Mount Pilatus Winter Tour from Lucerne: Alpine Views by Gondola

Ride the gondola to Pilatus Kulm and stand on the viewing terrace above the clouds

A small group tour from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus combines a 10-minute electric bus ride to Kriens, two gondola ascents totaling 26 minutes, and time at the mountain station to visit the dragon gallery, panorama gallery and scenic terraces. Your English-speaking Swiss guide handles all transport logistics. The tour runs five to six hours and includes all necessary tickets.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Lucernepass by
2. Pilatus Railways3h · entry included

Mount Pilatus winter tour from Lucerne

• Meet tour guide at Lucerne train station
• Take electric bus to Kriens
• Walk to Pilatus gondola station
• Board gondola to Fräkmüntegg
• Change gondola for final ascent
• Explore Pilatus Kulm attractions
• Have lunch at Pilatus restaurant
• Return by gondola to Lucerne

The experience

The tour starts at Lucerne train station, where your guide meets you and leads the group onto a public electric bus headed to Kriens, a 10-minute ride to the foot of Mount Pilatus. From the cableway station there, you board the first aerial gondola, what the Swiss call a cableway, for a 20-minute ascent to Fräkmüntegg, where you switch to a larger 60-person gondola for the final six-minute climb to Pilatus Kulm. The mountain station sits at the summit with a viewing terrace, panorama gallery and two mountain hotels, and you have time to walk the scenic terraces, visit the dragon gallery and take in the panoramic views across Lucerne and the Alps before heading back down the same route.

Lunch happens at one of the mountain restaurants at Pilatus Kulm, where you can order from various menus at your own cost. The return journey mirrors the ascent: gondola back to Fräkmüntegg, then the cableway down to Kriens, then the electric bus back to Lucerne. All transport tickets are included in the tour price, so there are no additional costs for the train rides or cableways.

What’s included

• English-speaking Swiss tour guide for the full journey.
• all train and gondola tickets for the ascent and descent.
• access to the viewing terrace, panorama gallery, dragon gallery and scenic terraces at Pilatus Kulm.
• time at the mountain station to explore the attractions.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:15

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (6 to 15 years) · Infant (under 6)

GroupUp to 15

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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by SwissTravelGuide.ch

Is this one for you?Start from Lucerne train station without needing a car, and the guide handles every transport connection (bus, cableways and the return route), so you move through the day as a group without navigating the system yourself.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 15 years); Infant (under 6).

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's the actual walking involved on this Mount Pilatus tour from Lucerne?

A short walk connects the bus stop in Kriens to the gondola station, and at Pilatus Kulm you move between the viewing terrace, panorama gallery and scenic terraces at your own pace. The tour suits all physical fitness levels, and infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller.

Does the tour include lunch at the mountain restaurant?

Lunch happens at a Pilatus restaurant during the time at the summit, but food and drinks are not included in the tour price. You order from the restaurant's various menus and pay separately.

How long does the whole tour take from start to finish?

The tour runs five to six hours total, including the bus ride to Kriens, both gondola ascents, time at the mountain station, lunch, and the return journey back to Lucerne.

Can I bring a service animal on this Mount Pilatus tour?

Service animals are allowed on the tour, and public transportation options are available nearby the meeting point if you need alternative access.