★★★★★
Guided half-day from Lucerne
We went off on our own for most of the time at the top and still had room for a sit-down lunch, one of the peaks and the Dragon Path. Bring sunscreen.
Victoria · United States · September 2026
Mount Pilatus Tour Reviews
What travellers wrote after a guided half-day from Lucerne, the railway's own loop ticket, a coach day from Zurich, a private day or a flight, retold in short beside each operator's own published rating. Comparing a Mount Pilatus guided tours? The ratings and prices sit side by side below.
What travellers said after the trip
These are travellers' own accounts, paraphrased. The low scores stay in, because they tell you something useful. The order of the loop decides many of them, and so do the seat reservation and the walk to the Kriens gondola.
★★★★★
Guided half-day from Lucerne
A good balance of guided time and exploring on our own, in Lucerne and on the mountain. The guide knew the area well and helped all day.
Kati · United States · September 2026
★★★★★
Guided half-day from Lucerne
We both loved it and the guide was great. The scenery was lovely, but the day is pricey.
Carmel · Ireland · September 2026
★★★★★
Guided half-day from Lucerne
There was enough time to do everything at an easy pace.
Jose Luiz · Brazil · September 2026
★★★★★
Guided half-day from Lucerne
Cloud came in and it was pouring by the time we reached the cable car, and it was still a good trip. The guide looked after a large group well.
Gomatie S. · September 2026
★★★☆☆
Guided half-day from Lucerne
The meeting-point directions were wrong, and another couple on the trip had the same problem. We only just made the bus.
Wayne M. · September 2026
★★★★★
The railway's loop ticket, boat included
We took the boat first because it runs less often, and that let us buy a timed cogwheel seat. The walk to the bus at the end is about 1 km, downhill if you come off the mountain.
Amanda · Australia · August 2026
★★★★★
The railway's loop ticket, boat included
Go by boat first and then take the cogwheel, so your seat reservation fits the ferry times. Finishing by cable car and bus is easier too.
suzane · United States · September 2026
★★★★★
The railway's loop ticket, boat included
Everything was clearly signposted. Our older companions, who walk more slowly, managed every part of it.
Silke · Germany · August 2026
★★★★★
The railway's loop ticket, boat included
Boat, cogwheel and gondola were all excellent. The stop for the bus back to Lucerne needs clearer directions.
John · Australia · September 2026
★★★★★
The railway's loop ticket, boat included
Easy to follow from start to finish. We had booked the cogwheel seat ahead, so the wait after the morning boat was only about 45 minutes.
Sara M. · September 2026
★★★☆☆
The railway's loop ticket, boat included
We did not realise it was self-guided and waited at the meeting point for a guide who never came. The day itself was excellent.
Rene B. · September 2026
★★★★★
The railway's loop ticket, train instead of boat
A family of four, and a highlight of our trip. We found a ropes course, the toboggan and a zip line at one of the stops, and were glad we had not fixed a time for the train back.
Kerrie · Australia · June 2026
★★★★★
The railway's loop ticket, train instead of boat
The directions from Lucerne station confused us and we ended up in Kriens instead of Alpnachstad. The views and facilities at the top made up for it.
Chris · Australia · October 2025
★★★★★
The railway's loop ticket, train instead of boat
Train, cogwheel, cable car, gondola, then the bus, all to plan. Bus 1 back to Lucerne is a little hard to find: the signs are small.
Pam S. · August 2026
★★★☆☆
The railway's loop ticket, train instead of boat
A great trip, but this ticket has no boat in it, whatever some comments suggest, and the same ticket costs less from the railway directly.
Catherine P. · May 2026
★★★★★
Gondola and cableway ticket from Kriens
Easy from Lucerne: bus 1 to Kriens, then a short uphill walk to the gondola. Go early, because it was clear at nine and clouded over by eleven.
Beth · United States · April 2026
★★★★★
Gondola and cableway ticket from Kriens
Having the gondola and cable car tickets in advance was handy: no exchanges at a counter, just scan and go.
Selma · United Kingdom · April 2026
★★★★★
Gondola and cableway ticket from Kriens
It was quiet the day we went, and we walked straight onto both lifts.
Kathryn H. · April 2026
★★★★★
Return ticket, one side
A lovely trip. You need to buy a seat reservation for an exact time on the cogwheel railway.
Stanislav · Czech Republic · July 2025
★★★★★
Return ticket, one side
The cogwheel ride was smoother than expected, and the walk up to the lookouts was worth it. The ticket should give the address of the Kriens gondola station.
Gina · United States · June 2026
★★★★★
Return ticket, one side
The cable car was cancelled for bad weather. We were told the day before, had time to plan something else and were refunded quickly.
Diana J. · January 2025
★★★★★
Guided day from Zurich
With the guide we always knew where to be and when. The cable cars up gave great views of the valley, and the cogwheel down passed cows with bells.
Kristina · United States · August 2026
★★★★★
Guided day from Zurich
Pilatus was in cloud, and our teenagers still loved lunch and the climb to the summit in the fog. Every announcement came in German and English.
Jasmine · Australia · September 2026
★★★★★
Guided day from Zurich
Plenty of free time in Lucerne and on the mountain, a guide who was easy to follow, and a comfortable bus.
Debra · Australia · September 2026
★★★★★
Guided day from Zurich
The guide paid close attention to the group and explained what we needed at every stop.
Alejandro S. · Chile · August 2026
★★★★★
Guided day from Zurich
Well paced, with enough time at each stop, and a guide with a good sense of humour.
Diana C. · September 2026
★★★★★
Small group from Lucerne
The lake cruise was relaxing, the cogwheel ride up was a treat, and there was plenty of room to explore at the top.
Tammy R. · September 2026
★★☆☆☆
Small group from Lucerne
The guide was friendly, but the start time was changed by an email that came in late at night, less than 12 hours before the tour. Check your messages the evening before.
Kathleen F. · September 2026
★★★★★
Winter small group from Lucerne
The guide sent a text the night before with a photo of the meeting point. Only three of us came, so it felt like a private tour.
Betty R. · November 2023
★★★☆☆
Winter small group from Lucerne
An enjoyable day with plenty of information, but expensive: the guide used the same public bus and lifts we could have paid for ourselves.
Joseph P. · May 2023
★★★★★
Guided hike and barbecue
From central Lucerne to Kriens and up by cable car, then an easy, fairly flat hike with wide views. We even saw ibex, and the barbecue lunch was a treat.
Amy C. · October 2025
★★★★★
Guided hike and barbecue
Perfect for someone who loves hiking: time to explore the top on foot with a friendly guide who knew the area.
Pam · August 2026
★★★★☆
Private day from Zurich
The guide stayed with us all day except at lunch and changed the plan to suit us. There was a problem with the pickup at the start.
Ann C. · September 2025
★★★★★
Private day from Zurich
We saw the highlights of Lucerne and had time to take in the views from the top of Pilatus.
Brittainy C. · November 2024
★★★★★
Private day from Lucerne
Cloudy, cold and raining, and the guide still made it a great day. Confirm the meeting place with the tour company directly: ours was wrong.
Kathy C. · May 2026
★★☆☆☆
Private day from Lucerne
Booked a month ahead and hit problems with the company that the guide worked hard to fix. The low score is for the company, not the guide.
Jacqueline L. · August 2026
★★★★★
Private day, Pilatus and Rigi
One of the best guides we have had, with deep knowledge of both mountains, and a good tip for a local lunch away from the crowds.
Jason S. · June 2025
★★★★★
Three private days from Lucerne
The guide planned each day around the weather, what we wanted to see and how far we could walk. We would do it again.
Jennifer S. · August 2025
★★★★★
Small group from Basel
A train, a boat across the lake, the cogwheel up, the gondola down after time at the summit, and a walk through Lucerne, all in one day.
David B. · May 2026
★★★★☆
Small group from Basel
We expected changeable weather and got a cold, foggy day, but the ride up and lunch at the summit were good. The boat was more shuttle than cruise.
Laura M. · December 2021
★★★★★
Small group from Basel
We came from Basel by train, with a friendly guide who knew the region.
Sheila B. · May 2026
★★★★★
Small group from Basel
Easy to book and a long, full day, with a guide who kept the group together.
Jim S. · June 2026
★★★★★
Private day from Basel
Tram, train, bus, cable car, gondola, cogwheel and boat, with every ticket in the guide's hands. Not much walking, apart from one uphill stroll.
Steph E. · September 2025
★☆☆☆☆
Private day from Basel
Our travel was delayed and the company cancelled the tour without offering another option. Keep the operator's number with you.
Richard T. · June 2026
★★★★★
Tandem paragliding at Engelberg
I was scared of the take-off, and the pilot kept me calm and safe the whole time.
Jess J. · June 2026
★★★☆☆
Tandem paragliding at Engelberg
Easy to book, but the flight time and the take-off point change with the wind, so you may travel further than you expect.
Ashton F. · August 2026
What travellers keep saying
Take the boat first
Boats run less often than the railcars, so travellers who crossed first could fit a cogwheel seat to the landing.
Book the cogwheel seat
The self-guided tickets leave the cogwheel reservation out. Those who booked a seat ahead waited far less.
Mind the directions in Kriens
The walk from the bus stop to the gondola, and back, is the part travellers found hardest to follow.
Cloud comes and goes
Some saw nothing at the top and a clear lake on the way down. Go early, and keep your free cancellation until the forecast is in.
Operator ratings and review counts
Across the operators' own pages, these tours carry 10,665 reviews. The figures are the operators' own, published on their booking pages and shown as they stand; they belong to the operators, not to us. The second column says which way the fare takes you, and the third who is with you.
| Tour | Which way up | Who is with you | Rating | Reviews | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucerne: Mt. Pilatus Cable Car, Cogwheel Train & Lake Cruise | Boat, cogwheel and cableway loop | Guided group day | 4.7 | 2,809 | From $197 per person |
| From Lucerne: Mt. Pilatus Gondola, Cable Car, and Boat Trip | Boat, cogwheel and cableway loop | Unguided: ticket only | 4.7 | 1,524 | From $144 per person |
| Mount Pilatus Summit from Lucerne With Lake Cruise | Boat, cogwheel and cableway loop | Guided group day | 4.6 | 1,458 | From $196 per person |
| From Zurich: Lucerne & Mount Pilatus Day Tour | Boat, cogwheel and cableway loop | Guided group day | 4.8 | 1,271 | From $207 per person |
| Mt Pilatus and Lucerne Day Trip from Zurich With Lake Cruise | Boat, cogwheel and cableway loop | Guided group day | 4.6 | 778 | From $208 per person |
| Mt. Pilatus Peak and Lake Lucerne Cruise Small Group from Lucerne | Boat, cogwheel and cableway loop | Guided group day | 4.6 | 673 | From $271 per person |
| Kriens: Mt. Pilatus by Panoramic Gondola and Aerial Cableway | Gondola and cableway from Kriens | Unguided: ticket only | 4.7 | 669 | From $72 per person |
| Lucerne: Self-Guided Round-Trip Train to Mount Pilatus | Train, cogwheel and cableway loop | Unguided: ticket only | 4.7 | 332 | From $113 per person |
| Mt Pilatus from Lucerne Including Boat Trip, Gondola, Cogwheel | Boat, cogwheel and cableway loop | Unguided: ticket only | 4.5 | 271 | From $147 per person |
| Mt Pilatus Roundtrip Ticket from Alpnachstad or Kriens | Return by one side, your pick | Unguided: ticket only | 4.6 | 210 | From $103 per person |
| From Alpnachstad or Kriens: Mount Pilatus Roundtrip Ticket | Return by one side, your pick | Unguided: ticket only | 4.5 | 192 | From $101 per person |
| Mt. Pilatus & Lake Lucerne Cruise Small Group Tour | From Basel | Boat, cogwheel and cableway loop | Guided group day | 4.5 | 109 | From $429 per person |
| Mt Pilatus Self-Guided Round Trip from Lucerne | Train, cogwheel and cableway loop | Unguided: ticket only | 4.6 | 96 | From $116 per person |
| Mt. Pilatus & Lake Lucerne Cruise Private Tour | From Lucerne | Boat, cogwheel and cableway loop | Your own guide all day | 4.7 | 82 | From $693 per person |
| Paragliding Tandemflight Lucerne - Engelberg | Pilatus in view, not on it | Pilot only, no guide | 5.0 | 70 | From $240 per person |
| Mt. Pilatus Golden Roundtrip Small Group Day Tour from Basel | Boat, cogwheel and cableway loop | Guided group day | 4.8 | 25 | From $568 per person |
| Mt. Pilatus & Lake Lucerne Cruise Private Tour | From Basel | Boat, cogwheel and cableway loop | Your own guide all day | 4.8 | 21 | From $751 per person |
| Mount Pilatus & Mount Rigi in just 1 Day! | Pilatus and Rigi in one day | Your own guide all day | 5.0 | 17 | From $974 per person |
| Mount Pilatus Winter Experience: Small Group Tour from Lucerne | Gondola and cableway from Kriens | Guided group day | 4.8 | 15 | From $405 per person |
| 3 Days Private Tour from Luzern | Three days, Pilatus on day three | Your own guide all day | 5.0 | 9 | From $2,097 per person |
| Mount Pilatus (Private Tour) | Boat, cogwheel and cableway loop | Your own guide all day | 4.9 | 9 | From $678 per person |
| Mt. Pilatus Gondola and Aerial Cableway Ticket from Kriens | Gondola and cableway from Kriens | Unguided: ticket only | 4.9 | 9 | From $74 per person |
| Helicopter flight with a stop at Villa Honegg for lunch | Flies past, no landing | Pilot only, no guide | 5.0 | 8 | From $4,658 per flight, up to 4 |
| Swiss BBQ & Hike Experience – with Mount Pilatus Ticket | Gondola and cableway from Kriens | Guided group day | 5.0 | 8 | From $154 per person |
A tour with thousands of reviews and one with a handful are not a verdict on each other. The gap is mostly how long each has been on sale and how many seats it sells. A 5.0 from a few groups is worth reading closely rather than skipping.
Read the practical detail in the visitor guide, check the FAQs, then compare every tour on Mount Pilatus Tours.