3-Day Lucerne Guided Rail Tour: Rigi & Pilatus

Are you coming to Switzerland one day earlier?

Upon landing in Zurich, you’ll check in and rest at your comfortable airport hotel — the ideal way to recover from your international flight before your adventure begins.

For the next day, we’ve designed a wonderful Pre-Tour Option: a full-day excursion to Stein am Rhein & the Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen. In the late afternoon, your guide will accompany you back to Zurich to collect your luggage before continuing together to Lucerne, where you’ll attend a welcome briefing and check in for the night.

For the smoothest experience, we recommend adding this when booking your 3-Day Rail Tour. Just reach out to our Travel Experts — we’ll make sure everything is perfectly arranged before your journey begins.

Accommodation: Zurich Airport Hotel Hyatt Regency or Place (or comparable lodging).

Welcome to Switzerland!

Your Local English-speaking guide will pick you up at your preferred location, whether at the Zurich airport, Basel cruise port, or Lucerne train station, depending on your point of arrival. He or She will stay with you throughout the trip to lead and make your journey feel as smooth as possible.

Based on your logistics schedule, the guide will suggest the best cities or scenic sites to visit in between your point of arrival and Lucerne.

Once in Lucerne, a city nestled between the serene Lake Lucerne and the mighty Alps, assuming time is on our side, the day kicks off with a visit to a traditional Swiss farm. Your Local English-speaking guide will lead the way, taking you on a scenic funicular ride to Sonnenberg for an unparalleled view of the area.

Then, we’ll embark on a 2-hour easy walk through green pastures, farms, and authentic Swiss hamlets. 

During the tour, your guide will share fascinating insights into the area’s past and present, including customs, language, and traditions. At a typical Swiss farm, you can purchase locally produced food and taste some delicious Swiss cheese.

Then we will have time to wander through Lucerne’s Old Town, marveling at the iconic Chapel Bridge and Water Tower, and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere that sets this city apart.

Scenic Journey Duration: approx. 2 hours.

Journey Mode: Bus & Funicular.

Meals included: Dinner.

Accommodation: Hotel Continental (or comparable lodging).

Important: This trip is available all year round but the organization and means of transport used depend on the availability of the cogwheel trains, boats, cable cars and gondolas.

Pilatus cogwheel train runs from May till November. In winter we will skip the train and use gondola connection only.

Alternatives for your itinerary will be communicated in advance.

——–

Your guide will pick you up at 7:45 am at your hotel in Lucerne.

Together you will board the local train for a 30 min ride along lakes Lucerne and Zug to Arth Goldau. Here you will board a cogwheel mountain railway which takes you on a scenic journey up to Rigi-Kulm (the summit of Mt Rigi).

This is the mountain peak where Alpine tourism began over 200 years ago.
Enjoy impressive 360-degree views over the Alps stretching way out into the distance. On a clear day you can even see as far as France to the West and the Black Forest in Germany to the North.

Next, you will take a gentle 30 min walk down to a 7th generation family-owned alpine dairy and artisan cheese-maker where you will learn about the Swiss dairy farming and the art of cheese making. You will continue to hike along a mountain trail for about an hour. At Rigi-Kaltbad you catch the aerial cable-car down to Weggis in time to catch a Lake Lucerne boat for a scenic 50 min cruise back to Lucerne.

Once in Lucerne, walk across the street and board the local bus for a 15 minute ride and then a short walk to the Mt. Pilatus gondola station. Climb aboard a 4-person gondola and enjoy the views over the city and surrounding hills. Then transfer to the “Dragon Ride” aerial cableway that whisks you up to 2,032 m / 7,000 ft to the top of Lucerne’s other home mountain, the Mt. Pilatus.

Once on top, there is time to take in the magnificent views over the Alps. Follow the Dragon Caves walking trail (500 m/0.3 miles) and learn about the legends of the mountain’s dragons and its surprising connection with Pontius Pilate. Take an adventure walk along the Flower Trail to the Tömlishorn (the highest peak at 2128 m) where, on a clear day, you can see the famous peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau in the distance. If you are lucky, you may even encounter a few wild ibex along the way, and hear the clanging of cowbells in the air.

Return to the main area for refreshments and souvenir shopping at the Pilatus Kulm visitor center. The return trip to Lucerne begins with a descent to Alpnachstad on the world’s steepest cogwheel train with 48% gradients and through numerous tunnels. More wonderful views of the Swiss Alps accompany you on your descent. In Alpnachstad board the local train for a quick and easy ride back to Lucerne.

We return to Lucerne around 5:30 pm.

Scenic Journey Duration: approx. 5 hours.

Journey Mode: Rigi & Pilatus Cogwheel Train, Cable-Car, Gondola & Cruise.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Hotel Continental (or comparable lodging).

Before leaving on Day 2, your guide will suggest the best hidden gems of the town to uncover before your departure, and will provide you with information on connections to your next destination.

We wish you a safe journey and we hope to see you again for another adventure.

Meals included: Breakfast.