Lake Lucerne boats: quick introduction
Lake Lucerne ('Vierwaldstättersee' in German) is a 38 km long lake in Central Switzerland. It stretches out from Lucerne in the north to Flüelen in the south-east.
Boat tours are an excellent way to explore the lake and its scenery: from the hills of Rigi in the north, to the Gotthard mountains in the south.
Lake Lucerne prices, tickets and reservations
Ticket prices for Lake Lucerne boats in 2024
The 2nd class fare for the longest possible one-way boat ride, between Lucerne and Flüelen, is CHF 53.
Note that you may not need a boat ticket if you have a rail pass allowing free rides on Lake Lucerne, such as the Swiss Travel Pass or Tell-Pass. Find a full overview of rail pass benefits here.
Details in case you do need to buy boat tickets:
- The exact costs depend on the route you pick. You can check prices for your boat ride in the Swiss timetable. Make sure to choose the boats as your means of transport. Our timetable guide explains how to do so.
- Instead of point-to-point tickets, you can get a Lake Lucerne day ticket for unlimited use of all boat routes. A 2nd-class day ticket costs CHF 53 in winter and CHF 86 in summer.
- A Saver Day Pass offers free travel on Lake Lucerne as well, but also in the rest of Switzerland. Its lowest possible fare is CHF 52, which is cheaper than a Lake Lucerne winter or summer day ticket.
Where to buy boat tickets
If you need tickets, you can get them online or on the spot: at the boat docks or on the boats. If you haven't purchased your ticket before boarding, you should do so right after boarding at the boat's ticket desk.
Reservations for Lake Lucerne cruises
Reservations are not required. Just board with a valid ticket or pass. Exceptions apply to:
- groups of 10 or more people. They are asked to register in advance.
- the on-board restaurants. Reservations are optional.
- special culinary cruises. These should be booked in advance.
Get your tickets for Lake Lucerne boat tours
If you don't have a rail pass allowing free trips on the lake, you need a ticket.
Offered by GetYourGuide: www.getyourguide.com
- Easy, online, free cancellation in most cases
- Best Price Matching: GetYourGuide will pay the difference if you find a lower price.
- Extra Support: if you buy here, MySwissAlps can also assist if you have questions about your order.
Offered by GetYourGuide: www.getyourguide.com
- Easy, online, free cancellation in most cases
- Best Price Matching: GetYourGuide will pay the difference if you find a lower price.
- Extra Support: if you buy here, MySwissAlps can also assist if you have questions about your order.
Offered by GetYourGuide: www.getyourguide.com
- Easy, online, free cancellation in most cases
- Best Price Matching: GetYourGuide will pay the difference if you find a lower price.
- Extra Support: if you buy here, MySwissAlps can also assist if you have questions about your order.
Promotions
There are currently no promotions available.
Free or discounted Lake Lucerne cruises with your rail pass
The benefits of the passes below apply to standard boat tours. If you book a special culinary cruise, additional costs apply.
Pass | Discount |
---|---|
Day Pass |
Free:
|
Eurail Global Pass |
Discount 50%:
|
Interrail Switzerland Pass |
Discount 50%:
|
Saver Day Pass |
Free:
|
Swiss Half Fare Card |
Discount 50%:
|
Swiss Travel Pass |
Free:
|
Swiss Travel Pass Flex |
Free:
|
Tell-Pass Summer |
Free:
|
Tell-Pass Winter |
Free:
|
How to reach the boat docks
The main boat terminal in Lucerne
The boat terminal in Lucerne is right across the railway station. You'll quickly see it once you leave the station building. There are several piers, each showing destinations and departure times.
Boat docks in other villages
You can get on and off the boat in many towns along Lake Lucerne. Examples are Beckenried, Brunnen, Flüelen, Vitznau and Weggis. In nearly all cases, the ship pier is very close to the railway station or (main) bus stop in this village.
Map of Lake Lucerne
There are so many boat routes, that they can't all be displayed on this map. Consult the timetable for a complete overview.
Operation dates, schedules and timetable
2024 operation dates of the Lake Lucerne boats
You can make boat rides on every day of the year. The ships operate most frequently in summer: from 25 May to 8 September 2024.
Schedules are more limited in the other seasons:
- The winter timetable applies from 9 December 2023 to 19 April 2024. This is when the fewest boat trips are available.
- The spring timetable applies from 20 April to 24 May 2024.
- The autumn timetable applies from 9 September to 20 October 2024.
Planning your boat journey in the timetable
You can consult the separate Lake Lucerne boat schedules.
The boat rides are visible in the general Swiss timetable too. Use the "Settings" option to select boats as your travel mode. Our timetable guide explains how to do so.
Here are the names to use:
- The boat terminal in Lucerne is called "Luzern Bahnhofquai". The number of the exact pier is indicated too.
- The docks in other towns have varying names. Examples are "Weggis, Pier", "Vitznau", "Brunnen (See), Pier" and "Beckenried, See".
Best season for Lake Lucerne cruises
The best period to explore Lake Lucerne by boat is late April to mid October.
Temperatures are usually highest in July and August, so you can often sit outside to fully enjoy the scenery.
During April, May, June, September and October you can choose from lots of trips as well. Plus, there's generally more chance of snow on the peaks of the Central Alps than in summer, which results in beautiful views.
Weather info and forecasts for Lake Lucerne
Sunny weather is best to enjoy the views from the outdoor decks. But clouds and rain aren't a problem. As there's plenty of indoor room, and often great restaurants too, a cruise in bad weather can be very pleasant.
The boats operate in nearly all weather types, except for extreme conditions.
If you plan to be outdoors mostly, prepare well. Dress warmly enough, because the wind at the lake can quickly cool you down. Take along sunglasses: the sun's reflection on the water's surface can be very bright.
Forecasts for Weggis on Lake Lucerne
The types of boat trips on Lake Lucerne
Lake Lucerne is large. There are boat routes between nearly all towns on the lake. So the many options range from 15-minute single rides and 1-hour round trips from Lucerne, to a 6-hour round tour to Flüelen and back. Most rides are standard ones: the ships transport tourists and other passengers as a public transport service.
In addition, there are special culinary cruises, such as brunch, Swiss fondue and dinner cruises. These should be booked in advance and require additional payment.
Which Lake Lucerne boat routes are best
All of Lake Lucerne is beautiful, so you can pick any boat ride that suits your itinerary. This can help you choose:
- The northern part (Lucerne-Brunnen) has wide views. You’ll see green hills around the lake, plus the higher Central Alps in the distance. There are scenic villages on the shores, such as Weggis and Vitznau.
- The southern part (Brunnen-Flüelen) is surrounded by steeper hills. There are views of the higher peaks of the Gotthard Massif. In Flüelen you can continue your journey by train to the Ticino.
Some of our favorites:
- Take a boat from Lucerne to Brunnen. You can visit the Victorinox museum in Brunnen. A side trip to the mountain village of Stoos is possible too. Then travel back to Lucerne via Arth-Goldau. Here, you can hop on a cogwheel train to Mount Rigi as a side trip.
- Make a boat tour from Lucerne to Brunnen. Then travel back by bus via Vitznau, Weggis and Küssnacht. You can reach the Rigi from Vitznau and Weggis as well.
- Travel all the way between Lucerne and Flüelen. This results in varied scenery, and there’s time to have a multi-course lunch in the restaurant: something we’ve really enjoyed several times! Travel back to Lucerne by train or boat.
How to combine a boat trip with other excursions around Lake Lucerne
It’s very easy to add a side trip to one of the mountains near Lucerne. Some examples we can recommend:
- Take a boat to Weggis or Vitznau and travel up to Rigi.
- Visit Pilatus by taking the boat to Alpnachstad and then the funicular to the mountain top.
- Make a boat ride to Stansstad and then travel up to Stanserhorn.
- Travel by boat to the stop ‘Kehrsiten-Bürgenstock’ and visit Bürgenstock.
A short boat tour plus an additional excursion to Titlis is possible too. It’s farther away than the other 3 mountains, but a combination is doable if you leave early.
Lake Lucerne boats: FAQ
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What are the boats on Lake Lucerne like?
The fleet at Lake Lucerne consists of modern motor vessels and traditional paddle steamers. Between Lucerne and the harbor below Bürgenstock, there’s a ferry service with a modern catamaran-like ship. The timetable shows which type is used for each trip.
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What’s the difference between 1st and 2nd class?
2nd class is at the larger lower deck. 1st class is at the upper deck. It’s smaller and usually less crowded. Both classes have indoor and outdoor seats.
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Can I eat and drink board?
Yes. You can dine in the on-board bistro or restaurant. Catering at the Lake Lucerne ships is excellent in our opinion! If you’re not seated in the restaurant, you can have your own food and drinks.
Other websites of interest
- www.lakelucerne.ch: culinary cruises
Schedules
- www.lakelucerne.ch: timetables for the Lake Lucerne boats