Private Lake Lucerne boat tour: Pilatus, Rigi & Bürgenstock

See Lucerne from the water, not the shore

A private boat tour on Lake Lucerne carries up to twelve guests aboard the QUATAGIS, a wooden passenger ship, past Alpine peaks, historic grand hotels and the city's lakeside landmarks. The two-hour route passes Mount Pilatus, Mount Rigi, the Bürgenstock Resort and Weggis, with a live guide in English or German. Restroom on board. Children welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Lake Lucerne2h
2. Lucernepassing by
3. Pilatus Railwayspassing by
4. Mount Rigipassing by

Private boat tour on Lake Lucerne

• Board private boat in Lucerne
• Enjoy cruise on Lake Lucerne
• View Pilatus, Rigi, Bürgenstock mountains
• Pass by Lucerne city sights
• See historic Grand Hotels
• Pass by Bürgenstock Resort
• Pass by Weggis tourist town
• Return to Lucerne

The experience

The boat leaves Lucerne and moves past the city's waterfront: the century-old Grand Hotels, the KKL concert hall designed by Jean Nouvel, and the paddle steamers that still cross the lake. From the water, the scale of these buildings and the sweep of the shoreline read differently than they do from the promenade. Mount Pilatus rises as a backdrop, then Mount Rigi comes into view along the eastern arm of the lake, its slopes dropping to the water where the oldest rack railway in Europe climbs from Vitznau.

The route passes Weggis, a spa town since the 1600s, and approaches the Bürgenstock, a mountain resort that opened as a Grand Hotel in 1873 and hosted Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren and Sean Connery. The recent renovation added thirty buildings, a spa and a golf course to the complex. The boat circles back toward Lucerne, giving views of the mountains from different angles as the light and the distance shift them. A restroom is on board. The ship holds a maximum of twelve people, so the deck does not crowd.

The guide speaks English or German throughout, narrating the mountains, the towns and the history of the lake as the route unfolds. Children of any age are welcome, and the two-hour span fits into a free afternoon or a morning before other plans.

What’s included

• Private transportation aboard the wooden QUATAGIS.
• live guide in English or German.
• restroom on board.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 Apr 2027

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 28 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by QUATAGIS-BOOT Adrian Imgrüth

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to stay seated while the scenery moves past you: a passenger ship circles the lake's arms from Lucerne's center, letting you see Rigi, Pilatus and the Alpine shoreline without navigating yourself.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and German.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What mountains will I see on the Lake Lucerne boat tour?

Mount Pilatus and Mount Rigi dominate the views throughout the tour, rising from the shoreline and visible from different angles as the boat moves along the lake's arms. Bürgenstock, a lower but more famous mountain resort, also comes into view during the route.

Is the boat tour suitable for children and small children?

Yes, children and small children are welcome on the private boat tour. The two-hour duration and the restroom on board make it manageable for families with young passengers.

How many people can fit on the QUATAGIS boat?

The QUATAGIS is designed for a maximum of twelve guests, so the boat remains intimate and uncrowded regardless of group size.

What is included in the private boat tour price?

The tour includes private transportation on the boat and access to the restroom on board. A live guide in English or German narrates the route and the landmarks throughout the two hours.

Can I see Lucerne's landmarks from the boat?

Yes, the tour passes the city's waterfront, including the century-old Grand Hotels, the KKL concert hall and views of paddle steamers on the lake, all seen from the water rather than from the shore.