The mountain only
From Alpnachstad or Kriens
Up and down the mountain, from Alpnachstad or Kriens
For the ride up and down, when you already have your way to the valley station.
Pilatus cogwheel railway
The railway Pilatus-Bahnen calls the steepest cogwheel railway in the world, from Alpnachstad to the top in 27 minutes.
- From
- €91
- Gradient
- Up to 48%
- The ride
- 27 min up, 33 down
- Season
- May to November
What makes the Pilatus railway so steep?
It climbs 1,635 m over 4,618 m of line, at up to 48%.
It opened on 4 June 1889, under steam. Eduard Locher built it with a cogwheel system of its own. A new fleet of 8 railcars, each for 46 passengers, started on 5 June 2023.
The railcars run from Alpnachstad, and take 27 minutes up and 33 down. The train from Lucerne to Alpnachstad takes 20 minutes.
When does the Pilatus railway run?
May to November. In 2026, from 11 May to 29 November.
Winter
It does not run, so you go up from Kriens by gondola and cableway.
Autumn
When the gondolas close for maintenance, it is the only way up: from 19 October to 27 November in 2026.
Your seat
Pilatus-Bahnen recommends reserving one, to avoid waiting. It is not included in the tickets on GetYourGuide. A reservation cannot be cancelled, but its time can be moved until 30 minutes before departure.
Ämsigen
The one stop on the way is boarding on request, and not suitable for wheelchairs.
How much is the Pilatus cogwheel railway?
CHF 42 one way and CHF 84 return from May to November.
Half price with a Half Fare card or a Swiss Travel Pass. On GetYourGuide, from €91.
We earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Tickets
Sold by Pilatus-Bahnen, on GetYourGuide and directly.
By train, not by boat
From Lucerne, no guide
Silver Round Trip ticket, by train, without a guide
For the same circle with the train in place of the boat: quicker and cheaper.
The full circle
From Lucerne, no guide
Golden Round Trip ticket, without a guide
For a day around the mountain at your own pace, by boat, cogwheel railway, cableway, gondola and bus.
Pilatus-Bahnen, the company that runs the mountain, also sells this ticket on its own site: CHF 119.80 for an adult in 2nd class (read 6 Nov 2026). The GetYourGuide listing we link to is sold by Pilatus-Bahnen too, from €130 (read 4 Nov 2026). At the ECB rate of 5 Nov, the two are within a euro. GetYourGuide lets you cancel free up to 24 hours before.
With a Swiss Travel Pass you don't need the round-trip ticket: boat and bus are free, and the mountain costs half, CHF 42 instead of CHF 84. GetYourGuide's ticket pages mention no such discount, so buy that part from Pilatus-Bahnen.
With a guide
Down by cogwheel railway on the half-day; your seat reserved on the Silver afternoon.
Most reviewed
From Lucerne, by coach
Half-day from Lucerne with Best of Switzerland
For a first visit: the most reviews here, and the whole circle with a guide in half a day.
Your seat is reserved
From Lucerne, in the afternoon
Silver Round Trip in the afternoon, from Lucerne
For a shorter afternoon: 4 hours in all, with your seat on the cogwheel railway already reserved.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tickets | ||||||
Up and down the mountain, from Alpnachstad or KriensPILATUS-BAHNEN AGThe route: Cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad, gondola and cableway from KriensAt Pilatus-Bahnen: CHF 84 for an adult from May to November, read on 6 November 2026Keep in mind: Getting to the valley station is up to you, and parking there is extra. A seat on the cogwheel railway is not included. What's includedIncluded
Not included
| The valley station at Alpnachstad or Kriens: getting there is up to you | €91 | See dates: Up and down the mountain, from Alpnachstad or Kriens | |||
Silver Round Trip ticket, by train, without a guidePILATUS-BAHNEN AGThe route: Train, cogwheel railway, cableway, gondola, bus, in either directionAt Pilatus-Bahnen: CHF 94.20 for an adult in 2nd class, CHF 98 in 1st, read on 6 November 2026Keep in mind: Pilatus-Bahnen gives two seasons on one page: May to October, and mid-May to mid-November. A seat on the cogwheel railway is not included. What's includedIncluded
Not included
| Lucerne: bus no. 1 or the train to Alpnachstad, in either direction | €103 | See dates: Silver Round Trip ticket, by train, without a guide | |||
Golden Round Trip ticket, without a guidePILATUS-BAHNEN AGThe route: Boat, cogwheel railway, cableway, gondola, bus, in either directionAt Pilatus-Bahnen: CHF 119.80 for an adult in 2nd class, CHF 136.80 in 1st, read on 6 November 2026Keep in mind: From May to October. A seat on the cogwheel railway is not included, and there are only 2 to 5 boats a day. What's includedIncluded
Not included
| 4 h 30 | Lucerne: bus no. 1 or the boat from pier 2, in either direction | €130 | See dates: Golden Round Trip ticket, without a guide | ||
| With a guide | ||||||
Most reviewedHalf-day from Lucerne with Best of SwitzerlandBest of Switzerland ToursThe route: Coach to Kriens, gondola and cableway up, cogwheel railway down, boat back to LucerneTime at the top: 1.5 hoursGroup size: Up to 48 peopleKeep in mind: Up to 48 people. Its list has the boat until 18 October 2026, then a lunch voucher on autumn dates. Wheelchair users are listed as not suitable. What's includedIncluded
Not included
Bring
Not suitable with
| 5 h 30 | Bus parking Landenberg, Alpenquai, Lucerne | €179 | See dates: Half-day from Lucerne with Best of Switzerland | ||
Silver Round Trip in the afternoon, from LucerneSwissTravelGuideThe route: Gondola and cableway up, cogwheel railway and train downTime at the top: 2 hoursGroup size: Up to 15 peopleKeep in mind: Only 3 reviews so far. Up to 15 people. Wheelchair users are listed as not suitable. What's includedIncluded
Not included
Bring
Not suitable with
| 4 h | Tourist Information, Zentralstrasse 5, Lucerne | €272 | See dates: Silver Round Trip in the afternoon, from Lucerne | ||
Is the Pilatus railway the steepest in the world?
Pilatus-Bahnen says so, with a gradient of up to 48%.
Is it better going up or down?
That's a matter of taste. Going up takes 27 minutes and coming down 33. The round trips work in both directions.
The Golden Round TripCan you take it with a Swiss Travel Pass?
At half price, on a ticket you buy.
How it worksCan you walk beside it?
Yes: the route from Alpnachstad by Ämsigen follows the railway, and it is rated challenging, from June to October.
Can you bring a wheelchair?
Pilatus-Bahnen says the railway is accessible, except at the Ämsigen stop.
Want to come down another way?
The cable car and the gondola go down the other side.