Are you ready for an adventure? Because that's what you're in for when you head up to Mount Pilatus in Lucerne. This place is wild, beautiful, and so much fun, you won't even know where to start.
Oh my goodness, the views. When you're up on Mount Pilatus, you're literally above the clouds, looking down on the world like a bird. You can see for miles and miles, taking in the sparkling lakes, rolling hills, and snow-capped peaks of the Swiss Alps. HOWEVER, I must warn that Pilatus is a very tricky mountain, because there are many times when the views at the top are especially cloudy...you have to keep your fingers crossed real hard for clear weather!
To get to Mount Pilatus during summer: You can do the Golden Round Trip consisting of 5 different modes of trnsport:
starting with a boat cruise from Lucerne,
continuing with a cogwheel train to Alpnachstad to the Pilatus
Return from Pilatus down to Fräkmüntegg via the aerial cableway,
Cablecar from Fräkmüntegg to Kriens
Bus from Kriens to Lucerne.
You can also choose to do it in the opposite way i.e. starting with the bus and ending with the boat cruise in the afternoonv if you prefer to reach Pilatus earlier, since the boat cruise takes nearly an hour and can be quite time-consuming in the morning.
NOTE:For travellers coming in winter, you can only reach Mount Pilatus via the bus-cablecar-aerial cableway option, as the boat cruise and cogwheel train is closed.
Highlight activities at Mount Pilatus:
Pilatus Rope Park: This adventure park is an exhilarating experience that will test your strength, balance, and nerve. There are several courses, each with varying degrees of difficulty. TYou'll be challenged to navigate through obstacles like swinging logs, wobbly bridges, and tightropes, all while being suspended up to 20 meters in the air.But don't worry, you'll be safely harnessed in, and the staff will give you a thorough safety briefing before you begin. They'll also be there to guide you and offer support throughout your adventure.
Price: 28CHF for adults
Tobbogan Run: This is the LONGEST summer toboggan run in Switzerland and it's a winding, twisting, turning ride down the mountain that will make you scream with joy!
For 8CHF you hop on a little sled, strap yourself in, and away you go, hurtling down the track at breakneck speed. It's like a rollercoaster, but wayyy better because you are in control! To get to the toboggan run, take the cablecar from Pilatus Kulm to Fräkmüntegg.
Note: The toboggan run is only available from May to October.
Watch my full Youtube vlog on Mount Pilatus here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=AxC75wKmHAk&pp=ygUbI2xvbmdkcml2ZWluc3dpdHplcmxhbmRjaXR5
Prices:
35.10 with Half-Fare card or Swiss Travel Pass (December-April)
39 CHF with Half-Fare card or Swiss Travel Pass (May-November)
You can also save yourself the hassle, by booking a guided tour (click below) from Lucerne to Pilatus with tickets and return transportation all arranged! This would be a great fuss-free option for families.
How to get to Alpnachstad from Lucerne: If you are starting the Golden Round trip with the boat cruise, OR if you missed the boat, and you are rushing to take the cogwheel train
Take the boat from the Lucerne boat terminal (longer scenic option, takes about 1 hour)
Take the regional S5 train straight from Lucerne to Alpnachstad (15 minutes)
How to get to Kriens from Lucerne (and vice versa): If you are starting the Golden Round Trip by bus, or if you are doing this experience in winter where there is no boat ride:
Take bus 1 from Lucerne Bahnhof to Kriens, Zentrum Pilatus (20 minute ride)