Most reviewed from Zurich
From Zurich, by coach
Day from Zurich with Best of Switzerland
For a full day from Zurich with a guide in English or Spanish, an hour in Lucerne and the whole circle.
Mount Pilatus from Zurich
7 guided days from Zurich, from €181, by coach or by train, and one from Basel. What each one includes, and how long you get at the top.
- From
- €181
- Duration
- 7 to 10 h 30
- Tours compared
- 7
Can you visit Mount Pilatus in a day from Zurich?
Yes: the guided days here last 7 to 10 h 30, by coach or by train.
On the coach days, the road to Lucerne takes between 1 hour and 1 hour 45 minutes on their itineraries. On the train days, it takes 50 minutes to an hour. You then get 1.5 to 3 hours at the top.
Most of the days cross Lake Lucerne by boat, but only in season: the most reviewed one lists the boat until 18 October 2026, then a lunch voucher.
Which day trip from Zurich should you book?
For most people, the day with Best of Switzerland: the most reviewed from Zurich by far, from €200.
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By coach or bus
From €181. No change of transport on the way to Lucerne.
Most time in Lucerne
From Zurich, by glass-roof bus
Glass-roof bus from Zurich, full circuit, with Keytours
For 2.5 hours in Lucerne and 2.5 hours at the top, with the boat included in its list.
Lowest price from Zurich
From Zurich, by glass-roof bus
Glass-roof bus from Zurich, cogwheel and boat optional
For the lowest price from Zurich, if the gondola and cableway are enough for you.
By train
Small groups of 15 at most, from €401.
For winter
From Zurich, by train
Winter small group by train from Zurich
For the snow from Zurich, with a guide, by train and cableway.
15 people at most
From Zurich, by train
Small group by train from Zurich
For a small group that travels by train and boat, with a guide in German or English.
15 people at most
From Zurich, by train
Small group by train from Zurich, with Tours of Switzerland
For a small group with 3 hours at the top.
Private
Your own guide.
Private
From Zurich, your party only
Private Golden Round Trip from Zurich
For your own guide from Zurich, on the whole circle.
From Basel
The same day from further away, from €358.
From Basel
From Basel, by train
Small group by train from Basel
For a day from Basel by train and boat, with 3 hours at the top.
Compare in detail
Prices and ratings are read from GetYourGuide. Prices are rounded up. Last checked on 4 Nov.
Every tour here is free to cancel up to 24 hours before it starts.
| Tour | Duration | Starts | Min. age | Rating | From | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| By coach or bus | ||||||
Most reviewed from ZurichDay from Zurich with Best of SwitzerlandBest of Switzerland ToursThe route: Coach to Lucerne, gondola and cableway up, cogwheel railway down, then a boat to Lucerne: the operator's own page lists the boat until 18 October 2026Time at the top: 1.5 hoursKeep in mind: GetYourGuide's list of inclusions does not name the boat, though its itinerary does. The operator's own page lists it until 18 October 2026. Then a lunch voucher replaces it. What's includedIncluded
Not included
Bring
Not suitable with
| 10 h | Sihlquai bus station, Limmatstrasse 2, Zurich | €200 | See dates: Day from Zurich with Best of Switzerland | ||
Glass-roof bus from Zurich, full circuit, with KeytoursKeytours Switzerland SAThe route: Bus to Lucerne, 2.5 hours free there, gondola and cableway up, cogwheel railway down, boat backTime at the top: 2.5 hoursKeep in mind: Your driver is your guide: its list includes a driver-guide and excludes a separate guide. What's includedIncluded
Not included
Bring
Not suitable with
| 10 h | Coach parking, Ausstellungsstrasse 5, Zurich | €200 | See dates: Glass-roof bus from Zurich, full circuit, with Keytours | ||
Lowest price from ZurichGlass-roof bus from Zurich, cogwheel and boat optionalKeytours Switzerland SAThe route: Bus to Lucerne, gondola and cableway; the cogwheel railway and the boat come only with the gold optionTime at the top: 2.5 hoursGroup size: Up to 20 peopleKeep in mind: The cogwheel railway and the boat come only with the gold option, at a higher price. People with altitude sickness are listed as not suitable. What's includedIncluded
Not included
Bring
Not suitable with
| 10 h 30 | Coach parking, Ausstellungsstrasse 5, Zurich | €181 | See dates: Glass-roof bus from Zurich, cogwheel and boat optional | ||
| By train | ||||||
Winter small group by train from ZurichSwissTravelGuideThe route: Train and bus to Kriens, then gondola and cableway up and downTime at the top: 2 hoursGroup size: Up to 15 peopleKeep in mind: No reviews yet. Wheelchair users are listed as not suitable. What's includedIncluded
Not included
Not suitable with
| 7 h | Tourist office, main station, Zurich | €401 | See dates: Winter small group by train from Zurich | ||
Small group by train from ZurichSwissTravelGuideThe route: Train to Lucerne, boat, cableway, bus, train backTime at the top: 2.5 hoursGroup size: Up to 15 peopleKeep in mind: Its list says transport from Lucerne, and does not name the train from Zurich: check this before you book. Only 2 reviews so far. What's includedIncluded
Not included
Bring
| 8 h | Main station, Zurich | €444 | See dates: Small group by train from Zurich | ||
Small group by train from Zurich, with Tours of SwitzerlandTours of SwitzerlandThe route: Train to Lucerne, boat, the cogwheel railway from mid-May to mid-October, train backTime at the top: 3 hoursGroup size: Up to 15 peopleKeep in mind: The cogwheel railway is listed from mid-May to mid-October. Only 1 review so far. What's includedIncluded
Not included
Bring
| 7 h | Main station, Zurich | €592 | See dates: Small group by train from Zurich, with Tours of Switzerland | ||
| Private | ||||||
Private Golden Round Trip from ZurichSwissTravelGuideThe route: Train to Lucerne, boat, cogwheel railway, cableway, gondola, bus, train backTime at the top: 2.5 hoursGroup size: Your party onlyKeep in mind: Its list names the boat, the cogwheel railway, the gondola and the bus, not the train from Zurich. Only 1 review so far. What's includedIncluded
Not included
Bring
| 8 h | Bahnhofplatz, Zurich | €590 | See dates: Private Golden Round Trip from Zurich | ||
| From Basel | ||||||
Small group by train from BaselTours of SwitzerlandThe route: Train to Lucerne, boat, and the full round trip from mid-May to mid-OctoberTime at the top: 3 hoursGroup size: Up to 16 peopleKeep in mind: Its round-trip ticket runs from mid-May to mid-October. What's includedIncluded
Not included
Bring
| 8 h | Basel SBB station | €358 | See dates: Small group by train from Basel | ||
By bus or by train from Zurich?
By bus for the lowest price, by train for a smaller group.
From each trip's page on GetYourGuide, read on 6 November 2026.
| By coach or bus | By train | |
|---|---|---|
| From | €181 | €401 |
| Length | 10 to 10.5 hours | 7 to 8 hours |
| To Lucerne | 1 hour to 1 hour 45 | 50 minutes to an hour |
| Group | 20 at most on one, others not stated | 15 at most |
| Time at the top | 1.5 to 2.5 hours | 2 to 3 hours |
Can you go from Zurich on your own?
Yes: take the train to Lucerne, then one of the ways up.
The train
The guided days here count 50 minutes to an hour from Zurich to Lucerne.
The way up
From Lucerne, three ways up the mountain. In summer, the whole circle takes about 4 h 30 on its own.
The pass
With a Swiss Travel Pass, the ride up and down is half price. Every price.
Is Mount Pilatus a good day trip from Zurich?
It's a long day: about 7 to 10 h 30, for 1.5 to 3 hours at the top. Staying in Lucerne makes it shorter, on a half-day trip.
Is the boat included?
It depends on the trip and the date. On the Best of Switzerland day, the operator's own page lists the boat until 18 October 2026. On the cheaper Keytours bus, it comes only with the gold option.
Can you do the Golden Round Trip from Zurich?
Is there a day from Zurich in winter?
Yes: Winter small group by train from Zurich, by train and cableway.
Where do they leave from?
From the Sihlquai bus station, the coach parking on Ausstellungsstrasse, or the main station, depending on the trip.
Can you cancel?
All of them can be cancelled free up to 24 hours before.
Staying in Lucerne after all?
Then a half-day or a plain ticket is enough.