Mt Pilatus and Lucerne Day Trip from Zurich With Lake Cruise
Recommended by 92% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Zurich, Switzerland
- 10 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Exploring Mount Pilatus involves a lot of planning and logistics, but this full-day tour from Zurich covers everything for a hassle-free day out. Ascend to vertiginous vantage points by gondola and cable car and enjoy sweeping vistas of the dramatic Alps mountain range. Embark on a moderate hike down the verdant Dragon’s Path and the world’s steepest cogwheel railway before taking a short cruise on Lake Lucerne. Please note: Itinerary and inclusions vary by season.
- Perfect for travelers looking for a convenient way to visit Mt. Pilatus
- Ride an aerial cable car gondola to the top of Mt. Pilatus
- Hike to the summit and descend on the world's steepest cogwheel railway
- Soak up reflected vistas during a boat ride across Lake Lucerne
What's Included
- Panoramic gondola and aerial cable car "Dragon Ride" ( except 19.10. - 27.11.2026)
- Ride on the steepest cogwheel train in the world
- 1-hour boat cruise on Lake Lucerne (until 18.10.2026)
- Lunch voucher up to 20 CHF (from 19.10. - 29.11.2026)
- Fully guided tour by a professional multilingual guide (English/Spanish)
- Transportation in a comfortable air-conditioned coach
- Carbon-balanced operations certified by myclimate
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Food and drinks (available for purchase in Lucerne or at Mount Pilatus summit)
- Gratuities
- Personal expenses
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Best of Switzerland Tours AGSihlquai Bus Station, Limmatstrasse 2, 8005 Zürich, Switzerland
The official departure point for all tours departing from Zurich is Sihlquai Bus Station, near Zurich’s main train station (Zürich HB). Please check in at least 15 minutes before departure at the “Best of Switzerland Tours” counter with your QR code on your voucher ready, printed or electronically.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.9:00 am
Itinerary
After pickup at a centrally located spot in Zurich, admire the picturesque scenery as you travel to Lucerne in a comfortable, climate-controlled coach.
An orientation drive grounds you in the historical highlights of the city, including Lucerne Jesuit Church, Chapel Bridge, and the Town Hall. Spend some relaxed free time exploring the city at your leisure, then return to the coach to travel to your next destination.
Continue to Kriens and climb aboard a panoramic gondola and aerial cable car to travel to the summit of Mt. Pilatus, almost 7,000 feet (2,128 meters) above sea level. Appreciate breathtaking views of the surrounding snow-smothered spires and enjoy free time to absorb the views.
Follow the Dragon Path to Mt. Pilatus’ summit and then descend the mountain on the cogwheel railway: With its 48% gradient, it’s the steepest rack railway in the world. Back at sea level, climb aboard an awaiting boat for a tranquil cruise across Lake Lucerne.
Return to your vehicle and relax during the journey back to Zurich, where the tour concludes.
Please note that at the start and end of the season transportation methods will vary. If you’re traveling in early May, late October, or November, check the Additional Info section to see how your tour will be adjusted.
An orientation drive grounds you in the historical highlights of the city, including Lucerne Jesuit Church, Chapel Bridge, and the Town Hall. Spend some relaxed free time exploring the city at your leisure, then return to the coach to travel to your next destination.
Continue to Kriens and climb aboard a panoramic gondola and aerial cable car to travel to the summit of Mt. Pilatus, almost 7,000 feet (2,128 meters) above sea level. Appreciate breathtaking views of the surrounding snow-smothered spires and enjoy free time to absorb the views.
Follow the Dragon Path to Mt. Pilatus’ summit and then descend the mountain on the cogwheel railway: With its 48% gradient, it’s the steepest rack railway in the world. Back at sea level, climb aboard an awaiting boat for a tranquil cruise across Lake Lucerne.
Return to your vehicle and relax during the journey back to Zurich, where the tour concludes.
Please note that at the start and end of the season transportation methods will vary. If you’re traveling in early May, late October, or November, check the Additional Info section to see how your tour will be adjusted.
Zurich (Pass By)
1
Luzern Altstadt
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
2
Pilatus Luzern
1 hour 50 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
Lake Lucerne
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
Zurich (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 12 hours 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
- 19.10.-27.11.2026: Ascent and descent by cogwheel train, no boat ride but lunch voucher included
- 28.-29.11.2026: Ascent by cable car, descent by cogwheel train, no boat ride but lunch voucher 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
Beverly_H
Guide Gonzalo was great. He was very knowledgeable. At the end of tour, he went out of his way to help with travel information . Mt Pilatus was beautiful. This was an amazing tour and we would highly recommend it. A highlight of our short stay in Switzerland.
Reviews
4.6
based on 735 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Sophia_N, Jul 2026
Alex Gonzalo and Ernesto were great as tour guides, kept the group together and allowed us with free time, a slight adjustment should be made for Lucern stop because it’s so small, it can easily be finished in under 45mins so allowing 1hour 25min was way too long in my opinion
Prathap_N, Jul 2026
Wow, what an experience. First of all, our guide Bernie who was so energetic narrating the beauty of the swiss Alps mountains, stuck s knowledgeable person. We were lucky to have Bernie as our guide. Well organized your, definitely recommend this everyone. We had a great time and created wyvern memories. Special thanks to our driver who drove us very safely.
John_Y, Jul 2026
It was a fun filled day with great tour guiding. Bus ride, Godolas, Train and boat ride all in the same day with optional hiking atop Mt. Pilatus. It was special and I would highly recommend!
Adel_E, Jul 2026
What an absolutely amazing experience! Our tour guide, Roberto, was an absolute pleasure to have as a guide. We had a great fun time with more than enough to explore at a leisurely pace. Roberto was very informative, explained our itinerary perfectly and helped us every step of the way along tgis amazing adventure of a trip. Highly recommend, ask for Roberto if you can.
Erin_S, Jul 2026
Beautiful views! Excellent tour. Gondola, cogwheel and boat ride were fun ways to view the scenery. We were lucky enough to see a baby goat on the mountain and we loved the cattle.
Erin_S, Jul 2026
This was an amazing experience and well worth the price. Konrad was an excellent tour guide! He took the time to help everyone get the photos they wanted.
Greg_M, Jul 2026
Absolutely wonderful! Lucerne was very nice. Gondola ride was comfortable and great views. Mt Pilates - breathtaking. Rail ride down unique. Then boat ride. Highly recommend!
Leticia_C, Jul 2026
Excellent outing. Mt Pilatus is beautiful. Everything went smoothly. Our guide, David, was very knowledgeable.
Jason_D, Jul 2026
Pros: The sites are incredible! Lucerne is delightful and the lake is spectacular. The gondola up to Pilatus is a beautiful view and once up on the mountain, it is magical. The views, the little hikes, the restaurants are all worth the trip. The cog tram down is also a great experience, cowbells and all. Then a lovely boat cruise on the lake to finish the day. I very highly recommend this trip!
Cons: if you prefer smaller, more private and accommodating busses, be aware this is a huge, double decker bus with no armrests and quite cramped. Also, from Zurich, you are on the same bus with your morning group. However, be aware that more people join the tour from Lucerne just to go up the mountain. I mention this because although you are promised that your backpacks/personals are secure and locked on the bus while you explore Lucerne, these new people were on the bus already when we returned. Anyone could have gone through my bag (thankfully not!) but just be aware. Also, morning folks lost their seats when the next group joined.
My biggest quibbles were the timing at Lucerne and the mountain. At least 30 minutes more in Lucerne and 30 minutes less on the mountain would be better. Also, the bus stop in Lucerne is waaaaayyyyy to far from the center where everyone wants to go. You lose nearly 20 minutes wasted walking round trip, whereas a drop in the center where all the action is would be ideal. Again, this lost 20 minutes made a big impact on being rushed in lovely Lucerne.
Raul_A, Jul 2026
No one knows anything . Some of us including me were disappointed because of the descripción in the website . Our tour guide gave us descripción during the bus time but in Lucerne it was totally a free time to know places on our own and I think it should be with guidance also for free time should be at the end of the tour . We wanted to stay longer after the tour because in the morning it was pouring and difficult to go to places .
Albert_T, Jun 2026
Best of Switzerland Tours means it. The tour was well organized and the guide Gonzalo was friendly and detailed with all the little things that otherwise would overwhelm the average tourists. Weather was great atop Mt Pilatus despite the 35°C at lower elevations. The tour ended with a cool boat cruise back to Zurich from Lucern. Many good memories and will definitely do it again with the Best of Switzerland Tours.
Cheyenne_H, Jun 2026
Loved this tour! It was so fun riding all the different forms of transportation..... bus, gondola, cogwheel train, boat! The views from Mt. Pilatus were breathtaking. We also did the mountain coaster and that was such a blast! Lucerne is such a beautiful city and the lake is so beautiful.
Jon_R, Jun 2026
Absolutely perfect and fantastic tour! Loved the transportation and Rolf was a great guide. His knowledge of the area was amazing.
Melon_C, Jun 2026
This excursion sounds expensive but it’s worth it. Besides a stop I. the idyllic town of Lucerne, Mt Pilatus is the main attraction. You ride up on 2 types of gondolas, come down on a cogwheel train and then take a boat cruise around the area. The scenery the entire day was spectacular, even the bus ride!
I also had a fab tour guide, Adela.
Tip: bring some warm clothing (and wear closed-toe shoes with socks) as it was cold at the top of Pilatus.
Najat_A, Jun 2026
This is a must do. Every part of this tour is amazing and beautiful. Any age can do this. Don’t miss it!
Devjyoti_R, Jun 2026
We were 5 mins late and the bus went off leaving the entire family with small toddlers stranded. Zero assistance, and don't expect any help from Viator as well.
What was expected to be a amazing day with so many memories turn out to be a disappointing day. Additionally, zero refund as well and in short family folks you are own your own.
Carol_M, Jun 2026
This trip was wonderful as it allowed us to see beautiful Lucerne then enjoy the trip up to Mt. Pilatus. The cogwheel train trip was an experience you shouldn’t miss with beautiful views.
PRAKASH_R, Jun 2026
I would have rated this experience 5 stars based on the multiple tour guide services and overall logistics. I would appreciate tour guide Bernie who was extremely kind but unfortunately , my experience was significantly affected by interactions first with the driver, Ameen, who was totally unwelcoming and unapproachable. The experiences only compounded later by the behavior of a bartender on Cruise No. 66 arriving in Lucerne at approximately 5:30 PM.
On cruise 66, there were two service staff members at the bar, and one gentleman’s behavior stood out in a very negative way. His tone and manner were intimidating and dismissive, and I felt that he treated people differently based on their appearance and skin color. The interaction left me feeling uncomfortable and unwelcome.
This was especially disappointing because Switzerland is generally known for being welcoming and respectful to visitors. I strongly encourage the tour operator and partners involved to review this incident seriously and evaluate whether the person is the right person facing the customer and avoid legal issues from any future customers. Also the personal manager need to understand if any further staff training or action is needed to prevent similar experiences in the future. One again I repeat his behavior was totally unacceptable by any standards in the world.
So, to conclude, I am extremely disappointed by this experience and believe concerns around discriminatory treatment should be addressed promptly and appropriately by the Management of this crisis company and Switz tours should ensure their branding is maintained and they are not indirectly involved for wrong reasons on public media. With plenty of regrets.
Hugo_M, Jun 2026
Double check the check in time. The Viator APP showed 9; 30 and it was 9 am. We missed the bus and the tour operator booked us for the next day.
Jennifer_S, Jun 2026
This tour was mostly well organized. The group grew mid-tour so the ticket gathering was a bit clunky. However, when it came down to it, the views were breathtaking, the varied transportation was a great way to break up the trip and the time spent at each destination was well worth it. Wish we could have had more time in old town as the bus stop is pretty far, but overall I thought the tour was fabulous!
Lori_H, May 2026
Fantastic experience
Highly recommend and Bernie was great. Lots of information and gorgeous scenery.
Marsha_R, May 2026
Really a perfect day. We explored the charming city of Lucerne,n then traveled to Mt Pilatus. Experienced two different cable cars getting to the top. Explored fabulous views of the Alps, had a delicious lunch, walked to the summit and followed the dragon trail. Then we descended via the steepest cog railway in the world. An hour cruise on lake Lucerne. Everything managed like clockwork. It was an amazing full day that gave us a true taste of Switzerland.
Scott_D, May 2026
Our experience was not so good. They tried to do the tour in both English and Spanish. It was horrible. I feel like they should only charge half the price. It was not fair to Spanish speaking only or English speaking only. We only got half what a normal tour would be because he kept trying to repeat himself in both languages. It was a bad experience. Please…provide Spanish only or English only tours. It may be less expensive to hire a bi-lingual guide, but it is a bad experience for your patrons.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear Scott,
Thank you for joining our Pilatus – Golden Round Trip and for taking the time to share your feedback.
We are sorry to hear that the bilingual format of the tour negatively affected your experience. As stated in the tour description, this tour is conducted in both English and Spanish. While this format allows us to welcome guests from different countries on the same departure, we understand that it may not be everyone's preferred way of experiencing a guided tour.
Please note that our guides are trained to provide complete and equal information in both languages to ensure that all participants receive the same explanations and recommendations throughout the day. We hope that as demand continues to grow, we will soon be able to operate separate departures for each language. In the meantime, we appreciate your understanding and value your comments, as they help us evaluate and improve our services.
We would also like to note that the tour price covers a wide range of services, including transportation in a comfortable coach, the panoramic gondolas and Dragon Ride aerial cableway, the cogwheel train, the boat ride on Lake Lucerne, the services of a professional multilingual guide and carbon-balanced operations certified by myclimate. These inclusions remain the same regardless of whether the tour is conducted in one or two languages.
Despite your disappointment with the tour format, we hope that you were still able to enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery and the unique experience of visiting Mount Pilatus.
Kind regards,
Magdalena from Best of Switzerland Tours
Ebony_J, May 2026
Wonderful experience. Our guides were very nice, professional, knowledgeable. The towns were picturesque and the food was amazing. The whole experience was an unforgettable experience.
Jesus_S, Nov 2025
We had a wonderful experience on our day trip to Mt Pilatus and Lucerne. Our tour guide, Adolfo, was exceptional—very knowledgeable, organised, and always accommodating. His friendly nature and willingness to help made the day run smoothly and added a personal touch to the journey.
We also want to highlight Ernesto, our bus driver, who was very professional throughout the trip. His safe and smooth driving made us feel comfortable and well taken care of.
The views from Mt Pilatus were absolutely stunning and truly unforgettable. Although the tour did not include a lake cruise (something we were aware of beforehand), the meal voucher provided was a thoughtful and pleasant replacement that we appreciated.
Overall, this trip was a fantastic way to experience the beauty of Switzerland, and the professionalism of both Adolfo and Ernesto made it even more enjoyable. Highly recommended!
BernardJohn_G, Nov 2025
The service was outstanding!
Big thanks to Ernesto for the safe and comfortable drive, and especially to Adolfo — highly recommended! He’s incredibly knowledgeable, efficient, and attentive, making sure everyone’s needs are perfectly taken care of.
Mount Pilatus is absolutely magnificent!
No photo can truly capture how breathtaking this place is. 💯
colleen_t, Nov 2025
Disappointing tour. It seemed the tour company bundled three different tour groups going to different places on one bus, resulting in our tour being a lot of waiting and needless stops. We had almost no time in Lucern, but ample time at Pilatus even though there was little to do since much of it was closed due to weather.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Dear Colleen,
Thank you very much for choosing our tour to Mount Pilatus and for taking the time to share your feedback with us.
We are truly sorry to hear that the logistics of the tour did not meet your expectations.
It is correct that occasionally, we combine groups from different tours for logistical and environmental reasons. This helps us keep our tours efficient and allows us to offer a wider variety of destinations, including both popular spots like Mount Pilatus and smaller, equally beautiful locations with fewer guests. The brief stop on the way to Rigi is usually a chance to stretch, take a photo, or use the restroom, and we try to keep this as quick and convenient as possible.
As confirmed by your tour guide, you arrived in Lucerne by around 11:15 a.m., and you had 1 hour of free time to explore the city at your own pace, which is the amount of time that we normally allocate for the stop there. We understand that you may have wanted more time in Lucerne, but we focus on giving our guests more time at the Pilatus summit since it is the highlight of the tour. We do try to balance the itinerary, but we appreciate your feedback on this matter.
Regarding your time at Mount Pilatus, we are sorry that some attractions were closed due to snow from the previous day. We were not made aware of this closure beforehand, as we had confirmed with Mount Pilatus that the route was accessible. We regret that the limited availability of certain activities affected your experience. Despite this, we hope you were still able to enjoy the breathtaking views that Mount Pilatus offers, especially given the exceptional weather during your visit.
We hope that despite the challenges, you were able to enjoy the breathtaking views that Mount Pilatus offers, especially given the exceptional weather during your visit, and we hope to have the opportunity of welcoming you on another tour in the future.
Best regards,
Clara from Best of Switzerland Tours
Stephanie_K, Oct 2025
This was an amazing trip. Our tour guide was Jean, and bus driver Victoria. They were amazing. We also lucked out with beautiful weather.
krishnachaita_k, Oct 2025
excellent views and great guided tour from Adolfe. He is so professional and very informative. Gave clear guidance to follow.
DIANA_B, Oct 2025
The itenary was a bit tight. We had very little time in Lucerne & a long expanse to walk. I could not walk the distance to see the chapel Bridge in the time alotted. The bus could not get us close enough to the town. We did enjoy the trip up to the mountain. That was very exciting!!! We had 2 different language groups so the guide had to keep explaining things twice. One language group would have been better. Our guide did not carry a flag and at times it was difficult to see where he was. On two different occasions we lost tract of the group. Our guide very knowledgeable.
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