How to Get from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus – The Golden Round Trip
If you’re visiting Lucerne, a day trip from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus is one of the most iconic experiences. At 2,128 meters, Pilatus offers panoramic views of Lake Lucerne and the surrounding Alps, and the journey to the top is just as memorable as the views themselves.
I’ll be honest though. We didn’t have the best luck with weather on our visit. After passing the middle stations, the clouds rolled in and the famous views disappeared. But even without the perfect panorama, Pilatus had so much more to offer including Switzerland’s longest summer toboggan run and the steepest cogwheel railway in the world. It’s no doubt one of the best things to do in Lucerne (you could also consider nearby Mount Titlis or Mount Rigi).
Once we decided to visit Mt. Pilatus, I quickly realized how confusing the transport options were. I kept seeing the Golden Round Trip mentioned, but I was quite confused on where this route began and ended, what it included and how to book it. If you’re feeling just as overwhelmed, this guide will walk you through how to visit Mt Pilatus from Lucerne.
In the sections below, I’ll break down everything you need to know about getting from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus, covering both the Golden and Silver Round Trips, how they work, prices, and practical tips for making the most of your day.
Note: This guide applies to SUMMER (May – October) only as the cogwheel train and boats do not operate in the winter time.
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Your Trip Essentials
- Swiss Travel Pass – unlimited travel in Switzerland by train, bus, boat, and public transportation. Discounts of up to 50% on many excursions, as well as free entrance to over 500 museums.
- Swiss Half Fare Card – 50% off most public transportation (trains, boats, and buses) in Switzerland for 1 month
- E-sim for Switzerland
- Golden Round Trip from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus
- Silver Round Trip from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus
- Golden Round Trip – Guided Group Tour
- See my 7 day Switzerland Itinerary
- Hotel Recommendations in Lucerne
Lucerne Hotel Recommendations
Old Town:
Hotel Des Alpes
Hotel Des Balances
Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern
Luzern Train Station:
Ameron Luzern Hotel Flora
Hotel Continental Park
Waldstätterhof Swiss Quality Hotel
Luxury around Lake Lucerne:
Mandarin Oriental Palace, Luzern
Park Hotel Vitznau
Bürgenstock Hotel & Alpine Spa
Intro to Mount Pilatus
One of the best things about staying in Lucerne is its proximity and accessibility to 3 of Switzerland’s famous mountains. Within a short ride, you can reach Mt. Titlis, Rigi or Pilatus.
Towering above Lucerne, Pilatus is a series of mountain peaks. It is famous for its rugged ridges, folklore of fire-breathing dragons, and thrilling activities. It offers a mix of dramatic alpine scenery, easy-to-reach viewpoints, and the world’s longest summer toboggan run.
While you technically can hike to Mount Pilatus, this post will guide you though the easy ways of getting to Mount Pilatus from Lucerne using public transportation like gondolas and trains.
How to Get to Mount Pilatus from Lucerne
From Lucerne city center, you have two main options for reaching Mount Pilatus:
- Kriens (Gondola Station): From here, you’ll ride the panoramic gondolas up to Fräkmüntegg and then transfer to the Dragon Ride aerial cable car to reach the summit at Pilatus Kulm.
- Alpnachstad (Cogwheel Train Station): From this side, you’ll board the world’s steepest cogwheel railway, which climbs directly up to the summit.
Once you’re at the top, you can choose to return the same way you came or mix and match such as going up by gondola and down by train, or vice versa. This looped option is what’s known as the Golden Round Trip (includes the boat + train connection) or the Silver Round Trip (replaces the boat with a train).
Golden Round Trip from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus
There are multiple ways of going up and down Mt. Pilatus, but the most famous and the popular way is the Golden Round Trip as it involves multiple modes of transportation allowing you to have a well-rounded experience.
It combines boat, cogwheel railway, aerial cableway, gondola, and a bus for a circular route starting and ending in Lucerne. You can do this in reverse order as well.
Golden Round Trip from Lucerne to Pilatus Price:
The bus from Lucerne Bahnhof to Kriens is about 15 minutes. You then walk about 10 minutes to the gondola station.
The first stop of the gondola is Krienseregg where there is a play area for children and a family-friendly restaurant. You can get off here, or just continue on in the gondola journey.
Second station of the gondola is Fräkmüntegg. This is where the toboggan run is located, and another restaurant. There are some other activities here as well like a rope park and the Dragon Glider. The panoramic gondolas will take about 30 minutes total from Kriens to Fräkmüntegg.
From Fräkmüntegg, the “Dragon Ride” or a modern aerial cablecar takes just 3.5 minutes to reach Pilatus Kulm, and offers breathtaking views through its huge panoramic windows.
At summit of Pilatus Kulm, there are panoramic views over Lake Lucerne and the Alps, hiking trails, and Hotel Pilatus-Kulm with its restaurant.
From the summit, the steep cogwheel train that has a 48% gradient takes you down to Alpnachstad in about 30 minutes.
From Alpnachstad, the boat to Lucerne takes 50-90 minutes.
Book the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus below:
There is also this guided tour through the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus that is highly rated if you are overwhelmed with getting on all the different modes of transportation on your own!
Silver Round Trip from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus
The Silver Round Trip is almost identical to the Golden Round Trip, but instead of taking a boat from Lucerne to Alpnachstad, you’ll hop on a quick 17-minute train.
It’s a great choice if you’re not a fan of boat rides or if you’d like to save some time, since the boat journey can take anywhere from 50 to 90 minutes. The boat schedule is also more limited, so choosing the Silver Round Trip means less waiting around and less stress about timing.
The Silver Round Trip is slightly cheaper than the Golden Round Trip to Pilatus.
Get tickets for the Silver Round Trip below
Discounts on Golden & Silver Tickets
Several travel passes in Switzerland and Europe include discounts for the Golden Round Trip and Silver Round Trip tickets to Mount Pilatus.
- Eurail Pass – 50% discount
- Swiss Travel Pass – 50% discount
- Swiss Half Fare Card – 50% discount
After you purchase one of the above passes, book your Golden or Silver Round Trip tickets here.
Always carry your pass with you, as it should be presented together with your ticket during inspections. These discounts make the journey to Mount Pilatus far more affordable, especially if you plan on combining it with other mountain excursions in Switzerland. ***READ MY PASS CHOICE HERE***
Which Direction is Best? (Golden & Silver Round Trip)
When planning the Golden or Silver Round Trip, one of the biggest decisions is whether to start with the boat/train to Alpnachstad or with the bus and gondolas up from Kriens.
From my experience, I recommend starting with the bus and panoramic gondolas:
- Earlier start times – The gondolas start running earlier in the morning, while the boats from Lucerne typically begin later. If you wait for the boat, you’re often losing valuable morning hours.
- Avoiding crowds – Heading up to Pilatus earlier in the day means fewer crowds at the top, while arriving later (especially after the first boats) can feel very busy.
So, for both the Golden and Silver Round Trips, the recommended direction is:
- Bus from Lucerne → Kriens
- Gondola/Dragon Ride up to Pilatus Kulm
- Cogwheel Train down to Alpnachstad
- Return to Lucerne by Boat (Golden) or Train (Silver)
This way, you get the most out of your day without wasting time waiting for late-morning boats, and you’ll experience Pilatus at its best before the biggest crowds arrive.
Do You Need the Golden or Silver Ticket?
You don’t have to buy the full Golden or Silver Round Trip tickets to visit Mount Pilatus. If you’d prefer a simpler outing, you can purchase each leg separately and build your own route. For example, you could take the gondolas and aerial cable car up to Pilatus Kulm and return the same way, without ever using the cogwheel train.
That said, the Golden and Silver Round Trip tickets are designed to give you the complete Pilatus experience. They bundle together all the transportation options into a seamless loop, so you don’t have to worry about piecing things together. If your goal is to ride both the cable car/gondolas and the cogwheel train, then choosing the Golden or Silver Round Trip is the best value and the easiest way to do the excursion.
Guided Tours to Mount PIlatus from Lucerne or Zurich
If all of the above sounds too complicated, don’t worry! There are some great guided tours that take you along the entire route to make things easy for you.
- Lucerne to Mount Pilatus Group Tour – This tour starts in Lucerne, and completes the Golden Round Trip with a knowledgable tour guide.
- Zurich to Mount Pilatus Group Tour – This tour picks you up in Zurich and provides transportation to Lucerne, and after a brief stop in Lucerne, you do the Golden Round Trip with a bilingual guide.
Timing & Schedules for the Mount Pilatus Journey
One of the most common questions is how long each part of the trip actually takes. Here’s a breakdown to help you plan:
- Lucerne → Kriens: 15 minutes by bus (Bus 1 from Lucerne train station), then a 10 minute walk to the gondola base station.
- Panoramic Gondolas (Kriens → Fräkmüntegg): About 30 minutes. Gondolas run continuously throughout the day.
- Dragon Ride Aerial Cable Car (Fräkmüntegg → Pilatus Kulm): 3-4 minutes
- Cogwheel Train (Alpnachstad → Pilatus Kulm): Around 30 minutes each way. The train typically runs every 35 minutes, though schedules may vary by season.
Golden Round Trip to Pilatus will take about 5-6 hours, and Silver Round Trip 4-5 hours.
Important Notes
- On busy summer days and weekends, the cogwheel train can fill up quickly. Advanced seat reservations are recommended, especially if you’re on a tight schedule or traveling in peak season. Reserve seats for 5 CHF here.
- Boats from Lucerne to Alpnachstad take 50–90 minutes, depending on the departure and type of vessel. The schedule is more limited compared to gondolas, so it’s worth checking timetables in advance.
Summer Toboggan Run at Mount Pilatus
This was one of the activities I was really looking forward to for our trip, and it lived up to the hype. One of the most fun activities at Mount Pilatus in the summer months is the Fräkmüntegg Toboggan Run. It’s actually the longest summer toboggan run in Switzerland, stretching over 1,350 meters with twists and turns as you race down the hillside on a small sled with wheels.
The ride is suitable for both adults and children (minimum age 8 to ride alone, or 3 when accompanied by an adult), making it a great family-friendly activity. You control your own speed with a simple brake lever.
Key Details
- Location: Fräkmüntegg (the middle station on the gondola route)
- Season: Typically open from May to October, weather permitting. Check if it is running on the day of here. Does not run on rainy days!
- Length: 1,350 meters (about 4,429 feet)
- Cost: 9 CHF per adult, 7 CHF per child (8-16 years) and 5 CHF per child (6-7 years). Tickets are sold separately from the gondola/cable car fares. We paid at a ticket machine at the toboggan site. No reservations accepted so you just show up and there may be a line.
- Tip: The toboggan run is weather-dependent and closes during rain for safety.
When you reach the bottom, stay seated in your sled and the sleds are hauled back to the starting point by a pulley system while you ride along with it.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Mount Pilatus
A trip to Mount Pilatus is one of the most memorable experiences you can have while staying in Lucerne. Whether you choose the Golden Round Trip, the Silver Round Trip, or customize your own route, the journey itself by boat, train, gondola, or cable car is just as incredible as the views from the top.
When we visited, the weather wasn’t on our side and we barely had any views after the middle stations. It was disappointing at first, but uncontrollable weather is just part of mountain travel. Even without the sweeping panoramas, we still had a fantastic time experiencing the cogwheel train, gondolas, and toboggan run.
If you’re planning a visit, my best advice is to go early, be mindful of schedules (especially for boats and the cogwheel train), and give yourself enough time at the summit to explore.
