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Season: all year
Recommended season: mid April to mid October
Max. altitude: 435 m (1427 ft)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 2026
The 2nd class fare for the longest possible one-way boat ride, between Lucerne and Flüelen, is CHF 53.
You don't need a boat ticket if you have a rail pass allowing free rides on Lake Lucerne, such as the Swiss Travel Pass or Lucerne Travel 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 not only on Lake Lucerne, 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 of Lucerne and Weggis (year-round), Brunnen and Vitznau (from spring to autumn), or on the boats (year-round).
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.
➤ 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%:
|
| Lucerne Travel Pass | Free:
|
| Saver Day Pass | Free:
|
| Swiss Half Fare Card | Discount 50%:
|
| Swiss Travel Pass | Free:
|
| Swiss Travel Pass Flex | Free:
|
Video
Reaching the boat docks and map of the main routes
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 on 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 with the main north-south boat route
There are so many boat routes, that they can't all be displayed on the map below. Consult the timetable for a complete overview.
Operation dates, schedules and timetable
2026 operation dates of the Lake Lucerne boats
You can make boat rides every day of the year. The ships operate most frequently in summer, and the fewest rides are available when the winter timetable applies.
The seasons' dates are as follows:
- winter timetable: until 17 April 2026
- spring timetable: from 18 April to 22 May 2026
- summer timetable: from 23 May to 6 September 2026
- autumn timetable: from 7 September to 18 October 2026
- new winter timetable: from 19 October 2026
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. Boat routes are indicated by the abbreviation "BAT".
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. This can be either the town name (such as "Weggis" or "Vitznau"), or the town name plus the addition "(See)", which means "lake". Examples are "Brunnen (See)" and "Beckenried (See)".
Best season for Lake Lucerne cruises
The best period to explore Lake Lucerne by boat is mid April to mid October, when the spring, summer and fall timetable apply. Lots of trips are available, and if you're lucky, the weather is good enough to sit outside.
My personal tips:
- Temperatures are usually highest in July and August. Even on pretty hot days, I like these boat rides, as the wind on the outdoor decks often has a cooling effect.
- During April, May, June, September, and October, there's generally more chance of snow on the peaks of the Central Alps, which results in beautiful views.
- The lowlands of the lake and its surroundings are prone to fog and low clouds in fall and winter. If this is predicted, you may be better off on one of the higher mountain tops than down at the lake.
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.
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 nearly 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.
Which Lake Lucerne boat routes are best?
All of Lake Lucerne is beautiful, so you can pick any boat ride that suits your itinerary. You can cross the entire lake, or focus more on the north-western or south-eastern part.
Rides on north-western Lake Lucerne
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.
Rides on south-eastern Lake Lucerne (the Urnersee)
The southern part (Brunnen-Flüelen) is surrounded by steeper hills. This part of the lake is also called the “Urnersee”. There are views of the higher peaks of the Gotthard Massif.
In Flüelen, at the southern tip of the lake, you can continue your journey by train to the Ticino. Either board the Gotthard Panorama Express train or normal trains toward Bellinzona and Lugano.
Learn more about the landscape and scenery in my guide about the Lake Lucerne area.
My favorite Lake Lucerne boat trips
These are some of my top boat rides:
- Take a boat from Lucerne to Brunnen, where you can visit the Victorinox shop. 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 Arno and I have really enjoyed several times! Travel back to Lucerne by train or boat.
What to expect on board the ships: boat types, seats, classes, catering
A large fleet with many boats
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.
The steamboats are a special experience. You can often watch the perfectly maintained propelling mechanism.
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.
Indoor and outdoor seats
Both classes have indoor and outdoor seats. The outdoor seats are usually benches. Indoor seats in the restaurants are actual chairs.
Eating and drinking on board the ships
You can dine in the on-board bistro or restaurant. Catering at the Lake Lucerne ships is excellent in my opinion! During long rides, you can easily have a 3- or even 4-course lunch.
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.
If you’re not seated in the restaurant, you can have your own food and drinks.
How to combine a boat trip with other excursions around Lake Lucerne
Adding a side trip to one of the mountains near Lucerne is very easy. Some examples I 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 boat tour from Lucerne to Hergiswil or Stansstad, plus an additional train and cableway ride to Titlis, is possible too. It’s farther away than the 4 mountains I mentioned above, but this combination is doable if you leave early.
Other nearby excursions to combine with your boat trip:
- Make a boat ride all the way south to Flüelen and switch to the Gotthard Panorama Express train.
- Visit the Museum of Transport in Lucerne. Then board the boat for a quick trip back to Lucerne or a longer cruise toward the south-east.
- Take the boat to Hergiswil and visit the glass factory “Glasi”.
➤ Where to buy Lake Lucerne boat tickets: safe options
Promotions
- www.lakelucerne.ch: culinary cruises
Schedules
- www.lakelucerne.ch: timetables for the Lake Lucerne boats
Prices
- www.lakelucerne.ch: prices for Lake Lucerne boat trips
Itineraries including Lake Lucerne
Best of the Alps
Free with the Swiss Travel Pass in Lucerne
Swiss Coupon Pass
Hike Bauen-Seelisberg
Town walk Lucerne
Pilatus
Rigi
Bürgenstock
Stanserhorn
