The Pilatus Silver Round Trip: the same loop, by train instead of boat
What the voucher covers
Every transport leg in the loop, and nothing you do not need. Damon from the US put it plainly: being able to “go and come back at our own pace was relaxing”. Mck, also from the US, called it “a perfect way to access the mountain” using the public train and bus, which is exactly what it is.
Covered by the voucher
- Bus 1, Lucerne station to Kriens Zentrum Pilatus (11 minutes)
- Panorama gondola Kriens – Krienseregg – Fräkmüntegg (about 30 minutes)
- Dragon Ride cableway to Pilatus Kulm (about 4 minutes)
- Cogwheel railway Pilatus Kulm to Alpnachstad, with seat reservation
- Train Alpnachstad to Lucerne, 2nd or 1st class as booked
Not included
- Meals and drinks
- Hotel pickup
- Rope park, toboggan run and other Fräkmüntegg activities
Why the train is not a downgrade
The boat is pleasant, but it is the slow leg of the Golden loop at 70 to 90 minutes, and it stops on 18 October. The train does the same distance in about 20 minutes and runs all year. That gives the Silver Round Trip two advantages the name undersells: it costs less because a whole leg is removed, and it fits the same day as a walk around Lucerne’s old town. Sam from the UK found the “transport was very efficient”; Gail from the US noted “everything was exactly on time”, which in Switzerland is not a compliment so much as a description.
If the lake matters to you, the Golden Round Trip page covers the guided version with the boat. If you want to skip the loop entirely and take the cableway up and back, see mountain tickets only.
Which direction
The voucher works both ways. Mountain first: bus 1 from the station to Kriens, gondola, Dragon Ride, summit, cogwheel down, S5 back. Reverse: S5 to Alpnachstad, cogwheel up, summit, Dragon Ride and gondola down to Kriens, bus 1 back. I go mountain-first before ten in the morning because the summit is clearest early and the cogwheel down is the part worth being awake for. Chris from Australia had some navigation confusion at the start, which I put down to the Kriens bus stop being a five-minute walk from the gondola station; follow the “Pilatus” signs, not the cars. The getting there page walks through both stations.
Seat reservation on the cogwheel
This is the detail that separates a good day from a long wait. The cogwheel runs a timetable and every seat is reserved. The voucher includes one reservation. Erich from Germany wrote that “in peak season, you should make a reservation for the train”, and he is right: in July and August the afternoon descents fill. Reservations can be shifted up to 30 minutes before departure but not cancelled, so decide your summit time realistically. Allow 60 to 90 minutes up there; the time page explains what fits in that.
Kerrie from Australia, travelling as a family of four in a heatwave, found the summit “significantly cooler, a relief”. She is not wrong, but that relief becomes a problem after twenty minutes on a windy terrace. Pack a layer for each child, and note that children aged 0 to 5 ride free on this voucher.
Check dates and book
The widget below shows the live rate for your date. The Silver Round Trip runs in almost all weather, and cancellation follows GetYourGuide’s terms, so book it, check the pilatus.ch webcam the night before, and go early. My review has the full walkthrough.
Self-guided options
Self-guidedLucerne: Self-Guided Round-Trip Train to Mount Pilatus
Ticket onlyFrom Alpnachstad or Kriens: Mount Pilatus Roundtrip Ticket
Frequently asked questions
Is the Silver Round Trip cheaper than the Golden?
Yes, because it contains less: no boat, no guide, no coach. What you pay for is the five transport legs and the seat reservation. The live rate shows in the widget above; the cheapest way up page compares it with pass discounts.
Can I do the Silver Round Trip with a Swiss Travel Pass?
Not with this voucher; it is a fixed package. Pass holders travel free to Kriens and Alpnachstad and get 50% off the mountain sections when buying on site. Read the Swiss Travel Pass page before deciding which route to take.
Do I need to book a time for the cogwheel?
Yes. The voucher includes a seat reservation, and you should choose a realistic descent time. It can be moved up to 30 minutes before departure but not cancelled.
Does the Silver Round Trip work in winter?
No. It needs the cogwheel, which runs 11 May to 29 November 2026. From December to early May the mountain is open from Kriens only; see tickets only for the year-round cableway return.