Mt Rigi and Lucerne Day Trip from Zurich With Boat Ride
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Zurich, Switzerland
- 10 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Experience an alpine adventure on a Lucerne and Mt. Rigi day trip that features ample free time and self-guided activities. Ideal for car-free travelers, the excursion combines round-trip transportation from Zurich with prebooked tickets for the gondolas, cogwheel trains, and boats between Weggis, Mt. Rigi, Vitznau, and Lucerne. Suggested itineraries and timetables are provided, but how you use your allocated time is up to you.
- Book an ideal day trip for independent travelers, with ample free time
- Save yourself time and hassle planning your route to the top of Mt. Rigi
- Relax aboard a coach from Zurich, and listen to commentary en-route
- Use your time at the Mt. Rigi summit to hike, lunch, or soak up the views
What's Included
- Aerial cable car and cogwheel train rides
- Boat ride from Vitznau to Lucerne
- Transportation by air-conditioned coach from Zurich to Weggis and from Lucerne to Zurich
- Partly guided tour by professional multilingual guide
- Carbon-balanced operations certified by myclimate
- Gratuities
- Hotel pick-up and drop off
- Meals and drinks
- 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
Depart from a centrally located pickup point in Zurich and admire the Swiss countryside as you travel over an Alpine pass to the shores of Lake Lucerne and the enchanting resort town of Weggis.
Absorb panoramic views of Lake Lucerne and its stunning surroundings as you ride an aerial cable car. Then board a cogwheel train for the smooth ride to the mountain’s summit. Customize your independent itinerary according to your interests and spend some leisurely free time exploring Mount Rigi at your own pace.
Use a sheet of recommended activities to formulate a plan, perhaps taking picturesque hiking trails or revitalizing with a traditional Swiss lunch (own expense).
Descend the mountain on another cogwheel train and disembark at the quaint lakeside village of Vitznau. Relax during an idyllic cruise to Lucerne and then set out to discover the city’s signature monuments and attractions.
Finally, rejoin your group and guide for the return journey to Zurich, where the tour concludes.
Please note that for a few periods in late fall and late spring the Mount Rigi cable car will be under maintenance and your Mount Rigi journey will be by cogwheel train. Check the Additional Info tab for the precise dates.
Absorb panoramic views of Lake Lucerne and its stunning surroundings as you ride an aerial cable car. Then board a cogwheel train for the smooth ride to the mountain’s summit. Customize your independent itinerary according to your interests and spend some leisurely free time exploring Mount Rigi at your own pace.
Use a sheet of recommended activities to formulate a plan, perhaps taking picturesque hiking trails or revitalizing with a traditional Swiss lunch (own expense).
Descend the mountain on another cogwheel train and disembark at the quaint lakeside village of Vitznau. Relax during an idyllic cruise to Lucerne and then set out to discover the city’s signature monuments and attractions.
Finally, rejoin your group and guide for the return journey to Zurich, where the tour concludes.
Please note that for a few periods in late fall and late spring the Mount Rigi cable car will be under maintenance and your Mount Rigi journey will be by cogwheel train. Check the Additional Info tab for the precise dates.
Zurich (Pass By)
1
Weggis
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Mount Rigi
2 hours 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Vitznau
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
4
Lucerne
2 hours 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Zurich (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
- 09.03-02.04.2026 | 16.-27.11.2026 | 08.-31.03.2027: the round-trip up and down Mt Rigi will be by cogwheel train due to cable car maintenance.
- The tour is accompanied from Zurich to Weggis and from Lucerne to Zurich. For the individual stay in Mt Rigi and Lucerne, tickets and a written itinerary are provided.
- 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
GARY_M
This was the best tour we've taken in 15 years of travel. Most of it is self guided, but the instructions are very clear and the tickets are all included. The sights were beautiful and it was a great value. I would very strongly recommend.
Reviews
4.3
based on 298 reviews
Ryan_M, Nov 2025
A really nice trip through Mt. Rigi, Lake Lucerne, and Lucerne town. It was largely unguided, we basically just got travel vouchers, and then a quite significant walk back to the bus station in Lucerne. We had a good time, but it was not exactly what I would call a "tour".
alicia_r, Nov 2025
Didn’t get to the Rigi mountain experience or the lake cruise. No such tour available upon our arrival at the meeting point due to lack of bookings. We were placed on a bus with people booked for a separate tour we didn’t have interest in , therefore opt to stay in lucern the entire tour time. Not worth the cost. Tour operators were beyond helpful and nice. Viator disappointed us.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Dear Alicia,
Thank you very much for choosing our tour and for taking the time to share your experience with us regarding our partially guided tour to Mount Rigi.
We were surprised to read that you felt the tour was unavailable, as all our tours run 365 days a year, weather permitting. We have reviewed the details with your tour guide, who confirmed that the Mount Rigi tour was indeed available. She also mentioned that she accompanied you to the valley station at Mount Rigi, where you informed her that you did not wish to continue, as you were expecting a fully guided tour.
At that point, your guide offered you an alternative to join the Titlis tour if you were looking for a fully guided experience in the mountains. However, you declined the offer and decided to stay in Lucerne instead.
We sincerely apologize if the nature of the partially guided tour was not clear enough in advance, and we understand that this may have caused some frustration. We hope that, despite this, you were still able to enjoy the beauty of Lucerne and all it has to offer.
We hope to have the opportunity of welcoming you on another tour in the future, perhaps one that aligns better with your interests.
Best regards,
Clara from Best of Switzerland Tours
Elaine_W, Oct 2025
It’s pretty much a transportation to and from the sights. There was informative commentary from the guide on the way out, but not much in the way back. Everything was smoothly explained about where we were going, the tickets/vouchers,… the only thing I’d say was that I wished they would have given us a feeling for how far the meeting point was for the return. Having never been there, it was much farther than where we thought. But overall, it was a good trip that allowed you individual time to explore. And the guide did give us suggestions.
Laura_F, Oct 2025
This was an experience of a lifetime! The team that took us up were amazing- they explained everything very clearly and we knew what to expect! The views were breathtaking!
Jeff_H, Sep 2025
Fernando was great! Very knowledgeable and helpful. The trip itself was great, too! Beautiful sights, great (optional) hiking with panoramic views. The train ride into town was nice and the boat ride offered a fantastic view of the town.
Joseph_S, Jul 2025
We had a fantastic tour visiting Mt. Rigi, Lucerne with our Boat ride. Cecilia was a great tour guide and very knowledgable. We loved the bus trip, cable car and cog train parts of the trip and found we had of lot of our own free time to hike and look around on the tour and it was very well timed. The scenery was beautiful on the mountain and also on the boat trip. We thoroughly recommend this trip
Erlinda_B, Jul 2025
Its a good tour,our tour guide Adolfo and driver Francisxo are very informative.. Just follow the direction and you wont get lost.Alhough during our tour at Mt.Regi its so foggy that we cant see the view and in Lucerne it rained. So check the weather.
Caitlyn_B, Jun 2025
This was a great tour. So much to do and see. Note: the majority is self guided. I’d also recommend bringing warmer clothes as it’s cold on top of the mountain. A backpack and water would also be good things to bring.
Alexandre_B, May 2025
Beautiful summer day trip to Mount Rigi and Lucerne! Stunning lake views, scenic train rides, and fresh mountain air. A perfect mix of nature and charm—Switzerland at its best!
Adam_B, Apr 2025
We did the self guided portion of the tour (Mt. Rigi and Lucerne) and there is really not a lot of guidance or support.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Dear Adam,
Thank you very much for joining our full day tour to Mount Rigi and for taking the time to share your experience with us.
We are sorry to read that there was not enough guidance or support from your guide. As it is clearly stated in the Viator description, this is a partially guided tour, where you will be accompanied by the guide from Zurich to Mount Rigi and there you will have free time to explore the mountain at your own pace and make your way back to Lucerne, where you will meet the group again to go back to Zurich.
We regret that this information may have gone unnoticed and that your expectations regarding the level of guidance were different. Please rest assured that our guides are always available to answer any questions and are happy to provide additional information upon request.
We hope that, despite this, you still enjoyed the stunning views from Mount Rigi and the charm of Lucerne. We would be delighted to welcome you on another tour in the future, perhaps one of our fully guided experiences.
Best regards,
Clara from Best of Switzerland Tours
Michael_B, Apr 2025
Mt. Gigi was breathtaking and our guide was excellent. Was truly a highlight our our vacation and should not be missed!
Cassandra_A, Feb 2025
Mt Rigi is a beautiful mountain with in the Alps! Lucerne is a lovely town bordering the lake with lots of charm.. Part of the trip is a lovely boat ride across the lake!
Jason_M, Feb 2025
I had a terrible experience with Viator’s customer service regarding this tour. Unfortunately, I had to cancel because my son was sick, but Viator refused to provide a refund or any form of credit. Their policies are rigid, and their customer support was unhelpful and dismissive. I highly recommend booking directly with tour operators instead of using Viator, as they are inflexible and prioritize profit over customer satisfaction. Beware of this company and tours like this one!
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Dear Jason,
Thank you very much for taking the time to provide feedback on your experience.
We are sorry to hear that your son was unwell and that you were unable to join our tour as planned. As stated in the voucher and outlined in our general terms and conditions, cancellations and amendments with a refund are only possible up to 24 hours before the tour departure. We plan our resources based on the number of bookings made the day prior, and we hope you understand that by not joining the tour, your seats, which could have been sold to another guest, remained empty. Unfortunately, we still had to cover the full cost of the non-utilized expenses associated with your trip.
We completely understand how frustrating this situation can be, as it was beyond your control. However, we believe that the 24-hour cancellation policy provides sufficient time for guests to adjust their bookings in advance.
In cases like this, we strongly recommend that guests contact their medical insurance provider to claim for the lost tour, as it was due to illness. If any documentation is needed to support your case, we would be happy to provide it.
Again, we are sorry that you couldn't join the tour as planned and sincerely hope you are still able to enjoy the rest of your stay in Switzerland.
Best regards,
Magdalena from Best of Switzerland Tours
Lorraine_R, Feb 2025
I enjoyed the part guided, Bruno was great explained everything clearly got the tickets for the cable car, cogwheel train and boat. I liked the fact that you get plenty of time to enjoy Lucerne. The bus was prompt on bith pick ups i thought it was great and the weather was very kind thumbs up from me.
Robert_B, Dec 2024
If you are ok with a non guided tour, you get to see many facets of the Mr Rigi and Lucerne area and town. The boat ride was nice and the boat dock was right at the base of the cog rail line.
Dana_R, Nov 2024
Excellent tour, so much to see and it was a nice pace. Guides were very helpful and informative. Highly recommend to those not wanting to figure out how to see these areas on your own.
Elizabeth_J, Oct 2024
We weren’t aware that our tour wasn’t accompanied by a guide. We were just dropped off to do our own thing and then told to meet at a place and given a small map. A bit stressful spending our time trying to find where we were to be picked up.
Karen_C, Oct 2024
Spending an hour trying to find out where we were supposed to get picked up! We were in a strange city in the instructions from the guide were vague. The other two people that were on the same trip felt the same way.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Dear Karen,
Thank you very much for joining our Mount Rigi tour and sharing your experience with us.
We are very sorry to hear that our tour logistics did not live up to your expectations and that you felt the instructions weren’t clear enough. As stated in the tour description in Viator, this is a partly guided tour, where our guests are accompanied by the guide from Zurich to the cable car station in Weggis and from Lucerne back to Zurich. During the time in between, guests have the freedom to explore the mountain and Lucerne at their own pace.
Upon check-in, all guests receive an informative leaflet with exact timings for the cable car, cogwheel train, and boat connections, and recommendations on what to see and do in Lucerne. This partly guided tour is ideal for those who wish to explore the destination with more flexibility and freedom without having to follow a certain schedule.
The meeting point in Lucerne is detailed in our informational leaflet, including the exact address and a map on the back. We’re sorry to hear that you had trouble finding it and that you didn’t reach out to us for specific directions—we would have been happy to assist.
Despite this inconvenience, we hope you still enjoyed a wonderful stay in Switzerland.
Best regards,
Magdalena from Best of Switzerland Tours
Paul_D, Sep 2024
The trip to Mount Rigi was the highlight of the tour. We all enjoyed the cable car ride up the mountain and the cog wheel return to the lake. Several of us hiked to the top and the views were spectacular on a bright sunny day
Therese_S, Sep 2024
The bus left on time, the guide on the bus was informative. The tour was not with the guide all day and we knew that before we booked. The cable car ride was extremely packed and difficult to look out if you were stuck in the middle of it. Mt Rigi was picture perfect. Could not have asked for a better day. The cog wheel train and boat ride to Lucerne was lovely and if you do your homework before the day you can plan a walking day trip around Lucerne to see everything this beautiful city has to offer. The bus to pick us up was about 30 minutes late (due to traffic) so we got back to Zurich a little later than expected but overall a wonderful day.
Erin_F, Sep 2024
Beautiful scenery and ease of travel with a gondola, cogwheel train and boat across lake Lucerne. Perfect day trip I’ll never forget!
MaryJean_A, Sep 2024
Amazing day trip. We enjoyed the cable car and the beautiful scenery on top on mt. Rigi. Very nice exoerience.
Niloofar_D, Sep 2024
The tour was good, but the guid Jean doesn't know how to behave! He is rude and he treats bad with the tourists, i saw 3,4 different episodes in which Jean was not willing to help us and talked bad to us.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Dear Niloofar,
Thank you very much for participating in our tour of Mount Rigi and for taking the time to write this feedback.
At Best of Switzerland Tours, we are committed to providing a high standard of service, and it is clear we fell short in this instance. We take reports of unprofessional behavior very seriously. We will be addressing this matter directly with Jean to understand the situation fully and ensure that such behavior does not occur again.
We hope that despite the inconvenience, you were able to enjoy the breathtaking views from the summit and the scenic boat ride to Lucerne. We would be grateful for another chance to demonstrate the quality of our service and to restore your confidence in our team.
Best regards,
Magdalena from Best of Switzerland Tours
peter_b, Sep 2024
The drive through the country side was beautiful, the scenery up Mt Rigi of the surrounding mountain rangers and lakes made you appreciate nature. The cable car and cobble wheel train added to the experience. The views from the lake ferry top the day off
Abby_D, Sep 2024
We were seeing Lucerne and Mt. Rigi on our own. Our guide, Venezia, was not very helpful and rude. I asked a simple question, and she responded rudely. That’s not the way to treat tourists visiting a gorgeous country. I will not let her ruin my trip because Switzerland is such a beautiful country and a must-visit. There's a lot of shopping to do in Lucerne, and Mt. Rigi is a good place to go hiking. There is such a gorgeous view from Mt. Rigi on a clear day.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Dear Abby_D,
Thank you very much for joining our tour of Mount Rigi and for taking the time to share your experience with us.
We are sorry to hear that the tour logistics did not meet your expectations and that you found the guide to be rude. As it is mentioned in the Viator description, this is a partially guided tour designed for those who enjoy a mix of guided sightseeing and independent exploration.
Our guides are expected to be friendly, helpful, and responsive to any questions from guests. We apologize if the guide’s behavior seemed rude and will follow up to ensure all interactions are positive and professional in the future. Please accept our sincere apologies on behalf of your tour guide.
We are happy to read that despite this incident you enjoyed the beauty of Lucerne and its shopping and the stunning views from Mount Rigi. Thank you once again for your feedback, and we look forward to welcoming you in the future, maybe on a fully guided tour.
Best regards,
Clara from Best of Switzerland Tours
Shiva_K, Aug 2024
Great experience: Beautiful scenery- mount Rigi
Very nice train ride and the
Wonderful boat ride to Lucerne
However the tour providers : tour guide and the organization ( specially for the meeting point and time for the return ride to Zurich ) could have been better!
We ended up having to ride and find seats on another full bus - because our bus was late!
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Dear Shiva_K,
Thank you very much for joining our partially guided tour to Mount Rigi, and for taking the time to share your experience with us.
We apologize for the inconvenience caused by the delay in your return bus to Zurich. Due to unexpected traffic conditions, our bus was unfortunately delayed. However, as soon as we were informed, we quickly arranged another bus to ensure that you didn’t have to wait long in Lucerne and could return to Zurich on time. We understand how important punctuality is, especially when guests may have further plans after the tour and we regret that this situation left you feeling the organization could have been better.
We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the stunning scenery, the scenic train ride, and the wonderful boat ride to Lucerne. These are certainly highlights of the tour, and we’re pleased that they met your expectations.
We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again on another tour in the future.
Best regards,
Clara from Best of Switzerland Tours
Robert_M, Aug 2024
Being able to individualize the time and pace was important. The views on the mountain, water and city were magnificent.
Andreas_P, Aug 2024
This is a nice tour & the process to do it is worth it. Cable car, train & especially the boat trip are worth every penny. Lucerne is a beautiful must visit place but more touristic than expected.
Find the right train was easy cause of the departures board next to the statıon. Find the bus at the end was a bit stressful and we made it last minute. Also i would like to inform that there is not much to do at Rigi Mountain & the written guidelines for some suggested things to do were leaving us make circles over the mountain & the only possible way to follow was closed with a danger sign about electricity cables next to cows fence!
Tracy_F, Aug 2024
The guide on the bus was very informative & very thorough with his information on jow to get everywhere as we were on our own until the ride back . The trip scenery was beautiful & it was great value for the amount we saw I highly recommend!
Amy_H, Jul 2024
Minus the weather it was a good time;however, I do think tickets for Sunday should be at a discounted price. Nearly all the stores are closed on Sunday so we didn’t do much except walk around. It’s really nice if you have kids or want to do your own thing because there’s no guide. I’d do this again but not on a Sunday!
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Dear Amy,
Thank you very much for joining our partly guided tour to Mount Rigi and for taking the time to share your feedback with us.
While the shops may interest some guests, the main highlights of this tour are the visit to Mt. Rigi and the various attractions in the charming city of Lucerne, which are available to our guests every day. Additionally, the rate of our tour is determined by the services provided, including the cable cars, cogwheel train, boat ride, and the expertise of our experienced guide, rather than the availability of shops.
We hope that despite the shops being closed you enjoyed the experience and we look forward to welcoming you on another tour on your next visit.
Best regards
Clara from Best of Switzerland Tours
From $196.93
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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