I will be in Lucerne for a few days in the middle of June and would like to venture up to one of the nearby mountains. Can anyone tell me which one they would choose between Mt. Rigi and Mt. Pilatus? Are they basically the same regarding views from the top....methods of travel to get there, etc? I will only have the time to make the trip to one....I want to make an informed decision as to which one to choose.
Thank you!
Lori,
I haven't yet been to Rigi, but the trip to Pilatus is very easy. There are a number of view points that you can access from the area where the two hotels are located, and the views are incredible (some light hiking required).
One very easy and pleasant trip is to take the boat from Lucerne to Alphnachstad, then the cog wheel Funicular to the top and return via the Cable Cars to Kriens. From Kriens it's only about a 15 minute bus ride back to the main station in Lucerne.
thanks Ken! I appreciate the info.
I've only been to Rigi, for the simple reason that I had a Swiss Pass, and in 2014 the trip to Rigi was fully covered while the trip to Pilatus was only partly covered. This has since changed, and now both are fully covered on the Swiss Pass.
For Rigi, there are several ways to do it. I chose boat from Luzern to Vitznau, train up from Vitznau to Rigi Kulm (the top), train down from Rigi Kulm to Rigi Kaltbad, cable car from Rigi Kaltbad to Weggis, STEEP walk down from Weggis cable car station to Weggis dock, and boat back to Luzern. This was about 3/4 of a day, and very worthwhile. The ever-changing views on the boat were amazing, and the ride up to Rigi Kulm was through the mist and clouds (so it got cloudy, then clear again!). The views from the top were really nice, although not nearly as impressive as what you get in the Berner Oberland (I'm glad I saw Rigi first). There is food and various walks at the top, so I stayed a while. The ride down was fine, but if I had it to do again, I'd probably go back via Vitznau, as I really didn't appreciate the steep walk involved in Weggis (in Vitznau, the dock and the train station are close and connected by a short and only slightly inclined walk).
I have done both and they are each fine excursions. Rigi has an easy downhill hike, but Pilates has this fun luge ride. Views from each are worth it. It's a coin toss you can't lose.
If I need to be back in Lucerne 5:00 p.m., is one option better than the other? I'm willing to have an early morning start.
I will have one whole day on Sunday to do either Pilatus or Rigi. Monday I will until 5:00 p.m. to see the other and get back to Lucerne.
thank you so much for the info Harold and Fast Eddie!
