Pilatus Bahnen

Absolutely mindblowing. It takes quite a while to get up the mountain (naturally). You’re going to want a reasonably clear day to take in the view. I was there when it was slightly overcast, but it wasn’t bad enough that we couldn’t see anything. But wow it was stunning. You rise right up above Lucerne and the lake. It’s VERY cold at the top if you’re there in winter so wrap up warm! There are inside and outside viewing areas and to get up to the highest viewing point you’ll need to climb some steps which when icy can be very slippery… be careful! Absolutely stunning though, I’m keen to go back!

This is a spectacular spot, but I really feel like I didn’t get a great experience because the weather wasn’t great the day I visited. I feel like Pilatus would have been absolutely stunning if I came in the middle of the winter and it was covered in beautiful blanket of snow.
Climbing up all the way to the top of the observatory was quite a disappointment based on the breath taking photos I saw.
While the top of the mountain was a bit disappointing, the journey here from Lucerne was spectacular. We took a fairy and ended up getting the most gorgeous photos of the lake and the mountain from a distance. The train ride up was a bit scary — you get on tai train and I swear the angle of elevation is almost 45. You think I’m kidding. But honestly, leave it to the Swiss to make such an intimidating train ride smooth. On the way down, we took the gondolas and loved that view as well. It was just simply beautiful! Highly recommend this for the train ride up, but the peak may not be what you were hoping for.

Turns out I have been here twice, I was able to come in 2010 and this is my second trip in 2014. I think my second trip was the better experience. The views on the mountain are simply stunning. In 2010, I was able to stay in the hotel and the idea of staying in a hotel on top of mountain seemed freakin awesome to me! But look at the pics and yeah, it’s that kind of awesome.

Such an amazing spot, like a monument to the beauty of the Alps. Mount Pilatus is is on the northwestern edge of the range, overlooking three towns and Lake Lucerne, with stunning views beyond these on a clear day.
There are multiple ways to the top here: The aerial route (one tram with two stops plus one gondola, OR a cog railway, Or by foot/​bike.) We took the aerial route from Kriens, but I would love the challenge of the hike up… someday!
At the tippy top (just under 7000 feet), there was a visitor center, a hotel, a gift shop, and multiple cafes and snack choices. There was also a short line of people paragliding off the mountain, into the teeth of the wind. So cool and magical to watch, and 15 minutes later they would circle back above our heads, waving and smiling.
As you may imagine, I was snapping pics almost at almost every turn, but due to the death of my iPhone a few days later, all were lost. Grrr. So I borrowed a few pics from the web, plus one from a friend.
After heading back down the mountain, we stopped halfway down to the tobaggan ride (on wheels), where the kids took turn after turn, and the parents chilled in lawn chairs and drank in the view. (
) This stop also featured a zipline course and a climbing rope maze, but we skipped those, since the day was getting late.
Apart from visiting our good friends, Mount Pilatus was the highlight of our trip to Switzerland. It was off to another country the next day.

I definitely left my heart atop this 7,000 ft mountain. WOW. Absolutely spectacular views.
I had lunch at the Queen Anne Restaurant in the Pilatus-​Kulm hotel, before eating I could feel the altitude hitting me, but after a doppio espresso at the end of the delicious vegetarian ravioli meal I was back to normal. See ya never altitude sickness!
I took the 18min gondola up from Kriens to Fräkmüntegg and then the 5 min Aerial Cableway from there to Pilatus-​Kulm (the summit) after lunch I took the 40min ride down on the world’s steepest cogtrain to Alpnachstad from Pilatus-​Kulm.
Great amazing experience. And the gift shop at the top of Pilatus-​Kulm has Swiss quartz crystals for sale!
Don’t miss this phenomenal spot if you get to Lucerne. It’s so worth it!

Visiting Mount Pilatus was probably one of the highlights of our European trip. I pre-​booked this excursion before we left, which left my husband a little queasy after I told him the peak had an elevation of 7,000 feet and showed him a photo of the world’s steepest cogwheel railway.
We came here on May 15, 2013 and the weather was sunny and cool. I suggest coming in layers since it may be warmer in the city, there is snow on top of the mountain!
They said the mountain looks like a man’s face laying down and yes, I can see the resemblance. In late medieval times a dragon was said to live on the mountain. When you get to the top and into the shop, you’ll see that red dragon for sale in the form of a magnet or stuffed animal. The views are absolutely gorgeous when you get to the top (Photos included). It was quite windy and cold up there with plenty of photo ops.
Just remember since you’re up so high, you might get short of breath or dizzy if you are climbing some of the stairs so take your time.
We saw a small chapel at the top and we were told that people actually have weddings here! Wow… incredible.
Riding the cable cars back down was probably the most enjoying experience. Lots of greenery and Swiss cows. My husband and I don’t really care for heights, but this didn’t both us one bit. So glad we decided to check Mt. Pilatus out when we were in Switzerland!

What a view from the top! And the excitement of getting there is nearly heart stopping. But then, I’m a wimp when faced with cliffs and heights and other scary stuff. But the trip was well worth it.
We did the train from Luzern to the bottom station, walked to the loading building, then the regular gondola to mid mountain, then the aerial tram to the top. For our return, we took the cog railway all the way down, then walked to the boat dock on Lake Luzern and took the classic 1902 paddle wheeler back to the city of Luzern.
What a day!

Weather Makes the Difference!
3 Star Rating influenced by the poor weather. The forecast was a bit iffy for our time in Lucerne so we took the chance and visited on one of the «better» days but unfortunately the weather did not cooperate and all we saw were clouds and some mountain goats. But we utilized the Swiss pass for 50% off the price so it wasn’t a total loss.
We did take a nice little hike through the caves and learned about the legend of the dragon of Lucerne, that was fun.
PRO TIP: If purchasing tickets in advance; we did using Swiss Pass at the Lucerne Bahnoff; must exchange that ticket at Pilatus ticket window for a pass. (The ticket you bought in advance will NOT work at the Pilatus turnstile) Also, don’t loose your ticket, you’ll need it for on/​off access for the cable car.
Oh, and don’t freak out once you get into your gondola; the doors will close automatically!

The views here are spectacular. A must visit for any traveller in the area.
It was suggested by some fellow Unilocalers to come up here on Sunday when all the shops in the old city would be closed. The cog streetcar wasn’t open on this blustery March day, so we had to take the 30 min gondola ride up.
You pay about 70CHF per person, with a private Gondola ride than then a hanging cable car up the mountain to a viewing platform. There’s a few paths around the visitors centre to traverse the mountain and to take a look at the views. Another viewing platform has stairs to climb up to a summit at the very peak of the mountain. It was incredibly windy with blowing wind and snow in my face. Wear sturdy shoes for traction. It is COLD up here.
There is a small coffee bar here that was closed, but would have served snacks and drinks. There is a cafeteria that has some snacks and hot meals and drinks.
We got a deal off the website (check it for specials!) that included a fondue lunch at the Hotel for no extra cost which was a nice treat.
The last passage down is 4:30pm.
It was super easy to get to: hop on the Bus #1 towards Kries-​LindePilatus (a station) and the announcement will be in English for us visitors. A short walk up the hill and the base station is right there!

The two-​stage aerial tram up one side is comfortable and modern. The funicular (toothed-​cog railway) up the other is quaint and historic. In the colder months, they only run the aerial trams, but in summer you can make a nice loop including a short ferry trip to or from the base of the funicular.
The top always reminds my friends of James Bond (or Austin Powers) villain compounds — tunnels built into the rock, the «Dragon Gallery» windows from a sight-​seeing walk carved into the cliff side, and the space-​age main visitor’s hall.
I’d skip the cafeteria, though — head down to the upper mid-​station (Fräkmüntegg) on the tram for a cheaper and more hand-​made repast, or to the lower mid-​station (Krienseregg) for a family center.

It goes from 15 °C at the bottom to 0 °C or less once you take the cable car up, so be prepared.
Immerse yourself in the crisp beautiful views.

This is a must for travelers. A trip up the mountain is easily done by public transportation. For those in the autumn/​winter months, the cable car is the only option (bus to Kriens, short walk, well marked). During the summer and spring, the oldest cogwheel in Switzerland (Europe?) is an option and can be easily accessed by a short train from Luzern Main train station. Small hiking around is fun exercise and the views are spectacular. The dragon cave, home to the famous dragons of Luzern, is a must for children. All the descriptions are in English, German.

Clean air, breath taking view… Mt. Pilatus is quiet impressive. And be warned, even in the middle of summer, it is cold up here!
I’m feel very lucky to have experienced this gorgeous place in Switzerland. I’m so surprised that no one has written about it!
You take a cable car up to the top of the mountain and that ride itself is fantastic with beautiful sites all around. We hiked around for a while, just taking in all the mountain’s glory and allure. And even if you’re not hungry, after trekking around for a while, you will be! Make sure to eat at one of the restaurants that offer modern gastronomy choices. Good food, great view, crisp air. This was definitely a memorable day~

Die Aussicht vom Pilatus ist wunderbar — aber Achtung: Unbedingt vorgängig abklären, ob man Sicht hat. Leider hängen die Wolken manchmal richtig am Berg, sogar an recht schönen Tagen. Wenn es bewölkt ist, kann man sich die Fahrt auf den Gipfel sparen und stattdessen eine Wanderung auf der Kriensergg (erst Zwischenstation ob Kriens) oder eine Rodelfahrt oder einen Besuch im Seilpark auf der Fräkmüntegg (zweite Zwischenstation) unternehmen.

Leider kann ich meinem Vorschreiber überhaupt nicht zustimmen:
Wir hatten einen traumhaften Wintertag auf dem Pilatus. Für CHF 19, — kann man sich eine Einzelkarte mit der Seilbahn kaufen. Wahrlich nicht ganz billig, aber dafür kann man sich im Winter kostenlos Schlitten ausleihen und 6 km ins Tal fahren. Es gibt insgesamt zwei Bahnen. Eine ist leicht, die andere schwierig. Auf der Mittelstation gibt es Einkehrmöglichkeiten oder man steigt hier einfach wieder in die Bahn und man fährt für CHF 9, — nocheinmal zur Bergstation nach oben und man beginnt die Schlittenfahrt von vorne.
Im Sommer gibt es hier eine Sommerrodelbahn, einen Kletterwald, traumhafte Wanderwege und Möglichkeiten für Mountainbiker!
Auf jeden Fall waren wir begeistert und hatten alle zusammen einen riesen Spaß auf den Holzschlitten den Berg runter zu fahrenjederzeit wieder!