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Mt. Pilatus, Switzerland

{Day Trip} Take the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne or Zurich to Mt. Pilatus, Switzerland! Tips & Itineraries in the post

While we were in Lucerne, we took the Golden Round Trip day trip to Mount Pilatus, Lucerne’s landmark mountain, for an incredible panoramic view of the Swiss Alps.

{Day Trip} Take the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne or Zurich to Mt. Pilatus, Switzerland! Tips & Itineraries in the post

On the Golden Round Trip, you take a breathtaking scenic gondola ride and an aerial cableway to the summit of Mount Pilatus. You can spend as much time as you like at the top — there are several hikes, a few shops, and restaurants. Then you take the world’s steepest cog railway back down the mountain, and a beautiful boat trip on Lake Lucerne back to the city. It was one of the highlights of our trip!

{Day Trip} Take the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne or Zurich to Mt. Pilatus, Switzerland! Tips & Itineraries in the post

You don’t really have to plan in advance to do the Golden Round Trip. If you wake up and it’s a nice day and you want to do it, you can just go and get your tickets and hop on the gondola right then. With our Swiss Travel Pass from Rail Europe, our tickets for the Golden Round Trip were 50% off.

{Day Trip} Take the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne or Zurich to Mt. Pilatus, Switzerland! Tips & Itineraries in the post

Halfway up the mountain, the gondola stops in Fräkmüntegg, where you get on the aerial cable car. Here you can also take a ride on Switzerland’s longest summer toboggan run — a true Alpine slide! We totally did this. So fun!

{Day Trip} Take the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne or Zurich to Mt. Pilatus, Switzerland! Tips & Itineraries in the post

One last breathtaking aerial cable car ride and we were at the top of Mount Pilatus in the heart of the Swiss Alps!

{Day Trip} Take the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne or Zurich to Mt. Pilatus, Switzerland! Tips & Itineraries in the post

Alternatively, instead of the gondola and cable car, you can also hike up Mount Pilatus if that is your thing. ;) See the trail down below??

{Day Trip} Take the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne or Zurich to Mt. Pilatus, Switzerland! Tips & Itineraries in the post

After reaching the station at the top, we took a short hike up the Esel trail to the second highest point on Mount Pilatus.

{Day Trip} Take the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne or Zurich to Mt. Pilatus, Switzerland! Tips & Itineraries in the post

Breathtaking views!

{Day Trip} Take the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne or Zurich to Mt. Pilatus, Switzerland! Tips & Itineraries in the post

You definitely want to come here on a clear day.

{Day Trip} Take the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne or Zurich to Mt. Pilatus, Switzerland! Tips & Itineraries in the post

Although it might be fun to walk among the clouds as well! :)

{Day Trip} Take the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne or Zurich to Mt. Pilatus, Switzerland! Tips & Itineraries in the post

There’s a hotel at the top where we stopped for lunch.

{Day Trip} Take the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne or Zurich to Mt. Pilatus, Switzerland! Tips & Itineraries in the post

Possibly the best lunch view ever!!

{Day Trip} Take the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne or Zurich to Mt. Pilatus, Switzerland! Tips & Itineraries in the post

That afternoon we hopped on the world’s steepest cog railway back down the mountain.

{Day Trip} Take the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne or Zurich to Mt. Pilatus, Switzerland! Tips & Itineraries in the post

Here we go!

{Day Trip} Take the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne or Zurich to Mt. Pilatus, Switzerland! Tips & Itineraries in the post

We made it back just in time to catch the ferry back to Lucerne.

{Day Trip} Take the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne or Zurich to Mt. Pilatus, Switzerland! Tips & Itineraries in the post

Such a beautiful day.

{Day Trip} Take the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne or Zurich to Mt. Pilatus, Switzerland! Tips & Itineraries in the post

And a beautiful ride!

{Day Trip} Take the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne or Zurich to Mt. Pilatus, Switzerland! Tips & Itineraries in the post

Seriously I could’ve spent the entire day on this boat.

{Day Trip} Take the Golden Round Trip from Lucerne or Zurich to Mt. Pilatus, Switzerland! Tips & Itineraries in the post

The boat took us right back to Lucerne, and dropped us off right near our hotel, the Hotel Palace Luzern. Stay tuned for more info on our hotel and where we ate in Lucerne! :)

This was honestly one of our favorite excursions in Switzerland — I highly recommend the Golden Round Trip to Mt. Pilatus if you are in Lucerne or Zurich!

Until next time!! xoxo

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9 Responses
  1. Cary Gonzalez

    How long do you suggest for this Golden Roundrip excursion? Did you take a public transit bus from Lucern to Kriens? Where is Lucern does the boat trip end?

  2. Carola Saponara

    Kevin & Amanda,

    Thanks for sharing all this wonderful information. We will do exactly what you have described here. Sounds like a wonderful plan!!

  3. Brooke Weisner

    My husband and I are looking into doing this whilst on our trip to Switzerland, how did you go about getting tickets? Do you recommend waiting til the day of? we will be staying in Lucerne and hopefully be getting a Swiss pass

    …. All information greatly appreciated
    THank You

  4. RAJESH SHENOY

    Your photos are so crisp and alive as if the scene is in front of us. Keep posting more blogs and photos, we would like to read more about Switzerland. It was 3 rainy days in Luzerne for us and couldn’t do much other than enjoying the rain ?

  5. Elsie Weber

    How wonderfull and what a lucky person you and your spouce must be ,I am married for 36 years now and has never even been on a honeymoon how I would love to go to london to see the Queen and go to my daughter who lives on the isle of white she is staying there for. A few years now but me and my hubby will never visit seeing we van not afford it lucky you

    1. Rudolf Burri

      Hi; Elsie Weber- I was born in Malters, Luzern been up in Pilatus few times. PS. just want to tell you my grand mother mayden was Weber.

  6. sharla~

    I’ve actually been to Lucerne and Mt Pilatus, we stayed at a little chalet at the base of the mountain! This was almost 30 years ago, so my memory is old….I love your pictures and the memories that came back with seeing them, it is seriously one of the most beautiful places on earth! :)

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Meet Kevin & Amanda

Kevin and Amanda

We love to travel and to eat! Here we share our favorite quick and easy recipes, plus travel tips and guides for our favorite places around the world. If you have any questions about what camera I use or how I edit my photos, check out my photography tutorials.

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