From Lucerne to Mt Pilatus – How to get there the best way

Mount Pilatus is Lucerne’s house peak therefore a visit to Pilatus Kulm – the Dragon Mountain is a must when visiting Lucerne (Luzern) in Switzerland.

But do you ask yourself, how to get to Mount Pilatus from Lucerne? Or, do you already know how to get to Mt Pilatus, but are not sure which way is the best?

Well, hopefully after having read this travel blog you will have the perfect itinerary from Lucerne and the knowledge of how to get to Mount Pilatus the best way.

This is a very popular day trip from Lucerne and there are many ways that lead to the top of Mount Pilatus.

How to best visit Mount Pilatus for you may not be the ideal way for someone else, so read on and plan your day trip from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus, the best way.

When best to visit Mt Pilatus?

The good thing is that visitors can enjoy the top of Mount Pilatus, called Pilatus Kulm, all year round (apart from closures due to maintenance work on the Pilatus Gondola).

Therefore, whether you are visiting during the peak summer season, or you enjoy Lucerne in winter during the quiet time, a visit to Mt Pilatus is a must.

Although, you have to know that in winter there is only ONE way up Mt Pilatus, and that is the direct way with the cable car from Kriens.

In this travel blog I have covered all the options on how best to visit Mount Pilatus in summer or winter.

You can read about all the options below.

Good to know when visiting Mt Pilatus during the summer months

When visiting the Lake Lucerne Region during the summer you have all options open to reach the peak of Mount Pilatus.

You may have heard of The Golden Round Trip to Mount Pilatus? This option includes leaving Lucerne city by boat, followed by the cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad up to the peak (or vice versa).

This is the ultimate way up to the peak of Mt. Pilatus but only possible during the summer months.

You will find out more about this special tour below.

When you visit Mount Pilatus during the winter

In winter the cogwheel train from Alpnachstad up to Mt Pilatus is not operating from October to May. (check for the exact dates) The only way to the peak is via the cable car from Kriens.

It is important that you check the live stream of Mount Pilatus on the exact day you are planning to visit the peak to see if all the access options are actually operating. Especially during the winter, as sometimes high winds are forcing the cable car company to close for the day.

Map of the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne to Mt Pilatus

With the map below (click on it) you will have a better understanding of the many different possibilities to access Mount Pilatus.

And it will help you to put together the best way for you to get from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus.

Note that for the Golden Round trip and also the Silver Round trip you will need to allow the whole day to get the most out of it.

Here are the best ways from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus

Pilatus Golden Round Trip

The Golden Round Trip from Lucerne to Mt Pilatus is for sure the most popular day trip for 1^st time visitors.

Read our guide Visit Mt Pilatus on the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne to get all information you need for a successful trip.
Get ready for a scenic boat cruise between Lucerne and Alpnachstad followed by a ride up in the world’s steepest cogwheel train to the peak of Mt Pilatus (Pilatus Kulm).

After you are done with exploring the top of Mount Pilatus you will be riding in the cablecar “Dragon Ride” back down to the middle station at Fränkmüntegg. From here change to the small bubble gondola which will bring you down to Kriens. A short 10min walk to the bus stop and a 20min bus ride and you are back in the beautiful city of Lucerne.

The train station, bus station and boat jetty of Lucerne city are all within the same area.

You can get tickets for a self-guided Golden Round trip online so you do not have to worry to waste valuable time in a queue.

If you want to know more about the local stories about Mount Pilatus and why it is called the Dragon Mountain, then maybe a guided private tour up to Mt Pilatus would be the perfect option for you.

For us, the Golden Round Trip is the best way to experience and see the beauty of the Lake Lucerne Region.

Travel Tip:  This Golden Round Trip can be made in both directions as you will start and finish at the same place in Lucerne. You have to decide which direction is best for you.

Some points to help with your decision.

• If you take the boat from Lucerne to Alpnachstad first, you will be taking the cogwheel train just before lunch time and this can be a busy time.
• If the boat cruise back is your last leg of this amazing day trip from Lucerne, make sure you keep the timings under control. You will need 45 minutes with the cogwheel train to ride back down to Alpnachstad boat jetty. Just calculate this right so you have enough time and will not miss the LAST boat back to Lucerne. Check out the boat time table.

The Silver Round Trip to Mt Pilatus

Mount Pilatus Silver Round Trip from Lucerne is slightly different to the Golden Round Trip. This option includes NO boat cruise but instead a train ride between Lucerne – Alpnachstad – Lucerne.

The great thing about the Silver Round Trip is that you are not time-restricted with the boat schedule that runs less regularly than the trains. Plus, you can start earlier in the day to get the most out of it.

Definitely the option to consider if you would like to do some activities like the Adventure-Tree-Park at the Krienseregg and Fränküntegg or for those who are planning to do a hike on Pilatus Mountain.

The Silver Round Trip just gives you more time to do all that. If you start your day at Kriens the 1^st cable car starts running at 8.30 am (summer season) whereas the last cogwheel train departs Pilatus Kulm (top) at 17.45.

Silver Round Trip tickets are also cheaper and you can get them online. Yes, you will be missing out on the scenic boat cruise from Lucerne to Alpnachstad or reverse, but you will have more time.

The Direct way from Lucerne to Mt Pilatus

If you are on a bit of a tight schedule and do not have much time to spare, then the direct way from Lucerne via Kriens might be the best way to Mt Pilatus for you.

A short 20min bus ride followed by a 10min walk and you could already be sitting in the gondola up to Krienseregg and Fränküntegg followed by the Dragon ride up to Mount Pilatus.

Definitely the quickest and most direct way to Pilatus peak.

You could even do it in a half day trip from Lucerne. You would have to take into consideration that at the peak of Pilatus Kulm you may not have that much time to inspect all the viewpoints if you are limited with time.

But it gets you and the family quickly up to Mount Pilatus from Lucerne that’s for sure. And this is also by far the cheapest way to experience the views from Mount Pilatus over Central Switzerland.

During the winter months the direct way from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus is the only way. And as the adventure tree top park activities at Krienseregg and Fränküntegg are closed, there is no reason to exit the cable car station. Hop straight onto the Dragon Ride Gondola and reach the top in under 4 minutes. The amazing views await.

With a return ticket from Kriens – Mt Pilatus you will have more time, just do not miss the last cable car descending from Pilatus Kulm.

Visit Mount Pilatus by Car

 Yes, of course, you could also drive to either Kriens or Alpnachstad.

If it is just a there and back and you are not considering the full Mt Pilatus Golden or Silver Round Trip, then the best way to visit the peak of Pilatus would be from Kriens.

Park your car at the cable car station (payable). A day ticket is Chf 5.- for either a place in the underground or open car park, and off you go.

Travel tip: Whichever Round Trip you choose, I would suggest starting in Kriens. This way at the end of the day when you’re back in Lucerne city, all you need to do is to hop on the RBus No1 back to Kriens and pick up your car.

Hiking to the top of Mount Pilatus

I am sure there is always someone who has asked the question if it would be possible to hike up Mount Pilatus? Right? And the answer is yes, you can hike up.

Let me tell you that straight away, we have NOT hiked up to Pilatus Kulm (yet). I have seen some groups hiking up from Alpnachstad the steep way alongside the cogwheel train railway. It is a straight 4.5 to 5hours uphill hike.

It was fun waving at them when we passed with the cogwheel train. Most certainly a massive achievement to hike up.

Hiking Facts to Mount Pilatus:
Distance: 8km / 5 miles
Ascent:  1670 m
Difficulty: Intermediate – the path does not look too technically difficult. But the shear uphill with all the switchbacks makes this hike super exhausting!
I would say this is definitely NOT the best way to reach Mount Pilatus, but maybe the most memorable one?!

Plan your visit from Lucerne to Mt Pilatus

Timing facts so you can plan your trip right

• Cogwheel train: The cogwheel train needs 30min for the uphill trip and 40min for the downwards journey
• Boats: The boat cruise from Lucerne to Alpnachstad depends on which boat you will be on and where it will stop. It is a bit like the train, some have a direct route, others stop at every jetty. But count 1 to 1.30hours for the boat cruise between Lucerne and Alpnachstad .
• Time on the mountain: Depending on your choice of the tour you’ll need a good ½ day – 4-5 hours. Allow a full day if you can. Maybe during off-peak or on a winter visit to Mount Pilatus, you can do it in 3 hours. And this would be to and from Kriens.
• Cable car & Gondola ride: You will be sitting 20min in the small bubble cable car from Kriens to Fräkmüntegg.
  The ride up to Mt Pilatus is much quicker, the Dragon ride will take you up in less than 4 minutes.

Our thoughts on the best way to visit Mount Pilatus from Lucerne

If you have the time, spend the whole day at the mountain. The peak – Pilatus Kulm alone has so much to offer and to do, that it would be a shame if you have to rush it.

I would suggest if you like to hike at the top, and let the kids go wild in the adventure tree top park, plan the Silver Round Trip. This way you will not be stressed by the boat timings as trains run more frequently.

We have visited Mt Pilatus twice, once during the summer via Alpnachstad with the cogwheel train. The experience to ride up in the world’s steepest cogwheel train was unique and a must-do. The views are epic.

We did not go to all the viewpoints at the top, as unfortunately, we were a bit on a tight time schedule. We will go again and spend as much time as possible on the top and also plan some time at the adventure park.

The 2^nd visit was off-peak in January. A completely different experience, nevertheless beautiful and special. That time we went from Lucerne via Kriens – return. The direct way.

The great thing about that experience was that we were nearly alone on the mountain. As it was winter some of the viewpoints were not accessible due to the snow but we still had a great time at Pilatus Kulm.

TRAVEL TIP: Did you know that there is a Hotel at Pilatus Kulm? Definitely something to consider, experiencing sunset and sunrise at the top and sleeping close to the stars.

You may also like these articles from the region

• 7 great day trips from Lucerne not to be missed
• Visit Mount Pilatus on the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne
• Lucerne – Selfe-Guided City Tour (ideal for families)
• Lucerne in Winter – 3 Day getaway Itinerary city to peak
• LILU – Light festival in Lucerne ( January only)
• Glamping in Willisau -Lucerne ( and bike ride)
• Visit the Hammetschwand Lift from Lucerne

If I have missed anything out on this post, or if you have some more questions on what The best way from Lucerne to Mt Pilatus is, then leave a comment below. It is always nice for others to see some real people conversations.

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