Guided Rigi day trip from Lucerne
If you would rather do the Rigi round trip in company, book it with a guide. The trip lasts seven hours, begins at the pier in Lucerne and crosses the summit by boat, cogwheel railway and cable car. Along the way the guide explains what you are seeing and takes care of the connections.
- Type
- Guided day trip by boat and mountain railways
- Duration
- around 7 hours
- Start
- Lucerne, pier 1 opposite the station, departure 9.45 am
- Season
- all year; in November and March the cogwheel railway replaces the cable car in both directions
- Operator
- Best of Switzerland Tours AG, Adliswil
- Language
- English
What to expect
The day begins with an hour on the lake to Vitznau. There the group boards the cogwheel railway, which has climbed the Rigi since 1871, and reaches Rigi Kulm at 1,797 metres after a good thirty minutes. At the top there is time for the circular path, the mountain chapel or lunch. The train then runs down to car-free Rigi Kaltbad. If you like, walk the two kilometres from there to the Känzeli viewpoint before taking the cable car to Weggis and the boat back to Lucerne.
The operator accompanies the group all day. According to the operator, the trip runs in all weathers. If railways are closed, the programme is adjusted and part of the fare refunded.
Getting there and meeting point
The meeting point is pier 1 on the Bahnhofquai, directly opposite Lucerne station, a quarter of an hour before the 9.45 am departure. Have your booking confirmation and ID ready. From Arth-Goldau you reach Lucerne by train in half an hour.
Good to know
Children under 6 travel free but need a reserved booking; children aged 6 to 16 pay half. The trip runs once at least five adults have booked, otherwise the operator cancels the day before. Meals and drinks are not included. In Weggis a ten- to fifteen-minute walk leads downhill to the boat station; according to the operator the trip is not suitable for wheelchairs. From 16 to 27 November 2026 and from 1 March to 2 April 2027 the cogwheel railway replaces the cable car, which is then being overhauled.
Tip: Pack a windproof jacket and sunglasses, even in winter. It is often windy on the summit, and the snow is dazzling.
