Rigi Tickets 2026: Prices, Round Trip from Lucerne and Who Rides Free

Rigi tickets cost CHF 84 for a day pass on all Rigi railways in 2026 (about US$102), CHF 42 with a Half Fare Card, and nothing at all with a Swiss Travel Pass: Rigi is one of the three mountains the pass covers completely, together with Stanserhorn and Stoos. The classic outing from Lucerne is a round trip by boat to Vitznau, up Europe’s oldest mountain railway to Rigi Kulm at 1,797 metres, and back down to Weggis or Arth-Goldau; Swiss Activities sells it as one ticket for CHF 137. Before you buy that package, check two cheaper routes that most guides miss: the SBB Saver Day Pass, which Rigi Bahnen accepts as a free ticket, and the Lucerne Travel Pass. Below you find all 2026 prices, which ticket fits your trip, the three ways up and how to plan the day. To be clear: we have not been on Rigi ourselves. Our July 2026 trip was in the Bernese Oberland, so this is a planning guide based on Rigi Bahnen’s 2026 prices and timetables, checked in October 2026.

What Rigi is and why it is so popular

Rigi is a free-standing mountain massif between three lakes, about 25 kilometres east of Lucerne, and its summit Rigi Kulm at 1,797 metres gives one of the widest panoramas in Central Switzerland: Lake Lucerne below, the chain of the Alps to the south and the lowlands to the north. The Swiss call it the “Queen of the Mountains”.

Two things make Rigi special for visitors. First, the railway history: the line from Vitznau opened in 1871 as the first mountain railway in Europe, and the second cogwheel line from Arth-Goldau followed soon after. Today both run with red and blue trains up to the summit station right below the Rigi Kulm hotel. Second, Rigi is gentle. There are no glaciers and no 3,000-metre heights, but meadows, easy panoramic paths and several villages on the mountain, such as Rigi Kaltbad with its mineral bath. That makes it a good mountain for families, older travellers and anyone who prefers walking to climbing.

The third reason is money. Rigi is free with the Swiss Travel Pass, so many international visitors with a pass pick Rigi as their Lucerne mountain day. On a clear day you look down on a whole series of lakes; Swiss Activities’ description counts around thirteen.

Rigi ticket prices 2026

In 2026 the Rigi day pass costs CHF 84 for adults and is valid on all cogwheel railways and cable cars of Rigi Bahnen for one day; with a Half Fare Card it costs CHF 42. A one-way ride from Vitznau or Arth-Goldau to Rigi Kulm costs CHF 52, so the day pass is already the return price.

All prices are per person in Swiss francs. Children aged 6 to 15 travelling alone, students up to 24 and Eurail or Interrail holders get 50 percent off; holders of a guest card from Lucerne, Weggis, Vitznau and the Schwyz region get 20 percent. Dogs ride free if they follow the rules of conduct. Rigi Bahnen also sell a 365-day pass for frequent visitors, which is irrelevant for most travellers.

Who rides Rigi for free

You ride all Rigi railways free with a Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Travel Pass Flex, a GA travelcard, an SBB Day Pass, an SBB Saver Day Pass, a municipal day pass or the Lucerne Travel Pass. Children up to 15 travelling with an adult are free as well. With any of these you do not need to buy or exchange a ticket.

This list matters, because it is longer than most visitors think. The Swiss Travel Pass is the famous one, but the Saver Day Pass is the clever one: Rigi Bahnen accept it as a free ticket, and it also covers the train to Arth-Goldau or the boat to Vitznau. Booked early, the SBB Saver Day Pass costs from CHF 52 in second class, or from CHF 29 with a Half Fare Card. The cheapest days sell out, and the ticket is tied to its date and not refundable, but for a fixed Rigi day it can beat every Rigi package. Our guide to the Saver Day Pass explains how to get it.

If your Swiss Travel Pass is a Flex pass, the day you go up Rigi must be one of your activated travel days. A Swiss Transfer Ticket from the airport to your hotel is also accepted, according to Rigi Bahnen, but only on the way to your accommodation.

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The cheapest ticket for your trip

With a Swiss Travel Pass or Lucerne Travel Pass you pay nothing; without a pass the cheapest option is often an early-booked Saver Day Pass from CHF 52 that covers the boat, the train and Rigi; with a Half Fare Card the day pass costs CHF 42 plus half-price boat or train.

How the CHF 137 round trip compares: the boat from Lucerne to Vitznau costs CHF 31 one way at full fare, the Rigi day pass CHF 84, and the way back from Weggis or Arth-Goldau adds a few francs more. The package saves you the planning more than money. Its real advantage is simplicity: one mobile ticket, free cancellation up to 24 hours before, and no need to look up which boat connects.

Should you buy a Swiss Travel Pass just for Rigi? No. One free mountain does not pay for a pass that costs CHF 254 for three days. But if you are already weighing the pass for your whole trip, Rigi is one of the items that tips the balance; our Swiss Travel Pass maths counts it in. And if you stay three or more days in Lucerne, the Lucerne Travel Pass from CHF 240 makes Rigi, Pilatus, Titlis and the lake boats free.

Three ways up and the classic round trip

You can go up Rigi by cogwheel railway from Vitznau on Lake Lucerne, by cogwheel railway from Arth-Goldau on the main north-south rail line, or by cable car from Weggis to Rigi Kaltbad. The classic round trip from Lucerne combines a boat up the lake, one way up and another way down.

• From Vitznau (Vitznau-Rigi Railway): red trains, 32 minutes to Rigi Kulm according to the timetable, with stops at Rigi Kaltbad and Rigi Staffel. Vitznau is reached from Lucerne by boat in about an hour, or by train and bus. Two covered car parks are 100 and 250 metres from the valley station.
• From Arth-Goldau (Arth-Rigi Railway): blue trains, about 40 minutes to Rigi Kulm. Arth-Goldau is a main railway hub, 27 to 32 minutes from Lucerne by train and directly connected from Zurich. This is the fastest way up by rail.
• From Weggis (cable car to Rigi Kaltbad): the aerial cableway takes about 10 minutes to Rigi Kaltbad, where you change to the Vitznau train for the last section to the summit.

The classic round trip: boat from Lucerne to Vitznau, train up to Rigi Kulm, down on foot or by train to Rigi Kaltbad, cable car to Weggis and boat back to Lucerne. Swiss Activities recommends the 9:12 boat from Lucerne so that you have enough time on the mountain. The alternative return via Arth-Goldau is quicker: train down, then 27 to 32 minutes by train to Lucerne.

How to plan your Rigi day

Plan five to seven hours for a Rigi day from Lucerne with the boat, or three to four hours if you go by train via Arth-Goldau and only visit the summit. Start early in summer, because the first boats and trains are much quieter than midday.

• At Rigi Kulm: the summit is a few minutes’ walk from the station, with the hotel, a restaurant and a 360-degree view. Sunrise and sunset from the summit are famous; for sunrise you need to stay overnight on the mountain.
• Walk down a section: the paths between Rigi Kulm, Rigi Staffel and Rigi Kaltbad are wide and easy. Walking one or two sections down and taking the train from there is the best way to see the mountain. The trains stop at every station, and the day pass lets you hop on and off.
• Rigi Kaltbad: a car-free mountain village with the mineral bath and spa designed by Mario Botta. Swiss Activities sells entry plus Rigi day pass for CHF 92.
• Rigi Scheidegg: the quieter eastern end of the massif, reached by cable car from Kräbel on the Arth-Goldau line.

Weather matters, but in a different way than on high mountains: in autumn and winter Rigi often rises above the sea of fog that covers Lucerne, and the summit is sunny while the city is grey. Check the Rigi webcams on rigi.ch in the morning. In summer, clouds can build up around midday, so morning views are usually clearer.

Rigi in winter

Rigi is open all year. In winter the cogwheel railways and the Weggis cable car keep running, and the mountain is used for sledging, winter hiking and some small ski areas. Swiss Activities sells a sledging day ticket including the railways from CHF 84 and a Rigi ski day pass from CHF 84.

A winter day on Rigi is one of the easiest ways to get above the fog in December or January without a long journey. With a Swiss Travel Pass the railways stay free in winter; sled rental is extra. If you plan a whole winter trip by train, our guide to Switzerland in winter by train shows what runs and what closes.

Where to buy tickets

You can buy Rigi tickets at the valley stations, in the Rigi Bahnen web shop or at Swiss Activities, which sells the day pass for the same CHF 84 as the operator and the round trip from Lucerne for CHF 137, both with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

We link Swiss Activities because the booking is in English, the ticket is a mobile ticket, and the round trip combines boat and railways in one booking. If you have a Swiss Travel Pass, GA or Saver Day Pass, you need no Rigi ticket at all; just show your pass to the conductor. With a Half Fare Card, select the half-fare option when you book. Swiss Activities shows US dollar prices on its US site that can be slightly above our conversion; you can switch the currency to Swiss francs.

Rigi tickets: day pass, round trip and spa

Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Anidaat

via Swiss Activities

Rigi day pass: all cogwheel railways and cable cars

Valid from Vitznau, Arth-Goldau, Weggis and Kräbel. Not needed with a Swiss Travel Pass.

from CHF 84 (Oct 2026)

Check prices & availability

Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Anidaat

via Swiss Activities

Rigi round trip from Lucerne: boat and all Rigi railways

Boat to Vitznau, cogwheel railway up, back via Weggis or Vitznau by boat. Free cancellation up to 24 h before.

from CHF 137 (Oct 2026)

Check prices & availability

Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Anidaat

via Swiss Activities

Rigi Kaltbad mineral bath and spa with Rigi day pass

Entry to the Mario Botta spa plus all Rigi railways for the day.

from CHF 92 (Oct 2026)

Check prices & availability

Ad: affiliate links. If you book, we earn a commission. The price stays the same for you. More

Is Rigi worth it, and for whom?

Rigi is clearly worth it if you have a Swiss Travel Pass, a Lucerne Travel Pass or a Saver Day Pass, because the whole day costs nothing extra. Without a pass it is still good value at CHF 84 for families, walkers and anyone who wants a relaxed lake-and-mountain day rather than high-alpine drama.

• Worth it: pass holders; families, because children up to 15 ride free with an adult; walkers who want easy panoramic paths; a sunny day above the autumn fog.
• Think twice: if you want rock and steepness, Pilatus with the Golden Round Trip is more dramatic; if you want snow and glacier, the Titlis is the summer snow mountain near Lucerne.
• Not worth it: a day of low cloud without the chance of rising above it; check the webcam first.

Rigi or Pilatus? With a Swiss Travel Pass, Rigi is free and Pilatus costs CHF 42 for the mountain part. Without a pass, the Rigi day pass costs CHF 84, the Pilatus Golden Round Trip CHF 119.80. Rigi is the better mountain for walking and for families, Pilatus the better railway thrill.

Honest downsides

The main downsides of Rigi are crowds on fine summer weekends, a summit area that feels busy around the station, and a lower height that means less snow and no glacier.

• Crowds: because Rigi is free with several passes and close to Lucerne and Zurich, trains around midday on sunny weekends are full. Go early or on a weekday.
• Not high-alpine: at 1,797 metres you look at the big Alps from a distance. If you want to stand among glaciers, Rigi is the wrong mountain.
• The package is not a bargain: the CHF 137 round trip mainly buys convenience. If you plan well, a Saver Day Pass or separate tickets cost less.
• Fog can work against you: the same fog that makes autumn days magical can also sit on the summit itself.

FAQ: Rigi tickets

How much does Rigi cost in 2026?

The Rigi day pass costs CHF 84 for adults and CHF 42 with a Half Fare Card. The round trip from Lucerne with boat costs CHF 137 at Swiss Activities.

Is Rigi free with the Swiss Travel Pass?

Yes. All Rigi railways are free with the Swiss Travel Pass and Swiss Travel Pass Flex (on an activated day), and so is the boat from Lucerne to Vitznau.

Is the Saver Day Pass valid on Rigi?

Yes. Rigi Bahnen list the SBB Saver Day Pass and the SBB Day Pass among the tickets that ride free. You need no extra Rigi ticket.

Which is the best way up Rigi from Lucerne?

The most scenic is the boat to Vitznau and the cogwheel railway from there. The fastest is the train to Arth-Goldau, 27 to 32 minutes, and the cogwheel railway from Arth-Goldau.

Do children pay on Rigi?

Children up to and including 15 years travel free on the Rigi railways when accompanied by an adult. Children travelling alone pay half price.

Can I go up Rigi in winter?

Yes. Rigi is open all year, with sledging and winter hiking. The railways are free with the Swiss Travel Pass in winter too.

Check Rigi tickets and round trips →

Rigi is the gentlest of the classic mountains around Lucerne. Compare it with the others in our guide to Swiss mountain railways and excursions, combine it with a cruise from our Lake Lucerne boat guide, and if you only have one day from Zurich, our day trips from Zurich show the options. Our own travels are in the Bernese Oberland guide, and every destination starts on the Swiss Detours home page.