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Day trip

From Zurich: Lucerne & Mount Pilatus Day Tour

4.7  / 5878 reviews
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Day trip
From Zurich: Lucerne & Mount Pilatus Day Tour
4.7  / 5878 reviews

Enjoy a bus trip through the countryside from Zurich to Lucerne. Take the cable car up Mount Pilatus, the funicular down to Alpnachstad and the boat back across Lake Lucerne.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later
Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Duration 9.5 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
English, Spanish

Highlighted reviews from other travelers

B
Bryon – Canada

Our guide Vladimir made the trip very well worth it. We did not have great weather and he went with it. I cannot say enough about him

B
Bryon – Canada
P
Paulette – United States

Can’t spell our lovely Guide’s name. She and the driver Vitor were lovely, very kind, helpful and informative. Some very inconsiderate late people at each stop. She was very patient and did what she could to keep the schedule. Staff at Mt Pilatus Cogwheel train were extremely rude and disrespectful to our guide who was trying very hard to keep track of our very large group and said late comers! We’d travel with her again anytime!

P
Paulette – United States

Experience

Itinerary

  • Timeline stop icon

    Starting location:

    Best of Switzerland Tours AG

  • Timeline stop icon

    Central Switzerland

    Guided tour, Sightseeing, Bus tour, Scenic views on the way

  • Timeline stop icon

    Lucerne

    Visit, Free time, Sightseeing

  • Timeline stop icon

    Central Switzerland

    Guided tour, Bus tour

  • Cable car

    (30 minutes)

  • Timeline stop icon

    Pilatus

    Visit, Free time, Sightseeing, Scenic views on the way

  • Train

    (30 minutes)

  • Timeline stop icon

    Lake Lucerne

    Boat cruise

  • Timeline stop icon

    Central Switzerland

    Guided tour, Bus tour

  • Arrive back at:

    Best of Switzerland Tours AG

Main stop

For reference only. Itineraries are subject to change.

Highlights

  • Enjoy a beautiful ride through the countryside along Lake Lucerne
  • Visit Lucerne and take a short tour of the main sights
  • Discover the charming old town of Lucerne at your own pace
  • Scale Mount Pilatus on several cable cars and gondolas
  • Relax on an idyllic 1-hour boat ride back to Lucerne

Full description

Discover the beauty of Lucerne and Mt. Pilatus on a day trip from Zurich. Reach the summit via bus, cable car, boat, and cogwheel train. For the return journey, hop on a boat cruise across Lake Lucerne. Leave from Zurich Main Station in the morning and enjoy the bus ride through the countryside along the Lake of the Four Cantons to Lucerne. Continue to Kriens and take a panoramic gondola and cable car to the summit of Mount Pilatus (2128 m above sea level). Enjoy the breathtaking view of the Swiss Alpine landscape and the surrounding lakes. Then, ride on one of the steepest funiculars down to Alpnachstad. Afterward, relax on a tranquil boat trip across Lake Lucerne back to Lucerne. From there, get on a bus to Zurich.

Includes

  • Bilingual guide
  • Transportation in a comfortable bus
  • Panoramic gondolas and aerial cable cars (from October 20 to November 07, 2025: ascent and descent by cogwheel train)
  • Cogwheel train
  • 1-hour boat cruise (until October 19, 2025)
  • Lunch voucher (from October 20 to November 14, 2025, if autumn option is selected)
  • Carbon-balanced operations certified by myclimate
  • Food and drinks
  • Personal expenses

Not suitable for

  • Wheelchair users

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Meeting point

Your tour departs from Zurich Sihlquai Bus Station near Zurich HB (main train station). Follow track 18 (last track on street level) until the road turns right. Follow the road for 50 meters and find the Zurich Sihlquai Bus Station across from Starbucks. By public transport take tram 4, 6, or 13 to the stop Sihlquai/HB. Please arrive 15 minutes before departure to check in at the counter of “Best of Switzerland Tours.” Please ensure you bring a valid ID and have the QR code on your printed or digital voucher ready for scanning.

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Important information

What to bring

  • Passport or ID card

Not allowed

  • Pets (assistance dogs allowed)
  • Food and drinks in the vehicle

Know before you go

  • From October 20th to November 7th, 2025: the ascent and descent will be made by cogwheel train due to the revision of the cable car
  • From November 8th - 14th, 2025: the ascent will be made by cable car, and the descent will be by cogwheel train
  • From October 20th - November 14th, 2025, there will not be a boat ride so a lunch voucher will be included instead

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.7 /5

based on 878 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.8/5
  • Transportation
    4.8/5
  • Service
    4.7/5
  • Organization
    4.6/5

Customer photos

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+80

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Recommended
B
Bryon – Canada6 October 2024  – Verified booking
Our guide Vladimir made the trip very well worth it. We did not have great weather and he went with it. I cannot say enough about him
Helpful?
P
Paulette – United States10 November 2024  – Verified booking
Can’t spell our lovely Guide’s name. She and the driver Vitor were lovely, very kind, helpful and informative. Some very inconsiderate late people at each stop. She was very patient and did what she could to keep the schedule. Staff at Mt Pilatus Cogwheel train were extremely rude and disrespectful to our guide who was trying very hard to keep track of our very large group and said late comers! We’d travel with her again anytime!
Helpful?
K
Kerly – Peru12 November 2024  – Verified booking
Must do tour, the views on Mt Pilatus were beautiful and breathtaking. Sofia was also very nice and explained a bunch of things on our way there. Though it felt like we had little time in Lucerne, but regardless beautiful trip
Helpful?

Product ID: 11974

Activity provider:Best of Switzerland Tours

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