Switzerland · Mountain Exploration

Mt. Pilatus Golden Roundtrip Small Group Day Trip from Zürich

8 Hours Round trip from Zürich Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Travel from Zürich to Lucerne by intercity train
  • 02 Cruise across Lake Lucerne to Alpnachstad
  • 03 Ride the steepest cogwheel train in the world to Pilatus Kulm
  • 04 Enjoy free time at the summit of Mt. Pilatus
  • 05 Visit the dragon gallery, viewpoint, and scenic terraces
  • 06 Descend by gondola via Fräkmüntegg and Kriens
  • 07 Small-group experience with an English speaking Swiss tourguide

Experience Switzerland’s classic Golden Roundtrip on a small-group day trip from Zürich to Mt. Pilatus. Travel by train to Lucerne, cruise across Lake Lucerne to Alpnachstad, then board the world-famous cogwheel train for a spectacular ascent through alpine meadows to Pilatus Kulm.

At the summit, enjoy free time to take in the mountain scenery and explore attractions such as the viewing terrace, panorama gallery, dragon gallery, scenic terraces, and multimedia presentation. Your return journey continues by gondola via Fräkmüntegg and Kriens before heading back to Lucerne and Zürich.

Travel by train to Lucerne, cruise across Lake Lucerne to Alpnachstad, then board the world-famous cogwheel train for a spectacular ascent through alpine meadows to Pilatus Kulm.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 8 Hours
Tour type Shared
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Not included
Transport Not included
Wheelchair access No
Cities Lucerne, Zurich, Pilatus
Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Zürich to Luzern

Your tour starts with the 45-minutes train ride from Zürich to Luzern.

Lake Lucerne

You start your tour with the one hour lake boat transfer from Luzern to Alpnachstad. After leaving the bay of Luzern, the boat glides along the shore of Hergiswil and Stansstad to the bay of Alpnach. On the entire boat tour you have the surrounding mountains in sight. 

Alpnachstad

Alpnachstad is the connection point between the lake boat and the steepest cogwheel train in the world. 

Within 35 minutes the cogwheel train climbs along the ridge and passing alpine meadows to Pilatus Kulm. 

Mt. Pilatus

Arrive at the mountain station Pilatus Kulm of the Pilatusbahn, where a viewing terrace, a panorama gallery and two mountain hotels are located on the scenic local mountain. 

Visit several attractions at Mt. Pilatus like the dragon gallery, the viewpoint, the scenic terraces and the multimedia presentation. 

Fräkmüntegg

The largest rope park in Central Switzerland, tree tents, the toboggan run, hiking trails and fantastic barbecue areas invite you to relax. 

Kriens

After a gondola ride to Kriens, a short walk of 6 mins take place to reach the local bus. The bus takes you within 10 minutes back to Luzern. 

return travel to Zürich

Return travel from Luzern to Zürich, where the tour ends. 

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Zürich 3 cities · 8 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Intercity train Zürich-Luzern and vv.
  • typical 'golden round trip' by boat, cogwheel train, gondola
  • all necessary tickets (no aditional costs)
  • seat reservation for guaranteed departure on cogwheel train
  • English speaking Swiss tourguide

What's Not Included

  • Food or drinks (lunch break at restaurant with various menus)
  • Gratuities

Know before you go

  • STROLLER OR PRAM ACCESSIBLE
  • ANIMALS OR PETS ALLOWED
  • PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NEARBY
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Infants must not sit on laps
  • Infant seats unavailable

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Zürich, CH
Tour start
Zürich, CH
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 8 hours finish where they began, in Zürich.

Watch the tourHQ film Watch the film

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