Thinking about hiking Mount Rigi? Here are two great ways to reach the summit

Mount Rigi is a great place to stretch your legs or simply grab a seat and admire the views over Lake Lucerne and the Swiss Alps.

Mount Rigi, located on Lake Lucerne, is one of the most accessible mountains for hiking in the Swiss Alps. With a well-developed hiking trail system, an abundance of on-mountain restaurants and easy-to-use public transport ferrying visitors up and down the slopes, Rigi makes a wonderful place to walk for hikers of all ages and abilities.

There are a bunch of ways to access the lower slopes of Mount Rigi, but if you want to hike from the very top then you’ll need to get there under your own power (hiking, walking, biking, etc.) or use public transport.

There’s an easy way and a harder way to walk to the summit of Mount Rigi. Can you guess which is which?

From nearby Luzern, there are two convenient options for reaching the summit of Mount Rigi using public transport. The first option is the Vitznau-Rigi Kulm cog railway (Europe’s oldest mountain rack railway) which departs from the lakeside village of Vitznau on the west side of the mountain. The second option is the Goldau-Rigi Kulm cog railway which departs from Arth-Goldau on the east side of Mount Rigi. Both options are great and each journey has its own charm.

The Vitznau option offers big views of Lake Lucerne (try to snag a seat on the left side of the train as it climbs Mount Rigi). The Vitznau option is also the most romantic choice because it includes a boat ride across Lake Lucerne before changing to the cog railway. Because of the fun and excitement of the boat ride paired with the Lake Lucerne views, the Vitznau option can be very busy during high season. Pro tip: Boats departing Luzern from 9:12 am to 12:12 pm during high season are usually steamships.

A historic steam ship at the Vitznau dock. Guests staying in Luzern usually take a boat to Vitznau where they change for a cog wheel train to the summit of Mount Rigi.

Historical side note: The railway line from Vitznau to a mid-mountain station called Staffelhöhe is Europe’s oldest mountain rack railway. The line opened on May 21, 1871, making Mount Rigi the first mountain in Europe, and only the second mountain in the world, to feature a cog railway. Today the Vitznau line operates state-of-the art equipment in addition to its historic rolling stock. The Jewel of the fleet is Locomotive No. 7 (LOK 7), a steam locomotive built in 1873 that features a unique vertical boiler. A team of steam enthusiasts restored LOK 7 to running condition and today she carries passengers up Mount Rigi during special events.

One of the nostalgic trains of the Goldau-Rigi Kulm cog railway at the summit station of Mount Rigi.

If you don’t like crowds then we recommend the Goldau-Rigi Kulm option (the second option) because it tends to be less busy. The Goldau-Rigi Kulm line also runs historic train cars every day which is a bonus for guests who enjoy the nostalgia of “Old Switzerland.” Most of the rail cars are least 50 years old. We love them! If you choose the Goldau-Rigi Kulm option then sit on the right side of the train for the best views. You’ll enjoy peek-a-boo views of nearby Lake Zug as your cute little cog train chug, chug, chugs its way uphill through the meadows and trees.

Please contact us if you have questions about the Swiss Alps. Would you like to hike on Mount Rigi? Check out our Swiss Alps Rail + Hike | Luzern, Wengen & Zermatt. 

Europe Travel Report: Travel Restrictions, Luzern Paddle Steamer, Mt. Rigi Steam Trains, The Alps on PBS

The village of Seis am Schlern in the Südtirol (South Tyrol), Italian Dolomites.

Salut travelers! Not a lot has changed since last week’s Europe travel report. Scotland extended their lockdown until the end of February. In Switzerland, the COVID-19 infection rate continues to fall, but the interior minister, Alain Berset, said that Switzerland is unlikely to ease its COVID restrictions before the end of February. This is amid fears of new virus strains. In France, the rules have tightened for travelers entering from the EU and Schengen area states. The scene isn’t much better throughout the rest of Europe. In the Alto Adige of Italy’s Südtirol (South Tyrol), residents entered another lockdown for three weeks. It’s not time to travel to Europe yet.  

That said, there IS some positive news. In the Middle East, there there is evidence coming out of Israel that the COVID-19 vaccine is beginning to curb the spread of the virus. It’s only a matter of time (fingers crossed) before vaccinations begin to effectively curb the virus in other countries. Be patient and stay safe! We’ve received more inquiries about fall travel. We’re hopeful but cautious, and we’re reminding all of our guests to remain flexible and to be grateful for good health. 

On a brighter note, here are some interesting things just waiting to be explored when Europe opens up again. PLANNING for a future trip is perfectly safe!

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The Historic Steamboat Stadt Luzern Launches This Spring

The historic paddle steamer Stadt Luzern on Lake Lucerne. Photo courtesy of Lake Lucerne Navigation Company AG.

The majestic paddle steamer Stadt Luzern returns to the waters of Lake Lucerne on May 1, 2021 following a two and-a-half year restoration. The Stadt Luzern is the flagship of the Lake Lucerne Navigation Company (SGV) which operates a fleet of 19 modern and historic vessels. Have you ever plied the waters of Lake Lucerne on a historic steamer? It’s a really special experience, and the Stadt Luzern is a very special vessel. She was built in 1928 as the last paddle steamer built for a Swiss Lake. The Stadt Luzern boasts an elegant Art Deco saloon and a fascinating guest list including Queen Elizabeth II. Over 80,000 hours of labor and 13.2 million Swiss francs went into returning the Stadt Luzern to its regal shine. Now she is stylishly renovated, more environmentally friendly, and proudly rejuvenated, Would you like to feel rejuvenated? How about a Wine & Dine cruise to go with your hike through the Swiss Alps? Or how about using the historic paddle steamer to access one of the many hikes in the area? Give us a call.

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The Mount Rigi Railway Celebrates 150 Years With Steam

Mount Rigi is the oldest mountain railway in Europe.

This is an incredible year for people who love steam-powered machines! We have the paddle steamer Stadt Luzern launching in May following a two and-a-half year refit (see previous post), and we have the “Romance of Steam” excursions in honor of Mount Rigi Railway’s 150th anniversary this summer. The Vitznau-Rigi Bahn (VRB) is Europe’s oldest mountain railway. Offically opened in 1871, the Vitznau-Rigi Bahn was the first mountain rack railway ever built in Europe and it’s also the second-oldest mountain railway in the world after the Mt. Washington Cog Railway in the United States. There are lots of anniversary celebrations planned for this summer on Mount Rigi but the “Romance of Steam” excursions are a special treat. On select days during the summer, passengers can ride in vintage passenger cars pulled behind some of the oldest steam-powered rack railway locomotives in the world. This is an experience straight out of “La Belle Époque” the golden age of mountain travel. One of my favorite locomotives on the line is locomotive No. 7 (Lok 7). Lok 7 was built in 1873, has a vertical boiler, and she still runs. She’s one of the oldest, if not THE oldest, surviving locomotive in Switzerland. It’s a shame that travel is so locked up this summer due to the pandemic. I’m hopeful that Rigi will continue to run steam in some form for the foreseeable future. Let us know if you’d like to experience this historic gem of a railway. We have two nice Swiss Alps Rail + Hike trips which visit Mount Rigi. Of course, we can also build any kind of custom trip. With or without steam, Mount Rigi is a great experience and the views (and hiking) off the top are outstanding. 

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Watch “The Alps” Right Now On PBS

A chamois in the Tatra Mountains, Slovakia.

There is a great show streaming on PBS right now. It’s called The Alps. The two-part series is part of the PBS Nature program and focuses on the wildlife that live in the high Alps. The scenery is outstanding and the close-up footage of the animals living their every day life is astonishing. You’ll see eagles, chamois, ibex, lynx, bear, griffon vultures, and more. You can watch the show online, but the show expires in a week so hurry! Yesterday I ran into a friend on the trail who said she saw the show and thought of me. She absolutely loved the program. If you love big mountain scenery, then you’ll love it too! Check out The Alps on pbs.org.