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Lucerne and Mount Pilatus - Tour from Zurich

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Activity Schedule

  • When does it run?

    05 Jun - 19 Nov: Daily

  • Duration

    Approx. 9.5 hours

  • Start time

    09:30am

  • Meeting Point
    Make your way to the Sihlquai Coach Parking (or Bus Terminal), near Zurich main train station. This bus parking can also be reached by tram / streetcar number 4 / 6 / 13. The closest tram stop is “Sihlquai / HB”.
    Please arrive at meeting point at least 15 minutes before the start time to avoid any last minute rush.
  • Ending Point

    Same as the start point

Key Highlights

  • See the picturesque town of Lucerne
  • Breath-taking panoramic views of the Alps
  • Aerial gondola, aerial cableway, and boat rides
  • Stand at the summit of Switzerland's Mt Pilatus

Overview

Enjoy a day-long trip to the charming Swiss village of Lucerne and nearby Mt Pilatus! In addition to a tour of the town and a scenic coach ride, you'll take a gondola and aerial cableway ride to the summit of Mt Pilatus.

Standing at just over 2100 metres tall, the view from the mountain offers breath-taking panoramas of the famous Alps and great photo opportunities. Coupled with the relaxing atmosphere of Lucerne, this trip is a perfect mix of outdoor adventure and leisurely fun.

Your coach will pick you up from Sihlquai bus parking (which is near Zurich main train station). A multilingual guide who speaks English, Spanish, will accompany you for most of your trip.

After a scenic coach ride through the Swiss countryside and along the shore of the Lake of the Four Cantons, you'll arrive in Lucerne. Your guide points out the most eminent landmarks before leaving you to explore and visit either the town's famous Lion Monument or photo stop at Lake Lucerne. You'll then be free to explore the town as you wish for a little while.

Next, you'll take a short trip to Kriens, where you'll hop on first an aerial gondola and then an aerial cableway on your way to the top of Mt Pilatus. This fourty minute ride through the clouds allows for beautiful panoramas of the Swiss Alps.

Your visit to Mt Pilatus includes lots of leisure time, perfect for dining at one of the mountain's restaurants, hiking to the summit, or simply enjoying the wonderful view of Switzerland's snowy peaks.

The descent from Mt Pilatus will take you back through the beautiful landscape of the Alps via the world's steepest cogwheel railway. Your train ride will end at Alpnachstad, from which you'll then take an hour-long boat ride back to Lucerne. From Lucerne, a coach will take you safely back to the trip's starting point in Zurich.

During summer:

The tour includes time at leisure for lunch (optional) or to hike to the summit and enjoy the breathtaking view over the Swiss Alps and the lake. Descent on the world's steepest cogwheel railway to Alpnachstad, followed by a lovely boat ride to Lucerne.

During winter:

Take the Dragon Path, an easy stroll through the rock gallery on Mount Pilatus. Lunch will be now on Top of Mt. Pilatus at the self-service restaurant Bellevue. You are at leisure for about two and a half hours on Mount Pilatus to enjoy the scenery and take up short hikes.

After the tour, take the cable-car back to Kriens. From Kriens to Lucerne by public bus and meet the guide there to board your coach for a return journey to Zurich. The tour ends at Sihlquai bus parking (which is near Zurich main train station).

Inclusions & Exclusions

Inclusions

  • Panorama drive to Lucerne with photo stop en route
  •  Introduction to Lucerne, including main sights
  • Leisure time (approx. 1 hour) in Lucerne
  • Panoramic gondola + aerial cable car "Dragon Ride"
  • World’s steepest cogwheel railway 
  • Boat ride on Lake Lucerne (05 Jun to 22 Oct )
  • Lunch voucher as compensation for boat ride, exchangeable at restaurants at the top of Mt. Pilatus (from 23 Oct  to 19 Nov )
  • Live guided: English, Spanish

Exclusions

  • Hotel pick up and drop off

Useful downloads

Please note

Please call the local activity operator at least 24 hours prior to start of the tour for reconfirming departure details.

Our supplier needs at least 5 people on the tour to be able to go ahead. In the unlikely event that less than this number book for your date, we will offer you an alternative or a full refund.

During winters if a mountain has to close the cable cars/cogwheel trains because of bad weather, there are two possible situations:

If the news is received BEFORE the coach has left for the tour, your options are:

• Postponing the tour to another day

• Changing the booking to another mountain (generally no refund because the tour is fully guided)

• Spending the whole day in Lucerne (in this case refund will be paid)

• Not taking any tour and getting full refund

If the news is received AFTER the coach has already left, your options are:

• Changing the booking and going to another mountain (generally no refund, because the tour is fully guided)

• Spending the whole day in Lucerne (in this case difference-refund will be paid)

Including a meal voucher for the amount of CHF 20.- per adult / CHF 10.- per child exchangeable at Pilatus self-service restaurant(winters). 

Cogwheel train season had to be postponed to Monday, 5th June 2023 (instead of Thursday, 18th May 2023) due to unfavourable weather conditions.

Customer Reviews

  • Dolores Myers

    Tour guide was excellent, but there was some problem with the bus, which was diverted mid-day to deal with the problem, causing a delay. This meant that our time at the Lion Monument was cut very short. Also, after the drive from Zurich to the Lucern area we were offered a restroom break inside a store which was really just a chance for the merchant to promote his products: while there was no obligation to buy anything, it was a little pushy for me.

    United States
  • Amandeep S Mahal
    Fantastic time

    The tour Lucerne and Mount Pilatus is not something to miss. We had amazing time, breathtaking view, scenic. It was beautiful experience that I can nerver forget. Tour was...

    United Kingdom
  • Ms Pamela J Watson
    Mt Pilatus and back - what an amazing experience

    I thoroughly enjoyed this full day tour and would highly recommend it to anyone. Excellent value for money. It was extremely well organised, provided me with the opportunity to...

    Australia

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