Round trip on Lake Uri from Brunnen

Type

Boat trip, round trip with intermediate stops

Duration

1.5 hours

Start

Brunnen pier, by the Seehotel Waldstätterhof

Season

all year, in winter only 2 sailings a day, at times only at weekends

Operator

Lake Lucerne Navigation Company (SGV)

Language

German, English, French

What to expect

Lake Uri is the southernmost arm of Lake Lucerne. Its shores are so steep that to this day the western shore can be reached only by boat or on foot. The boat leaves Brunnen and first passes the Schillerstein, a rock needle at the entrance to the lake with a gilded inscription of 1859 in honour of Friedrich Schiller. Then come Treib with its funicular to Seelisberg from 1916 and the Rütli meadow, where according to tradition the alliance of the three forest cantons was sworn.

On the eastern side, Tell's Chapel stands on the Tellsplatte. The present building dates from 1879 and 1880; the four frescoes inside show scenes from the Tell legend. Further on, the lake opens out to the Reuss delta at Flüelen, above which the mountains of Uri tower, among them the Urirotstock at 2,928 metres. On the Schwyz side the Fronalpstock accompanies the voyage, and above the eastern shore runs the Axenstrasse, which has linked Brunnen with Flüelen since 1865.

Depending on the sailing, a historic paddle steamer or a motor vessel operates. The SGV owns five paddle steamers; the oldest is the Uri of 1901. Which boat is sailing on Lake Uri on a given day is shown in the vessel roster on the SGV website.

Getting there and meeting point

You reach Brunnen by train from Arth-Goldau or Zurich in the direction of the Gotthard. From the station it is around ten minutes on foot to the lake. The pier is on the quay by the Seehotel Waldstätterhof. The ticket is valid for the round trip; you choose the departure time yourself within the timetable. From spring to autumn the boats sail hourly, in summer from 10 am to 4 pm. In winter there are two sailings around midday, in some weeks only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Good to know

With a GA travelcard, Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card you need no separate ticket or travel at a reduced fare. Food and drink are not included. Whether an on-board restaurant is open depends on the boat in service. All boats except the small electric boat Rütli are wheelchair-accessible; the main deck is reached at ground level. Dogs under 30 centimetres at the shoulder travel free in a carrier; larger dogs need a dog ticket. On the open upper deck a strong wind blows even in summer, so pack a jacket.

Tip: In the afternoon the western shore with the Rütli lies in the sun. If you want a closer look at the chapel and the frescoes, get off at the Tellsplatte and take a later boat back to Brunnen.