out due to the modes of transportation. It was perfect for us as we were seeking a stress free day with someone else doing the logistics. If however you are looking for cultural or historical significance or insights this is not for you.
Two hours on top of the mountain was about one hour too long unless you want to dine at a restaurant.
A fabulous day with 3 specific activities that were all unique. The gondola ride was superb - the view was amazing. The time at the top of Mt Pilatus was perfect. The cog wheel train was absolutely packed and it was difficult to see anything. The boat ride was lovely.
Fabulous day visiting Pilatus. The trip was well organized and so enjoyable. I highly recommend the trip to anyone visiting Lucerne.
Be sure to be on time, very well managed. Great trip! Hikes around the top were fabulous views fantastic!
We lived the three modes of transportation to get up and down from Mt Pilatus. It was also nice to get enough time at the top to explore on our own.
"We had a wonderful tour! Domenico was a fantastic guide; he gave us good history and facts about Mount Pilatus, which were super helpful. The views once you get up there are amazing! This tour was one of the best things we did while staying in Lucerne, I would recommend this if you are going to be in Switzerland anytime soon!
This is a great trip because nothing is repeated. It includes a bus, a gondola ride, a walk to the peaks, a narrow gauge descent, and a boat ride. Our guide was very knowledgeable and provided interesting commentary. There was even time for lunch near the peaks.
Great tour. Excellent guide (Dominco)! Everything was on time and we saw some amazing sights. Would do it again if we ever returned.
Due to a 2hr train delay I was unable to meet with the group. BUT, they were very accommodating and helped me out so I was still able to participate in all of the activities. I tried to catch up with them but was unsuccessful. It was a great adventure altogether!
Great overall experience! The only thing we would have liked to do was the luge activity after getting off the small gondola ride. We had 2+ hours at the top of Pilatus and we could have just spent an hour and done the luge activity. Nonetheless, great guide and great overall experience coming back on the lake too!
An absolute MUST when in Lucerne!! This was the most gorgeous tour I’ve ever experienced. Even though it is expensive, it’s absolutely worth it. Getting to the top of the mountain was so beautiful. Once at the top, we were literally in the clouds. It was incredible. We walked along the pathway to see the gorgeous views and then enjoyed a beer at the hotel at the top. Even taking the cogwheel train down was incredible
This was the perfect way to visit Pilatus! You could do it on your own, but the ease of being bussed to the tram and guided up and down the mountain is well worth ticket.
Difficulties locating starting location. Tour would benefit from headset. Mountain and Lake Sights are world class.
Stunning views, a great afternoon. Don’t miss it!!!
You have option for lunch, hiking, and sight seeing!!!
I am not a fan of heights and this was marvelous. So glad I did not let that get in my way for it was one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen in my lifetime. A must see. The gondola and cog train ride were awesome too and not scary. Highly recommend this tour. The boat ride back to Luzern was also nice. A MUST if you are in Luzern. Daniel our guide was great.
This was the best excursion of the whole trip. I was tired of seeing old churches and castles. Plus Lucerne is a very beautiful city. The weather was perfect.
Very good trip. Lots of unexpected sights and once in a lifetime rides and sights the tour guide was great…………………………………………………….
Don’t miss it. Thoroughly enjoyable and well timed Our guide made us quickly aware of all we needed to know and therefore the day was outstanding
The excursion was fantastic. It was just as described but more beautiful than we could have imagined.
Great customer service.
Not a tour. All they did was book transportation tickets and walk you through the different modes of transportation. We even heard our guide say this wasn't a difficult job as long as you turned it into a self guided tour. Still walked around trying to get tips.
Great round trip featuring cable cars, cog railway and lake cruiser. Easily accessible for all levels of fitness. Plenty of time to enjoy the top of Mt Pilatus - lots of food and walking options there.
Our tour guide Tainah was the best - such great knowledge without overwhelming us with information - such an amazing experience! Loved it!
This was just fine. The tour guide was fine - think we only got any history knowledge because we happened to be the ones in the small gondola (for 4) with him. The weather was terrible and we couldn't see more than a few feet in front of us which was no one's fault. But we could've gone on our own for a lot less and had the same experience. The guide helpfully offered for everyone to watch the movie offered during our 2.5 hours at the top of we wanted to learn any history about it. 2.5 hours at the top was about 2x what you'd need even if the weather was good FYI. Assume they were trying to justify the cost with a longer tour.
Yolanda was as fantastic of a guide as I've ever had. The experience is well worth the money and makes for a great all around experience across multiple modes of travel.
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up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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