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Pilatusbahnen

Pilatusbahnen runs the world's steepest cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad, plus cableways from Kriens, up Mount Pilatus near Lucerne. Prices in CHF.

Country
Switzerland
Official website
Official website
Train tickets
1

Pilatusbahnen operates the cogwheel railway and cableways that climb Mount Pilatus, the mountain that towers over Lucerne. The cogwheel line running from Alpnachstad is the steepest of its kind anywhere, with a maximum gradient of 48 percent.

Two routes to Pilatus Kulm

From Alpnachstad, the cogwheel railway climbs 1,635 metres over 4.6 kilometres, taking around 27 minutes uphill and 33 minutes on the way down. It first opened in 1889 as a steam railway, was electrified in 1937, and received an entirely new fleet of railcars in 2023.

On the other side of the mountain, from Kriens near Lucerne, you reach the summit by cableway instead: panorama gondolas run up to Fräkmüntegg, an intermediate stop with a rope park and other activities, then the steeper Dragon Ride cableway continues to Pilatus Kulm. This side has no fixed timetable in the way a train does, since the gondolas and cableway run continuously.

Most visitors combine the two: ride up one side and down the other, so you experience both the cogwheel railway and the cableway in a single day rather than doubling back on the same route. The Alpnachstad cogwheel line only operates from May to November, so travellers planning a winter trip need to use the Kriens cableway side instead.

Tickets and reservations

A round trip covering either route, or a combination via both Kriens and Alpnachstad, costs CHF 84 for an adult and CHF 42 with an SBB Half Fare Travelcard, GA travelcard, Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Half Fare Card, Eurail Pass or Interrail Pass. That half-price discount applies specifically to the Kriens or Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm routes; day tickets are not accepted here, and the separate Bernese Oberland Pass is not valid either.

Seat reservations are recommended for the cogwheel railway, particularly in good weather when demand is high, and can be booked alongside your ticket or added afterwards if you already hold one. Groups of 10 or more get a 30 percent discount, available only on the day at the ticket office rather than online.

Getting on and off along the way

On the cogwheel railway, you can break your journey at the Ämsigen middle station. On the cableway side from Kriens, a stopover at Fräkmüntegg lets you spend time at the rope park or family activities before continuing to the summit. Both the cogwheel railway and the cableways are wheelchair accessible, as are the lifts, toilets and terrace at Pilatus Kulm itself.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I get to the top of Mount Pilatus?

Either take the cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad, which runs May to November, or ride the panorama gondolas and Dragon Ride cableway from Kriens near Lucerne, which operates year round. Many visitors go up one side and down the other.

How much does a Pilatus ticket cost?

A round trip via Kriens or Alpnachstad costs CHF 84 for an adult and CHF 42 with a Half Fare Travelcard, GA travelcard, Swiss Travel Pass, Eurail Pass or Interrail Pass.

Do I need a seat reservation on the Pilatus cogwheel railway?

A seat reservation is recommended, especially in good weather when the railway gets busy, and it can be booked with your ticket or added afterwards if you already have one.

Is the Bernese Oberland Pass valid on Pilatusbahnen?

No, the Bernese Oberland Pass is not accepted on Pilatusbahnen. The Swiss Travel Pass, Half Fare Card, GA travelcard, Eurail Pass and Interrail Pass do give a discount on the Kriens or Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm route.

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