Mount Pilatus near Lucerne: complete planning guide for 2027 

Regular return tickets

The table above shows prices for a standard return ticket between Kriens, Pilatus and Alpnachstad. Details:

• From mid-May to mid-November, you can choose any way up and down that you like: the cogwheel train from Alpnachstad, the cable car from Kriens, or one route up and the other down. The price is always the same, and your ticket is valid for any combination to and from the top. You're not allowed to repeat stretches: a return ticket allows for one ride up and one ride down only.
• In the other months, only the cable cars from Kriens operate. A cableway return trip in these months is cheaper than during the rest of the year.
• Check exact discounts for each rail pass here.
• Check the cogwheel train and cable car operation dates here.

Golden Round Trip and Silver Round Trip tickets

What are the Golden Round Trip and Silver Round Trip?

There are popular round trips that include all segments between Lucerne and Pilatus. The Golden Round Trip consists of these sections:

1. Lucerne to Alpnachstad by boat
2. Alpnachstad to Pilatus by cogwheel train
3. Pilatus to mid-station Fräkmüntegg by cable car and to Kriens by gondola
4. Kriens to Lucerne by bus

The Silver Round Trip is similar, except for the 1st segment: you'll get from Lucerne to Alpnachstad by train instead of by boat.

These round trips can only be made if both the cable car and the cogwheel train operate, which is roughly from mid-May to mid-October.

What does a Golden Round Trip ticket cost?

A Golden Round Trip ticket from and to Lucerne costs CHF 122 in 2nd class in 2027, and CHF 142 in 1st class. But your rail pass may cover (parts of) this route, in which case you shouldn't buy this full-fare ticket. Find details below.

What does a Silver Round Trip ticket cost?

A Silver Round Trip ticket from and to Lucerne costs CHF 94.80 in 2nd class in 2027, and CHF 99 in 1st class. Again, check if your rail pass includes (parts of) this route before buying a ticket.

Are the Golden Round Trip and Silver Round Trip included in the Swiss Travel Pass (Flex)?

Yes, parts of the routes are free with a Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Travel Pass Flex: all journeys by train, bus, and boat to the valley stations of Alpnachstad and Kriens. The cogwheel train and cableways between Alpnachstad, Kriens, and Pilatus are 50% discounted.

So, all you need with a Swiss Travel Pass (Flex) are 50% discounted tickets for the cogwheel train and/or cable car at CHF 42. Alternatively, you can buy Golden Round Trip or Silver Round Trip tickets for Swiss Travel Pass (Flex) holders. They cost the same: CHF 42.

Are the Golden Round Trip and Silver Round Trip included in the Swiss Half Fare Card?

Yes, all routes are 50% discounted with a Swiss Half Fare Card. If you buy Golden Round Trip or Silver Round Trip tickets, indicate that you have a Swiss Half Fare Card, or choose a 50% discounted ticket.

The costs in 2027 for Swiss Half Fare Card holders:

• A 2nd-class Golden Round Trip ticket costs CHF 61; a 1st-class Golden Round Trip ticket costs CHF 71.
• A 2nd-class Silver Round Trip costs CHF 47.40; a 1st-class Golden Round Trip ticket costs CHF 49.50.

Are the Golden Round Trip and Silver Round Trip included in the Lucerne Travel Pass?

Yes, the Lucerne Travel Pass fully includes all segments. You don't need any additional tickets.

Reservations

As a rule, reservations aren't required. But in busy periods, reservations for the cogwheel train from Alpnachstad are strongly recommended, and sometimes even obligatory. The Pilatus website indicates whether this is the case.

Even if they're not required, I really recommend cogwheel train reservations if you're traveling at a busy time: June to September, weekends with sunny weather, and Swiss holidays, for example.

Tours to Pilatus

Would you like Arno or me to create a personalized itinerary and package for you, including your Pilatus excursions? We'll be happy to do so!

Further down this page, you'll also find many independent and guided tours to Pilatus. If you book a tour, all tickets to Pilatus are usually included. But check the conditions to make sure. 

Where to buy your tickets and tours

Tickets for a trip up to Pilatus are available online, and from the ticket desks in Alpnachstad and Kriens. Tours have to be booked online in advance.

The 2 ways to reach Pilatus

Pilatus can be reached in 2 ways: by cableway via the suburb of Kriens, and by cogwheel train via Alpnachstad, a small village south of Lucerne. I'll describe both below. Check our video and map with quick route summaries too!

1. From Lucerne to Pilatus by cableway via Kriens

From Kriens, a district of Lucerne, there's a gondola to mid-station Fräkmüntegg. Kriens can be reached by car or by bus (line 1) from the rail station in Lucerne in about 15 minutes. It's a 10-minute walk from the bus stop to the gondola valley station. Just follow the red Pilatus signposts.

The gentle gondola ride to Fräkmüntegg over forests and hills takes about 20 minutes. You'll gradually get views of Lake Lucerne and the peaks of the Central Alps on your way up.

At Fräkmuntëgg, you'll change for the 55-passenger cable car to Pilatus, also called the "Dragon Ride". This is a shorter, spectacular stretch, crossing the deep rocky ravines just below the mountain station and with panoramic views to the north, east, and west.

The entire cableway trip takes 1h10 from the Lucerne railway station.

2. From Lucerne to Pilatus by cogwheel train from Alpnachstad

From the small town of Alpnachstad, you can take the cogwheel train to the top. This steep ride is available in spring, summer, and fall. From the Lucerne train station, you'll reach the summit in just under 1 hour.

Alpnachstad can be reached by train, boat, or by car. The cogwheel train leaves directly across from the rail station and boat dock of Alpnachstad: you can't miss it.

You'll enjoy the ride from the comfort of modern trains with large windows for panoramic views. Even the roof largely consists of glass!

The landscape quickly transforms during the ride: from the hills surrounding Alpnachstad, you'll first enter forests. After you've passed the tree line, wider views await you. Up to mid-station Ämsigen/Aemsigen, sitting at either the right or the left side is equally fine.

The second half is a gorgeous climb through an alpine valley with meadows, streams and fierce rocks. Views again are good on both sides, but the last steep section to Pilatus can best be enjoyed from the left side.

A round trip from Lucerne

My favorite round trip from Lucerne consists of the 5 sections mentioned below. Of course, the order can be reversed, and sections can be traveled separately.

• Section 1: by train or boat from the rail station in Lucerne to Alpnachstad.
• Section 2: by cogwheel train to the peak of Mount Pilatus.
• Section 3: by cable car down to Fräkmüntegg.
• Section 4: by gondola down to Kriens.
• Section 5: by bus back to the rail station of Lucerne.

The Golden Round Trip and Silver Round Trip

These are Pilatus round trips from and to Lucerne. The "Golden Round Trip" is basically the route I described above. The "Silver Round Trip" is the same, except that you reach Alpnachstad by regular train instead of boat. Find all details in the price section.

Traveling by funicular or cable car only

You don't have to make a round trip. You can just take the cogwheel train up and down from Alpnachstad, or take the gondola and cable car up and down from Kriens. A standard return ticket covers both routes, so you can choose whichever combination you like.

Opening dates for the Pilatus cable cars and cogwheel train

Except for a few days in late April, you can reach the summit year-round.

Operation dates of the cable car from Kriens

The cable car operates year-round, except for these maintenance breaks:

• on 12 and 13 April 2027
• from 18 October to 5 November 2027

During the November break, you can alternatively use the cogwheel train.

Operation dates of the cogwheel train from Alpnachstad

The train from Alpnachstad operates from 10 May to 21 November 2027.

How to plan your journey to Pilatus in the timetable

You can plan each segment of your Pilatus trip in the Swiss timetable. These are the names to enter:

• The top station is called "Pilatus Kulm".
• The gondola valley station in Kriens is "Kriens (Pilatusbahn)".
  • The nearby bus stop is called "Kriens, Zentrum Pilatus".
  • The mid-station along the cableway route, where you'll change from the gondola to the larger cable car, is "Fräkmüntegg".
• The cogwheel valley station is called "Alpnachstad PB".
  • The adjacent normal train station is simply called "Alpnachstad".
  • The nearby boat dock is called "Alpnachstad (See)".
  • The mid-station is "Aemsigen".

Specific cogwheel and gondola timetables for Pilatus are available too. You can consult them here.

The best time for an excursion to Pilatus is mid May to mid November. Both the cable car from Kriens and the funicular from Alpnachstad are operational. This means you can make a varied round trip with several modes of transportation.

Spring and summer

I like May best and early June best. This isn't tourist high season yet, although this is a popular excursion and there may already be crowds. I also appreciate the views down on the spring-like flora in the valleys, and of the mountain tops in the distance from which not all snow has melted yet.

The weather in July and August can be beautiful. It's usually less cold at the top than during other months, which means you can have a bite on one of the restaurant terraces.

Late summer and autumn

September gradually gets less busy than July and August. Temperatures are lower than in July/August on average, but you can still have a summer-like experience in terms of weather. There's usually not much snow left on the peaks you can see from Pilatus, especially after a hot summer.

In October, chances of fresh snow on the mountains increase. Combined with the autumn colors around Lake Lucerne, this results in wonderful scenery.

In November, you'll have to plan carefully due to the cableway operation breaks and the end of the cogwheel train season. However, you'll have better chances of a quiet visit, and you'll normally still see pretty autumn colours during your ride up and from the top.

Winter

If you visit between late November and April, there's usually more snow on the mountains of Central Switzerland and the Bernese Oberland. There can be snow at Pilatus too!

For the best winter experience, I recommend January and February. This is when the chances of snow are best. Favorable conditions for the sled run and winter hiking trails at mid-station Fräkmüntegg are likely too.