Lake Lucerne Cruise 2026: Boat Prices, Day Pass, Paddle Steamers and Lunch Cruise
+4A Lake Lucerne cruise from Lucerne costs CHF 31 one way to Vitznau, CHF 46 to Brunnen and CHF 53 to Flüelen in 2026 (about US$38, US$56 and US$64), and the day pass for all scheduled boats costs CHF 86 (about US$104), CHF 43 with a Half Fare Card. The boats run all year, and the Swiss Travel Pass, the GA and the Lucerne Travel Pass include them. The classic trip is Lucerne to Vitznau in about an hour, then up the Rigi by cogwheel railway; the longest and most dramatic is the full lake to Flüelen on the Lake of Uri, about 2 hours 45 minutes. Below you find the 2026 fares, which ticket is cheapest for your plan, how to catch one of the five paddle steamers, and what the lunch cruise costs. About our sources: we spent July 2026 on Lake Brienz in the Bernese Oberland and watched the boats there, but did not take a Lake Lucerne cruise on this trip, so the facts here come from the operator SGV and Swiss Activities, checked in October 2026.
Official SGV boat tickets at the SGV fare: day pass from CHF 86 (about US$104), Lucerne to Vitznau from CHF 31, free cancellation up to 24 hours before (Oct 2026).
Check Lake Lucerne boat ticketsLake Lucerne cruise at a glance
| Operator | SGV (Lake Lucerne Navigation Company), motor ships and five historic paddle steamers |
|---|---|
| Season | All year; full timetable in summer, reduced in winter (Lucerne, Weggis and Vitznau served year-round) |
| Travel times from Lucerne | Bürgenstock 25 min, Weggis 41 min, Vitznau about 1 hour, Brunnen about 2 hours, Flüelen about 2 hours 45 minutes |
| Single fares 2026 | Weggis CHF 23, Vitznau CHF 31, Brunnen CHF 46, Flüelen CHF 53 (2nd class) |
| Day pass | CHF 86 (≈ US$104), Half Fare Card CHF 43; winter day pass November 1 to March 31 CHF 53 |
| Lunch cruise | 2 hours, 1st class, three courses, from CHF 117.50 (≈ US$142) |
| Free with | Swiss Travel Pass, GA, Lucerne Travel Pass (scheduled boats) |
| Discount | Half Fare Card 50 percent; children 6 to 15 half price, day pass CHF 12 |
| Dogs | CHF 10 one way, CHF 12 all day; small dogs in a carrier free; not on dining cruises |
Fares from the SGV price list and Swiss Activities (checked October 19, 2026); travel times from the SBB timetable. US dollars at 1 CHF = 1.21 USD.
Routes and travel times
All Lake Lucerne cruises start at the landing stages in front of Lucerne station, on the Bahnhofquai. From there the boats fan out across the lake: west to Kehrsiten for the Bürgenstock, east along the Rigi shore to Weggis and Vitznau, and on to Brunnen and through the Lake of Uri to Flüelen. Seasonal boats also run to Alpnachstad for the Pilatus.
| From Lucerne to | Travel time | What is there |
|---|---|---|
| Kehrsiten-Bürgenstock | 25 minutes | Funicular up to the Bürgenstock resort and cliff walk |
| Weggis | 41 minutes | Lakeside village, cable car to Rigi Kaltbad |
| Vitznau | about 1 hour | Cogwheel railway up the Rigi |
| Brunnen | about 2 hours | Gateway to the Lake of Uri, train connections |
| Flüelen | about 2 hours 45 minutes | End of the lake; connection to the Gotthard line |
| Alpnachstad | seasonal, May to October | Cogwheel railway up the Pilatus |
The travel times are from the SBB timetable for a weekday in late October 2026; in summer the boats run more often and some routes are faster or slower depending on the ship and the stops. The Lake of Uri between Brunnen and Flüelen is the fjord-like southern arm, with steep rock walls, the Rütli meadow where Switzerland was founded according to tradition, and the Tell Chapel on the shore. If you only have time for one long trip, this is the stretch.
Ticket prices 2026
A single ticket from Lucerne costs CHF 23 to Weggis, CHF 31 to Vitznau, CHF 46 to Brunnen and CHF 53 to Flüelen in second class, and the day pass costs CHF 86. Holders of a Half Fare Card pay half, children from 6 to 15 pay half, children under 6 ride free.
| Route (2026, 2nd class) | One way | Return | With Half Fare Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucerne to Weggis | CHF 23 (≈ US$28) | CHF 43 | CHF 11.50 / 21.50 |
| Lucerne to Vitznau | CHF 31 (≈ US$38) | CHF 53 (≈ US$64) | CHF 15.50 / 26.50 |
| Lucerne to Brunnen | CHF 46 (≈ US$56) | CHF 77 | CHF 23 / 38.50 |
| Lucerne to Flüelen | CHF 53 (≈ US$64) | CHF 86 (≈ US$104) | CHF 26.50 / 43 |
| Day pass, all scheduled boats | CHF 86 (≈ US$104); 1st class CHF 134 | CHF 43 | |
| Winter day pass, November 1 to March 31 | CHF 53 | CHF 43 | |
| Day pass with Lucerne guest card | CHF 68.80; 1st class CHF 107.20 | no | |
| Day pass Lake of Uri only | CHF 52 | CHF 26 | |
| Upgrade to 1st class for the day | CHF 48 | CHF 24 | |
The children’s day pass costs CHF 12 in second class. In the Swiss Activities booking system the route tickets also showed a slightly higher price level for some dates, for example CHF 33 instead of CHF 31 to Vitznau, so check the price for your travel date. SGV sells tickets on board, at the ticket offices in Lucerne and Weggis, and seasonally in Brunnen and Vitznau; Swiss Activities sells the same tickets online at the same fare.
If you stay overnight in Lucerne, ask your hotel for the guest card: with it the day pass costs CHF 68.80 instead of CHF 86.
Which ticket is cheapest for you?
For Lucerne to Vitznau and back, buy a return ticket at CHF 53; for the full lake to Flüelen and back, the day pass costs the same as the return and lets you hop off; and if you have a Swiss Travel Pass, GA or Lucerne Travel Pass, buy nothing. Hotel guests save most with the guest card day pass.
| Your plan (adult, 2nd class) | Single or return tickets | Day pass | Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucerne to Vitznau and back | CHF 53 | CHF 86 | Return, CHF 33 less |
| Lucerne to Vitznau, Rigi, back from Weggis | CHF 31 + 23 = CHF 54 plus Rigi | CHF 86 plus Rigi | Two singles, or the Rigi round trip ticket |
| Lucerne to Flüelen and back | CHF 86 | CHF 86 | Day pass, same price but hop-on hop-off |
| Lucerne to Flüelen, train back | CHF 53 plus train | CHF 86 plus train | Single boat ticket |
| Hotel guest in Lucerne, several stops | varies | CHF 68.80 with guest card | Guest card day pass |
| Winter, November to March | varies | CHF 53 | Winter day pass from two longer legs |
With a Half Fare Card all numbers halve, but the winter day pass stays at CHF 43, so in winter Half Fare holders gain nothing from it. For two or three days around Lucerne with Rigi and Pilatus, compare the Lucerne Travel Pass, which includes all scheduled boats and most mountains of Central Switzerland from CHF 240.
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The paddle steamers
SGV runs five historic paddle steamers on Lake Lucerne, the largest such fleet in Switzerland: Uri, the oldest, Unterwalden, Schiller, Gallia and the flagship Stadt Luzern with its Art Deco salon. On scheduled runs you ride them with a normal ticket or pass at no extra charge.
Which ship sails which run changes with the season and the day, so look for the steamer symbol in the SGV online timetable when you plan. In summer the chance is highest on the longer runs towards Brunnen and Flüelen and on weekends; in winter mostly motor ships run. The steamers are slower than the motor ships, which on a trip like Lucerne to Flüelen is part of the pleasure: you watch the engine room through the windows and the paddle wheels from the deck.
The lunch cruise
The Lake Lucerne lunch cruise is a two-hour round trip from Lucerne in first class with a three-course menu, mineral water and coffee or tea, from CHF 117.50 for adults (about US$142). It runs all year, leaving Lucerne at 12:00 and returning at 13:47.
- Price: CHF 117.50 for adults, CHF 86 for children 6 to 15. With a Half Fare Card CHF 111, with a GA or Swiss Travel Pass CHF 70, because the boat ride itself is covered. On some dates the system showed higher levels (CHF 122, or CHF 87.50 to 89 with a pass).
- Boarding: at 11:50 at pier 3 in summer and pier 1 in winter, in front of Lucerne station.
- Menu: seasonal, vegetarian or with meat, changing four times a year; other drinks extra.
- Dogs: not allowed on dining cruises.
Is it worth it? If you want lunch anyway and like the idea of eating on the water, yes: a three-course lunch in Lucerne costs a good part of this, and you get the view of Pilatus, Bürgenstock and Rigi. If you mainly want to see the lake, a scheduled boat to Vitznau with a picnic is far cheaper.
Official SGV boat tickets at the SGV fare: day pass from CHF 86 (about US$104), Lucerne to Vitznau from CHF 31, free cancellation up to 24 hours before (Oct 2026).
Check Lake Lucerne boat ticketsBoat plus mountain: Rigi, Pilatus, Bürgenstock
The best Lake Lucerne days combine the boat with a mountain. The three classics are the Rigi via Vitznau, the Pilatus Golden Round Trip via Alpnachstad, and the Bürgenstock via Kehrsiten, all starting from the landing at Lucerne station.
- Rigi: boat to Vitznau, cogwheel railway to Rigi Kulm, down by cable car to Weggis and boat back. Swiss Activities sells the round trip from Lucerne from CHF 137; with the Swiss Travel Pass the whole loop is free. Our Rigi guide has the details.
- Pilatus Golden Round Trip: boat to Alpnachstad, the world’s steepest cogwheel railway up, cable cars down to Kriens, bus back to Lucerne, from CHF 119.80. It runs from May to October; from October 19 to November 27, 2026 the cable cars are closed for maintenance. See our Pilatus guide.
- Bürgenstock: 25 minutes by boat to Kehrsiten, then the funicular to the resort and the cliff path with the Hammetschwand lift.
- Gotthard Panorama Express: boat from Lucerne to Flüelen, then the panoramic train over the old Gotthard line to Lugano, first class with boat, seat and table reservation CHF 164; in 2026 from April 18 to October 18. Details in our guide to the Gotthard Panorama Express.
Swiss Travel Pass and other passes
The scheduled Lake Lucerne boats are free with the Swiss Travel Pass, the GA and the Lucerne Travel Pass, and half price with the Half Fare Card. The Saver Day Pass is also valid on the boats. Dining cruises and special trips are not covered, but pass holders get a reduced price.
- Swiss Travel Pass: all regular SGV boats included in the class of your pass; 1st class upgrades are available on board. Whether the pass pays off overall is a separate question; see our Swiss Travel Pass guide.
- Lucerne Travel Pass: the regional pass for Central Switzerland, from CHF 240 for three days, with the boats, Rigi, Pilatus, Titlis and more.
- Half Fare Card: 50 percent on route tickets and the regular day pass; see our Half Fare Card guide.
- Saver Day Pass: from CHF 52 for a whole day of trains, buses and boats, booked in advance; see our Saver Day Pass guide.
Our overview of Swiss rail passes compares all of them for different trips.
Travelling without a car? The Swiss Travel Pass covers trains, buses and boats across the country and gives discounts on many mountain railways. Our pass guide shows when it pays off. Tip: Klook often shows discount codes at checkout (in October 2026 for example 5% off orders over US$300); whether one applies to the pass you see in the cart.
Check Swiss Travel Pass pricesLake Lucerne in winter
Unlike Lake Brienz, Lake Lucerne has boats all year. From November to March there is a reduced timetable with mostly motor ships, Lucerne, Weggis and Vitznau are served every day, and the winter day pass costs CHF 53. The lunch cruise also runs in winter, from pier 1.
A winter cruise is a good option on a grey day in Lucerne, when the mountains are in cloud but the lake is calm. SGV also sells special winter cruises on its website; those are separate products with their own prices. For a whole winter trip by train, see our guide to Switzerland in winter by train.
Lake Lucerne or Lake Brienz?
Lake Lucerne is the bigger, more varied lake with five arms, a city, three famous mountains and boats all year; Lake Brienz is smaller, quieter and more turquoise, with boats only from April to early December. If you are in Lucerne, take a Lake Lucerne boat; if you are in Interlaken, Lake Brienz is the easy choice.
We know Lake Brienz well from our week in Brienz in July 2026. On July 10 we watched the paddle steamer Lötschberg arrive at Iseltwald, packed with passengers, and the turquoise water there is something Lake Lucerne does not quite match. Lake Lucerne wins on variety: you can go from a city quay to a fjord in under three hours. Our guide to the Lake Brienz boat trip compares the fares there.
Honest downsides
Lake Lucerne boats are slow, there are no seat reservations on scheduled runs, and in summer the popular departures are crowded. The longer trips take most of a day, and the paddle steamers do not run on a fixed daily schedule.
- Time: Lucerne to Flüelen takes about 2 hours 45 minutes; the train back from Flüelen is much faster.
- Crowds: midday summer departures to Vitznau fill up with Rigi visitors.
- Steamers not guaranteed: the assigned ship can change; check the timetable on the day.
- Pilatus boat seasonal: no boats to Alpnachstad outside May to October.
- Accessibility: according to SGV, all ships except the MS Rütli are wheelchair accessible.
With a dog, Lake Lucerne is easy on the scheduled boats: CHF 10 one way or CHF 12 for the day, small dogs in a carrier free, the SBB dog day pass is valid. Dogs are not allowed on dining cruises. More in our guide to the Bernese Oberland with a dog, which covers Swiss rules in general.
Lake Lucerne tickets
You can buy every scheduled boat ticket on board. If you want it sorted in advance, Swiss Activities sells the official SGV tickets at the SGV fare, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before:
All scheduled SGV boats for one day, hop on and off; CHF 43 with Half Fare Card.
Check prices & availabilityAbout one hour along the Rigi shore; return CHF 53. Start of the Rigi cogwheel railway.
Check prices & availabilityThe whole lake including the Lake of Uri, about 2 hours 45 minutes; often a paddle steamer in summer.
Check prices & availabilityTwo hours in 1st class with a three-course menu, all year, 12:00 from Lucerne; CHF 70 with Swiss Travel Pass.
Check prices & availabilityBoat to Vitznau, cogwheel railway up, down via Weggis or Arth-Goldau, self-guided.
Check prices & availabilityOfficial SGV boat tickets at the SGV fare: day pass from CHF 86 (about US$104), Lucerne to Vitznau from CHF 31, free cancellation up to 24 hours before (Oct 2026).
Check Lake Lucerne boat ticketsFAQ: Lake Lucerne cruise
How much is a Lake Lucerne cruise in 2026?
From Lucerne CHF 31 one way to Vitznau, CHF 53 to Flüelen, in second class. The day pass costs CHF 86, CHF 43 with a Half Fare Card, and CHF 53 in winter.
Is the Lake Lucerne boat free with the Swiss Travel Pass?
Yes, all scheduled SGV boats are included. Dining cruises such as the lunch cruise cost extra, at a reduced price for pass holders.
How long is the boat from Lucerne to Vitznau?
About one hour. From Vitznau the cogwheel railway goes up the Rigi.
Do Lake Lucerne boats run in winter?
Yes. From November to March there is a reduced timetable, Lucerne, Weggis and Vitznau are served daily, and the winter day pass costs CHF 53.
How do I find a paddle steamer?
Look for the steamer symbol in the SGV online timetable. In summer the steamers run most often on the longer routes and at weekends.
Is the lunch cruise worth it?
If you want lunch on the water, yes: CHF 117.50 for two hours in first class with a three-course menu, CHF 70 with a Swiss Travel Pass.
Lake Lucerne is the heart of Central Switzerland. Combine it with Pilatus or the Rigi, compare all mountain excursions in our overview of Swiss mountain railways, and for the turquoise lake of the Bernese Oberland see our Lake Brienz boat guide. More trips start on the Swiss Detours home page.
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