From the picturesque Lucerne, we embark on a splendid day trip to Mount Rigi, also known as the ‘Queen of the Mountains’. This majestic mountain offers a unique combination of spectacular panoramas, fresh mountain air, and a rich history. We begin by heading to the summit of Rigi. Here, we’ll go for a walk and enjoy an unparalleled view of Lake Lucerne and the surrounding Alps. We conclude the day trip with a truly magnificent boat ride back to Lucerne. Read on to discover why you’ll want to make this day trip – regardless of the season.

Our day trip to Mount Rigi

We start our day trip early in the morning. From Lucerne’s central station, we first take the train through the picturesque Swiss landscape to Arth-Goldau. This small town on the southern shore of Lake Zug is primarily known for the Goldau Nature Park and Zoo. A visit to this park seems quite appealing to us. Here, you can observe native but rare animal species in a natural environment, including wolves and bears! However, it’s not on the cards for today. We have something else on our exciting day programme: a visit to Mount Rigi.

It’s no coincidence that Rigi is on our itinerary. The mountain’s beautiful nature of alpine meadows, forests, and rocky areas has inspired many artists and writers. Like Mark Twain. This American author hiked up Rigi in 1879. He recorded his experiences in his diary “A Tramp Abroad”: an interesting and amusing travelogue. He climbed Rigi on foot. We’re doing it faster and more comfortably: in Arth-Goldau, we switch to Europe’s first mountain railway. The iconic cogwheel train takes us straight to the top of Rigi in about an hour.

As we climb higher and higher, we see how the landscape below us changes. Green meadows give way to rocky slopes and snow-capped peaks. Once at the top of Rigi, at 1,798 metres altitude, we’re rewarded with a breathtaking 360-degree panorama. We see the glistening lakes of Lucerne, Zug, and Lauerz, surrounded by an imposing mountain range. It’s time to prepare for our walk today.

Hiking on Mount Rigi

Rigi offers beautiful hiking opportunities all year round. During a previous visit to Lucerne in early autumn, when we first became acquainted with the iconic mountain, we enjoyed a magnificent walk above the cloud cover where the pointed Alpine giants poked through. In total, there are more than 120 kilometres of well-maintained hiking trails to choose from. The routes lead you through forests and along alpine meadows and breathtaking viewpoints. Popular routes include the panoramic walk from Rigi First to Rigi Scheidegg and the flower route at Rigi Staffel. Find a selection of summer hikes here.

Winter hikes on Mount Rigi

In winter, Rigi transforms into a winter wonderland, with marked hiking trails leading you through an enchanting snowy landscape. There are many routes for winter hikers and snowshoe hikers. We’re doing the easiest, but certainly not the least impressive hike. We’re climbing to the absolute top of the mountain: Rigi Kulm. A well-marked path with route posts leads us through the snow to the top. Because the wind has free play at the mountain top, it feels ice-cold. With warm hats on, we walk cautiously over the seemingly slippery path.

At the end of the hiking trail stands a large transmission tower. The tower isn’t there by chance. At this strategic location, you can not only see far but also receive and transmit far. An installation has been here since 1905. The current 96-metre high transmission tower dates from 1997. Incidentally, the location is not only extremely suitable for transmitting and receiving. Rigi Kulm also played a crucial role in Swiss cartography and communication. Here at the top, we find a triangulation point that was once essential for mapping Switzerland.

We linger a bit at the transmission tower and enjoy the breathtaking panorama over the Alps and surrounding lakes. Then we walk back via the same path to the restaurant at the terminus of the cogwheel railway. After the icy walk, we’re ready for a warming cup of coffee. With cake, of course!

Lake Lucerne: Conclusion of our day trip to Mount Rigi

The final destination of our day trip to Rigi is the Vierwaldstättersee, often called Lake Lucerne in English. For the best view and the most pleasant temperature, we want to be at the lake around lunchtime. Therefore, we take the mountain train from Rigi Kulm to Vitznau immediately after our coffee. Unfortunately, this also means we can’t make use of the excellent winter sports opportunities on Rigi.

After a beautiful train ride on the rather steep cogwheel railway, we arrive in Vitznau. This picturesque village at the foot of Rigi only became really famous in 1871. That year, the world’s first cogwheel railway (the Vitznau-Rigi-Bahn) came into use. Before the advent of the cogwheel railway, climbing the “Queen of the Mountains” was primarily very tiring. Rich guests even had themselves carried up in sedan chairs. The innovation made Vitznau an important stopover for travellers who came by steamboats from Lucerne and then took the mountain train. Nowadays, the journey to the top takes only half an hour with the cogwheel railway.

Boat trip on Lake Lucerne

In Vitznau, we first walk around a bit before another highlight of the day awaits us: a boat trip on the crystal-clear Lake Lucerne. Once on board, Jaël and Lilian warmly welcome us. The two enthusiastic employees of the Lucerne Tourist Board brief us about the lake. We learn that this 114 km² large lake was formed during the ice ages. The water is so clear that we can still see the bottom for a long time after departure. In the middle of the lake, we see nothing but dark blue water. Here it’s as deep as 210 metres.

We enjoy the ever-changing view of the surrounding mountains and the charming villages along the shores. Occasionally, we dash outside to take photos of the stunning surroundings. We notice that despite the season, it’s not that cold at all. Jaël and Lilian confirm this. Thanks to the high mountains that provide shelter against cold winds, it’s cool in winter but not very cold. The summers, on the other hand, are warm here, but never really hot. The mild climate makes it a particularly pleasant tourist destination.

As the contours of Lucerne appear on the horizon, we realise that our day trip to Rigi is coming to an end. We dock in the heart of the city, close to the famous Chapel Bridge. As we disembark, we take one last look back at Rigi in the distance. Shrouded in mist, the mountain lies there majestically. At this moment, Rigi certainly lives up to its nickname “Queen of the Mountains”.

We made this day trip to Mount Rigi at the invitation of Switzerland Tourism. We have independently and objectively compiled the content of the blog based on our own impressions.

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