Pilatus

2,073 m, near Lucerne

Lucerne's dragon mountain and the Golden Round Trip

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Kriens gondola and Dragon Ride closed for maintenance until 27 November. Go up by cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad.

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Summit in cloud most of the day.

10% chance of a clear summit. Score 21 of 100. High confidence: both MeteoSwiss models agree. Around 7°C at the top.

Running today, per the timetable.

How clear each hour looks, 0 to 100. Highlighted: the best three hours.

Updated 19:21 · Next ~20:45, Swiss time. Forecast: MeteoSwiss ICON-CH models. Check Pilatus's official webcams before you buy, conditions can change fast.

Tickets and tours

Buy direct from the operator.

Before you go

Summit: 2,073 m
Getting up: Cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad (May to November) or gondola from Kriens plus the Dragon Ride cable car (all year, except maintenance)
Season: All year (check maintenance breaks)
Ticket: Return CHF 84. Return Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm by cogwheel railway, adult; the cogwheel runs 11 May to 29 November 2026. Operator prices
Swiss Travel Pass: 50% off
At the top: The world's steepest cogwheel railway, Dragon Ride cable car
Panorama: 3/5 on our scale
Nearest town: Lucerne, 436 m

Prices, skiing and highlights from the operator's website, checked 15 October 2026. Prices change; confirm before you buy.

Why go

Golden Round Trip by boat, cogwheel railway and cable car
Steepest cogwheel railway in the world
Often above the fog that covers Lucerne in autumn and winter

Worth knowing

Cogwheel railway runs only from May to November
Crowded on sunny weekends

Getting there

From	Public transport	By car	By bike
Zürich	1 h 57 to Pilatus Kulm, 2 changes	1 h 53 44 min drive to Kriens + 1 h 09 up, 55 km	4 h 43 3 h 34 ride + 1 h 09 up, 56 km
Zurich Airport	2 h 17 to Pilatus Kulm, 2 changes	2 h 04 55 min drive to Kriens + 1 h 09 up, 68 km	5 h 23 4 h 14 ride + 1 h 09 up, 67 km
Bern	2 h 28 to Pilatus Kulm, 3 changes	2 h 31 1 h 22 drive to Kriens + 1 h 09 up, 114 km	–
Basel	2 h 03 to Pilatus Kulm, 2 changes	2 h 20 1 h 11 drive to Kriens + 1 h 09 up, 98 km	–
Geneva	4 h 02 to Pilatus Kulm, 4 changes	4 h 12 3 h 03 drive to Kriens + 1 h 09 up, 267 km	–
Lausanne	3 h 33 to Pilatus Kulm, 3 changes	3 h 39 2 h 30 drive to Kriens + 1 h 09 up, 215 km	–
Lucerne	1 h to Pilatus Kulm, 1 change	1 h 17 8 min drive to Kriens + 1 h 09 up, 4 km	1 h 28 19 min ride + 1 h 09 up, 4 km
St. Gallen	3 h 09 to Pilatus Kulm, 3 changes	2 h 53 1 h 44 drive to Kriens + 1 h 09 up, 138 km	–
Lugano	3 h 02 to Pilatus Kulm, 3 changes	3 h 14 2 h 05 drive to Kriens + 1 h 09 up, 167 km	–
Interlaken	2 h 28 to Pilatus Kulm, 2 changes	2 h 14 1 h 05 drive to Kriens + 1 h 09 up, 68 km	5 h 46 4 h 37 ride + 1 h 09 up, 71 km
Winterthur	2 h 31 to Pilatus Kulm, 2 changes	2 h 18 1 h 09 drive to Kriens + 1 h 09 up, 79 km	5 h 52 4 h 43 ride + 1 h 09 up, 84 km
Zug	1 h 29 to Pilatus Kulm, 2 changes	1 h 39 30 min drive to Kriens + 1 h 09 up, 33 km	3 h 10 2 h 01 ride + 1 h 09 up, 30 km
Thun	2 h 41 to Pilatus Kulm, 3 changes	2 h 40 1 h 31 drive to Kriens + 1 h 09 up, 76 km	5 h 54 4 h 45 ride + 1 h 09 up, 75 km
Grindelwald	3 h 15 to Pilatus Kulm, 3 changes	2 h 34 1 h 25 drive to Kriens + 1 h 09 up, 86 km	–
Zermatt	4 h 59 to Pilatus Kulm, 5 changes	–	–
Chur	3 h 21 to Pilatus Kulm, 3 changes	2 h 57 1 h 48 drive to Kriens + 1 h 09 up, 145 km	–
Montreux	3 h 59 to Pilatus Kulm, 4 changes	3 h 27 2 h 18 drive to Kriens + 1 h 09 up, 199 km	–
Sion	4 h 20 to Pilatus Kulm, 4 changes	4 h 08 2 h 59 drive to Kriens + 1 h 09 up, 265 km	–

Public transport: fastest connection after 08:00 on a Saturday, from the Swiss timetable, door to the top station. Car: door to the top, driving time without traffic to where you park plus the fastest timetabled ride up from there. Bike: riding time to the same place at a steady pace, climbs not included, plus the same ride up; rides over 5 hours are left out. Refreshed weekly. Sources: transport.opendata.ch, OSRM and FOSSGIS with map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Other good options today

Go 2

Go Titlis 3,020 m, near Lucerne Updated 19:21 · Next ~20:45 Best 09:00–12:0090% clearAbove the fogPanorama 4/5 From CHF 121 Swiss Travel Pass -50% Tickets
Go Jungfraujoch 3,454 m, near Interlaken Updated 19:21 · Next ~20:45 Best 09:00–12:0090% clearPanorama 5/5 Swiss Travel Pass -25% Tickets

Wait 1

Wait Stoos and Fronalpstock 1,922 m, near Lucerne Updated 19:21 · Next ~20:45 Best 09:00–12:0060% clearAbove the fogPanorama 3/5 Tickets

Quick answers

Is it worth going up Pilatus today?

Skip on Saturday 17 October 2026 (21 out of 100): Little to see, pick another day or mountain. Summit in cloud most of the day.

What's the weather on Pilatus tomorrow?

Wait on Sunday 18 October 2026 (58 out of 100): Partial views, worth it only with flexibility. Above the fog: sunny summit 10:00–13:00 while Lucerne stays grey.

Is Pilatus above the fog today?

Not today: the forecast shows no sea of fog below a sunny summit. Next chance: Sunday 18 October 2026.

Which day looks best for Pilatus in the next 5 days?

Go on Monday 19 October 2026 (100 out of 100): Good chance of a clear view. Above the fog: sunny summit 09:00–12:00 while Lucerne stays grey.

How do you get up Pilatus?

Cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad (May to November) or gondola from Kriens plus the Dragon Ride cable car (all year, except maintenance). Season: All year (check maintenance breaks). Nearest town: Lucerne. Swiss Travel Pass: 50% off. Ticket: Return CHF 84, Return Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm by cogwheel railway, adult; the cogwheel runs 11 May to 29 November 2026.

Where does this forecast come from?

From the MeteoSwiss ICON-CH weather models, via Open-Meteo. Peakobello scores sunshine and cloud at the summit for every hour from 09:00 to 17:00 and updates the verdicts every three hours, last on 17 October 2026, 19:21 (Swiss time).