What it costs, and what the pass does about it
- Return fare on any route up, without a pass
- Fully covered by the Swiss Travel Pass, no supplement, no top-up ticket
- Covered year round
Rigi is one of only three mountains the Swiss Travel Pass covers in full, which puts it in a very short queue. Everywhere else in the Alps, your pass buys you a discount on the mountain ticket and you go to the counter on the day to claim it. Here there's no mountain ticket to buy at all: the cogwheels, the cableway and the lake boat are ordinary public transport as far as your pass is concerned, and the difference between full coverage and a discount is worth understanding before you plan the rest of your mountain days.
The four ways up, all of them covered
Cogwheel from Vitznau Oldest line
Climbs from the lakeside to Rigi Kulm, and pairs naturally with the boat from Lucerne.
Cogwheel from Arth-Goldau Easiest by train
The side you'll arrive on if you're coming from Zurich rather than across the water.
Cableway from Weggis Fastest lift
Rises to Rigi Kaltbad, where you join the cogwheel for the last stretch to the top.
Boat from Lucerne to Vitznau 55 min
Not a shortcut and not meant to be, and your pass covers it like any other route.
Because every one of them is included, the classic Rigi day is up one side and down the other, with no arithmetic about which combination costs least. Boat out from Lucerne to Vitznau, cogwheel to the summit, then down the far side to Arth-Goldau and back by train. Reverse it if the weather looks better in the afternoon.
Getting there and how long to allow
From Zurich
1 hour to Arth-Goldau
- Then the cogwheel up the far side
- Ten minute walk from Rigi Kulm station to the summit
The full loop from Lucerne
6 hours without hurrying
- Boat or train out, cogwheel up, down the other side and back
- Boat to Vitznau takes about 55 minutes of it
Six hours is generous on purpose, because the summit plateau has easy trails running across it and most people who planned an hour up there end up staying longer. The ten minute walk catches out people who assumed the train stops at the cross. You can also walk down to a lower station and pick up the cogwheel or cableway from wherever your legs give out, and your pass still covers the ride.
Is the pass the right way to do Rigi
If Rigi is the only mountain on your list and you're basing yourself in Lucerne, the Swiss Travel Pass isn't your only option.
Swiss Travel Pass
Covered in full
Every route up the mountain, and the train, boat and city transport either side of it
Lucerne Travel Pass
Covered in full
Rigi as well, if you're basing yourself in Lucerne and not crossing the country
So the honest answer depends on how much of the rest of the country you plan to cross, and that's the ground the comparison of the two Lucerne-area passes covers properly.
What tips it for most visitors is everything either side of the mountain. A Swiss Travel Pass day at Rigi means the train from Zurich, the boat across the lake, the cogwheel, the walk, the ride down the other side and the train back are all one ticket, plus city transport when you get back to town. There's no route where you pay CHF 76 and no moment where you're working out whether the return ticket was the cheaper buy.
FAQ
Is Mount Rigi fully covered by the Swiss Travel Pass?
Yes, in full and year round. The cogwheels from Vitznau and Arth-Goldau, the cableway from Weggis and the boat from Lucerne are all included, with no discounted mountain ticket to buy on top.
What does Rigi cost without a pass?
A return is CHF 76.
Do I need to book anything in advance?
No. There's no reservation and no supplement, so turn up, show your pass and board.
Which route up should I take?
Since all of them are covered, go up one side and down the other. Boat from Lucerne to Vitznau and cogwheel up, then down to Arth-Goldau and back by train, is the loop most people do.
How long does a Rigi day take?
About six hours from Lucerne if you want the loop, the summit and a walk without watching the clock. From Zurich, budget roughly an hour each way to Arth-Goldau on top of that.
Is the summit right at the station?
Not quite. It's a ten minute walk from Rigi Kulm station, and the trails across the plateau from there are gentle enough for most people in ordinary shoes.
Who can buy a Swiss Travel Pass?
Anyone living outside Switzerland and Liechtenstein.