Mount Pilatus deserves a place of honor in the list of must-see places in Switzerland. Lovers of active recreation will find here a lot of worthy entertainment, and connoisseurs of pristine nature will appreciate the local beauty. And if you decide to conquer this majestic mountain, you should find out what it is and what activities await you on its peaks.
General information
Pilatus is a mountain range in the Alps, located in the center of Switzerland. It is located 10 km south-east of the small and colorful town of Lucerne. The highest point of the mountain is the Tomlishhorn (2,128 meters), which offers spectacular views of the Alpine peaks and Lake Lucerne. At the top of Pilatus is the building of the tourist complex, inside which is the Bellevue hotel, a souvenir shop, a restaurant with European and Swiss menus, as well as a cable car pavilion. On the way to the restaurant, tourists can see the world’s longest Alpine horn, which, thanks to its size, even got into the Guinness Book of Records.
Special attention should be paid to the observation deck on Pilatus: it is from here that you can enjoy a beautiful panorama of the city of Lucerne and the picturesque mountain landscapes of Switzerland. Next to the site is another hotel “Pilatus Kulm”, where you can have a snack in the self-service restaurant. There are several trails in the vicinity of the property, where various mountain routes start.: some of them take a few minutes, while others take up to 4 hours. One of the most interesting ways is the “Dragon Pass”, overcoming which travelers explore a variety of caves and grottos.
Summer entertainment and prices
Mount Pilatus and its surroundings are ideal for outdoor activities in both summer and winter. If you are traveling in Switzerland in the summer, then you have a great opportunity to go on a “gold” or “silver” tour. We’ll tell you what these trips are like below.
Golden Roundtrip
One of the most famous hiking trails on Mount Pilatus in Switzerland, the golden tour combines a full range of activities that can happen in the area of the mountain. The tour starts with a cruise on a ship, the first flight of which departs at 8.30. A 50-minute boat ride takes you across the picturesque lake from Lucerne to Alpnachstadt.
Upon arrival on land, you transfer to the historic mountain train, which slowly lifts you up at an angle that reaches a record 48°. Tourists who have visited Switzerland are advised to sit by the window to take unique photos of Mount Pilatus. The train passes through forests and alpine meadows, reaching a peak of 2132 meters. Travel time takes an average of 30 minutes.
Arriving at the top of the mountain at Pilatus Kulm, travelers head to the two-level observation deck to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding area. Many go to the mountains on the proposed three routes to get acquainted with the natural scenery and local fauna. Exploring all three destinations takes a total of 2 hours, after which you can take the ski lift down to Frakmuntegg Station, where there is a cable car park and picnic area.
The final stage of the tour will be a thirty-minute ride over forests and mountains on a panoramic gondola to the town of Krins, where you will be waiting for a bus to Lucerne. In total, the “golden” tour takes 4-5 hours: if you want, you can travel longer, but keep in mind that the cable car is open until 17.00.
The “Golden” tour is available to everyone who comes to Switzerland from May to October, and offers different prices, depending on the option you choose:
| Group of up to 9 people | Group of 10 people or more | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Route | What is included in addition to the general tour | Cost for an adult | Price for children (6-16 years old) | Price for an adult | Price for children (6-16 years) | |
| Lucerne-Alpnachstadt-Pilatus-Krins | cruise on a 2nd class ship | 100 ₣ | 50 ₣ | 70 ₣ | 35 ₣ | |
| cruise on a 1st class ship | 114 ₣ | 57 ₣ | 79,8 ₣ | 39,9 ₣ | ||
| Lucerne-Alpnachstadt-Pilatus-Krins-Lucerne | directions to the pier, cruise on a 2nd class ship and return bus to Lucerne | 103,6 ₣ | 52,2 ₣ | 72,6 ₣ | 36,3 ₣ | |
| directions to the pier, 1st class boat cruise and return bus to Lucerne | 117,6 ₣ | 59,2 ₣ | 82,4 ₣ | 41,2 ₣ | ||
Matterhort-the most recognizable peak in Europe
bSilver Roundtrip
The “Silver” excursion package is available to everyone who comes to Switzerland from May to November. The starting point here is Lucerne Train station, from where you will take the train to Alpnachstadt. The journey takes 20 minutes, and you can enjoy scenic views of Lake Lucerne along the way. When you arrive in Alpnachstadt, the route of the “silver” tour will completely repeat the direction of the” golden ” tour described above.
This tour differs from the previous one only in that it does not include a boat cruise on the lake. Therefore, the price will be lower. You can choose from two routes to Mount Pilatus in Lucerne:
| Group of up to 9 people | Group of 10 people or more | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Route | What is included in addition to the general tour | Full price | Children’s ticket (6-16 years old) | Full price | Children’s ticket (6-16 years old) |
| Lucerne-Alpnachstadt-Pilatus-Krins-Lucerne | travel by class 2 train from Lucerne and return bus to Lucerne | 85,2 ₣ | 42,6 ₣ | 59,8 ₣ | 30 ₣ |
| travel by class 1 train from Lucerne and return bus to Lucerne | 90,8 ₣ | 45,4 ₣ | 63,6 ₣ | 32 ₣ | |
Please note! About another stunning mountain of Schaizaria — Jungfrau-information is provided in this article with photos.
Winter entertainment
If you love winter sports, then you have the opportunity to have a great time in Switzerland on Pilatus. After all, the Snow & Fun amusement park starts its work here in winter. Sledding and bobsleigh rides, winter snowshoeing in the surrounding area-all this becomes available on dragon Mountain. There are trails of different lengths on the site: so, the smallest descent is 200 meters, and the longest is 3 km. All necessary equipment can be rented next to the gondola station located at the Frakmuntegg intermediate station.
Alternatively, from December to March, you can take a special Krins-Pilatus-Krins tour and enjoy the local beauty wrapped in a blanket of snow. The cost of such a trip for an adult will be 57.6 rubles, and for children from 6 to 16 years-32.4 rubles. If you decide to stay here for more than one day, you can always book a room at the Pilatus Kulm Hotel located on Pilatus.
How to climb the mountain on your own and how much does it cost
Many travelers prefer to organize an independent ascent to Pilatus in Switzerland, which can be reached in three ways: by lift, by train, or on foot.
By cable car
To use the cable car, you need to get to the town of Krins. You can get here from Lucerne by bus number 1, paying 4 ₣ and disembarking at the stop “Kriens, Zentrum Pilatus. At the same time, the journey time will take no more than 15 minutes. Then you need to walk 5 minutes on foot to Krins Station. Then you take the ski lift, which takes you to the gondola that rises to the very top. The total travel time will be approximately 30 minutes, and the cost of a full one-way trip to the mountain will be 36 rubles.
By train
You can also reach the mountain by taking the alpine train from Alpnachstad station. This slow train, traveling at a speed of 10-12 km / h, will take you up the cog railway to Pilatus in half an hour. It is worth noting that the track is the steepest cog railway in the world, with a slope of up to 48 degrees. The cost of a round trip will be 72 rubles. The train runs from 8:10 am to 12:20 pm on the ascent, and from 8:45 am to 12:55 pm on the descent. During this time, there are 7 flights in each direction.
On a note! How to save significantly on travel in Switzerland, read here.
On foot
Well, the most daring and prepared travelers in Switzerland go to Pilatus on foot. You can start your hike from the point where the first ski lift from Krins arrives (that is, you do not change to a gondola, but cross this path on foot). This area has two trails: the right one will take you to the top in 2 hours and 40 minutes, the left one – in 2 hours and 25 minutes.
Overcoming the given route, you will climb rocks, and in some places you will have to pull yourself up with the help of chains driven into the mountain. There are signs and special signs placed around the entire mountain perimeter, so it’s almost impossible to get lost here. But such a hike is not easy and requires special equipment and good physical training.
More detailed information about all types of transport and its schedule, about Mount Pilatus and entertainment can be found on the official website of the sights of Switzerland — www.pilatus.ch. Here you can also buy the tickets you are interested in.
Useful tips
If you are planning to go to Mount Pilatus in Switzerland, we recommend that you take advantage of several useful tips that are written by tourists who have already visited Lucerne:
- Focus on the weather forecast. It is best to go to the mountain in sunny weather, otherwise fog and clouds can spoil the whole impression of the local landscapes.
- Take trekking boots. They are especially useful if you decide to climb the mountain on foot. At the very top, there are also many relief routes, which are best explored in comfortable shoes.
- Arm yourself with a flashlight and navigator. If you are planning to explore the mountain on foot, then such tools as a flashlight and a navigator will definitely come in handy.
- Prepare warm clothing. Even during the hot months, it can be quite chilly at the top of Pilatus, so always carry an insulated jacket with you.
- Take a sledding ride. In winter, on your way to Pilatus, you can disembark at the Frakmuntegg intermediate station and enjoy a free sleigh ride.
- Do not overpay for excursions. If you want to go on a “golden” tour, it is best to buy tickets without extra charges at the ticket offices at the pier.
- Visit the cable car park. If you are on holiday with children, be sure to check out the rope park, which is located at the Frakmuntegg transfer station.
If you follow these simple guidelines, Mount Pilatus will definitely give you a lot of new experiences, and you may want to conquer it more than once.
