Mount Pilatus is a tall mountain towering over Lucerne at 2,128.5 meters high (6,983 feet), a popular destination for tourists. In winter, you can visit the top by riding cable cars up the mountain.

At the top, you’ll find a big observation deck where you enjoy views of Lake Lucerne and countless mountain peaks in all directions. Best visited on a sunny day, so check the forecast carefully before making plans.

Open: year round but may close due to poor weather. Starting mid November, you can only reach the top via Kriens cable car. Check Pilatus website for current status.

Quick info: live status • webcam • forecast

How to get there

You can reach the top either by riding a 🚞 steep cogwheel train or 🚠 cable car up the mountain. We always take our visitors on the "Golden Round Trip," which starts with a ⛴️ boat ride to the mountain, the cogwheel train up one side and a cable car down the other.

Location: Pilatus gondola - Schlossweg 1, 6010 Kriens

Book tickets for Pilatus cable cars.

You get a discount with Swiss Travel Pass and other Swiss travel cards.

What to do

At the top, you’ll find a big observation deck where you enjoy views of Lake Lucerne and countless mountain peaks in all directions.

Note that in winter, the attractions like the summer toboggan, ropes course, and cliff walk are closed. Also, the paths and stairs to the higher viewpoints like Esel and Oberhaupt are usually closed due to snow and ice. So mostly you enjoy the views from the main panorama terrace.

There are restaurants at the top, but you can't really savor the views from the indoor seating. So we usually prefer to eat back in Lucerne.

Read our post about Pilatus