Why Mount Pilatus is the classic day trip from Lucerne
Mount Pilatus rises straight out of Lake Lucerne to Pilatus Kulm at 2,132 metres. Two ways lead up: the cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad, with gradients of up to 48 percent the steepest in the world, and the gondola from Kriens followed by the Dragon Ride cable car.
Combine both with a boat trip across the lake and you have the Golden Round Trip, one of the best-known excursions in Switzerland. The cogwheel railway only runs from May to late November, so the season decides which route you can take.
Plan your trip to Mount Pilatus
Ticket, route and season first. The rest follows.
Pilatus tickets and prices
Summer and winter prices for each route, with Half Fare Card and Swiss Travel Pass.
Golden Round Trip
Boat, cogwheel railway, cable car and bus in one loop, and when it runs.
Getting there
Via Alpnachstad or Kriens, from Lucerne and Zurich, with travel times.
Best time to visit
Cogwheel season, winter on the cable car side and the autumn maintenance break.
Mount Rigi
Europe's first mountain railway, free with the Swiss Travel Pass.
Things to do in Lucerne
The Chapel Bridge, the Lion Monument and more day trips around the lake.
Mount Pilatus tours and tickets
Golden Round Trip tickets, day trips from Lucerne and Zurich and combinations with other mountains, with live prices and availability.
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Two ways up the mountain
Most visitors go up one side and down the other.
Cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad
27 minutes up, 33 minutes down, across 4.6 kilometres and 1,635 metres of height. It runs from 11 May to 29 November 2026. Alpnachstad is 16 minutes from Lucerne by train or about 70 to 90 minutes by boat.
Getting there →Gondola and Dragon Ride from Kriens
The panorama gondola takes about 30 minutes to Fräkmüntegg, then the Dragon Ride cable car climbs to the top in under four minutes. This side runs all year except for maintenance breaks; in 2026 it is closed from 19 October to 27 November.
Seasons and closures →At the top
The Dragon Path, a free 20-minute loop that starts at the end of the panorama gallery, is open in summer and often in winter. In summer the Flower Path leads to the Tomlishorn in about 90 minutes. Two hotels and restaurants sit at Pilatus Kulm.
Hotel Pilatus-Kulm →Fräkmüntegg
Halfway up the Kriens side, with a rope park and the Dragon Glider in summer. Both closed on 18 October for the 2026 season.
Prices for activities →More mountains around Lake Lucerne
Pilatus is one of several summits within an hour of Lucerne.
Mount Titlis
Glacier, Cliff Walk and the revolving Rotair cable car above Engelberg.
Stanserhorn
The CabriO cable car with an open upper deck, free with the Swiss Travel Pass.
Lake Lucerne cruise
Paddle steamers and motor ships, free on scheduled routes with the Swiss Travel Pass.
Mount Pilatus: frequently asked questions
How much does Mount Pilatus cost?
In summer 2026 a round trip costs CHF 84, whether you go up and down via Kriens, via Alpnachstad or one way each. With a Half Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass you pay half. In winter the Kriens round trip costs CHF 60.
Is Mount Pilatus included in the Swiss Travel Pass?
Not fully. The Swiss Travel Pass gives 50 percent off the mountain railways and makes the boat and bus 1 free. The Golden Round Trip costs CHF 42 with the pass.
When does the Pilatus cogwheel railway run?
From 11 May to 29 November 2026. In winter only the gondola and the Dragon Ride from Kriens go up, apart from maintenance breaks.
What is the Golden Round Trip?
A loop by boat from Lucerne to Alpnachstad, cogwheel railway to the top, cable car and gondola down to Kriens and bus 1 back to Lucerne, or the other way round. It costs CHF 119.80 in 2026 and runs while the boats sail to Alpnachstad, roughly May to October.
How long do you need for Mount Pilatus?
Half a day for the mountain alone, a full day for the Golden Round Trip with time at the top.