Shop our Lucerne Itinerary! ➡ www.aplinsinthealps.com/guides/ Buy your Tell-Pass here to reach Rigi for FREE! ➡ www.getyourguide.com/lucerne-l867/switzerland-tell-pass-in-2nd-class-summer-t586809/?partner_id=6Z1XS4Y&mkt_cmp=true Read more on our blog: ➡ aplinsinthealps.com/ultimate-guide-to-mt-rigi-switzerland/
Thank you for a superb video. I can personally testify that it is possible to get from Zurich to Rigi Kulm in about 90 minutes. I did it once early one morning in late December! And I was only the second person to reach the summit that morning. There was just one other set of footprints in the snow! If you want to avoid the crowds on ANY mountain, GO EARLY. (Note that there are now FIVE mountains in the Lucerne area which are FREE if you have a Swiss Travel Pass, The other four are Stoos, Stanserhorn, Klewenalp and Stockhutte.)
Hello! I just watched your video, "Ultimate Guide to Mt. Rigi | Day Trip from Lucerne, Switzerland," and I loved it! I'm from Norway, and I find all your videos to be incredibly informative and well-made. Keep up the great work! Wishing you a wonderful summer.
Very timely video as I am trying to decide on Rigi, Titlis or Pilatus as a day trip from Lucerne. I bought the guide to the Jungfrau and it’s fantastic.
We’re creating a guide to help answer your exact question! (Coming out in 2025). It totally depends on your interests. Rigi is great for lake views and walks, as well as spas and restaurants and the scenic train ride. Pilatus has panoramic hikes on top, but a ton of adventure activities at the stations below. And Titlis is in the snow with an ice cave and snow tubing, plus an awesome lake with more hikes and walks and activities and restaurants below. Pick which one best suits your travel style and group!
Great Video as usual :0) Would you say this did take the whole day. We are actually arriving in Weggis (that is where our 3 night stay is and was wondering if we can make this trip to the top with hiking as you described (on our arrival day which we arrive at 11:20 - thinking we could take an hour to drop luggage off, figure out where we are going and try to get to the cable car by 12:30 or 1:00 (of course if the weather is good). Or should we save for a full day trip.
As a Swiss I‘d recommend a full day… there are many hiking options up there and I‘d prefer having plenty of time to enjoy the views and to stop at one of the restaurants for a drink or a quick bite. The full day experience would be really much better and longer lasting than when visiting the mountain in a rush…
Hi there! You could probably still do this in the time you have available, especially if you're visiting in the summer. There are some later trains coming down from Rigi, so that's super helpful for fitting it all in!! But there's also something nice about not being in a rush and being able to linger at a beautiful mountain restaurant, enjoy a couple different hikes, etc as @markusf58 explained!
Hey Jana and Brett, love your videos! Visiting Switzerland in September. 1 day Zurich, 1 day Lucerne and Mt Pilatus Golden Round Trip, and 1 day Jungfraujoch. Unsure of what to do on my last day, what do you think? Lauterbrunnen and Mannlichen, Mt Rigi, or anything else? Have to travel to and from Zurich as my base is there.
Hi there! Rigi is a really great day trip from Zurich, and much easier to reach than going back to the Jungfrau Region. Maybe you can combine a visit to Lauterbrunnen with your trip to Jungfraujoch?
Hi! If you want to go up another mountain you have several options: Titlis, Rigi (the spa is great!) Schilthorn (up from Lauterbrunnen and through Mürren which is nice, plus the revolving restaurant and James Bond memories)... and more. But the most important thing for any given day is to watch the weather forecast and see which mountain has clear views. I use Meteoblue. The 5 day forecast has a special feature called meteogram, where you can see the altitude of the clouds. Also another one called where 2 go, where they show the sunniest spot. Both are way down the page, so scroll to the bottom. Ah! and also check the webcams 😉
Fantastic stuff, thank you. This is a bit of Switzerland I would like to go to. So many different ways of getting up that mountain. I assume that the Tell Pass is central Switzerland‘s answer to the Bernese oberland pass?
Lucerne and Central Switzerland has so much to offer! We will be sharing more in this region over the next 6 months! And yep you’re right that the Tell-Pass is like the BO Pass! (Love that you’ve watched all of our videos to catch on to this 😁)
I believe there is a discount at the spa with the Tell Pass, too! I’m headed there in August and have been researching like crazy😁 Thanks so much for the video. It’s so helpful to actually see everything.
Thank you! Unfortunately it’s no longer made. But it’s an expandable biking backpack, if that helps! (I love it, but the only reason I bought this specific one is because it’s literally the only option that tightened enough around my petite waist. But this brand is durable and I appreciate all of the features!)
sorry if this is a duplicate - I can't find that my post yesterday stuck. I was trying to find the hike you stated "the one to do if you just have time for one. - on the Rigi webstie. Just making sure I understood the route. Rigi Kulm to Rigi Staffel to Rotstockweg to Rigi First to Kaltad
You’re so welcome! 😊 Well, that totally depends on what YOU like! Rigi has a scenic train ride, lake views, easy walks, restaurants, and a spa. But Titlis has snow, an ice cave, and snow tubing, plus a pretty lake below with more restaurants, walks and hikes, activities and kids stuff. Pick what fits you best!
I´d add that Rigi is mostly lakes views, while Titlis has more mountain views (great in a clear day) and the midpoint Trubsee has great kids activities. Enjoy!
Anyone used the cogwheel train from Arth goldau in October ( 25th to be exact ) it looks like open air ? If it is , will the ride be so chilly ? Or there are seats or areas to sit which are covered ?
It totally depends on what you’re interested in! Rigi is great for lake views and easy walks, as well as restaurants and spas. But Pilatus has some nice hikes from the top, and a ton of adventure activities at the stations below (great for families with adventurous kids). By the way, we’re creating a Lucerne Day Trips Guide for 2025 to help answer your exact question!
@@AplinsintheAlps Hi thanks for responding. We have your Lucerne guide and your one week guide to the Jungfrau region. We will be in the BO area for 9 days. We were even wondering if we needed to go up to Mt Pilatus with all the other peaks we will be seeing. I have so many places to see in Lucerne thanks to your guide. I would love to take a boat on Lake Lucerne ,but wondering if we needed to do another mountain top with all the other ones we will be seeing. What are your thoughts? Thanks for your guide on the trains, I was able to buy everyone on the app it was easy after reading all your tips. Have a great day.
So glad our guides have been helpful! Pilatus is awesome if you'd like to do some of the adventurous activities at Fräkmuntegg (one station below Pilatus Kulm). But we think the views are better from Rigi.
We actually have a video that talks about what kind of weather to expect month by month. You can watch it here: ua-cam.com/video/1qzwAKWh2n0/v-deo.htmlsi=C_MZl8fCWWl_aotp
Last year I went for a half day trip to Mt. Rigi and on the second day to Stoos and Stanserhorn with a 10 year old by using Swiss Travel Pass. Every place was awesome. Best days in my life! At Stoos the cable cars to the summits (not for free w/ STP) were closed due to the bad weather but there are family friendly hiking trails, fireplaces, playgrounds etc. If I had to pick only one it would be the Mt. Rigi. Please do not go there in just a t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops. Be prepared for strong winds.
It’s a full day but you can do them both in a day. If the skies are clear, go for it as it’s fun to see the area from different vantage points. Advise having the Swiss Travel Pass, the Tell-Pass, or at least the half fare card. As noted, the final cable car to the Fronalpstock from Stoos does not offer a discount but I think the ride is worth it. Which one over the other? Sorry, couldn’t say. They’re both magnificent. When we did this we were based in Morschach, just above Brünnen.
That’s a great question - and totally depends on your interests! Rigi offers Great Lake views and easy walks, as well as nice restaurants and even a spa. Stoos is best if you enjoy hiking, because the ridge hike is really the highlight there (although the village of Stoos below also has nice restaurants too). Keep in mind that you need to factor in transportation time into your half day, because some of these destinations are 1-1.5 hours one-way from Lucerne.
Shop our Lucerne Itinerary!
➡ www.aplinsinthealps.com/guides/
Buy your Tell-Pass here to reach Rigi for FREE!
➡ www.getyourguide.com/lucerne-l867/switzerland-tell-pass-in-2nd-class-summer-t586809/?partner_id=6Z1XS4Y&mkt_cmp=true
Read more on our blog:
➡ aplinsinthealps.com/ultimate-guide-to-mt-rigi-switzerland/
Thank you for a superb video. I can personally testify that it is possible to get from Zurich to Rigi Kulm in about 90 minutes. I did it once early one morning in late December! And I was only the second person to reach the summit that morning. There was just one other set of footprints in the snow! If you want to avoid the crowds on ANY mountain, GO EARLY. (Note that there are now FIVE mountains in the Lucerne area which are FREE if you have a Swiss Travel Pass, The other four are Stoos, Stanserhorn, Klewenalp and Stockhutte.)
How fun that you were one of the first people up at Mt. Rigi! That's such a special experience!
thanks for this we're going to lucerne in a week. this is much needed
Fantastic!! Enjoy Lucerne - it’s beautiful! 😊
Wow very beautiful sharing 💝💝💝
We’re happy to share! 😊
Hello!
I just watched your video, "Ultimate Guide to Mt. Rigi | Day Trip from Lucerne, Switzerland," and I loved it! I'm from Norway, and I find all your videos to be incredibly informative and well-made. Keep up the great work! Wishing you a wonderful summer.
Thanks for your encouragement! We’re happy to help 😊
@@AplinsintheAlps No problem. Wishing you a nice summer.
Very timely video as I am trying to decide on Rigi, Titlis or Pilatus as a day trip from Lucerne.
I bought the guide to the Jungfrau and it’s fantastic.
We’re creating a guide to help answer your exact question! (Coming out in 2025). It totally depends on your interests. Rigi is great for lake views and walks, as well as spas and restaurants and the scenic train ride. Pilatus has panoramic hikes on top, but a ton of adventure activities at the stations below. And Titlis is in the snow with an ice cave and snow tubing, plus an awesome lake with more hikes and walks and activities and restaurants below. Pick which one best suits your travel style and group!
Great timing! I'm planning to hike this beginning of August via the Mark Twain route.
Very cool! That looks like a fun route 😊
Planning a trip to Lucerne at the end of next month, hope the weather holds up!
Me too! We use MeteoSwiss to get the most accurate weather reports. Hope you have beautiful weather!
0:52 in which month did to make this video??
Hello! We recorded this in early June 2024.
Great day trip from Lucerne to Mt. Rigi.
We agree!
Great Video as usual :0) Would you say this did take the whole day. We are actually arriving in Weggis (that is where our 3 night stay is and was wondering if we can make this trip to the top with hiking as you described (on our arrival day which we arrive at 11:20 - thinking we could take an hour to drop luggage off, figure out where we are going and try to get to the cable car by 12:30 or 1:00 (of course if the weather is good). Or should we save for a full day trip.
As a Swiss I‘d recommend a full day… there are many hiking options up there and I‘d prefer having plenty of time to enjoy the views and to stop at one of the restaurants for a drink or a quick bite. The full day experience would be really much better and longer lasting than when visiting the mountain in a rush…
Hi there! You could probably still do this in the time you have available, especially if you're visiting in the summer. There are some later trains coming down from Rigi, so that's super helpful for fitting it all in!!
But there's also something nice about not being in a rush and being able to linger at a beautiful mountain restaurant, enjoy a couple different hikes, etc as @markusf58 explained!
Hey Jana and Brett, love your videos! Visiting Switzerland in September. 1 day Zurich, 1 day Lucerne and Mt Pilatus Golden Round Trip, and 1 day Jungfraujoch. Unsure of what to do on my last day, what do you think? Lauterbrunnen and Mannlichen, Mt Rigi, or anything else? Have to travel to and from Zurich as my base is there.
Hi there! Rigi is a really great day trip from Zurich, and much easier to reach than going back to the Jungfrau Region. Maybe you can combine a visit to Lauterbrunnen with your trip to Jungfraujoch?
Hi! If you want to go up another mountain you have several options: Titlis, Rigi (the spa is great!) Schilthorn (up from Lauterbrunnen and through Mürren which is nice, plus the revolving restaurant and James Bond memories)... and more. But the most important thing for any given day is to watch the weather forecast and see which mountain has clear views. I use Meteoblue. The 5 day forecast has a special feature called meteogram, where you can see the altitude of the clouds. Also another one called where 2 go, where they show the sunniest spot. Both are way down the page, so scroll to the bottom. Ah! and also check the webcams 😉
Fantastic stuff, thank you. This is a bit of Switzerland I would like to go to. So many different ways of getting up that mountain. I assume that the Tell Pass is central Switzerland‘s answer to the Bernese oberland pass?
Lucerne and Central Switzerland has so much to offer! We will be sharing more in this region over the next 6 months! And yep you’re right that the Tell-Pass is like the BO Pass! (Love that you’ve watched all of our videos to catch on to this 😁)
Greetings from Lucerne 🔵⚪️
Thanks for watching!
I believe there is a discount at the spa with the Tell Pass, too!
I’m headed there in August and have been researching like crazy😁
Thanks so much for the video. It’s so helpful to actually see everything.
It does take a lot of research, and we’re happy to do some of it for you! And we agree, “seeing” the place before you go can be super helpful. Enjoy!!
Great video! Do you mind sharing a link to your Deuter backpack, Jana? I love it!
Thank you! Unfortunately it’s no longer made. But it’s an expandable biking backpack, if that helps! (I love it, but the only reason I bought this specific one is because it’s literally the only option that tightened enough around my petite waist. But this brand is durable and I appreciate all of the features!)
@@AplinsintheAlpsThanks so much for your response! I have a petite frame also so completely understand! :)
Iff you use the tell pass do you have to buy a ticket with the pass or can you just go on board
Good question! No need to buy a ticket if the route is covered...just hop on board!
Do you know if there is still snow on the ground outside the Rigi Kaltbad spa in the first week of February?
That will totally depend on the season-specific weather so it's unfortunately impossible to say for sure!
sorry if this is a duplicate - I can't find that my post yesterday stuck. I was trying to find the hike you stated "the one to do if you just have time for one. - on the Rigi webstie. Just making sure I understood the route. Rigi Kulm to Rigi Staffel to Rotstockweg to Rigi First to Kaltad
Wow, such beautiful views...again !!! Thank you so much !!!
So, Rigi or Titlis if you have to pick one ? 😉
You’re so welcome! 😊 Well, that totally depends on what YOU like! Rigi has a scenic train ride, lake views, easy walks, restaurants, and a spa. But Titlis has snow, an ice cave, and snow tubing, plus a pretty lake below with more restaurants, walks and hikes, activities and kids stuff. Pick what fits you best!
@@AplinsintheAlps thanks again ! With 3 kids, it's gonna be Titlis for us. 😊
Enjoy!
I´d add that Rigi is mostly lakes views, while Titlis has more mountain views (great in a clear day) and the midpoint Trubsee has great kids activities. Enjoy!
Anyone used the cogwheel train from Arth goldau in October ( 25th to be exact ) it looks like open air ? If it is , will the ride be so chilly ? Or there are seats or areas to sit which are covered ?
You‘ll definitely be able to sit in a regular carriage, don’t worry. The ones without a roof are used in summer or on special occasions.
Is the Mount Rigi have open in the winter? i want to go there in February next year
Yep, you can go up there year-round! But of course, some of the activities available will be different in the Winter.
Do you need a reservation for the spa? What time of day were you at the spa?
You do not need a reservation for the spa. We went in the late afternoon and it was quite empty!
Would you recommend Rigi over Pilatus if you only have one day? Thanks as always for your beautiful video.
It totally depends on what you’re interested in! Rigi is great for lake views and easy walks, as well as restaurants and spas. But Pilatus has some nice hikes from the top, and a ton of adventure activities at the stations below (great for families with adventurous kids). By the way, we’re creating a Lucerne Day Trips Guide for 2025 to help answer your exact question!
@@AplinsintheAlps Hi thanks for responding. We have your Lucerne guide and your one week guide to the Jungfrau region. We will be in the BO area for 9 days. We were even wondering if we needed to go up to Mt Pilatus with all the other peaks we will be seeing. I have so many places to see in Lucerne thanks to your guide. I would love to take a boat on Lake Lucerne ,but wondering if we needed to do another mountain top with all the other ones we will be seeing. What are your thoughts? Thanks for your guide on the trains, I was able to buy everyone on the app it was easy after reading all your tips. Have a great day.
So glad our guides have been helpful! Pilatus is awesome if you'd like to do some of the adventurous activities at Fräkmuntegg (one station below Pilatus Kulm). But we think the views are better from Rigi.
My hous mountain. I love to live in central switzerland🇨🇭👋🏻
You live in such a beautiful place! Which village do you live in?
@@AplinsintheAlps the main city is Zug, but i live in Ägeri a village direct at the Lake called Ägerisee. Its near 730m above sea level.
Oh how amazing! We actually just stayed in Ägeri a month ago!!
@@AplinsintheAlps i live 400m next camping place at the lake. Really beautiful here. Pure nature☺️
Will it be too cold to go in 3rd week of Sept? Will you suggest to follow your route in the morning or afternoon?
We actually have a video that talks about what kind of weather to expect month by month. You can watch it here:
ua-cam.com/video/1qzwAKWh2n0/v-deo.htmlsi=C_MZl8fCWWl_aotp
If I were to choose between Stoos and Rigi, which one would you recommend and why?
We only have half a day.
I have the same question. Confused between Stoos, Rigi and Stans.
Last year I went for a half day trip to Mt. Rigi and on the second day to Stoos and Stanserhorn with a 10 year old by using Swiss Travel Pass. Every place was awesome. Best days in my life! At Stoos the cable cars to the summits (not for free w/ STP) were closed due to the bad weather but there are family friendly hiking trails, fireplaces, playgrounds etc. If I had to pick only one it would be the Mt. Rigi. Please do not go there in just a t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops. Be prepared for strong winds.
It’s a full day but you can do them both in a day. If the skies are clear, go for it as it’s fun to see the area from different vantage points. Advise having the Swiss Travel Pass, the Tell-Pass, or at least the half fare card. As noted, the final cable car to the Fronalpstock from Stoos does not offer a discount but I think the ride is worth it. Which one over the other? Sorry, couldn’t say. They’re both magnificent. When we did this we were based in Morschach, just above Brünnen.
That’s a great question - and totally depends on your interests! Rigi offers Great Lake views and easy walks, as well as nice restaurants and even a spa. Stoos is best if you enjoy hiking, because the ridge hike is really the highlight there (although the village of Stoos below also has nice restaurants too). Keep in mind that you need to factor in transportation time into your half day, because some of these destinations are 1-1.5 hours one-way from Lucerne.
I´d go with Rigi and really enjoy it, specially if you are based in Lucerne. Stoos is quite far with public transportation and even car 😉