Getting to Stoos from Lucerne and Zurich: train, bus, boat and funicular
Getting to Stoos is straightforward. You take the train to Schwyz and bus 501 to the valley station. From there the steepest funicular in the world carries you up to the car-free mountain village in 7 minutes. From Lucerne the journey takes about an hour and a half, from Zurich just under two hours. Here are all the options in detail.
Option 1: By train and bus (the usual route)
From Lucerne (about 1 h 30 to 1 h 45 in total) 1. Train Lucerne → Schwyz, around 45 minutes (direct or changing at Arth-Goldau). 2. At Schwyz station, turn left to the bus bays and take bus 501 towards Muotathal. 3. After about 20 minutes get off at «Schwyz, Stoosbahn». The yellow valley station is directly opposite. 4. Funicular Schwyz → Stoos: 7 minutes, 744 metres of ascent, gradients of up to 110 %.
From Zurich (about 1 h 45 to 2 h in total) 1. Train Zurich HB → Schwyz, around 1 hour with a change at Arth-Goldau. 2. Continue with bus 501 and the funicular as described above.
Trains and buses run throughout the day at regular intervals and the bus in Schwyz connects with the trains. The easiest way to plan the trip is in the SBB app with «Schwyz, Stoosbahn» as your destination. The app then shows you the whole connection right through to the valley station.
Option 2: Via the Morschach cable car (with a boat trip and lake views)
A second way up to Stoos is the cable car from Morschach. The village sits on a sunny terrace high above Lake Lucerne.
- Travel to Brunnen by train or by boat. The boat from Lucerne takes longer than the train, but you cross the lake at a leisurely pace.
- Take the bus from Brunnen up to Morschach.
- Take the cable car from Morschach to Stoos.
For a day out it makes sense to go up one way and come down the other. You might arrive by boat via Brunnen and Morschach, then ride the funicular down to Schwyz. It works just as well the other way round. On this round trip you see the lake, the rock faces and the funicular with its world record.
Option 3: By car
The valley station is in Schwyz at Hinteres Schlattli. It is signposted from the Schwyz and Brunnen exits of the A4. There is paid parking at the valley station. Remember that Stoos itself is car-free. Every visitor goes up by funicular or cable car. That is precisely why the village is so quiet. On fine weekends the car park is full by mid-morning, so come early or take public transport instead.
Tickets and prices
- Stoos return (funicular or Morschach cable car): current prices are on the Stoosbahnen website.
- Swiss Travel Pass: both the funicular and the Morschach cable car are fully included, so you pay nothing extra.
- Half Fare Card: 50 % discount.
- Gipfel-Erlebnisticket: if you want to go up to the Fronalpstock or plan to walk the ridge, this combined ticket is usually cheaper than single fares. It is valid on all the lifts at Stoos, including the chairlifts.
- Prices are set for a season at a time and can change, so check them on the official Stoosbahnen site shortly before you travel.
Which option suits you?
| You … | Suitable route |
|---|---|
| are coming from Lucerne and are short of time | train + bus 501 + funicular |
| are coming from Zurich | train via Arth-Goldau + bus 501 + funicular |
| want to make a full day of it | boat to Brunnen → Morschach cable car up, funicular down |
| travel with a Swiss Travel Pass or GA | either way, both ascents are included |
| are coming by car | park at the valley station in Schwyz |
FAQ
How long does the Stoosbahn ride take?
The ride from the valley station near Schwyz up to the village at 1,305 metres takes seven minutes.
Is the Stoosbahn included in the Swiss Travel Pass?
Yes, it is fully included, as is the cable car from Morschach. You only pay extra for the chairlifts above the village.
Can you drive up to Stoos?
No, Stoos is car-free. You park at the valley station in Schwyz and ride up on the funicular.
Do I need to reserve for the funicular?
No, no reservation is needed, because the funicular runs at regular intervals. On busy weekends expect short waits in the morning.
Is Stoos worth it without a hike?
Yes. The funicular ride up the steep ramp is impressive in itself. The chairlift to the Fronalpstock also takes visitors who do not hike to a viewpoint with a wide outlook over Lake Lucerne.
