Mount Rigi and Lucerne Day Trip: Cable Car, Train & Boat

Ride three mountain transports to the Queen of the Mountains, then drift down the lake toward Lucerne

This full-day tour from Zurich combines guided transport to Mount Rigi with self-guided exploration of the summit and the lakeside town of Lucerne. A professional multilingual guide drives you from Zurich to Weggis, where you board the aerial cable car and cogwheel train to Rigi-Kulm (1,800 meters), spend 1 to 2.5 hours on the mountain at your own pace with provided itinerary sheets, then descend by cogwheel train to Vitznau for a one-hour boat cruise across Lake Lucerne to Lucerne's Old Town. The tour includes all transport, cable car and train rides, and the boat passage; you return to Zurich by coach in the evening after free time in Lucerne.

Step-by-step itinerary

Mount Rigi and Lucerne day trip

• Depart from Sihlquai Bus Station Zurich
• Drive to Weggis on Lake Lucerne shore
• Take aerial cable car to Rigi Kaltbad
• Ride cogwheel train to Rigi-Kulm summit
• Explore Mount Rigi at your own pace
• Descend by cogwheel train to Vitznau
• Enjoy one-hour boat cruise on Lake Lucerne
• Explore Lucerne Old Town freely
• Meet guide for coach back to Zurich

The Experience

Zurich to Mount Rigi starts with a panoramic coach drive to Weggis, a resort town on Lake Lucerne's shore. Your guide drops you there and hands you timetables and itinerary sheets for the self-guided part of the day. From Weggis, you board the aerial cable car to Rigi Kaltbad, then change to Europe's first cogwheel mountain railway, which climbs to the summit at Rigi-Kulm. The views open across the midland's deep blue lakes and the snowcapped Alps—the reason Mount Rigi earned its name, the Queen of the Mountains.

You have 1 to 2.5 hours to explore the summit on your own terms. Well-marked hiking trails crisscross the mountain, or you can sit at one of the alpine restaurants and eat hearty Swiss fare while the panorama spreads around you. The itinerary sheets your guide provided help you navigate the options and catch the trains and boats that keep the day on schedule.

In the afternoon, the cogwheel train descends to Vitznau, where you board a public boat for a one-hour cruise across Lake Lucerne—officially the Lake of the Four Cantons—toward Lucerne. The boat glides past the shoreline and the mountains rise around you. You arrive in Lucerne's Old Town with free time to wander the medieval streets, see the Chapel Bridge and the Jesuit Church, or visit museums like the Swiss Museum of Transport or the Rosengart Museum with works by Picasso and Paul Klee (entry fees apply separately). Your guide meets you at the appointed time for the coach journey back to Zurich in the evening.

What’s included

• The tour includes round-trip coach transport from Zurich.
• the aerial cable car from Weggis to Rigi Kaltbad and the cogwheel train to Rigi-Kulm.
• a one-hour boat cruise on Lake Lucerne from Vitznau to Lucerne.
• a professional multilingual guide for the Zurich-to-Weggis and Lucerne-to-Zurich portions.
• and itinerary sheets and timetables for self-guided exploration on the mountain and in town.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Best of Switzerland Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want the structure of a guide and the freedom to set your own pace on the mountain. The guide handles the logistics—transport, timing, and the route to the summit—so you don't coordinate trains and boats yourself, but once you reach Mount Rigi, you decide how long to stay, which trails to walk, and where to eat, without a group schedule pressing you forward.

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Top questions

What is Mount Rigi and why is it called the Queen of the Mountains?

Mount Rigi is an 1,800-meter alpine peak in central Switzerland known for its unsurpassed views across the midland's deep blue lakes and the snowcapped Alps. The panorama from the summit is what earned it the title Queen of the Mountains.

How do I get to the top of Mount Rigi on this tour?

You take the aerial cable car from Weggis to Rigi Kaltbad, then change to Europe's first cogwheel mountain railway, which climbs to the summit at Rigi-Kulm. The descent follows the same route in reverse, with the cogwheel train taking you down to Vitznau.

How much time do I have to explore Mount Rigi?

You have 1 to 2.5 hours on the summit to explore at your own pace. Your guide provides itinerary sheets and timetables so you can choose between hiking trails, dining at alpine restaurants, or simply taking in the views.

What happens after Mount Rigi?

After descending to Vitznau by cogwheel train, you board a public boat for a one-hour cruise across Lake Lucerne toward Lucerne. You then have free time in Lucerne's Old Town to explore the medieval streets, visit the Chapel Bridge, or tour museums before meeting your guide for the return coach to Zurich.

Is a guide with me the whole day?

Your multilingual guide travels with you from Zurich to Weggis and from Lucerne back to Zurich. For the time on Mount Rigi and in Lucerne, you explore independently using the itinerary sheets and timetables your guide provides.

What is included in the tour price?

The tour includes transportation by air-conditioned coach from Zurich to Weggis and from Lucerne to Zurich; the aerial cable car and cogwheel train rides on Mount Rigi; the one-hour boat ride from Vitznau to Lucerne; and a professional multilingual guide for the transport portions. Meals, drinks and museum entry fees are separate.