cogwheel train riding up Mount Pilatus in Switzerland

Visit Mt Pilatus on the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne

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If you are visiting Lucerne a trip up Mount Pilatus simply cannot be missed, as it is Lucerne’s house peak.
You will be able to see the top peak – Pilatus Kulm, from pretty much all over Lucerne (Luzern).

And the best way to visit Mount Pilatus is on The Golden Round Trip from Lucerne. It is a very popular day trip from Lucerne and rightly so.
This option is a great way to also experience Lake Lucerne Region with all its beauty which includes the surrounding alpine peaks and the lake shoreline on a relaxing boat cruise.

In this blog post I have tried to make it as easy as possible for you to understand and plan your journey from Lucerne to Mt Pilatus on the Golden Round Trip.

Good to know: The Golden Round Trip is ONLY available during the summer months. If you visit Lucerne in winter, you still can visit the peak of Pilatus Kulm but it would have to be the direct way.

Check our guide – The Best way to visit Mt Pilatus from Lucerne, to understand all the options.

In this post, I am only talking about the Golden Round Trip to Mt Pilatus.

city by night with mount Pilatus in back
Mount Pilatus looking over Lucerne

Map of the Pilatus Golden Round Trip & Information

One of the best ways to visit the top of Mt. Pilatus is with the Golden Round Trip. You can see on the map below that it is a circular tour starting and ending at Lucerne city station.

Click on the map to get to the interactive section which helps you to understand what is open, closed and available.
No matter the direction you want to do this excursion it works both ways. Having said that there are a few things you should consider when planning the trip.

map of the golden round trip from lucerne to pilatus
Complete map of the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus.
  • Time of the year you visit
    As mentioned earlier visiting Mount Pilatus on the Golden Round Tour from Lucerne is only possible during the summer months from mid-May to mid-October. Outside of this period, you will have to ascend the direct way via Kriens. 2022 season- Important note from the local website: The cogwheel railway runs from 26 May 2022 until 20 November 2022. The boat service between Lucerne and Alpnachstad will end on 17.10.2022.

 

  • How much time do I need for the whole tour?
    For the full tour, you will have to count at least 4 hours to visit Mt Pilatus. This however will not give you too long at the peak, which would be a shame. Therefore calculate at least 5-6 hours and make it a full-day trip from Lucerne.

 

  • Book your ticket
    To make it easy for you on the travel day, I recommend you book the Golden Round Trip ticket online.
    Note: The summer online tickets are on sale as of January/February!
    All transfers are included in the ticket. Bring the voucher and exchange it for the actual ticket at the counter.

Of course, it is also possible to get the tickets on the day.

Pilatus Golden Round Trip from Lucerne

I recommend making it anti-clockwise, meaning from Kriens with the cable car to Mt Pilatus followed by a ride down with the cogwheel train to Alpnachstad and back to Lucerne by boat.
You can start the day earlier this way.

Itinerary Pilatus Golden Round Trip

Below you will find a rough itinerary for the full day out. This is obviously totally changeable depending on what you will do in between and on the top of Mt Pilatus.
Good to know: If you are travelling by wheelchair or have someone in your group that needs assistance, it is absolutely essential you book this 24h in advance.
No bicycles can be transported on the cogwheel train.

To reconfirm all timings, check again on the SBB timetable and the boat timetable.

  • 8.55 – Take the RBus No1 from Lucerne bus station (STAND A) direction Kriens -Pilatus Zentrum.
    It is on the opposite side of the main road from the train station.. The journey is 28 minutes.
  • 9:23 – you will arrive at the bus stop in Kriens. Follow the indicated path to “Pilatus Bahn” or follow the Dragon. It is a 10-15 min walk uphill to the cable car station.
  • 9.45 – Exchange your online tickets for the actual tickets at the cable car station.
    Now, hop in one of the tiny bubble cable cars and ride up to Fränkmüntegg. It will take about 20 min.
    NOTE: If you want to spend some time at the Adventure Tree Park and let the kids play on the amazing playground in Krienseregg or have an adrenaline kick at the summer sledging run, then you need to exit the station here. More about it later in the travel blog.
  • 10.15 – Change to the Dragon Cableway and ride up the last stretch to Pilatus Kulm, the top of Mt Pilatus. This ride takes less than 4 minutes. Check out the views over Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee)
  • 10:20 to 15:45 – This is just an estimated time indication. Spend as long as you wish at the top. You will find below information on what to do at Pilatus Kulm.
    Good to know: The 15:45 is THE LAST cogwheel train down to Alpnachstad to catch the boat.
  • 15:45 – Take the Cogwheel Train down to Alpnachstad. The slow downhill ride will take you 40min.
  • 16.37 – Boat ride back to Lucerne. Enjoy and look back on the amazing day you have just spent at Mount Pilatus whilst experiencing the Golden Round Trip.
  • 17:45 –  Arriving in Lucerne and the end of the Pilatus Golden Round Trip.
on Lake Lucerne cruising on the golden round trip to Pilatus
Sailing along the Golden Round trip from Lucerne to Mt Pilatus

Activities along the Pilatus Golden Round Trip

Adventure Tree Park & Summer Tobogganing

At the 1st cable car station from Kriens, you arrive at Krienseregg where the small treetop rope course is located. Pilu land has an absolutely amazing playground with all kinds of climbing towers and a picnic place. The rope course is for children aged 4-8 years old.

Good to know: The Krienseregg playground is also open during the winter months! Therefore, if you visit Lucerne in winter and want to visit Mt Pilatus from Lucerne the direct way, make sure you stop here with the kids.

The 2nd station is the Fräkmüntegg where another advanced treetop rope course can be found. But maybe even more exciting is the “Fräkigaudi” the longest summer sledge/toboggan run in Switzerland.
The ride is 1350m long, epic! This is definitely worth the wait in the queue. Children aged 8 and under MUST ride with an adult.

Cost: Adult Chf 9.- Children 6-16 years old Chf 7.-

Click on the map to get more information about all the adventures activities

map of a tree trop park in switzerland
The amazing Treetop Park : Map from @Pilatus

What to do at Pilatus Kulm – The Peak

Well apart from marveling at the 360 degrees views, you could actually just get a chair and take it all in. The top of Pilatus Kulm is stunning and even for people with disability problems you can still visit and have a great time. But if you want to explore the top a bit more I have listed a few great things to do.

The map will help you to orient yourself better on the different activities at Pilatus Kulm.

mountain view from the swiss mountain Pilatus on the golden round trip from Lucerne
Stunning views all around Pilatus Kulm

 

map of Pilatus Kulm
Explore Pilatus Kulm

The Dragon World at Pilatus Kulm

You have finally reached the peak of Mt Pilatus and are halfway on the Pilatus Golden Round Tour from Lucerne.
So, it is now time to explore the top of Mt Pilatus – Pilatus Kulm.

Let’s start with the Dragon World. The myths and stories of the Pilatus dragon can be experienced in the virtual area where the dragons come alive. Head down into the dragon world.
The interactive tour is designed with games and fascinating effects that invite you to linger and marvel. The story is beautiful.

You can also hike the Dragon path, accessible straight from the panorama terrace. A short trail offering a different perspective and views down over Lake Lucerne. The view out of the peepholes makes this a great photography spot at Mount Pilatus. It is only a 5 min walk there and back.

a boy infant of the animated dragon video at Pilatus Kulm
Follow the Pilatus Dragon Story

Hiking on Mount Pilatus to the viewpoints

At the top of Pilatus Kulm, there are some short hikes to amazing viewpoints. Not that the view at Pilatus Kulm main area is bad, but the extra climb gives you that little bit extra for your buck. On the Pilatus map above you see the different possibilities.

Climb up to Esel Viewpoint
Only a 15min climb up to the Esel summit viewpoint will give you a stunning 360 degrees panoramic view. In good weather conditions you will be able to see all the way to the Black Forest in Germany.
Keep the little hikers close by as it drops very, very far down. A great photography spot is when you walk back down the steps. It feels like you are walking into the void.

Oberhaupt Viewpoint at Mt. Pilatus
Very popular and reachable with a 10 minutes uphill climb is the Oberhaupt viewing platform and also a magnificent spot for photography.

Hiking to Klimsenhorn and its Klimsenkapelle
When you ride up the Dragon ride on your right you will see this pretty chapel on a plateau. Just beautiful. The hike there is about 25min “downhill” from Pilatus Kulm. Keep in consideration that you need to climb back up again.

Hiking to Tamslishorn on Mt Pilatus
A bit further away is the scenic walk along to Tomlishorn. The path is flat and mostly paved so super easy to walk on. Only at the end of the trail will you have to walk on a rougher and rockier trail.
Together with a few steps and some climbs, it stays an easy hike at Mt Pilatus and only takes 20 minutes to reach Tomslishorn.

little boy hiking at Pilatus Kulm
Hiking up the Esel path at Pilatus Kulm

Facilities at Pilatus Kulm
Pilatus Kulm has probably some of the better mountain peak facilities.
With the great Hotel Pilatus Kulm comes many restaurants, souvenir shops, toilets and even conference rooms.

Therefore even if bad weather is coming in you have a large inside area to wait until the fog clears before heading back out again to explore.

Where to stay in Lucerne

Whilst there is so much to do in the Lucerne Lake Region it would be a shame not to stay for a few days. Find below all available Hotels in Lucerne and pick your best fit.


Some more possibilities whilst visiting Lucerne

 


Travel Guide Lucerne Region

If I have missed anything out on this post, or if you have some more questions when Visit Mt Pilatus on the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne, then leave a comment below. It is always nice for others to see some real people’s conversations.

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3 thoughts on “Visit Mt Pilatus on the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne”

    • Hi Rhonda,
      I have just seen that it looks like GetYourGuide only do the self guided golden route with the train and not with the boat. Hmm thats odd and not quite sure why they would not want to sell the boat version. When is this trip for? Thanks Corina

      Reply
      • Hey Rhonda
        i did some research why the Golden Circle self guided tour is not anymore on the liste, and it is simply why. At this moment it is not bookable. The golden tour only operate during the summer and tickets are coming back on sales againI believe it is end of February.
        Hope this helps
        Kindest Corina

        Reply

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Hi, my name is Corina, a mum of twins, a wife and founder of Packed Again – a Swiss Family Travel & Adventure Blog. We live in the most amazing mountain valley in Switzerland, the Valais.

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