The Ultimate Guide to the Lucerne Travel Pass

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If you’re planning on spending a few days in the Lake Lucerne region (use this guide to choose your hotel), then it is well worthwhile considering purchasing a Lucerne Travel Pass.

In short, the Lucerne Travel Pass is an all-inclusive travel pass which provides:

• Unlimited travel via train, bus, boat and numerous mountain cableways across Central Switzerland

The Lucerne Travel Pass (which was previously called the Tell Pass) provides tourists with not only exceptional value but also makes getting to all the places to visit in Lucerne extremely convenient. 

It is ideal if you are a planning to spend a minimum of two days in Lucerne and would like to avoid the inconvenience of having to pay for transport as you go. 

While the initial outlay for the Lucerne Travel Pass may appear expensive, once you add up the price of the individual transport tickets you will need to purchase to get around to the various Lucerne things to do, you will see that you will easily save money with your pass. 

Plus, you don’t have to worry about making bookings, carrying around multiple train tickets and even being concerned with missing a train or bus – because you can simply catch the next one!

In this article, we provide a detailed overview of the Lucerne Pass, so you know the various options available, and you can determine whether the pass provides the best value for you. 

We also cover off on all the Lucerne Travel Pass inclusions as well as the Lucerne Travel Pass price. If you’ve been wondering is the Lucerne Travel Pass worth it?, then this guide will answer the question for you.

🇨🇭 Already know about the Lucerne Travel Pass and ready to purchase? Click here toLucerne Travel Pass buy your Lucerne Travel Pass.

What is the Lucerne Travel Pass?

As mentioned above, the Lucerne Travel Pass is an all-inclusive transport pass which provides unlimited transportation across a range of modes of transport in the Lake Lucerne Region. 

Lucerne transport options included with the pass are trains, buses, boats and cable cars.

The Lucerne Travel Pass is a consecutive day travel pass, meaning the pass must be used for the selected number of days one after the other without a break. 

The passes come in 3, 4, 5 or 10 day versions and are available for second class travel only. Should you wish to travel in 1st class (when available), you can simply purchase a Class Upgrade at the station prior to your journey.

Where is the Lucerne Travel Pass valid?

The Lucerne Travel Pass is valid within the Lake Lucerne region which is in Central Switzerland.  Given the changes in landscape during the winter, some forms of transport are not in operation, therefore, slightly reducing the area the pass is valid. 

What is the Lucerne Travel Pass price for 2026?

The Lucerne Travel Pass price is the same regardless of what time of year you use it.

The above prices are for adult passes. 

If you have a child travelling with you, the savings are even greater as children between the ages of 6-15 (inclusive) are charged a fixed rate of 30 CHF, regardless of whether they are travelling for 3 days or 10 days.

The Children’s Lucerne Travel Pass must be purchased at the same time as the accompanying Adults’ Tell Pass.

No further discounts are available for holders of a Swiss Half Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass.

Where and how do I have to get my Lucerne Travel Pass validated?

When you receive your Lucerne Travel Pass, you are good to go, and there is nothing you need to do to activate the pass.  You simply show the printed copy of your Lucerne Travel Pass to the ticket inspector when requested.

How to use the Lucerne Travel Pass

The Lucerne Travel Pass is so easy to use, all you need to do is jump on board the train, bus, boat or cable car and that’s it!  No need to go anywhere to get the pass stamped, all you need to do is to show your Lucerne Tell Pass to the ticket inspectors when asked.

Where can I get a timetable for Lucerne’s public transport?

Getting around Lucerne with public transport is fantastic, and it’s easy to get wherever you want in the region.  To plan how to get to the various Lucerne, Switzerland points of interest, we recommend you use the SBB Mobile app.  

This App will not only help you plan what mode of transport you need to take to reach the various Lucerne tourist attractions, but will also provide you with helpful information.

You can look up which platform you need to go to and provide real-time updates, so you’ll know whether your transport is going to be on time or late. (Note: In Switzerland, it is rarely ever late!)

What are the top excursions covered by the Lucerne Travel Pass?

Whether you are visiting the Lake Lucerne Region in the summer or winter months, there are a stack of great places to explore. 

From mountain peaks to blue lakes and breathtaking views, by holding the Lucerne Travel Pass, you can reach all of these great things to do in Lucerne with ease.

It’s impossible to list all the fantastic places to see in Lucerne with your Lucerne Travel Pass, but here are some destinations you don’t want to miss!

Mt. Rigi excursion

Perhaps one of the most popular day trips from Lucerne is to ride Europe’s oldest cogwheel railway to the top of Mt Rigi – the Queen of the Mountains. 

Alternatively, you can go by boat – Lucerne to Weggis, and then take the aerial cableway from Weggis, or switch it up on the return journey. 

Whether you take the cogwheel railway, or the cableway be sure to start your journey will a relaxing Lake Lucerne boat trip.

During the Summer months on Mt Rigi, you can explore the mountain via the 120 kilometres of paths and trails, all which offer stunning views of the alpine region, whilst in the Winter months you can participate in a range of sports including skiing, sledding, and snowshoe trails.

Recommended time allowed for excursion: Minimum 5.5 hours.

Mt. Pilatus excursion

Another one of the popular Lucerne day trips is to take the Golden Round Trip to Pilatus where you will travel by boat, cogwheel railway (the steepest in the world), aerial cableway (also known as the Dragon Ride) and bus.

At 2132 metres above sea level, Mt Pilatus offers a range of fantastic activities that change depending upon the season. 

During the Summer months, you can enjoy hiking, Central Switzerland’s largest suspension rope park, and the toboggan run whilst in the winter months you can participate in a range of sports like skiing, sledding and snowshoeing.

Recommended time allowed for excursion: Minimum 5.5 hours.

The Gotthard Panorama Express journey

Up until recently, this scenic route was called the Wilhelm Tell Express (William Tell Express in English).  Now called the Gotthard Panorama Express, this 5.5-hour journey takes passengers from Lucerne all the way to Lugano.  Tell Pass holders can travel as far as Goschenen for free.

Starting in Lucerne, take the almost 3-hour cruise across Lake Lucerne to the village of Fluelen.  From here you then will take a 45-minute train journey to Göschenen where en route you will experience stunning snow-capped mountain scenery and impressive railway engineering.

Why not visit the Photo Car with open windows – perfect for taking photos?  

You can then return from Goschenen to Lucerne by a regular train service via Erstfeld (journey time around 1 hour 40 minutes).

This service operates daily from mid-April to mid-October.

Recommended time allowed for excursion: Minimum 7 hours.

Stanserhorn Cabrio excursion

After a 20-minute train ride from Lucerne, start the journey up the 1900 metre high peak with a ride on the 1893 vintage funicular train. 

Mid-way, change to the exciting CabriO cable car which has a rooftop platform, the first in the world, and arrive at the top of Stanserhorn. 

At the summit you can experience its many attractions including a revolving restaurant, geo-trail and a nature reserve.

Recommended time allowed for excursion: Minimum 4 hours.

Mt. Titlis excursion

Catch a train from Lucerne to Engelberg (45 minutes) and then either walk (10 minutes) or catch a free shuttle bus to the TITLIS Valley Station. Here you’ll join the TITLIS Xpress cable car to Stand and then the TITLIS ROTAIR – the world’s first revolving cable car – up to Mt Titlis. 

The journey from Engelberg takes around 30 minutes.

At 3020 metres, Mt Titlis experiences snow all year round and has no shortage of things to do once you reach the top.  

Some of the highlights at Mt Titlis include the beautiful panoramic views of snow-capped mountains, the Titlis Cliff Wall – the highest suspension bridge in Europe, the Ice Flyer Chairlift, hiking trails and loads more. 

TITLIS ROTAIR operates year round (closed for maintenance for two weeks in November).

Recommended time allowed for excursion: Minimum 5 hours.

🇨🇭If you’re finding it hard to choose between a visit to Mt. Pilatus, Mt. Rigi or Mt. Titlis, this article might be helpful.

Lake Lucerne boat trips

Taking a Lake Lucerne boat ride is a fantastic way to admire the region.  There are a range of different Lake Lucerne boat tours available from short trips to longer ones that take up to 3 hours one way. 

A great way to explore Lake Lucerne is to combine a Lake Lucerne boat tour with a day trip to one of the mountains such as Mt Rigi or Pilatus.

Recommended time allowed for excursion: Minimum 1 hour.

Luzern-Interlaken Express (GoldenPass Line)

One of Switzerland’s most popular Panoramic trains, the GoldenPass Line consists of three scenic journeys stretching from Lucerne to Montreux.  The Luzern Interlaken Express makes up one section of the journey and is fully included with the Tell Pass.

The trip between Lucerne and Interlaken, which takes just under two hours, offers views of some of the most spectacular scenery in Switzerland with snow-capped peaks and sparkling lakes a feature.

Why not enjoy a full day excursion from Lucerne by travelling on the GoldenPass Line to Interlaken or disembark at Brienz and join the Brienzer Rothorn Bahn steam train? Both trips are fully covered with the Tell Pass.

*Stop en-route at Brienz permitted

Other excursions that are free with the Lucerne Travel Pass

The Lucerne Travel Pass offers so much more! Below you will find some of the other excursions and attractions that are included for free with the Lucerne Travel Pass.

Burgenstock Railway and Hammetschwand Lift

After a leisurely boat ride across Lake Lucerne on the Burgenstock shuttle, connect with a funicular (Burgenstock Railway) for the final ascent to Burgenstock resort.  Here, 500 metres above Lake Lucerne you can enjoy stunning panoramas of the lake and surrounding Alps.

There are nine restaurants and bars at Burgenstock, as well as hotels, shops and wellness centres so if you’re looking for an escape from the city below, this is a great choice.

Brienz Rothorn Bahn excursion

Certain the days of travelling on a steam-powered railway were gone? Not so! The Brienz Rothorn railway has been servicing customers since 1892, and it’s the only steam rack railway that runs daily (from early June to late October).

The glass-topped coaches make it easy to take in all the breathtaking views as you ascend to the Alpine lodge and restaurant at 2266 metres. There you can have lunch or dinner, and even stay the night if you’d like.

If you take the train to the mountain station, there’s a manageable hiking trail to Rothorn’s summit from which you can see 693 peaks on a clear day. 

Lungern Turren Bahn

This cable car will take you from the village of Lungern to Turren which lies 1562 feet above sea level. There you’ll find opportunities for hiking, picnicking, and butterfly-watching, along with gorgeous views from Schönbüel of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.

There’s a restaurant at Turren with a lovely sun terrace (open in the warmer months). Parents will find a playground for their children, and the more adventurous travellers can enjoy mountain-biking.

If you happen to be in town when there’s a full moon, there are special ‘Full Moon Rides’ offered in the winter. As you can imagine, the view with the full moon as a backdrop is breathtaking. 

Urmiberg Cable Car

Take this cable car from the lovely lakeside town of Brunnen up to 1135 metres above sea level at Urmiberg. From here you can set off on a number of hikes to explore the Rigi area and enjoy stunning views, and there are biking trails for those interested.

But if you’d rather just appreciate the sights, you can sit down at the restaurant or have a barbecue instead. 

BUY YOUR LUCERNE TRAVEL PASS HERE

Suggested 3-Day Lucerne Itinerary

Purchasing the Lucerne Travel Pass can save you a considerable amount of money if you are spending a few days in Lucerne and the surrounding area as this suggested 3-day itinerary shows.

Day 1 – Mt. Pilatus or Mt. Stanserhorn excursion

• Excursion to Mt. Pilatus or Mt. Stanserhorn (late April to November only)

Day 2 – Lake Lucerne Cruise and Mt. Rigi Excursion

• Excursion to Mt. Rigi via boat, cogwheel train and cableway

Day 3 – Interlaken and Brienz Rothorn Excursion

• GoldenPass Line train (Luzern-Interlaken Express) to Interlaken and return
• Brienz Rothorn Bahn

CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR LUCERNE TRAVEL PASS

Lucerne Travel Pass vs Swiss Pass vs Individual Tickets

The Swiss Travel Pass is, of course, another fantastic pass you can purchase to travel around Switzerland.  If you plan on visiting other regions within Switzerland, then in most cases the Swiss Travel Pass is going to offer much better value for you. 

However, if your trip is simply to explore the Lake Lucerne Region, the Lucerne Travel Pass most likely will be the better option.

One thing is for sure though, either the Lucerne Travel Pass or the Swiss Travel Pass will provide much better value than individual transport tickets.  When it comes to purchasing individual tickets for Switzerland train trips, there are many variables that determine the price. 

The main factor is when you book the tickets as well as the timing of the actual train travel.  Booking last minute tickets tends to be the most expensive, which means you can’t be very flexible with your travel.

The benefit of having either the Lucerne Travel Pass or the Swiss Travel Pass is that not only will you save money (which I can pretty much guarantee you will), but you can also be more flexible with your travel. 

You could even simply turn up at the station and jump on a train – however, keep in mind that a seat may not always be available for you if you don’t make an advance booking.

Also remember that with the Lucerne Travel Pass you also receive discounts at a range of attractions and with the Swiss Travel Pass, many attractions are fully included so that you will get free entry into a range of places as well.

Planning a trip to Switzerland?

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To determine whether the Lucerne Travel Pass vs Swiss Pass vs individual tickets are best, you can use our digital rail pass comparison calculator (get it here) or complete the following tasks:

• list out all the individual train, bus, boat and cable car trips in Switzerland you intend to take and using the SBB site find out how much it would cost for point to point tickets (just keep in mind that the cost of tickets tend to increase the closer to the time of travel);
  
• list out all the attractions you plan on visiting and look up the admission costs on the attraction’s websites (or refer to the prices listed above); and
  
• add up the totals from above and compare this total to the cost of the Lucerne Travel Pass or Swiss Travel Pass options mentioned above.

If the cost of the individual transport tickets and attractions you plan on visiting are more than the passes, then you will benefit from purchasing a pass.

Where is the best place to buy a Lucerne Travel Pass?

While you can buy your Lucerne Travel Pass at over 80 sales outlets across Central Switzerland, to start using your pass as soon as you arrive in the Lake Lucerne Region, the best place to buy Lucerne Travel Pass is online.

CLICK HERE to purchase your Lucerne Travel Pass and then, as soon as you arrive in Central Switzerland you can start taking advantage of all the benefits that come with the pass.

Is the Lucerne Travel Pass worth it?

The answer depends on how many days you will be spending in Central Switzerland and how many mountain excursions and attractions you want to include in your itinerary.

As you can see from our 3-day itinerary example above, the Lucerne Travel Pass can definitely save you a considerable amount of money.

Of course if you already have (or plan to buy) a Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Half Fare Card or Berner Oberland Pass, it may not be beneficial to also buy a Lucerne Travel Pass.

In our opinion, the Lucerne Travel Pass is definitely worth your consideration. Ready to buy yours? Get it here.

🇨🇭 Ready to book your trip to Lucerne? You’ll find lots more helpful info in all our Lucerne travel guides.