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Home / Guides

Guides to hiking Mount Pilatus

Practical, up-to-date guides for a hiking day on Pilatus: the four routes up and how hard they are, the best summit trails, the Golden Round Trip and the cheapest ways up, the weather at the top, and how Pilatus compares with Titlis, Rigi and the rest of Switzerland.

Hiking Up Mount Pilatus 2026: Routes, Times & GradesFour ascent routes, honest times, T3 explained and what to bring.Read the guide →Best Hikes on Mount Pilatus 2026: Summit Walks ComparedTomlishorn, Esel, Oberhaupt, Dragon path and easy walks lower down.Read the guide →Golden Round Trip Pilatus 2026: Direction, Dates & TipsDirection, 2026 dates, passes and the budget ways up.Read the guide →Pilatus or Titlis 2026: Which Lucerne Mountain Suits YouPilatus, Titlis, Rigi, Stanserhorn and Jungfrau, honestly compared.Read the guide →Pilatus Weather 2026: How Cold It Is & When to GoSummit temperatures, fog, storms, clothing and 2026 lift dates.Read the guide →Best Hikes in Switzerland 2026: Where Pilatus FitsClassic Swiss hikes and where the Pilatus trails fit among them.Read the guide →

Tours & tickets

Popular Pilatus days

Booked on GetYourGuide, with a full refund if you cancel up to 24 hours ahead.

Guided Hike to the Pilatus Summit On foot to the top ★ 5.0Full day3 reviews

Guided Hike to the Pilatus Summit
Summit on footLocal guideSnacks

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
Rated5.03 reviews Check dates
Golden Round Trip: Boat, Cog Railway & Cableway Hike at your pace ★ 4.74.5 h of travel1,526 reviews

Golden Round Trip: Boat, Cog Railway & Cableway
BoatCog railwaySelf-guided

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
Rated4.71,526 reviews Check dates
Guided Half Day: Cableway Up, Cog Railway Down Most reviewed ★ 4.75.5 hours2,820 reviews

Guided Half Day: Cableway Up, Cog Railway Down
GuideSummit timeBoat back

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
  • Full refund if you cancel up to 24 hours ahead
Rated4.72,820 reviews Check dates

Plan your date before you go

Boat, the steepest cog railway in the world, cableway and gondola on one ticket, at your own pace, rated 4.7 from 1,526 reviews.

Check dates for the Golden Round Trip