Four trails to the top, the Tomlishorn at 2,128 m and the steepest cog railway in the world
for the way down. Which route suits you, and every Pilatus day compared honestly.
Cableway maintenance, 19 October to 27 November 2026: the Kriens gondola and the Dragon Ride cableway pause for maintenance. The cog railway from Alpnachstad runs until 29 November, and the boats stop after 18 October, so the Golden Round Trip is not possible in that window. Live status on pilatus.chChecked 29 September 2026
Hikers firstRoutes, times and grades before tickets
Real guest ratingsIncluding when a tour has only a few reviews
Full refundIf you cancel up to 24 hours ahead, on every tour here
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Tours & tickets
Choose your Pilatus day
In the centre, the Golden Round Trip ticket: boat, cog railway and cableway, at your own pace, with
time for the summit trails. On the left, the one guided hike that walks you to the top. On the right, the most
reviewed guided half day from Lucerne.
The one listing that walks you up the mountain: a local guide sets the pace and the route, with coffee, tea and snacks on a break. Only three reviews so far, all five stars.
What's included
Guided hike to the summit of Pilatus, pace and route set for the group
Coffee, tea and snacks on a break
Pickup in or around Lucerne and back
Lift tickets for the way up or down are not included
Not suitable for young children; full refund if you cancel up to 24 hours ahead
The classic loop on one ticket: boat to Alpnachstad, the steepest cog railway in the world up, cableway and gondola down to Kriens. No guide, so you set the pace on the summit trails.
What's included
Boat from Lucerne to Alpnachstad (runs until 18 October 2026)
Cog railway from Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm
Dragon Ride cableway and panorama gondola down to Kriens
Bus 1 from Kriens back to Lucerne
Cog railway seat reservation not included; full refund if you cancel up to 24 hours ahead
The most reviewed Pilatus tour: coach to Kriens, gondola and Dragon Ride up, time for the summit walks, then the cog railway down and the boat back. Easy walks, no big hike.
What's included
Guide and coach from Lucerne to Kriens
Panorama gondola and Dragon Ride cableway up
Cog railway down to Alpnachstad
Boat back to Lucerne until 18 October 2026; from 19 October to 27 November up and down by cog railway
Most Pilatus tours are lift loops with time for short walks at the top. Only three listings walk you
up the mountain, and each is small with few reviews. If you want the real ascent, a lift ticket for one direction
is often all you need.
Every tour here refunds in full if you cancel up to 24 hours ahead. The cog railway runs 11 May
to 29 November 2026; the Kriens gondola and Dragon Ride pause from 19 October to 27 November 2026.
What you actually get
Pilatus is a hiking mountain: most visitors only ride it.
The famous day on Pilatus is the Golden Round Trip: boat, cog railway, cableway, gondola. It is a
great day out, and it gives you an hour or two at the top for the short summit walks to the Esel, the
Oberhaupt, the Tomlishorn and through the rock galleries of the Dragon path.
The hiking is a different story. Four marked trails gain 1,600 m or more from Kriens, Alpnachstad and
Hergiswil, and a shorter one starts at the Fräkmüntegg gondola station. GetYourGuide sells only three
listings that walk you up, all small, with a handful of reviews. Most hikers go on their own and buy a lift
ticket for one direction: walk up, ride down.
2,128 m
The Tomlishorn, the highest point of Pilatus, is a
well-secured walk from the summit terrace. The Esel viewpoint is 2,118 m.
TomlishornEselOberhauptChriesilochFräkmüntegg
About 100 ibex live on Pilatus; the Tomlishorn Flower Trail is the place to look at dawn and dusk.
01
Can I hike up?
Yes, on four marked mountain trails, open roughly June to October. No lift ticket needed on foot.
02
How long?
About 5 to 6 hours from the valley, or under 3 hours from the Fräkmüntegg gondola station.
03
Is it hard?
The ascents are T3: steep, long, narrow in places, a staircase near the top. Hikes on marked trails.
04
Who should ride instead?
Anyone short of time or fitness: the summit walks at the top are easy and take 15 to 90 minutes.
On foot
Four routes to the top
All four are white-red-white mountain trails (T3) best walked from June to October. Times are for the
way up; plan a lift for the way down.
01
Fräkmüntegg via Klimsen
Gondola from Kriens to Fräkmüntegg, then 3.8 km and 797 m up past the Klimsen chapel and the Chriesiloch staircase.
About 2 h 40
02
Alpnachstad via Ämsigen
Along the cog railway line past Ämsigen and the Chilchsteine: 7.7 km and 1,628 m up, physically demanding.
About 5 h
03
Hergiswil via Brunni
From the lake up through Brunni and Alpgschwänd to the Klimsen saddle: 7.8 km and 1,662 m up.
4 to 5 h
04
Kriens all the way
The full ascent from the gondola valley station through Krienseregg and Fräkmüntegg: 11.7 km and 1,761 m up.
Getting there, tickets and passes, the summit walks and what to bring.
Kriens: bus 1 from Lucerne station to Kriens, Zentrum Pilatus, then a short uphill walk to the gondola valley station.
Alpnachstad: about 20 minutes by train from Lucerne along the lake, or by boat from May to October; the cog railway leaves next to the pier.
Hergiswil: a few minutes by train from Lucerne; the trail starts in the village.
By car: park at the Kriens or Alpnachstad valley station and pick a ticket that brings you back to your car.
Walking up and riding down? The cog railway runs down to Alpnachstad, the cableway and gondola down to Kriens.
On foot both ways: no mountain ticket needed.
One way: one-way tickets exist for walk-up, ride-down days, and you can hop off at Krienseregg and Fräkmüntegg.
Round trips: the Golden Round Trip adds the boat; the Silver Round Trip uses the train instead.
Passes: the Half Fare Card, GA and Swiss Travel Pass give a discount on the mountain section; the Swiss Travel Pass includes the boat and bus 1. The Lucerne Travel Pass includes Pilatus.
Cog railway seats: reserve a time slot in summer; reviewers who did skipped long queues.
Tomlishorn Flower Trail: the easy, well-secured path to the highest point, mid-June to October, about 1.5 hours there and back.
Esel: about 15 minutes up steps from the terrace, the classic viewpoint over the cog railway.
Oberhaupt: a short loop of about 20 minutes on the other side of the summit hotel.
Dragon path: a walk through galleries cut into the cliff, with window openings, 20 to 40 minutes.
The summit trails and the Dragon path are open to everyone who reaches the top; no extra ticket needed.
Boots with grip: the ascents are steep, and the Chriesiloch is a metal staircase through a rock cleft.
A warm layer and a rain jacket: the summit is about 10 °C colder than Lucerne.
Water and food for the ascent; there are restaurants at Krienseregg, Fräkmüntegg and the top.
Sun cream and a hat: much of the ascent is above the trees.
Poles for the descent, if you plan to walk down.
T1Tomlishorn Flower TrailThe easy walk to the highest point, with ibex often seen at dawn and dusk.
T3Fräkmüntegg to KulmThe shortest real ascent: gondola to Fräkmüntegg, then under 3 hours on foot.
1889Cog railwayOpened with steam in 1889, electric since 1937, new cars since 2023.
48%Maximum gradientThe steepest cog railway in the world, about 30 minutes up from Alpnachstad.
1961Ibex colonyReintroduced in 1961; about 100 animals live on the mountain today.
10 °CColder at the topThe summit averages about 10 degrees less than Lucerne, even in summer.
Where it is
Pilatus Kulm
Pilatus Kulm, above Lucerne
Summit station between the Esel and the Oberhaupt, cantons Obwalden and Nidwalden
Pilatus rises straight out of Lake Lucerne south-west of the city. The cog railway runs up the south side from
Alpnachstad on the lake; the gondola and the Dragon Ride cableway run up the north side from Kriens, a suburb of
Lucerne. At the top are two hotels, restaurants, the summit terrace and the start of every summit trail.
Cog railway 2026: 11 May to 29 November, first up 08:10, last up 17:30
Gondola and Dragon Ride: most of the year, closed 19 October to 27 November 2026
4.7★★★★★ 1,526 reviews · Golden Round Trip from Lucerne GetYourGuide figure
★★★★★
Fantastic day activity, transport is super easy to find. Pretty nice to rock up and hike as far as you feel like with no time pressure. Definitely recommend if you are in the area!
★★★★★
The hike was not too hard and the views were fantastic. Our guide explained a lot about the plants and animals on the mountain. We even saw some ibex! The barbecue at Fräkmüntegg was also really fun and delicious.
★★★★★
Once we got to the top we had 2 hours to explore the mountain, and we managed to hike to the peak, head back, and check out the dragon caves. The cogwheel train down was awesome as well, and the boat was a relaxing finish to the day.
★★★★★
The tour was excellent. Kim was very knowledgeable about the mountain and maintained our pace throughout the day, ensuring we reached the peak in good time.
★★★★★
Whole route worked out great. We did it in reverse: started with a boat in the morning and reserved a cogwheel. Highly recommend a reservation.
★★★★★
The cable car views were amazing. Once on the mountain, the four hikes are well worth it. The train going down was great fun and the ferry across Lake Lucerne was beautiful.
★★★★★
A wonderful hike made exceptional by our fun, knowledgeable and thoughtful guide, Antonella! The path was marked with plaques that labeled the many wildflowers along the way.
★★★★★
The views were incredible. The train ride was surprisingly smooth for a cog train. Hike up to the lookout points. It was definitely worth the hike.
★★★★★
Transport was very efficient, simply scanned a QR code at various entry points to go quickly through. Different activities available at each cable car stop, from calm forest walks to playgrounds for kids.
Staying a few days?
One pass, several summits
Pilatus, Rigi, Titlis and Stanserhorn all stand around Lake Lucerne. If you plan to hike more than one,
a regional pass can cover the lifts, trains and boats.
Lucerne Travel Pass: Lake Lucerne Region
★ 4.8 · 33 reviews · GetYourGuide
Staying three days or more around Lake Lucerne? This regional pass covers trains, boats, buses and the mountain railways, Pilatus included, plus Rigi, Titlis and Stanserhorn. It suits hikers who want a different summit each day and the flexibility to follow the weather.
Pilatus includedBoats and trainsRigi, Titlis, Stanserhorn
Most people meet Pilatus from a cable car window. Hikers meet it step by step: forest, then alpine
meadow, then grey limestone and a staircase through the rock, with Lake Lucerne getting bigger behind you. Here is
how to choose your way up, how hard it really is, and when a lift is the better idea.
Choosing your route
There are four classic ways to the top. The shortest real ascent starts at Fräkmüntegg, the middle
station of the Kriens gondola: 3.8 km and just under 800 m of ascent via the Klimsen saddle, under three hours.
From the lake, Alpnachstad is the most direct, following the cog railway past Ämsigen for about five hours.
Hergiswil rises through Brunni to the same saddle in four to five hours, and the full route from
Kriens takes about six. Each gains 1,600 m or more from the valley, so most hikers pick one route up and a
lift down.
The upper trails cross scree and rock below the summit.
How hard it really is
The ascents are signed as white-red-white mountain trails, graded T3 on the Swiss scale. That means steep and
narrow sections, loose stones and, near the top, the Chriesiloch: a steep metal staircase through a rock cleft
where you might put a hand on the rail. It is a hike on a marked trail. What makes the day safe is simple: an early
start, a dry forecast, boots with grip and a turnaround time. If cloud or afternoon storms build, the lifts are
your built-in exit.
The honest small print: GetYourGuide sells only three listings that walk you up Pilatus: a
guided summit hike with three reviews, a guided hike with barbecue with two, and a new guided ascent from Ämsigen
with none yet. The big sellers, the Golden Round Trip and the guided half day with 2,820 reviews, are lift days
with an hour or two for the summit walks. If you want the ascent, a one-way lift ticket is often all you need.
The easy way: summit walks
If the full ascent is too much, ride up and walk at the top. The Tomlishorn Flower Trail leads along a
well-secured path to the highest point, 2,128 m, in about 1.5 hours there and back, with ibex often grazing below.
The Esel is 15 minutes up steps, the Oberhaupt loop about 20, and the Dragon path runs through
galleries cut into the cliff with windows over the lake. Lower down, the forest walk from Fräkmüntegg to
Krienseregg takes about two hours and is the gentlest trail on the mountain.
The Dragon path runs through the cliff below the summit buildings.
When to go
The summit trails are open from about mid-June to October, when the ascents are usually clear of snow. The cog
railway runs from 11 May to 29 November in 2026, and the Kriens gondola and Dragon Ride close for maintenance from
19 October to 27 November. Pack a warm layer whatever the season: the top averages about 10 °C less than Lucerne.
In autumn, look out for sea-of-fog days, when the lake disappears under cloud and the summit stands in sunshine.
Forest covers the lower slopes on the Kriens side before the rock begins.
Straight answers to what hikers ask most about Mount Pilatus.
Is Mount Pilatus hard to hike?
The routes from the valley are marked white-red-white mountain trails (T3): long, steep and narrow in places, but hikes on marked paths, not technical routes. Fit walkers with sturdy boots manage them in dry weather. The summit walks at the top are easy. Details in hiking up Pilatus.
How long does it take to walk up Mount Pilatus?
About 5 hours from Alpnachstad, 6 from Kriens and 4 to 5 from Hergiswil, with 1,600 to 1,760 m of ascent. Ride the gondola to Fräkmüntegg and the last part via Klimsen takes under 3 hours.
What is the best hike on Mount Pilatus?
For a real ascent, Fräkmüntegg to Pilatus Kulm via the Klimsen saddle and the Chriesiloch staircase, under 3 hours. For an easy walk at the top, the Tomlishorn Flower Trail to the highest point, about 1.5 hours there and back. See the best summit trails.
What is the cheapest way to get up Mount Pilatus?
On foot: walking up and down needs no mountain ticket. Next is walking up and riding down on a one-way ticket. Half Fare Card, GA and Swiss Travel Pass holders get a discount on the mountain section, and the Lucerne Travel Pass includes it. Compared in the Golden Round Trip guide.
How cold is it at the top of Mount Pilatus?
About 10 °C colder than Lucerne. Even in July and August the summit averages around 10 °C, with daytime highs near 13 °C; in winter it averages about minus 4 °C. On autumn days with a sea of fog it can be sunnier and warmer at the top than in town. More in weather and season.
Which is better, Pilatus or Titlis?
For hiking and a quick trip from Lucerne, Pilatus: it has four routes to the top and is about 40 minutes away via Kriens. For snow and a glacier in summer, Titlis (3,238 m) via Engelberg. See Pilatus or Titlis.
Which mountain is better for hiking, Rigi or Pilatus?
Rigi (about 1,800 m) for gentle panorama walks on wide paths; Pilatus for a rockier, steeper mountain with real ascents and a craggy summit. Many hikers do both on different days.
When does the Pilatus cog railway run?
In 2026 from 11 May to 29 November, first ascent from Alpnachstad at 08:10, last at 17:30. It does not run in winter. The Kriens gondola and Dragon Ride cableway run most of the year but close for maintenance from 19 October to 27 November 2026.
Does the Swiss Travel Pass cover Pilatus?
Not fully. It gives a discount on the cog railway, gondola and cableway, and it includes the boat and bus 1 legs of the Golden Round Trip. The Half Fare Card and GA give the same discount on the mountain section.
Can you walk down from Pilatus?
Yes, the ascent routes work in reverse, but 1,600 m of descent on steep trails is hard on the knees. Many hikers walk up and ride down instead, or walk down only the gentle forest section from Fräkmüntegg to Krienseregg.
Is the Tomlishorn the highest point of Pilatus?
Yes. The Tomlishorn (2,128 m) is the highest peak, a well-secured walk from the Pilatus Kulm terrace. The Esel (2,118 m) is the classic viewpoint above the cog railway station, and the Oberhaupt (2,106 m) is on the other side.
Can I cancel a Pilatus tour?
Yes. Every tour and ticket on this site refunds in full if you cancel up to 24 hours ahead on GetYourGuide. Check the forecast the day before: views depend on the cloud.
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On foot to the top
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