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Season: mid April to mid November
Recommended season: mid April to mid November
Max. altitude: 1850 m (6070 ft)What is Stanserhorn? 
The Stanserhorn is a mountain of 1850 m near Lucerne and close to the south-western shore of Lake Lucerne. The top is accessible by funicular and open-deck cable car (called CabriO) from mid-April to mid-November.
You can admire the amazing views from several viewpoints and a rotating restaurant. You'll see the peak of Pilatus quite close to you, Lake Lucerne and Mount Rigi in the north, and the snow-capped Central Alps and Bernese Alps in the south.
Several hiking trails start from Stanserhorn as well.
➤ Ticket prices and boarding passes explained
Stanserhorn prices: 2026 overview
| View more prices and discounts | Price | Applies to a return ticket Stans-Stanserhorn with the below ticket or pass |
|---|---|---|
| View Swiss Travel Pass prices (swissrailways.com) | CHF 0 | Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Travel Pass Flex or Saver Day Pass |
| View Lucerne Travel Pass prices (swissrailways.com) | CHF 0 | Lucerne Travel Pass |
| CHF 74 | Good Morning Ticket | |
| View ticket prices and discounts (swissactivities.com) | CHF 41 | Swiss Half Fare Card |
| View ticket prices and discounts (swissactivities.com) | CHF 82 | Normal ticket, full fare |
Stanserhorn prices with a rail pass
The Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Travel Pass Flex, Saver Day Pass, and Lucerne Travel Pass provide free rides to Stanserhorn.
With a Swiss Half Fare Card, you can buy a 50% discounted ticket or a 50% discounted Saver Day Pass. A discounted Saver Day Pass can be cheaper than normal tickets, if bought well in advance, and it covers the trip to Stanserhorn.
Find a complete overview of rail pass discounts here.
Access to the open-air cable car deck
There are no extra fees to access the open roof deck of the CabriO cable car. I greatly enjoy this open-air ride and absolutely recommend it, especially since it doesn't cost anything extra!
Cheaper "Good Morning Tickets"
If you depart from Stans no later than 09:30 am, you can get a cheaper "Good Morning Ticket". You don't need this if you have a rail pass that allows a free trip.
How the optional boarding pass works
Most Stanserhorn tickets include a free boarding pass. This guarantees access to the funicular and cable car from Stans to Stanserhorn during a specific time slot. The boarding pass add-on is available up to 09:00 of the day of your departure.
If you've purchased a ticket without boarding pass, or if you have no ticket at all because your rail pass grants free traveling, you can buy a separate boarding pass at CHF 2.
Boarding passes for the trip back down can not be purchased online in advance. They're available at the mountain station on busy days though. Once you arrive, you can pick a boarding pass with your desired departure time for the descent.
In my view, the small additional fee is worth it: you can skip the queues during peak times in high season. This mostly concerns June to September, and good weather days during weekends and school holidays throughout the operation season.
A boarding pass isn't obligatory. You just may need to wait a bit longer if it's busy and you don't have one.
Where to buy Stanserhorn tickets
You can buy tickets online, or at the valley station in Stans and the mid-station Kälti.
➤ Save money with your rail pass
| Pass | Discount |
|---|---|
| Day Pass | Free:
|
| Eurail Global Pass | Discount 25%:
|
| Interrail Switzerland Pass | Discount 25%:
|
| Lucerne Travel Pass | Free:
|
| Saver Day Pass | Free:
|
| Swiss Half Fare Card | Discount 50%:
|
| Swiss Travel Pass | Free:
|
| Swiss Travel Pass Flex | Free:
|
How to reach the Stanserhorn: directions and map
Traveling to Stans
The trip starts in Stans, a village at about 20 minutes by train from Lucerne. Stans can be reached by train, bus, or car. Alternatively, you can take a boat to Stansstad and hop on a train to Stans there.
It's a 5-minute walk to the funicular valley station from the rail station of Stans. The easy route is indicated by signposts.
The trip from Stans to Kälti and Stanserhorn
You will first board a historical wooden funicular that takes you to the mid-station of Kälti, at an altitude of 710 m. From there, the double-deck cable car CabriO will take you up to 1848 m.
Standing on the open roof of the CabriO is a great experience: the views over Lake Lucerne and toward the top are spectacular.
Operation dates, schedules, and timetable
2026 operating dates and hours for Stanserhorn
Operation dates
The funicular and cable car operate from 11 April until 22 November 2026.
Operation hours
The first funicular leaves Stans at 08:15. The last cable car down departs from Stanserhorn at 17:15. The funicular and cable car mostly depart with 30-minute intervals.
Evening rides
From early May to late October, you can make special evening rides on Saturdays. From early June to late October, these extra rides are available on Thursdays and Fridays as well. At the top, you can enjoy a pre-booked special dinner, or spontaneously grab a bite in the self-service restaurant.
Find exact dates through the links here.
Planning your trip in the timetable
You can use the Stanserhorn timetables (see the links here), or plan your entire trip with Swiss timetable. Use these names:
- "Stanserhorn" for the mountain destination
- "Stans" for the rail station of Stans
- "Stans (Talstation Stanserhorn)" for the funicular valley station
- "Kälti" for the mid-station at which you transfer from the funicular to the cable car
Best season for Stanserhorn
Stanserhorn can be reached from mid April to mid November. I think this entire period is suitable for a visit:
- My personal favorites are late-April and May. During this spring season, there's enough snow left on the peaks of the Central and Bernese Alps to create a beautiful contrast with the green valleys.
- June, July, August and September are perfect for a refreshing mountain visit. They're also the best months for high-altitude hikes in the Stanserhorn area. It can be busy, though.
- October and November are beautiful because of the autumn colours setting in. The top will usually be quieter than in summer. Stanserhorn stands out for a visit in late October and early November: quite some Swiss mountain transport shuts down for operation breaks from mid-October, but Stanserhorn is accessible a few weeks longer than that.
Weather forecast and tips for Stanserhorn
Check the weather forecast to make sure it will be clear enough to enjoy the views from Stanserhorn. Make sure you dress appropriately: it can be cold and windy at the top. Standing on the open deck of the CabriO cable car can quickly cool you down as well.
If it's cloudy in the valley, don't assume you won't have good views from the top. Especially in autumn, it may be brilliantly sunny high up in the mountains. So check webcams to see if you may be rising above the clouds, which is an amazing experience.
If you plan to hike, please prepare well.
What to see and do at Stanserhorn
Views
A wide view unfolds at the top. You can see the Pilatus west of you, Lake Lucerne with Mount Rigi in the north, and the Bernese Alps in the south.
Restaurant
The star-shaped panoramic restaurant “Rondorama” has a section with a revolving floor, from which you’ll view the 360° panorama in 45 minutes without leaving your seat. Regular seats directly at the windows are available too. You can choose your drinks, pastries, or hot dishes from the self-service section.
If you travel up no later than 09:30, you can book a breakfast package that includes both the cableway ride and a delicious breakfast with drinks, bread, croissants, Swiss müesli, and various toppings.
On many Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, you can enjoy dinner in the restaurant. If you prefer joining one of the special culinary offers (such as the romantic candlelight dinner), rather than using the self-service restaurant, you should book your table in advance. The last cable car ride down is around 11 pm on these nights.
Outdoors
- You can make a scenic 30-minute roundabout walk to the summit and back to the cableway station, but Stanserhorn is also the starting point for much longer hikes into the valley.
- There’s a small marmot zoo, although it’s not guaranteed you’ll actually spot these mountain animals.
- From comfortable lounge chairs in the designated “lazy zone” at the top, you can take in the panorama and relax.
- If you like adventure, book a hang gliding or paragliding flight.
Other activities to do on the same day
If you limit your time at Stanserhorn somewhat, you’ll have plenty of time to add another excursion in the Lake Lucerne area. My suggestions after you’ve traveled down to Stans or the nearby town of Stansstad:
- Board the boat to Lucerne.
- Board a boat to Alpnachstad and travel up to Pilatus.
- Get on the bus to Bürgenstock.
You could even add a trip to Rigi, even though the boat or train ride to one of its valley stations takes a bit longer. I feel that Titlis is too far off to comfortably add to your Stanserhorn excursion, but it’s doable if you plan well.
Stanserhorn, Pilatus, Titlis or Rigi: how to choose
There are several mountains near Lucerne. In my opinion, these are the pros of Stanserhorn:
- The entire trip is for free with a Swiss Travel Pass. Rigi is too, but Pilatus and Titlis are discounted and not for free.
- It’s a relatively quick trip from Lucerne. You can reach the top in just 45 to 60 minutes. This means you can combine your Stanserhorn excursion with other activities within one day.
- The open-deck cable car ride of the CabriO is unique. I love the combination of wide-reaching panoramic views, and interesting glimpses of the cable engineering.
- The rotating restaurant at the top is a nice bonus!
➤ Buy your Stanserhorn tickets and tours here: trusted options
Schedules
- www.stanserhorn.ch: Stanserhorn timetable
Prices
- www.swissrailways.com: Stanserhorn tickets in the official SBB tourist webshop
- www.stanserhorn.ch: Stanserhorn ticket prices
- www.stanserhorn.ch: breakfast package
- www.stanserhorn.ch: candlelight dinner
Free with the Swiss Travel Pass in Lucerne
Swiss Coupon Pass
Town walk Lucerne
Boat Lake Lucerne
Rigi
Pilatus
Titlis
Bürgenstock
Lucerne
