Trying to decide which mountain to visit from Lucerne? If you’re tossing up Rigi vs. Pilatus (or Titlis, or Stanserhorn!), this detailed guide to the mountains near Lucerne will help you choose the best one to add to your Switzerland itinerary.
Are you scrolling endlessly, trying to decide which iconic peak to visit from Lucerne? I know the feeling!
With Mount Rigi, Mount Pilatus, Mount Titlis and Stanserhorn all vying for attention and within easy access, it’s like being a kid in a candy store—except instead of sweets, you’re trying to choose the best panoramic viewpoint. No biggie!
Having personally criss-crossed Switzerland and stood atop each of these mountains, I can confidently say that all four are magical and have their own unique charm. In an ideal world, you’d be in Lucerne for long enough to tick off all of them, but I know all too well that time and budget limitations get in the way.
So if you’re wanting to choose just one or two mountains to add to your Switzerland itinerary, here’s all you need to know to compare Rigi vs. Pilatus vs. Titlis vs. Stanserhorn, including how to get there, highlights of the mountain, prices & discounts, and anything else to make your trip easier, cheaper and better.
Quick summary: Rigi vs. Pilatus vs. Titlis vs. Stanserhorn
| Rigi | Pilatus | Titlis | Stanserhorn | |
| How to get there | Boat/cogwheel/cable car/train | Cogwheel train/cable car/gondola | Cable car | Funicular/cable car |
| Highlight | Mineral baths + epic hikes | Magical rugged views | Snow year-round | An epic cable car experience |
| Swiss Travel Pass discount | 100% | 100% to Alpnachstad or Kriens, 50% off from there to Pilatus | 100% to Engelberg, 50% to Titlis | 100% |
| Tell Pass discount | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Swiss Half Fare discount | 50% | 50% | 50% | 50% |
| Full adult fare* | 119CHF | 113CHF | 111CHF | 98CHF |
| Open year-round? | Yes | Yes but the cogwheel train + boat are seasonal | Yes | No, open early April to end of November |
*Full adult fare based on the mountain excursion plus the average cost to reach the mountain station from Lucerne
Mount Rigi
Affectionately dubbed the “Queen of the Mountains”, Mount Rigi is a slice of paradise sitting at 1798m with panoramic views across endless mountains and lakes.
The best thing about Rigi (aside from insane views) is the accessibility, it’s one of the easiest day trips from Lucerne and you get a fantastic experience and epic photos without taking too much time and money.
Highlights from Mount Rigi
- Unmatched views: The summit of Rigi delivers breathtaking 360-degree views over 13 lakes (including Lucerne, Zug and Lauerz) and countless Swiss Alps peaks
- Historical railway journey: The Rigi Railway was the first mountain railway in Europe, making its first journey to Rigi Kulm wayyyy back in 1871
- Hikes for everyone: If you want to hit the hiking paths, Rigi is home to more than 120km of trails for various levels of adventure
- Wellness with a view: Rest your body and mind with a visit to the mineral baths at Rigi Kaltbad
How to get to Mount Rigi from Lucerne
The journey to Rigi is almost as epic as the destination, and there are a few options to get up and down. Combine two options to be able to tick off two different experiences.
Boat + cogwheel train: Catch a stunningly scenic boat ride across Lake Lucerne to reach Vitznau, where you’ll switch to the cogwheel train that travels up to Rigi Kulm in just under an hour. The views are insane, sit on the left side for jaw-dropping views.
Train + cogwheel train: Catch a regional train to Arth-Goldau, then switch onto a different cogwheel railway to reach Rigi Kulm (sit on the right-hand side facing uphill for this one).
Boat + cable car: Catch a boat from Lucerne to Weggis, then switch to the Weggis-Rigi Kaltbad cable car. From here you can walk to Rigi Kulm if you’re up for a short but steep hike, or catch a train the final leg to the summit.
I prefer the boat to Vitznau and then Vitznau-Rigi cogwheel if you wanted to just choose one and return the same way. It’s about 1h 30m-1h 40m between Lucerne and Rigi no matter which way you choose.
Mount Rigi prices & discounts
Arth-Goldau or Vitznau to Rigi Kulm return is 78CHF full fare, the available discounts are:
- 100% discount with Swiss Travel Pass or Tell Pass
- 50% discount with Swiss Half Fare Card, Eurail Pass or Interrail Pass
The train from Lucerne to Arth-Goldau is 10-14CHF one way (fully covered by any valid travel/rail pass and half price with Half Fare Card) and the boat from Lucerne to Vitznau is 31CHF one way (fully covered by Tell Pass or Swiss Travel Pass, 50% discount with Half Fare Card or Eurail/Interrail Pass).
Mount Rigi seasonal differences
- Rigi is open year-round, mainly offering hiking and sightseeing in summer and hiking, snowshoeing, sledding and skiing in winter
- Because Rigi is one of the more accessible mountains, expect it to be busy on most days, particularly on weekends and school holidays
Best Mount Rigi tours
- Mount Rigi day pass including mineral baths and spa access
- A guided summer day trip to Rigi from Lucerne
Stanserhorn
The Stanserhorn (1898m) boasts a world-first open-top cable car, the CabriO, that delivers an unparalleled ride to the summit.
Enjoy the fresh mountain air and 360-degree panoramas over ten lakes and countless Alpine peaks. Hit the hiking trails for a bit of exercise and unwind in a revolving restaurant for an unforgettable mountain escape.
Highlights from Stanserhorn
- Vintage vibes: A nostalgic trip on the restored wooden funicular carriage for the first bit
- No glass reflection: The world’s first open-top cable car, the CabriO, offering unobstructed views
- 360 degree scenery: Revolving restaurant for dining with panoramic views (but you need a seat at the edge of the revolving platform to really enjoy it)
- Surrounded by mountains: Suspended walkway for epic photos
How to get to Stanserhorn from Lucerne
Catch an easy 15-20 minute train from Lucerne to Stans, walk a couple of minutes to Stanserhornbahn and then jump on the vintage funicular up to Kälti midway station, which takes about ten minutes. From Kälti you change to the epic CabriO cableway for a thrilling final leg to reach the top.
All up it’s less than an hour from Lucerne to the top of Stanserhorn if you time your trip right.
Stanserhorn prices & discounts
The funicular + cable car combo from Stanserhornbahn to the top is 82CHF return, the available discounts are:
- 100% discount with Swiss Travel Pass or Tell Pass
- 50% discount with Swiss Half Fare Card
- 25% discount with Eurail Pass or Interrail Pass
The train from Lucerne to Stans is about 7.80CHF each way, covered by all valid travel passes and 50% with a Half Fare Card.
Stanserhorn seasonal differences
- Stanserhorn hibernates for the winter, it’s open in the warmer months from 13 April to 24 November 2024
- There are evening trips available in the busier seasons; Saturday evenings from 4 May to 23 November, Friday evenings from 7 June to 25 October, and Thursday evenings from 6 June to 31 October
Best Stanserhorn tour
Mount Pilatus
Shrouded in myths and legends, Mount Pilatus rises dramatically with its jagged peaks at 2,132m. In the Middle Ages people believed dragons lived here!
Take the world’s steepest cogwheel railway for a scenic ascent and get amongst adventurous activities like an epic toboggan run.
Mount Pilatus highlights
- On edge: World’s steepest cogwheel railway
- Glide above the mountains: Panoramic aerial cableway and gondolas to Kriens
- Kids will love it: Family-friendly activities like a rope park, Pilu-Land playground, toboggan run and ibex safari
- Stargaze: Astronomy evenings including accommodation up the mountain
- For the foodies: Some cool culinary experiences like fondue in the panoramic gondola and an Easter brunch event
How to get to Pilatus from Lucerne
Mount Pilatus is another one with a cool loop route to experience a variety of transport options, it’s known as the ‘Golden Round Trip’ and it’s available from 6 May to 21 October.
Begin with a boat trip on Lake Lucerne to reach Alpnachstad, then switch to the world’s steepest cogwheel train to reach the summit at 2132m elevation. After you’ve soaked up the view and ticked off any Pilatus activities you want to do, you can jump on the ‘Dragon Ride’ aerial cableway to Fräkmüntegg, then switch to a panoramic gondola to Kriens, and then it’s just a short walk to catch the bus back to Lucerne.
All up, including time to enjoy the view and maybe grab a bite to eat, expect to spend at least five hours getting to and from Pilatus.
You can also just choose to take the same route up and back down of course, each to their own!
The cogwheel train runs from 6 May to 17 November 2024, the boat to Alpnachstad stops on 21 October but you can get there from (or back to) Lucerne by train, this is called the ‘Silver Round Trip’. If you’re visiting Pilatus before 6 May or after 17 November you can still take the aerial cableways between Kriens and Pilatus, but the boat and cogwheel won’t be running.
Mount Pilatus prices & discounts
The pricing is far too complex to write here because it really depends on the specific route you take, when you’re doing it and if you have a travel pass of some sort.
To give you a rough idea, the full Golden Round Trip from Lucerne is about 113CHF (130CHF if you want to access the 1st class boat deck), and if you are travelling in the colder months or just want to take the aerial cable cars both ways, it’s 78CHF return between Kriens and Pilatus, plus 7CHF to get from Lucerne to Kriens and back.
- A Tell Pass gets the whole Pilatus trip included
- A Swiss Half Fare Card gets the whole trip at half price
- A Swiss Travel Pass will cover your transport between Lucerne and Alpnachstad (train or boat) and/or Kriens (train) for free, and you’ll get 50% off the Pilatus cogwheel railway and aerial cableways.
- A Eurail/Interrail Pass will get you 50% off the boat trip to Alpnachstad, a free train ride between Lucerne and Alpnachstad or Kriens, and 50% off the Pilatus cogwheel railway and/or aerial cableways.
Told you it was complex!
Mount Pilatus seasonal differences
- The mountain is open year-round but as I mentioned, the boat only runs from 6 May to 21 October and the cogwheel train only runs from 6 May to 17 November, meaning you can only do the Golden Round Trip in the warmer months
- You can catch the aerial cableway throughout the year, except for their maintenance period from 20 October to 9 November, so if you’re visiting when the cogwheel is closed you can still take the gondolas up and down
- Sledding, bobsledding and snowshoeing is available in winter
Best Mount Pilatus tours
- Self-guided Golden round trip from Lucerne
- Self-guided Silver round trip from Lucerne
- Mount Pilatus & Lucerne photo tour
- Small group winter Pilatus tour from Lucerne
Mount Titlis
Known for its year-round snow and ice, Mount Titlis stands tall at 3,238m offering a thrilling alpine wonderland.
Experience the world’s first revolving cable car, the Rotair, for breathtaking 360-degree views and test your nerves on the Titlis Cliff Walk, Europe’s highest suspension bridge!
Mount Titlis highlights
- 360 degrees: The world’s first rotating aerial cableway, taking ‘panoramic views’ to the next level!
- Adrenaline rush: The Titlis Cliff Walk, Europe’s highest suspension bridge, 500m off the ground and more than 3000m above sea level
- Ice palace: A 150m-long path 10 metres below the surface of a glacier
How to get to Titlis from Lucerne
Catch a 43 minute train to Engelberg, walk a short way to the cable car station, then it’s a trip on the Titlis Xpress cable car to Stand station and a quick switch to the Titlis Rotair revolving cable car to Titlis. The cable cars take about 30 minutes all up.
Mount Titlis prices & discounts
96CHF return from Engelberg to Titlis, and about 15CHF to get from Lucerne to Engelberg and back.
- Tell Passes get the whole trip included
- Swiss Travel Pass gets to Engelberg for free and then half price to Titlis
- Swiss Half Fare Card gets the whole journey half price
Seasonal differences
- Closed 4-15 November for maintenance but open the rest of the year
- Skiing, SnowXPark, tobogganing and showshoeing in winter
- Hiking, a family playground and mountain biking in summer
Best Mount Titlis tours
Rigi vs. Pilatus vs. Titlis vs. Stanserhorn: The final verdict
So with all that in mind, which of Lucerne’s mountain excursions comes out on top? The truth is it really depends on what you’re looking for.
If you’re on a budget: Cost-wise they’re all about the same, but if you have a Swiss Travel Pass then you can go up Rigi and Stanserhorn for free (whereas Pilatus and Titlis are just 50% off). If you have a Tell Pass then all four are free!
If you want an easy day trip: Rigi is probably the most accessible mountain to Lucerne, making it a super convenient day trip that’s accessible for all kinds of travellers.
If you want magical views: All four mountains offer stunning panoramas, but Titlis has a higher vantage point and Rigi is known for its sweeping landscapes that seem to go for hundreds of miles.
If you want thrills: Titlis takes the top spot with its revolving cable car, glacier activities and the cliff walk. Pilatus also offers a touch of adventure with the steep cogwheel train and toboggan.
If you want to get away from the crowds: I visited all four mountains in mid-October and Stanserhorn was the quietest, it’s right at the end of their season though so that might be different depending on the time of year.
If you want snow: Titlis is snow-capped year-round thanks to its elevation.
If you’re a train nerd: Pilatus is home to the world’s steepest cogwheel railway which is a bit of an engineering marvel, if that’s what floats your boat!
I hope this Rigi vs. Pilatus vs. Titlis vs. Stanserhorn breakdown has helped you figure out which mountain day trip from Lucerne is best for your itinerary! If you have any questions then please let me know in the comments and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
If you are tossing up between travel passes to get you the best bang for your buck then you should read my Switzerland travel pass breakdowns (all have example itineraries):
- Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it?
- Is the Swiss Half Fare Card worth it?
- Is the Jungfrau Travel Pass worth it?
- A review of Lake Lucerne’s Tell Pass
And my other Switzerland blog posts might help you too 👇🏼
MORE SWITZERLAND TRAVEL INSPIRATION:
- How to spend 10 days in Switzerland
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MORE SWITZERLAND TRAIN GUIDES:
- Swiss Travel Pass vs Half Fare Card: Which one is best?
- The ultimate Swiss Travel Pass guide
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- Bernina Express vs Glacier Express: Which one should you choose?
- Is the Jungfrau Travel Pass worth it?
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I went through some 8-9 travellogues before coming across yours. (MY BAD! guess put up the wrong words on google)
but the point is
YOU ARE THE BEST!!