Mount Rigi
Rigi
The 'Queen of the Mountains' at 1,797 m. It opened Europe's first mountain cogwheel railway in 1871, and is known for sunrises, sea of clouds and panoramic views with lakes on three sides.
Mount Rigi is surrounded by water on three sides: Lake Lucerne, Lake Zug and Lake Lauerz. The summit, Rigi Kulm, stands at 1,797 m. On clear days you can see 13 lakes and the Alpine snowy peaks. Victor Hugo and Mark Twain both watched sunrises here. The Vitznau–Rigi Railway, opened in 1871, was Europe's first mountain cogwheel line.
The classic loop: from Lucerne, take a one-hour boat to Vitznau, then a 30-minute cogwheel train to the summit. Walk down to Rigi Kaltbad, which has a mineral spa bathhouse designed by Mario Botta, then take the large cable car down to Weggis and return to Lucerne by boat. You can also climb from the Arth-Goldau side. With a Swiss Travel Pass, the whole trip is free, making Rigi the most economical mountain for Swiss travel. Otherwise, a round trip costs about CHF 80-100. The mountain trails are gentle, and the panoramic path from Kaltbad to Rigi Kulm suits older people and children.
Note: to see the sunrise, you need to stay at a hotel on the summit. In autumn and winter, when the lowlands are fogged in, the mountaintop often enjoys bright sunshine.
Opening hours
Cog railway runs approx. 7:00–22:00 (schedule varies by season)
Nearby sights
- Lake Lucerne
- Bürgenstock & Hammetschwand Lift
- Brunnen
- Rütli Meadow
- Swiss Museum of Transport
- Richard Wagner Museum Tribschen
- Church of St. Leodegar (Hofkirche)
- Lucerne Lakeside Promenade (Nationalquai)