M
Amazing views
It was a wonderful experience! Really enjoyed the variety of travel arrangements from the boat ride to the top of the mountain. It was not as cold as we thought it would be. Beautiful views and I would highly recommend it.
Mount Pilatus Summit from Lucerne With Lake Cruise
+6 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 5h 15min
- Price from
- $195 / person
- Location
- Lucerne, Switzerland
- Rating
- 4.6 / 5 · 1,475 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 48
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Best of Switzerland Tours
- Meeting point
- Please wait there on the sidewalk. Your tour guide will be holding a red flag with “Best of Switzerland Tours” on it.
Description
Enjoy a day of Alpine adventure in Switzerland on this half-day, summer trip to Mt Pilatus from Lucerne. Begin your journey toward the skies with a 30-minute panoramic gondola ride to Fräkmüntegg, and then hop aboard the aerial cableway for your ascent to the summit of Mt Pilatus. Relax at your leisure on the peak or take a short hike to make the most of the stunning scenery below. Descend to Alpnachstad aboard the world's steepest cogwheel train and cruise out onto Lake Lucerne to admire the views from the water.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 10:45 AM, 11:00 AM, and 12:30 PM
- Next available
- Sun, Oct 11
- Adult (ages 16+)
- $195
- Child (ages 6–15)
- $98
- Infant (ages 0–5)
- Free
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 10.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Lucerne
Meet your guide in central Lucerne in the early afternoon.
Pilatus Luzern
Hop aboard your comfortable coach for the short journey to Kriens, at the foot of the imposing Mt Pilatus. On arrival, begin your ascent to the mountain’s lofty summit with a 30-minute panoramic gondola ride to the Fräkmüntegg terminus. Enjoy beautiful views over the rolling hills and lush pine forests below. At Fräkmüntegg, hop aboard the aerial tramway — a spacious and modern cabin with panoramic windows designed to give the feeling of flight. Continue your climb to the summit at a dizzying altitude of 7,000 feet, and take in spectacular views over the Alpine peaks and lakes from your vantage point on the mountain. During your free time atop Mt Pilatus, perhaps sit down to a high-altitude lunch among the peaks (own expense) or relax on the expansive sun terrace. Venture down the Dragon's Path and take a short hike around the summit to enjoy the amazing views.
Alpnachstad
Take the world's steepest cogwheel train down to Alpnachstad, descending past trickling mountain streams and sheer rock faces toward the verdant, green meadows below.
Lake Lucerne
Conclude your tour with a picturesque 1-hour boat ride across lovely Lake Lucerne and enjoy the spectacular scenery from an entirely different angle.
Lucerne
At the end of the cruise, your tour ends back in Lucerne.
What's included
Included
Panoramic gondola and aerial cable car "Dragon Ride" (except from 19 October to 27 November 2026)
Lunch voucher up to 20 CHF (valid only from 19 October to 29 November 2026)
Ride on the steepest cogwheel train in the world
Fully guided tour in English by a professional guide
Transportation in a comfortable air-conditioned coach
Carbon-balanced operations certified by myclimate
1-hour boat cruise on Lake Lucerne (until 18 October 2026)
Not included
Hotel pick-up and drop-off
Food and drinks (available for purchase at Mount Pilatus summit)
Gratuities
Personal expenses
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.6
1,475 reviews
How it compares in Lucerne
- The most-reviewed of 320 tours in Lucerne
- Starting price $195 is 31% below the typical $281 for tours of similar length in Lucerne
Excurgo comparison of 320 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- From 19 October to 27 November 2026: Ascent and descent by cogwheel train. The boat cruise is not available, but a lunch voucher is included.
- From 28 to 29 November 2026: Ascent by cable car and descent by cogwheel train. The boat cruise is not available, but a lunch voucher is included.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Mount Pilatus Summit from Lucerne With Lake Cruise take?
Mount Pilatus Summit from Lucerne With Lake Cruise lasts about 5h 15min. The itinerary has 5 stops.
How much does Mount Pilatus Summit from Lucerne With Lake Cruise cost?
Prices start at $195 per person for this Lucerne experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Mount Pilatus Summit from Lucerne With Lake Cruise run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 10:45 AM, 11:00 AM, and 12:30 PM.
How much does Mount Pilatus Summit from Lucerne With Lake Cruise cost for children?
Children aged 6–15 pay from $98, adults from $195. Infants go free.
Can I cancel Mount Pilatus Summit from Lucerne With Lake Cruise for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Please wait there on the sidewalk. Your tour guide will be holding a red flag with “Best of Switzerland Tours” on it. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Mount Pilatus Summit from Lucerne With Lake Cruise offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 48 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Specialized infant seats are available
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Mount Pilatus Summit from Lucerne With Lake Cruise worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.6 out of 5 across 1,475 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Best of Switzerland Tours.
Reviews(1,475)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
8
Must Do Experience in Luzern!
This was a fantastic tour/experience. The views from Mt. Pilatus were stunning. We were lucky enough to have good weather to be able to see down to the lake. The gondola ride up was quite quick for as high as we ascended. The two hrs at the top gave enough time if you wanted to hike around or eat/drink and relax. We had a nice lunch at the hotel but there are a few other quick and cheaper options. The train ride down was longer but beautiful scenery to take in. The lake cruise was the icing on top; we rode a good portion of the lake so we were able to see a lot of small villages. Our tour guide was very sweet, he took the time to engage with all the guests and his instructions throughout the day were good and easy to follow.
N
Amazing views and fantastic guide!
I would highly recommend this trip! A great way to see the heights and relax on the lake. Views were spectacular and our guide was great in helping us navigate and get the most out of our experiences! Thanks so much!
M
Great Day!
Excellent day. Our guide Milton was great. We all thought it was the highlight of our vacation.
K
Plenty of time on Mt...
Plenty of time on Mt Pilatus to explore . The host was very friendly . Plenty of choices for food. We had a great day
M
Mt Pilatus.
LIKED: The guide’s explanations about Pilatus, history and where and what to do. We liked all 3 parts of the adventure and without the guide, advance tickets, transport and all 3 combined parts in one 5.5 hour timeframe, on our own we would have missed one of them and you have to add the cost of travel and tickets and lost time on vacation trying to do it yourself. Tiannan was great and a very knowledgeable and uplifting guide. DISLIKED: Nothing.
M
Unforgettable Day Trip Up, Up and Up!
What a full day of fun and adventure we enjoyed on this tour! Our guide, Olga, was friendly, kind, helpful and knowledgeable! We learned so much about Swiss customs and history in the bus en route, in addition to the information that she also shared about the beautiful city of Lucerne and our final destination, Mount Pilates. The trip delivered all that was promised, and it was our most favourite of all the tours that we booked while here in Europe.
J
Great experience
A very well organized experience with beautiful views! Our guide was wonderful and made the experience seamless.
A
Pretty amazing
Great experience and travelling with 2 kids 9 and 13 years and thoroughly enjoyed it and wouldnrecommend to others
C
Would do it again, and again…
A must do - this excursion was the perfect escape from the busyness of the city. Convenient p/u and drop off spots. The elements of the tour itself were perfect. Our guide, David was friendly and informative. We had a great time! Thank you!
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| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Pilatus Summit from Lucerne With Lake Cruise | 5h 15min | 4.6 (1,475) | $195 | |
 Mt. Pilatus Peak and Lake Lucerne Cruise Small Group from Lucerne | 5h 30min | 4.6 (685) | $270 | View |
 Self-guided: Mount Rigi, Lake Lucerne Cruise and Mountain Spa | 7–10 hours | 4.7 (97) | $195 | View |
 Mt. Pilatus & Lake Lucerne Cruise Private Tour | From Lucerne | 6 hours | 4.7 (83) | $690 | View |
 Lake Lucerne 1-Hour Catamaran Cruise | 1 hour | 3.8 (137) | $37 | View |
 Lake Lucerne 1 Hour Discovery Cruise | 1 hour | 4.2 (44) | $31 | View |
 Mount Pilatus & Mount Rigi in just 1 Day! | 10 hours | 5.0 (18) | $970 | View |
from$195
4.6(1,475) Free cancellation