We had initially set our hearts on riding the Bernina Express during our trip to Switzerland, but, as travel plans often go, things took a little twist. Our arrangements to get to our next destination became quite a challenge, so we had to make some adjustments. As a huge fan of alpine coasters, I decided to do some digging online and discovered that the best one is on Mount Pilatus, just a stone’s throw from Lucerne! This excursion is called “The Golden Circle Tour” and takes about half a day.
Now, I won’t lie; when you first see the price for this half-day trip, it might raise an eyebrow. But hey, this is Switzerland, where everything tends to be a bit on the pricey side! However, once you experience what this tour has to offer, you might find it’s worth every Swiss franc.
The adventure kicks off with a lovely boat ride on Lake Lucerne. The boat was spacious and clean, and we boarded with about 100 other travelers. Most folks headed inside because the weather was a bit misty, but we decided to brave it and spent our time at the bow. A raincoat was definitely a must on this day! The hour-long boat ride was absolutely breathtaking, with stunning views of the perfectly manicured mountains and calm waters.
After docking at our first stop, Alpnachstad, we picked up tickets for the world’s steepest cog railway and began our ascent to 2,132 meters. The ride was slow but incredibly scenic. Along the way, we spotted cows grazing and even waved at some hikers who were tackling the trek on foot. Once we reached the top, we were greeted by a thick cloud—well, more like a cloud enveloping us! The air was crisp; not too chilly at first, but once the sun disappeared behind the clouds, it got a bit nippy.
At this altitude, there were several paths to explore. We opted for two hikes that led us upward. The climbs could be steep at times (I might have needed a short break or two!), but when we reached the first lookout point, we were in awe as the clouds parted to reveal stunning views of distant mountain summits—it felt surreal! The second hike took us all the way to the summit of Pilatus. I can now proudly say that I’ve reached the highest point in Lucerne!
After spending a couple of hours soaking in the views at the top, it was time to head back down. The weather was still a bit hazy and wet, but we made our way to the first aerial cableway called “Dragon Ride.” This took us to where the alpine coasters are located. Unfortunately, due to the weather conditions, they weren’t running—definitely a bummer, but completely understandable.
After lunch, we hopped on another cable car heading to Kriens. We were lucky enough to have this car all to ourselves! It felt magical gliding through the trees while watching other cable cars zip by in different directions. As the weather began to clear up, we finally got glimpses of the ground below and the view ahead—it was absolutely delightful!
This last cable car ride took us down to ground level, where we walked about five minutes to catch a bus back to our starting point. We made it back by 4 PM, giving us plenty of time to explore other parts of Lucerne. Looking back, this excursion was super easy to navigate, and when you weigh everything in, the price really isn’t so bad after all. I’d love to do this tour again someday—hopefully with sunny skies and running alpine coasters!