Details on how to do day trip from Lucerne to Mt Pilatus

Simple answer, go to the ticket counter in Luzern station (basement level) and ask, they will explain everything and sell you tickets.

Longer answer, there are two ways, funicular up the far side (Alpnachstad, far side when viewed from Luzern) or cable car up the near side. You can combine both in a circular trip. The first leg of the circular trip (to Alpnachstad) can be done by train or boat.
Full info (times, prices, tickets) here: https://www.pilatus.ch/en/discover/golden-round-trip/

Its very easy to do. We walked from town to the base of the cable car and got our ticket there. We went up cable car and down funicular then waited fro the boat to take us back into town. I don't remember taking any bus and we did not buy our tickets in advance. We were there in September. Once you get there you'll have no problem finding exactly where to go. There are signs for it and its on the local map.

We took the local train to Alpnachstad because it was faster than the ferry (which might be more scenic). Getting off at Alpnachstad rail station, it was a quick and obvious walk to the cogwheel rail to go up the mountain. You had to stop to get a ticket (showing your gold or silver pass). Easy.

At the top, the cogwheel station and the gondola station are easy enough to find.

We came down on the backside of the mountain on the gondola. From the bottom station we had to walk down the hill (15 minutes or so) to the main street area in Kriens, from where we took the bus back to Luzern. Dont be afraid to ask for directions to the right place from locals. It was not obvious. But still painless.

You could do this in the reverse of what we did, or go there and back the same way.

Your hotel can also help you figure it out. Note that if your hotel gives you a Luzern Gästekarte, you will get free bus transport during your stay, which covers the bus part of the trip, if you choose to go that way.

when you say you stop to get a ticket (gold or silver) what does that ticket cover? Or can you just buy a ticket for each part of the journey?

You can buy a ticket for the complete circuit: Boat + Funicular + Cable car + bus
Info here: https://www.pilatus.ch/en/discover/prices/

Lucerne – Alpnachstad – Pilatus Kulm – Kriens – Lucerne (ship 2nd class)
Adult CHF 102.60
Child / Half Fare Card CHF 51.70

Just do what Chris suggests...walk to the ticket counter and just ask. They’re usually very friendly and more than willing to help.

steff,

I'd suggest using the route that Chris mentioned. You can buy tickets in the Lucerne train station. As I recall, I bought tickets for my trip in the tourist information office in the station.

I found this route to be very scenic....

• travel by boat from Lucerne to Alpnachstad. If the the weather is good, it's a very pleasant trip. The boat dock is close to the station as I recall.
• when you arrive at Alpnachstad, walk under the overpass to the ticket office of the Pilatusbahn Funicular and buy a ticket (if you don't already one). Note that there can sometimes be a bit of a queue for the Funicular, so there may be a short wait for the next departure. I expect it could be "busy" in late May.
• enjoy the spectacular scenery on the ride to the top.
• for the return trip, use the two-stage cable cars to Kriens. The first segment travels from Pilatus to Fräkmüntegg, and from there you'll transfer to a smaller cable car for the trip to Kriens.
• when you arrive in Kriens, you'll have to walk downhill from the cable car station to the main street (about 10-15 minutes or so). Look for the nearest bus stop and take the bus back to the Lucerne train station (the trip is only about 15 minutes as I recall).