I just started planning my European vacation for the summer of 2016 and one of the places I want to visit is Mount Pilatus which is next to Lucerne Switzerland. I was just wondering if anyone here has ever been there and whats the best way to get up there? Any tips would be most helpful.
Posted by
Edmonds WA
244 posts
We went there! I loved it. We got this combo pass that we took a gondola up there then a boat back into town after coming down the mountain on a cog wheel. I found all the info on the Pilatus website but we didn't buy the ticket till we got there. It was really easy. We just walked to where we got the gondola, then walked back from where the boat dropped us off in town. Your going to love it. The views are amazing.
Posted by
Alabama, USA
271 posts
I would stay in Lucerne at Backpackers and use the Golden Round Trip. Get your tickets at the front desk for 20% off. For a 106-120 CHF ticket that can save some money--especially if there are more than one in your group. Once you buy your tickets at backpackers you can just board the boat without having to go through the public ticket office near the boats where it seems EVERYONE stands in line.
It takes you from:
Luzern – Alpnachstad via boat
Alpnachtstad - Pilatus Kulm via cogwheel train car
Pilatus Kulm – Kriens via two cable cars (stopping in Fraekmuentegg)
Kriens – Luzern via 15 minute bus
Information can be found at http://www.pilatus.ch/en/railway-cableways/prices/
I like the Luzern to Kriens schedule versus the Kriens to Luzern one. It is a better trip.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
You can purchase tickets to/from Pilatus at any ticket counter in Switzerland. All of Switzerland's trains, buses, boats, gondolas, cogwheels (funiculars) are part of the integrated Swiss Transportation Network. So there is no "right" or "wrong" way to get to/from Pilatus. Just like any journey it's a series of connections.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
If you're going to Switzerland, you'll get a lot of use from Rick Steves Switzerland. In his Luzern chapter, he has all the details on the various options for getting to Mt. Pilatus, as well as other sights in the city and region.
If you're going to be in Switzerland a while, you will probably get good value from a Swiss Pass or Half-Fare Card. Either one will give 50% off the ride up Mt. Pilatus, and the rest of the ride getting there and back will be 50% off or free, depending on the particular card or pass you're using.