Classic Rigi round trip from Lucerne: boat, cogwheel railway and cable car
Travellers have gone up the Rigi this way since 1871: by boat across the lake to Vitznau, up to the summit on Europe's first mountain railway and down again on the other side. The ticket is valid for one day; you choose the times yourself.
- Type
- Combined ticket for boat and mountain railways, without a guide
- Duration
- at least 5.5 hours, a full day with stops
- Start
- Lucerne, pier 1 on the Bahnhofquai
- Season
- all year; from 16 to 27 November 2026 both directions by cogwheel railway via Vitznau
- Operator
- Lake Lucerne Navigation Company (SGV)
What to expect
The boat leaves from opposite Lucerne station and takes around an hour to Vitznau, past Weggis and beneath the cliffs of the Rigi's southern flank. In Vitznau the cogwheel railway waits, climbing to Rigi Kulm in a good thirty minutes. The summit lies at 1,797 metres in the municipality of Arth, and thus on Schwyz soil. After your stay the train runs down to Rigi Kaltbad in a quarter of an hour, from where the cable car glides down to Weggis in ten minutes. A short walk leads to the boat station, and the boat brings you back to Lucerne in around forty minutes.
In the summer timetable from late May to early September all five SGV paddle steamers are in service; the oldest is the Uri of 1901, the flagship the Stadt Luzern of 1928. Which boat sails when is shown in the vessel roster on the SGV website. The round trip can also be done in the opposite direction, or via Vitznau in both directions.
Getting there and meeting point
The boats to Vitznau and Weggis leave from pier 1 on the Bahnhofquai, directly opposite Lucerne station. You reach Lucerne from Arth-Goldau in half an hour and from Zurich in around 50 minutes. There is no fixed departure time; the ticket is valid on the scheduled boats and trains of the chosen day. With a GA travelcard or Swiss Travel Pass you travel free, with a Half Fare Card at half price.
Good to know
On the boats, children under 6 travel free and those aged 6 to 16 at half price. On the Rigi railways, accompanied children up to 15 travel free. All steamers and motor vessels except the small electric boat Rütli are wheelchair-accessible; on the Rigi, the SGV recommends travelling via Vitznau in both directions on the low-floor trains for electric wheelchairs and when there is snow. You may bring a picnic on board. If you fancy a swim on the way, get off at Rigi Kaltbad: the mineral baths are next to the station.
Tip: Take the ride up in the morning and take your time on the way back. The walk from the Weggis top station to the boat is downhill and takes a quarter of an hour; sturdy shoes help.
