What the pass covers, and what it costs
Free
Train to Alpnachstad, bus to Kriens, and the boat across the lake if you fancy arriving the scenic way.
50% off
The cogwheel from Alpnachstad and the cable car from Kriens are discounted, not included, which is how the pass handles most big summits.
- Either the Golden or the Silver Round Trip, same price with the pass
- Full fare is the Silver Round Trip, second class, from Lucerne
- Children under 6 travel free
- Children 6 to 15 free with the Swiss Family Card, when a parent holds a pass
- No senior discount, so grey hair earns you nothing on this particular mountain
Getting there and how long it takes
From Alpnachstad
30 min by cogwheel
- Every 35 minutes
- 11 May to 29 November 2026
From Kriens Year round
45 min by gondola
- Change at Fräkmüntegg, break at Krienseregg
- Last ascent 5pm summer, 4pm winter
Golden Round Trip
½ day from Lucerne
- Up one side, down the other
- 11 May to 18 October 2026
Allow longer if you take the boat, which you probably should. From Zurich it's about an hour to Lucerne, then a bus or boat out to whichever valley station you have chosen. Round trips over the top run May to October, so outside that window Kriens is your answer in both directions.
Reservations
Cogwheel from Alpnachstad Recommended
Book at weekends and around midday, when everyone else has had the same idea. Reservations go directly through Pilatus, separately from your mountain ticket.
Gondolas from Kriens Not needed
No reservations at all, which is one small argument in their favour on a busy Saturday. Turn up when it suits you.
Is it worth it here?
Halving CHF 94.20 to CHF 42 is a solid saving, and the free travel to both valley stations quietly adds to it. But there's a caveat worth knowing before you buy anything.
Swiss Travel Pass
Half price
CHF 42 for the Round Trip, plus everything else you use across the country
Lucerne Travel Pass
Covered in full
The entire Golden Round Trip, if you're staying put around Lucerne
If Pilatus is the centrepiece of a Lucerne-based trip and you're not travelling widely, that changes the maths, and our comparison of the two passes works through who each one suits. For most people moving around Switzerland rather than settling in Lucerne, the Swiss Travel Pass still wins, because the CHF 42 saving on Pilatus is one line in a much longer ledger.
FAQ
Is Mount Pilatus free with the Swiss Travel Pass?
Not entirely. The journey to Alpnachstad or Kriens is fully covered by train, bus or boat, and the mountain sections above are 50% off. The Round Trip costs CHF 42 with the pass instead of CHF 94.20.
Can I buy the discounted Pilatus ticket online before I travel?
Usually not. Discounted mountain fares are issued at the ticket counter on the day when you show your pass, so plan to buy it at the valley station.
What is the difference between the Golden and Silver Round Trip?
The Silver Round Trip uses the train from Lucerne, while the Golden version brings the boat into the equation. With the Swiss Travel Pass, both come to CHF 42.
Can I go up Pilatus in winter?
Yes, from Kriens. The gondola and cable car run year round, with the last ascent at 4pm in winter. The cogwheel from Alpnachstad is seasonal, running 11 May to 29 November 2026.
Do my children pay?
Under 6s travel free. Children aged 6 to 15 also go free with the Swiss Family Card, provided a parent is holding a Swiss Travel Pass.
Do I need to reserve a seat?
Reservations are recommended on the cogwheel railway, especially at weekends and midday, and are booked directly with Pilatus, separately from your mountain ticket. The Kriens gondolas do not take reservations.
