15 Boat Tours in Lucerne to Build a Day Around

1.Mt. Pilatus Cable Car, Cogwheel Train & Lake Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,338 reviews · 5.5 hours · from $212Our pick

Cable car and Dragon Ride up Mt. Pilatus, steep cogwheel train down, and a Lake Lucerne cruise back, guided from Lucerne.

“The trip was fantastic and our guide was great. The scenery riding up the Gondola and the Tram to the top of Mt Pilatus was spectacular. We were even blessed with the first snow of the season once we got to the top. The views were breathtaking. The Cog Wheel train ride down a unique experience and of the course the boat ride back to Lucerne was awesome. Highly recommend this tour”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Mount Pilatus Summit from Lucerne With Lake Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,260 reviews · 5 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $223

Take the Dragon Ride up Mount Pilatus, ride the steepest cogwheel train down, then cruise Lake Lucerne when in season.

“Enjoyed the cable car and gondola up the mountain and the cogwheel down the mountain. Sites on top were amazing!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Round-Trip Catamaran Cruise on Lake Lucerne

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,169 reviews · 1 hour

1-hour round-trip catamaran on Lake Lucerne from Brücke 3, with panoramic views of Pilatus, Rigi, and Bürgenstock.

“Great opportunity to photograph all the amazing scenery and architecture, in and around Lucerne. Weather was amazing.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Lucerne Walking & Boat Tour: The Best Swiss Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 417 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $118

Small-group Lucerne walking tour plus an optional Lake Lucerne boat cruise, covering Chapel Bridge, towers, and fortifications in 3 hours.

“House Laszlo did great job, adjusted pace of tour to our walking speed, and provided lots of interesting comments. Covered all major spots, in little over 2 hour tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Lake Lucerne 1-Hour Catamaran Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 98 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $36Best value

A quick Lake Lucerne cruise out to Kehrsiten-Bürgenstock and back. WiFi onboard, calm views, but expect a quiet ferry vibe.

“Exceptional way to see Lucern. The reservation online process was easy. The front Tod the boat gives the best views.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Independent Rigi Tour from Lucerne With Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 86 reviews · 4 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $173

Independent Mount Rigi day trip from Lucerne with a Lake Lucerne cruise, cogwheel train to Rigi Kulm, and cable car to Weggis.

“Loved the trip. Cog railway was great. Went through the clouds and into the sun and snow capped mountains. Just wish we had scheduled more time at the top.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Mt. Rigi Self-Guided Tour: Lake Lucerne Cruise and Mountain Spa

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 83 reviews · 7 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $211

Cruise Lake Lucerne, ride Europe’s first cogwheel railway to Mt. Rigi, then soak at Rigi Kaltbad mineral spa.

“The experience was very easy as far as getting to where we needed to be. It was great to not have a schedule - we could do this at our own pace. The cable car experience from Kaltbad to Weggis was very very crowded - packed in like sardines so if you’re last to get on (like us) you have absolutely no view except your neighbor’s armpit. 🫤 That could have been done much better in my opinion. Otherwise the views were breathtaking from the top and lake is very beautiful from the boat.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Switzerland: Train, Bus, Boat Travel Pass Flex

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 74 reviews · 3 - 15 days · from $373

Swiss Travel Pass Flex lets you pick 3 to 15 travel days in a month, ride trains and boats, get free museums, and include Rigi, Stanserhorn, Stoos.

“The flexible option of the days was helpful . Ease of travelling , no hassle of buying tickets again and again”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Mount Rigi Day Trip with Cruise and Cable Car

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 67 reviews · 7 hours · from $186

Guided Mt. Rigi day trip from Lucerne with Lake Lucerne cruise, cogwheel train, and cable car for 360 views of the Alps.

“Very enjoyable! Ralph was a very pleasant guide and would recommend! Mount Rigi is breathtaking!”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Boat Trip, Mount Rigi Train, & Mineral Baths Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 60 reviews · 1 day · from $185

Lucerne boat cruise, Rigi cogwheel train, and Rigi Kaltbad mineral baths in one self-guided day with classic alpine views.

“I loved this day, everything about it was amazing except the coffee!”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Ingenbohl: Roundtrip Lake Uri Cruise from Brunnen to Flüelen

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 31 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $56

1.5-hour Lake Uri cruise from Brunnen to Flüelen, passing Rütli meadow and Tell's Chapel for cliffside views and an easy return.

“Very overpriced. It is just the local ferry that anyone can catch for a tiny fraction of the price. There was no information or guide”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Lucerne Half-Day Small Group Walking Tour incl. Lake Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 15 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $177

Small-group Lucerne old town walk plus a one-hour Lake Lucerne boat ride, with an English guide, included tickets, and an easy pace.

“The walking tour was informative and relaxed, with just the right amount of history and fun facts. Our guide Rudy is from Lucerne, was super friendly and made everyone feel welcome. The lake cruise at the end was a beautiful, peaceful finish, even we were on the shuttle boat as the panoramic boat does not yet operate.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Mt Rigi Day Trip with Cruise, Cable Car, & Train

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 13 reviews · 6 hours · from $217

Six-hour Mount Rigi day trip from Lucerne with cable car, cogwheel train, and Lake Lucerne cruise, plus summit time for views.

“The view of the snow covered Alps above the clouds was spectacular. It was even more impressive coming out of the clouds on the cable car into the winter wonderland. The boat ride around Lake Lucerne was interesting but could have avoided an embarrassing moment. We did not know our cruise tickets were for the 2nd class lounge and we asked to leave the 1st class lounge! As Americans we did not know!”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Panoramic E-Bike Tour with a Lake Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $729Top rated

Guided Swiss Knife Valley e-bike ride from Lucerne, stop at William Tell sites, optional knife center visit in Brunnen, then a 2-hour Lake cruise.

“Dave’s local knowledge was so helpful and welcomed! He showed us everything and was the perfect balance of explaining the Swiss culture without over explaining it :)”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Lucerne Private City Walk and Lake Cruise Half-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 4 hours · from $329

Private Lucerne old town walk plus a 1-hour Lake Lucerne cruise with a local guide, hotel pickup, and skip-the-line tickets.

Check availability →Read our full review