Mount Rigi, Switzerland – The Queen of mountains!

Must-see locations, Switzerland25 comments

Mt. Rigi is our go-to day trip for family and friends visiting us. It offers an all-encompassing experience of all that’s wonderful about Switzerland. A trip to Mount Rigi from Lucerne includes a cruise on the delightful Lake Lucerne, a ride on a steep funicular, spectacular views from the Rigi cogwheel train, a beautiful mountain top and stunning views across Central Switzerland – and surprisingly few tourists.

There are 13 lakes that you can see from the top! On a clear day, even the sharp peaks of several Jungfrau giants are visible. A visit to Mount Rigi is fully covered under the Swiss pass. Need I sell the place more?! Make sure it’s on your list of places to visit!

Read on for a detailed guide to visiting Mount Rigi, including transportation, tickets and timings and the best photo spots.

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Here are more ideas for your trip to Switzerland: 25 best places to visit in Switzerland!

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About Mount Rigi

The highest peak on Mount Rigi is the Rigi Kulm, at 1797 m. Rigi Kulm is where you should head to for a 360-degree panorama across the Swiss Alps. The funicular that takes you up to the peak is Europe’s oldest mountain railway – clearly, the beauty of this place is long known!

Make sure you check the Mt Rigi weather webcam before you visit.

Have limited time in Switzerland? Here’s a 5-day Switzerland itinerary to take in the best of the country!

View from Rigi Kulm - how to visit Mount Rigi. Guide to visiting Rigi
View from Rigi Kulm in the Summer

What is the best time to visit Mt Rigi

Mount Rigi is open for visits all year round – from hiking in the summer to skiing in the winter, there are plenty of activities available for visitors.

We have visited the mountain in April, June and July and have found it breathtaking every time.

Mount Rigi in April - how to visit Mount Rigi
Mount Rigi in April

How to get to Mount Rigi from Lucerne or Arth-Goldau

There are multiple ways to reach Rigi Kulm,

  1. From Vitznau: Take the Mt Rigi cogwheel train. It starts right next to the ferry terminal.
  2. From Weggis: Take the cable car up to Rigi Kaltbad and change to the Mt Rigi cogwheel train up to Rigi Kulm. The cable car station is located about a 10 min walk from the ferry terminal
  3. From Arth-Goldau: Take the Mt Rigi cogwheel train. It starts right next to the main train station.

You could drive or take public transportation to the above starting points from Lucerne or Zurich. See here for detailed information on getting to the valley stations, including parking.

I would highly recommend heading to Mt. Rigi from Lucerne taking the following route to make the most of your experience,

Take a ferry from Lucerne to Vitznau. You can buy a round trip ticket for the entire journey up to and back from Rigi Kulm right at the ferry ticket counter.

Take the mountain railway from Vitznau to Rigi Kulm

To get back, take the mountain railway from Rigi Kulm to Arth Goldau and take the train back from Arth Goldau to Lucerne/ Zurich OR 

Take the mountain railway from Rigi Kulm to Rigi Kaltbad and take the cable car down to Weggis. From Weggis, take the ferry back to Lucerne

Here’s an overview map of the region.

Mt. Rigi Tickets/ Prices and Schedule

Ticket per adult for a day in Mount Rigi costs 72 CHF. This includes all the mountain railways and cable car. Tickets can be purchased at the train station or online. If you have a Swiss travel pass, the entire excursion is covered at no extra charge! Swiss half fare card is also applicable.

Ticket per adult for a round trip ferry ride from Lucerne to Vitznau costs 38 CHF.  Tickets can be purchased at the ferry terminal (located right opposite the main train station in Lucerne). This is also entirely covered in the Swiss travel pass. Swiss half fare card is also applicable.

See here for the latest schedules of the mountain trains and the cable car.

See here for the latest schedules of the ferries to and from Lucerne.

Where to stay to visit Mt. Rigi

Lucerne or Zurich are both ideal for this trip. If you’re staying in Zurich, add about 45 min – 1 hour travel time for this excursion.

Click here to find places to stay around Mt Rigi

Guide to visiting Mount Rigi

We have already been to Mt. Rigi thrice in about 4 months! That is how much we love this place!

On our latest trip, we drove to Lucerne and parked in the lot at the main station. From there we walked to the ferry terminal and bought our tickets. Since there was about an hour before the ferry was scheduled to leave we took a walk around Kappelbrucke – the famous wooden bridge of Lucerne.

We got back to the terminal with about 15 minutes to spare and already there was a large crow of people waiting for the ferry. We managed to make sure we were standing close to the front of the line (we needed to take the best seats on the ferry after all!) and were the first to get on the ferry.

Our favourite seats are the ones located in the open, right at the back of the boat. These are the ones with the best views and from where you can take the best photographs. We do not like sitting in the front of the boat since it’s too windy and it’s not as much fun as watching the frothing foaming water at the back of the boat.

Ferry on Lake Lucerne - Guide to visiting Rigi Kulm
Cruising on Lake Lucerne
Ferry on Lake Lucerne - Guide to visiting Rigi Kulm
The back deck is the perfect spot for pictures!
Ferry on Lake Lucerne - Guide to visiting Rigi Kulm
The back deck is the perfect spot for pictures!

The ferry ride is a beautiful experience, worth doing standalone as well. The turquoise blue waters of the lake and the high mountains surrounding it make for very picturesque views. The ferry has a small cafe and bar as well so you can enjoy a coffee or a beer.

Ferry on Lake Lucerne - Guide to visiting Rigi Kulm
Our family has loved this trip!
Ferry on Lake Lucerne - How to visit Mt. Rigi
Our family has loved this trip!

We reached Vitznau in about an hour and were again standing close to the front of the line – good seats on the mountain train are super important after all! Keep your tickets handy since before you board the train you will need to show your ticket. As soon as you disembark from the boat you’ll see the train standing right in front

The mountain railway has some very interesting coaches – some are set up as normal coaches with a 4-2 seating plan on both sides of the aisle while some have individual gates into an aisle seating about 10 people. Whichever you choose to sit in, make sure you are on the left side (in the direction of travel) for the best views.

Train from Vitznau to Rigi Kulm. Guide to visiting Rigi
The quaint Rigi Bahn

The train ride up to Rigi Kulm is one of our favourite parts of this trip – you get to see views that no other place can offer (and I’ve been on several funiculars!). As the train climbs steeply up the mountain, we are always left awestruck by how spectacular Lake Lucerne looks down in the distance.

Keep your cameras ready as you can take several fantastic shots of the lake on this train ride!

Views from the train - how to go to Mt. Rigi from Vitznau. Guide to visiting Rigi
Views from the train
Views from the train - how to go to Mt. Rigi from Vitznau. Guide to visiting Rigi
More views from the train – almost make you feel like you’re in an airplane looking down

In the summer we’ve seen beautiful flowers covering the slopes and the ringing of cowbells around us. In the winters there is a beautiful layer of untouched snow on everything, especially magical looking on the mountains far in the distance.

The ride up to Rigi Kulm (the last station) takes about 30 min but leaves you wanting for more! 

At the station, there are restaurants, shops and toilets available.

Rigi Kulm train station facilities. Guide to visiting Rigi
Rigi Kulm train station

While there are beautiful views all around from the station itself, walking up to the summit is even more rewarding. I recommend taking a left as you get down from the train and following the gently sloping paved path up. There is a restaurant with a deck from where you get some amazing pictures.

Mount Rigi in spring - ultimate guide to visiting Rigi Kulm
Mount Rigi in April – from the restaurant deck

Continue right from the restaurant – there will be 2 paths heading up. We always take the one on the right which has a gentler slope. As you climb up, there is a small meadow on the right. We’ve taken some marvellous pictures from that spot.

Rigi Kulm in the spring
The meadow in April
Rigi Kulm in summer. Guide to visiting Rigi
The same meadow in June!

As you continue walking you’ll reach the wooden cow which is again a beautiful photo stop. Also, spend some time looking at the map which identifies the lakes and mountains visible in the distance. We spent some time having our picnic lunch there.

Wooden cow at Rigi Kulm
The wooden Rigi cow! Made my mom-in-law a kid again!
Views from Rigi Kulm
We took our parents to Mount Rigi in July – they loved it too!

Next, continue on up the path and you’ll see more lakes and mountains and an interesting rock with Mt. Emei, China carved on it. It represents the partnership between Rigi and Emei. There is a similar stone at Emei from Rigi.

Mt. Emei stone at Rigi Kulm
The stone from Emei China

As you continue walking along the edge, you’ll find several more spots to take amazing pictures.

View from Mount Rigi. Guide to visiting Rigi
Panoramic views from the summit

We usually spend about 2 hours at Rigi Kulm and then make our way back. Make sure you check the timetable to plan your return since the frequency of trains is not very high.

Practical tips for travelling to Mount Rigi

  • Check the weather webcam before visiting – if it’s rainy or very cloudy, don’t bother since the views will be blocked by the clouds. Instead, if you’re based in Lucerne see if you can cover other places such as the Lucerne town which is not quite as weather dependent.
  • Dress in layers – with the sun shining down, it can become quite warm but if it’s windy it could become super cold, especially up at the summit.

Other activities at Mount Rigi

  • If you feel adventurous, there are multiple hiking trails on Mt. Rigi. Here’s where you can find more details.

Mt Rigi or Mt Pilatus

A question we are often asked by our friends or family visiting is Mt Rigi vs Mt Pilatus. Our recommendation is always Mount Rigi for the following reasons,

Mount Rigi offers better views and has a much larger area at the top of the mountain to explore and enjoy

Mt Pilatus is too popular which leads to huge crowds. We have visited Mt Pilatus several times across the year and it has always been quite crowded, especially during July – August

Mt Rigi with Swiss pass is free while Mt Pilatus is not (there’s a discounted rate available with Swiss pass)

Mt Rigi or Mt Titlis

Short answer – both!

There are very different experiences to be had at either of the mountains and both are worth a visit. Mt. Titlis is always covered in snow and is one of the best mountains in Switzerland to visit (cheaper than Jungfraujoch and better views!) to see glaciers and indulge in snow activities.

Mt. Rigi offers different experiences depending on the weather – snow activities during the winter and hiking during the summer.

So if you can, visit both! Base yourself in Lucerne from where both Mt Titlis and Mt Rigi are easy to visit.

Have you been to Mt. Rigi? What has been your favourite mode of travel?

Are you planning a trip there? Let me know if you have any questions.

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TRAVEL INSURANCE – Travel insurance is absolutely essential for all your international travels. I’ve been saved by it a few times when I fell sick while travelling and I swear by it since then! World Nomads is an excellent choice for travel insurance.

25 Comments

  1. How is Mt Riji in Mid January ? Will there be extreme snow which might interrupt train/ferry services?

    Reply
  2. What a beautiful spot! I love the photo with the cow…so funny! I had no idea that Rigi and Emei were partners/sister cities…that’s so cool!

    Reply
    • Hahaha yeah, Switzerland and cows are quite a combination! 🙂

      Reply
  3. It’s the first time I hear about Mt. Rigi, actually. It’s really beautiful, I can see why this is the trip you propose to everyone visiting you.

    Reply
    • That’s one of the best parts about Rigi – quite underrated, unlike the nearby Mt. Pilatus which gets extremely overcrowded.

      Reply
  4. I can totally see why you love it so much! I think I would be back there all the time too if we lived close. I LOVE those epic mountain views and the lake is sooo pretty too.

    p.s. Good tip about sitting on the left side of the train. Mountain scenery is definitely the most important part of riding the train!

    Reply
    • Thanks Josy! Switzerland has so many epic mountain views and pretty lakes that make it a fantastic place to visit.

      Reply
  5. Gorgeous pictures! Switzerland has long been on my list for the stunning scenery. This just makes me want to go all the more!

    Reply
    • Thanks Brianna! Switzerland really is stunning, even more so when you visit less touristy spots!

      Reply
  6. Every picture I’ve ever seen of Switzerland is so beautiful! Mt. Rigi isn’t a place I’ve heard of before, but after reading your post I feel like I must go there! Incredible pictures!

    Reply
    • Rigi is really one of the hidden gems of Switzerland so you can enjoy the views with much fewer tourists crowding the place!

      Reply
  7. Lucerne is one of our favorite destinations and I loved reading your post along with its beautiful photographs. We loved hiking near Rigi as well – on a clear day, the views are simply breathtaking. Great post!

    Reply
    • We’ve been meaning to go hiking on Rigi for so long now! It has some amazing trails.

      Reply
  8. The views are magnificent! Thanks for sharing this excellent experienced in this place. I love everything you said, and yes, the weather is a significant factor! I am adding Switzerland in our bucket list.

    Reply
    • Thanks. True, you need good weather on your side to enjoy the magnificent views. Switzerland is absolutely a bucket list place. ?

      Reply
  9. I am still stuck on the fact you can see 13 lakes from the top and what a great tip about where to sit on the train ride for the best views. Absolutely gorgeous!

    Reply
    • Yeah, it’s absolutely spectacular from the top. Switzerland has some amazing train rides and knowing which side to sit on can make them even more amazing!

      Reply
  10. Wow, I should visit you guys then so you can take me on this fantastic go-to day trip through Lake Lucerne and up to Mount Rigi and its 13 lakes. Switzerland is such a great place to visit but I choose summer!

    Reply
    • Yes you absolutely should 🙂 We love taking our visitors on these trips – so much fun to enjoy their enjoyment!

      Reply
  11. Looks so absolutely beautiful here. I didn’t know about this place prior to reading your blog, great post!

    Reply
    • Thanks! And yeah, it’s one of the lesser known but exceptionally amazing places in Switzerland.

      Reply
    • I have heard about Mt Rigi earlier but didn’t imagine it looked so beautiful. I am amazed to know you can see 13 lakes from there. Stunning!

      Reply
      • It really is a stunning place and one that not many know about. When did you come across it?

        Reply
  12. This is a one-stop get every possible amazing experience kind of place. The views from atop are so stunning. Great tip on the weather webcam

    Reply
    • The views are really amazing, even on the train ride up!

      Reply

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About me

Gruezi, Hi! My name is Smita, a part-time traveller and a travel writer. So far I’ve been what you might call a serendipitous traveller! I got a chance to visit several amazing places more by chance than by design. I would love to put all my extensive travel planning to good use by sharing it with you and hope that these inspire you to visit all those famous, and not-so-famous locations! Read More

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