Mount Pilatus roundtrip ticket review (Alpnachstad or Kriens)
Verdict: a bare mountain ticket for people who are already at a valley station, most often because they drove. You choose Alpnachstad (cogwheel up and down) or Kriens (gondola and Dragon Ride), the seat reservation and parking are included, and that is the whole product. It is rated 4.5 across 188 reviews, the lowest of the six, and I want to be straight about why: the mountain is fine, the friction is having to commit to an exact cogwheel departure at checkout. If that suits you, the ticket does exactly what it says.
What the day looks like
If you pick Alpnachstad, you park at the valley station, show your ticket and reservation and board the cogwheel for the departure you chose. The climb is about 30 minutes at up to 48%, which Gina called “surprisingly smooth for a cog train”. You get your summit time and ride the same railway down, about 40 minutes. If you pick Kriens, it is the gondola and Dragon Ride both ways as described in the Kriens review, with parking by the valley station, which Marzena noted was close.
The Alpnachstad option only exists while the cogwheel runs, 11 May to 29 November 2026. First ascent is 08:10 and the last 17:30, but check pilatus.ch on the day. Reservations can be moved up to 30 minutes before departure, not cancelled.
About that 4.5
Reading the 188 reviews, the complaints cluster on one thing. Stanislav put it plainly: “you need to buy a seat reservation for the exact time of the cog railway”. People arrive at the station, find they have a slot they did not quite understand they had picked, and have to reshuffle. On the other side, Jürgen reported “no waiting times with ticket and reservation”, which is the same feature working as intended. So the score is about the booking form, not the mountain. Choose the time deliberately, allow for the drive, and you get the Jürgen experience.
What works
- Parking at the valley station is included, which matters if you drive
- Cogwheel seat reservation included: Jürgen had no waiting at all
- Choice of Alpnachstad or Kriens, so it works in any season
- Wheelchair accessible; children under 5 ride free
- Rob: clean, well maintained, and the Dragon experience “very fun”
Worth knowing
- You must pick an exact cogwheel departure time at checkout
- Same route up and down; not a round trip in the Golden sense
- Alpnachstad only 11 May – 29 November; Kriens closed 19 Oct – 27 Nov
- Meals and Fräkmüntegg activities not included
- Pass holders should buy at 50% at the station instead
What reviewers say
“The train ride was surprisingly smooth for a cog train.”
Gina, US
“Parking was close to the cable car.”
Marzena, Germany
“You need to buy a seat reservation for the exact time of the cog railway.”
Stanislav, Czech Republic
“No waiting times with ticket and reservation.”
Jürgen, Germany
“Clean and well maintained. Dragon experience very fun.”
Rob, Netherlands
Adriana from the US called it “one of the best experiences we’ve ever had” and Gordon from the UK wrote of “incredible Alpine views”. The mountain is the same mountain whichever product you buy.
Pick a cogwheel slot at least an hour after you expect to reach Alpnachstad. The drive from Lucerne is short but the car park fills, and a missed slot is a missed slot.
Who it is for, and who should skip it
For: drivers, anyone staying in Alpnach or on the Obwalden side, people who want the cogwheel both ways and nothing else, wheelchair users. Not for: anyone starting in Lucerne without a car, who gets more from the Silver Round Trip; Swiss Travel Pass and Half Fare holders, who should read the pass page and buy at the station; anyone who hates committing to a time. The tickets-only page compares the two valley stations.
Alternatives
Year-roundKriens: Mt. Pilatus by Panoramic Gondola and Aerial Cableway
Self-guidedLucerne: Self-Guided Round-Trip Train to Mount Pilatus
Most popularLucerne: Mt. Pilatus Cable Car, Cogwheel Train & Lake Cruise
Frequently asked questions
Why is the roundtrip ticket rated 4.5?
Because you have to choose an exact cogwheel departure when you book, and a number of reviewers found that out at the station. Pick the slot deliberately and the ride itself scores like every other product here.
Is parking included?
Yes, at whichever valley station you choose, Alpnachstad or Kriens. That is the main reason to buy this ticket rather than the Kriens gondola ticket.
Can I go up from Alpnachstad and down to Kriens?
Not on this ticket; it is the same route both ways. For the loop you want a Silver or Golden Round Trip.
Can I change my cogwheel reservation?
It can be shifted up to 30 minutes before departure, subject to space, but not cancelled. The cogwheel page has the timetable basics.