Mount Pilatus, Lucerne: How To Reach, Best Time & Tips

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Mount Pilatus Overview

Located in central Switzerland, overlooking Lake Lucerne, Mount Pilatus is counted among the top hiking destinations in the world. You can enjoy some of the most amazing sights from here in the Swiss Alps especially if you hike up to Tomlishorn, one of its most beautiful peaks.

Visit one of the most legendary places in Switzerland which offers breathtaking views of 73 Alpine peaks on a clear day. According to folklore a dragon rock fell from the sky back in the 15th century and the Roman governor Pontius Pilatus stood guard in front of it. Today the mountain massif of Pilatus is home to some of the most beautiful places in the country. You can reach the mountain top from Lucerne by an aerial cable car, a gondola lift, or with the world's steepest rack railroad from Alpnachstad. Make this extraordinary experience part of your Switzerland package from India and discover the magic atop Pilatus.

There are a variety of hiking trips that are on offer here making it an absolute paradise for not only hikers, but also mountaineers, and alpinists. If you are at Krienseregg, you will also find a recreation area with waymarked hiking trails, a large children's playground, and picnic areas with tables and benches as well as an open barbecue.

Highlights

• Go on a hiking trip to some of the most exquisite peaks, each of which is a distinct viewpoint offering the most breathtaking sights of the surrounding vistas.
• Go all the way up to the highest peak known as Tomlinson for a splendid view of the Swiss Alps.
• Relax at one of the several restaurants and cafes soaking in the tranquility and peaceful atmosphere.
• Take a cableway ride to Frakmuntegg and enjoy the awesome mountain scenery along the way.
• Go for an adventurous cogwheel train ride which is the steepest in the world all the way to peak.

How To Reach

Mount Pilatus overlooks Lucerne, and there are mainly four ways by which you can reach this haven:

Cableway

From Lucerne, you will have to drive to the small town of Kriens. From Kriens, you will get tickets for a couple of panoramic gondolas and a cableway that will take you to the top of Mount Pilatus.

Distance: 9 km

Time taken: 40 minutes from Kriens

Cost: 78 CHF for adults and 40 CHF for children under 16.

By Cogwheel Rail

A train will take you from Lucerne station to Alpnachstad station and from here you can take the cogwheel rail that will take you to the top of Mount Pilatus. On the way back, you ride the cableway and gondolas to Kriens and from here you take a train that will take you back to the Lucerne railway station.

Distance: 9 km

Time taken: 30 minutes from Alpnachstad

Cost: 72 CHF for adults and 36 CHF for children under 16

Hiking

This is also a favorable option, if you trek regularly, you may try this out. The route is spectacular, and you’ll be greeted with phenomenal vistas of nature in the entire journey!

Distance: 26.5 km

Best Time To Visit

The best time to visit Lucerne and Mount Pilatus would be between June and September. This is peak season, and the weather is quite pleasant. Since Lucerne is literally at the foot of the Alps, it is chilly even in summer! Here are a few other seasons when you might visit Mount Pilatus.

It would not be too wise to visit it during winter as the temperatures go really low and even the cogwheel rail is closed. You should visit Mount Pilatus in the morning as the queues will be less and you will be able to enjoy the view for some time! Then you can come back and explore the town of Lucerne in the evening!

Other Essential Information

What to expect at the top of Mount Pilatus?

Once you reach the top of Mount Pilatus, you will be greeted with a sight that will stun you into silence- Lake Lucerne nestled in the lap of the Swiss Alps! Not just that, you can take short hikes to access a number of viewpoints, each showing another breathtaking side to the Swiss Alps! And when you are done, just go into one of the restaurants to ask for fondue- this will complete yours once in a lifetime experience!

Traveler’s tips for Mount Pilatus

To make your experience even more memorable, we have a few things that you need to keep in mind:

- Try to leave for the Kriens station as early as you can, or else you may face a long queue in the peak season!

- Wear a light coat over a t-shirt and a cotton sweater. You will not need anything warmer during the summer season!

- Make sure you have worn good walking shoes or trekking shoes as you may need to hike to a few viewpoints.

- Try to book the tickets online if possible or else you may not get any during peak season

- Get a Swiss Travel Pass if possible as that includes all travel systems of Switzerland- including cableway and cog rail.

- To make the most of the trip, try to get there by 10. All the transportation systems close by 5, so you must leave by 4. This gives you a good 6 hours!

Mount Pilatus Ticketing Option

3 hours

4.7

(84)

Self-guided Tour to Mount Pilatus, Lucerne

Day Wise Timings

Open Today

Normal Timings:

08:30 AM to 04:30 PM

Normal Timings:

08:30 AM to 04:30 PM

Normal Timings:

08:30 AM to 04:30 PM

Normal Timings:

08:30 AM to 04:30 PM

Normal Timings:

08:30 AM to 04:30 PM

Normal Timings:

08:30 AM to 04:30 PM

Normal Timings:

08:30 AM to 04:30 PM

Tourism Board Alliances

Mount Pilatus FAQs

Is Mount Pilatus free with Swiss Pass?

Yes, Mount Pilatus is free with the Swiss Travel Pass. In fact, whether you are traveling alone or with family, it would be wise to look up the Swiss travel pass and the places it covers.

Is Mount Pilatus worth visiting?

Yes, it is absolutely worth all the hype and expense! It provides you with a spectacular view of the Alps that you would not get elsewhere. It is one of the best viewpoints in Switzerland! It is ideal for both people who like to sit back and relax and for the trekkers! Once you get there, there are so many things you can do- just sit back and enjoy the view, take a toboggan ride, or go on short hikes to the numerous peaks! And the best part is, you can club this into your itinerary of Lucerne as a day trip! It is one of the best viewpoints of Switzerland!

How much time do we need for Mount Pilatus?

Around 6 hours is a good enough time for Mount Pilatus. This way, you can try out a restaurant and even hike up to a couple of viewpoints!

What time does Mount Pilatus open?

The rental station at Krienseregg opens at 9:15 am and closes down at 4:30 pm. So it is imperative that you complete your trip within this time.

Mount Pilatus Reviews

Charumati Ahuja

Reviewed: 27 Dec 2022

4.0/5

Booked:Self-guided Tour to Mount Pilatus, Lucerne

We had a great time on this self-guided tour to Mount Pilatus in Lucerne, experiencing some amazing thrills and seeing incredible views of the Swiss Alps and lakes. We began in Kriens and took gondola rides to Fräkmüntegg before embarking on an incredible Dragon Ride to Mount Pilatus. After having o... Read More

Kannan Dubashi

Reviewed: 03 Jun 2022

5.0/5

Booked:Self-guided Tour to Mount Pilatus, Lucerne

The journey began with the amusing cable car ride from Mount Pilatus. Unobstructed views of the Swiss Alps. It was overall a fantastic experience. I definitely want to thank thrillophilia for planning this out so smoothly.

Shazil Shan

Reviewed: 15 May 2022

5.0/5

Booked:Self-guided Tour to Mount Pilatus, Lucerne

Mount Pilatus is the place to go if you enjoy going on adventures with your family and friends. First off, the package from Thrillophilia is completely inexpensive and includes all it promises. The cliff hike offers a fantastic view. The safety is in place, and the guide is also excellent.