Pilatus

A legendary peak above Lucerne with epic views, cable cars, and the world’s steepest cogwheel railway.

Towering over Lake Lucerne, Mount Pilatus offers breathtaking panoramas and multiple ways to reach the summit – including the world’s steepest cogwheel railway (gradient up to 48%) and a series of gondolas and aerial cableways. In summer, visitors enjoy hiking trails, scenic platforms, and mountaintop dining; in winter, it becomes a serene snowy escape. The name stems from a legend that Pontius Pilate’s remains were laid to rest in one of the mountain’s lakes.

Transport

How to Get There

Ways to get to the attraction

On foot from Lucerne center 190-286 min.

From Interlaken by car ~1 h 35 min.

From Zurich by car ~1 h 20 min.

From BRN airport (Bern) by car ~2 h 2 min.

From SIR airport (Sion) by car ~3 h 14 min.

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Attraction

Description

Detailed information about the attraction

What is this place

Pilatus is a mountain massif above Lucerne; the highest summit is Tomlishorn at 2,128.5 m. Access is via the world-steepest cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad and a chain of panorama gondolas plus the “Dragon Ride” aerial cableway from Kriens.

Key features

Tomlishorn 2,128.5 m – highest point; nearby Esel 2,118 m is a 10–15-minute walk from Pilatus Kulm.
Pilatusbahn – the world’s steepest cogwheel line with 48% max gradient, ~30-minute ride, opened in 1889.
Kriens–Fräkmüntegg–Pilatus Kulm cableways – panorama gondolas and the “Dragon Ride”; run most of the year with short maintenance breaks.
“Golden Round Trip” – boat Lucerne–Alpnachstad + cogwheel up + cableways down to Kriens + bus to the centre; typically May–October, allow ≥5 h.
Fräkmüntegg – Central Switzerland’s largest rope park and the 1,350 m Fräkigaudi summer toboggan, the country’s longest.

What to see

Pilatus Kulm terraces – 360° vistas over the Alps and Lake Lucerne; short walks: Esel ~15 min, Tomlishorn ~30–40 min, Dragon Path ~20 min.
Fräkmüntegg zones – 10-course rope park, kids’ PILU park, Fräkigaudi summer toboggan.
The “Golden Round Trip” route – lake cruise, cogwheel climb and the fast “Dragon Ride” cableway.

History

Pilatus figures in medieval lore, with first ascents cited in the 14th century. It long served as Lucerne’s landmark and a destination for panoramic viewpoints.

The transport backbone arrived with the Pilatusbahn cogwheel line in 1889. The Fräkmüntegg–Pilatus Kulm aerial cableway opened in 1956, rebuilt in 1983 and 2015 as the “Dragon Ride”. The Kriens–Fräkmüntegg panorama gondolas date to the mid-20th century and complete the lake-to-summit “Golden Round Trip”.

Practical information

Location: South of Lucerne; top station Pilatus Kulm; base stations Alpnachstad and Kriens (Schlossweg 1).

Getting there: To Alpnachstad – S5 train from Lucerne ~17 min or boat ~50–90 min in season. To Kriens – bus No. 1 from Lucerne HB to Kriens, Zentrum Pilatus, then ~5 min on foot to the valley station.

Access: Cogwheel railway, gondolas and “Dragon Ride” are wheelchair-accessible; Pilatus Kulm has lifts, accessible toilets and terrace access. Advance notice advised for e-wheelchairs and for trains.

Visiting hours: Cogwheel line usually mid-May to mid-November (e.g., 12 May–16 Nov 2025). Gondolas and “Dragon Ride” run most of the year with a late-Oct/early-Nov overhaul break.

Visit duration: 2–3 h for a quick up-and-down; ≥5 h for the Golden Round Trip.

Best time: May–October for the full circuit and ridge walks; clear winter days give crisp views when ascending from Kriens.

Notes: Expect queues on the cogwheel line in peak season – reservations recommended. The Lucerne–Alpnachstad boat runs in the warm season. The Tomlishorn path usually opens mid-June to October and closes in snow or ice.

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