8889 posts
Hi skit and Welcome to MySwissAlps,
When are you travelling precisely? The cable car from Kriens (suburb of Luzern) to Pilatus will be closed for maintenance from 23 Oct to 10 Nov. You can still go up to Mt Pilatus and back on the cogwheel train from Alpnachstad though.
Check the timetables at http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable to work out the best plan.
Which ever way you go to Mt Pilatus you have to go to Luzern first. See http://www.myswissalps.com/pi latus/gettingthere
Pilatus is free with a Swiss Travel Pass if you happen to be using one. http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass
72625 posts
Hi I hope Titlis can be visited.
We are there 28th 29th Oct in Lucerne.
Can one do pilatus even though cable car in maintainence
8889 posts
Yes, Titlis is open and yes you can still visit Pilatus on those days via the cog-wheel railway from Alpnachstad as mentioned above.
72625 posts
Hi Skito,
Yes, you will have to go via Lucerne when taking a train from Zurich to Mt. Pilatus (& change trains there). Use Rockoyster’s links for more details and timetables.
When you speak of round-trips from Zurich or Lucerne are you interested in a tour?The wording made me think you might be…
If you are traveling independently you can take the cogwheel up from Alpnachstad until Nov 19 (could close earlier due to weather). Or take the gondolas from Kriens anytime of the year except between Oct. 23 – Nov.10
72625 posts
@rockoyster, thanks for the welcome =] I’ll be in Switzerland from October 16 – 28. I’d like to travel from Zurich to Lucerne on October 18 or 19th, depending on whether or I can get to Lucerne from Zurich through Mt. Pilatus. But your response helps me out. I have to go through Lucerne, regardless. And thank you for your note on the Swiss Travel Pass. I’m leaning more and more towards purchasing one.
@Lucas, a tour would be nice, however, we’re trying to keep costs low, so I might just do this independently.
Lastly, is this something I should make reservations for ahead of time, or is this something I can walk my happy self to on the day of?
Thanks for the swift response, everyone =]
8889 posts
Reservations are not required for Pilatus. Just rock up. If you are there before 23 Oct then the Golden Round Trip is great. Kriens to Pilatus Kulm then cog-wheel down to Alpnachstad then ferry on lake back to Luzern. Or the same trip in reverse direction.
72625 posts
Hi Skito,
Yes, it is easy to do independently.
Use the timetable link on Rockoyster’s first post and enter Zurich to Pilatus. The timetable gives you the most direct/fastest routes first. It will give you details of where you will need to change trains to get to the top of the mountain and how much time you have to change trains etc.
If you decide to buy the Swiss Travel Pass you can do so online here. This way it is emailed to you for printing at home, then you can have it to use as soon as you enter Switzerland (you can pick the start date of the pass when ordering if you want it to start later).