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. 

Traveling From Zürich to Interlaken? Visit a Swiss Castle and Ride a Historic Lake Steamer During Your Trip

The historic Swiss city of Thun with the snow capped mountains of the Berner Oberland in the background.

Here’s a Swiss travel tip for exploring the Berner Oberland region of the Swiss Alps. When you’re traveling from Zürich to Interlaken, consider hopping off the train in Thun, exploring a castle or two, and then riding a historic lake steamer the rest of the way.  

Thun Castle (Schloss Thun) built in the late 1100s, keeps watch over the Rathausplatz.

Details: 

One of the fastest and most convenient ways to travel from Zürich to Interlaken is by train. At the time of this writing, the transfer from the Zürich Hauptbahnhof (main station) to Interlaken West takes 1h 49 min with one change in Bern. From Bern, the train heads southeast toward the town of Thun and then scoots along the southern shore of the Thunersee before arriving in Interlaken. 

To add style to your trip, consider hopping off the train in Thun, visiting a castle or two, and then riding a historic paddle wheel steam ship the rest of the way to Interlaken. There are two castles in Thun—Schloss Thun and Schloss Schadau. Feeling like royalty? You can dine and spend the night at Schadau Castle. We recommend it!

Schadau Castle (Schloss Schadau) built in the mid 1800s on Lake Thun.

Here’s a sample itinerary. 

Depart Zurich at 08:02 am.

Arrive in Thun at 09:24 am (Direct connection with no changes!)

Stash your luggage and walk over to Schloss Thun (Thun Castle). 

The castle is open every day during the summer at 10:00 am. 

After visiting the castle…

Hop on the historic paddle wheel steamer Blümlisalp for a 12:40 pm departure. You’ll arrive in Interlaken West at 02:49 pm.

The Blümlisalp paddle wheel steamer (built in 1906) has a restaurant on board so you don’t have to worry about lunch. The views of the mountains, castles, and lakeside villages will knock your socks off while you eat! There are five fairy tale castles on Lake Thun which you’ll get to see as you ply the turquoise waters.

You’ll also pass by quintessentially Swiss villages with picturesque church steeples. There are 12 churches on Lake Thun that are 1,000 years old! 

Oberhofen Castle (Schloss Oberhofen) on Lake Thun dates to the early 13th century and houses a living history museum. The lake steamers dock at Oberhofen, passing directly in front of the castle and affording incredible views.

Oberhofen and Spiez are two of my favorite stops along the way. The castle in Oberhofen is delightful to photograph, and Spiez is one of the prettiest lakeside villages in Switzerland. If you can’t make it to Thun, then consider hopping off the train in Spiez and visiting Spiez Castle and the historic church there instead. The midday steam ship departs Spiez at 01:28 pm for arrival in Interlaken at 02:49 pm.

Spiez, one of the prettiest lakeside villages in Switzerland. The church is 1,000 years old and portions of the adjacent castle walls and the keep are 800-900 years old. This is the view looking down from the castle tower.

Are you a romantic type? How about a sunset cruise on Lake Thun? We’re happy to help you arrange it. Photo credit: BLS Ltd.

Note: This is the summer 2021 schedule (assuming no COVID shutdowns). Other boats depart somewhat hourly throughout the day from 08:40 am to 6:40 pm. Please contact us for the most up-to-date schedule and options.

This excursion pairs well with our Berner Oberland Inn-to-Inn Hike. 

Tschüss!