Mt. Pilatus Summer Day Trip from Zurich
About this activity
Highlights
- Scenic Lake Lucerne boat cruise
- Ride the world's steepest cogwheel train
- Breathtaking panoramic mountain views
- Explore Lucerne's charming old town
- Visit the historic Chapel Bridge
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Round-trip transportation from Zurich
- Lake Lucerne boat cruise
- Cogwheel train ride to Mt. Pilatus summit
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
Pass by: Start your tour at the Sihlquai Bus Station in Zurich. Set off for an exciting day traveling through picturesque landscapes and along the shores of Lake Lucerne to the enchanting city of Lucerne.
Once arriving in Lucerne, enjoy a brief orientation drive, where your guide points out the main attractions of this charming town like the Chapel Bridge, the Town Hall, the Jesuit Church and the Culture and Convention Centre (KKL). Enjoy the following time at leisure to stroll through Lucerne's beautiful Old Town.
Continuation to Kriens, where you take the panoramic gondola and aerial cable car to the top of Mount Pilatus at 7000 feet (2132 meters). Enjoy some time at leisure admiring breathtaking views over the surrounding mountains and lakes. Venture down the Dragon's Path and make the short hike to the summit before descending Mount Pilatus to Alpnachstad by cogwheel railway. At a gradient of 48% it is the world's steepest!
Your summer alpine adventure concludes with a picturesque boat ride across lovely Lake Lucerne to Lucerne.
Pass by: After an enjoyable day, the guide will bring you back to Zürich.
Meeting point
Start Location
Best of Switzerland Tours AG, Sihlquai Bus Station, Limmatstrasse 2, 8005 Zürich, Switzerland
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour operates in all weather conditions; cancellations are rare.
- Children under 6 years old can join for free if seated on a parent's lap.
- Please inform the tour operator of any dietary restrictions in advance.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for uneven terrain.
- Bring a light jacket, as temperatures can vary at higher elevations.
- Check the weather forecast before departure to ensure optimal conditions.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Stroller Accessible
- Service Animals Allowed
- Easy Public Transport
- Infant Seats Available
Good to know
- 19.10.-27.11.2026: Ascent and descent by cogwheel train, no boat ride but lunch voucher included
- 28.-29.11.2026: Ascent by cable car, descent by cogwheel train, no boat ride but lunch voucher included
Traveler reviews
Exceptional scene with lots of rooms for improvement
The scene is exotic and exceptionally. It balanced the city tour, the mountain travel and cruise experience. However, there are several points to note. The tour has 44 participates, a super large group, with only one tour guide. The tour guide explained the arrangement in both English and Spanish. I don't know why they did not separate it into one English tour and one Spanish tour. Two guys are missing in the middle. Our bus departed and got back to the meeting point in the middle to the mountain which wastes twenty minutes. They are named as the best tour of the Swiss. However, I joined another tour offered by another company and approached their best counter for information, the reception just told me to not their tour, find the guide by my own. On the Mt Pilatus, tour guide wishes the squash all 44 participants into a cable car of capacity around 56. With lots of other tourists, the latter half of the group has to wait at the station for 15 minutes. Moreover, tour guide said to gather at 3:20pm, but he appeared at 3:30pm. Last but not least, their first stop is opposite side to Lucerne, roughly Weggis for a toilet break. It would be much much better to move the toilet break at Weggis to the city tour at Lucerne.
Amazing! Once in a lifetime experience, a must do!
This was an amazing experience and well worth the price. Konrad was an excellent tour guide! He took the time to help everyone get the photos they wanted.
A must fo excursion
Absolutely wonderful! Lucerne was very nice. Gondola ride was comfortable and great views. Mt Pilates - breathtaking. Rail ride down unique. Then boat ride. Highly recommend!
Excellent outing. Mt...
Excellent outing. Mt Pilatus is beautiful. Everything went smoothly. Our guide, David, was very knowledgeable.
Great but could be better
Pros: The sites are incredible! Lucerne is delightful and the lake is spectacular. The gondola up to Pilatus is a beautiful view and once up on the mountain, it is magical. The views, the little hikes, the restaurants are all worth the trip. The cog tram down is also a great experience, cowbells and all. Then a lovely boat cruise on the lake to finish the day. I very highly recommend this trip! Cons: if you prefer smaller, more private and accommodating busses, be aware this is a huge, double decker bus with no armrests and quite cramped. Also, from Zurich, you are on the same bus with your morning group. However, be aware that more people join the tour from Lucerne just to go up the mountain. I mention this because although you are promised that your backpacks/personals are secure and locked on the bus while you explore Lucerne, these new people were on the bus already when we returned. Anyone could have gone through my bag (thankfully not!) but just be aware. Also, morning folks lost their seats when the next group joined. My biggest quibbles were the timing at Lucerne and the mountain. At least 30 minutes more in Lucerne and 30 minutes less on the mountain would be better. Also, the bus stop in Lucerne is waaaaayyyyy to far from the center where everyone wants to go. You lose nearly 20 minutes wasted walking round trip, whereas a drop in the center where all the action is would be ideal. Again, this lost 20 minutes made a big impact on being rushed in lovely Lucerne.