Mount Pilatus with kids - the steepest rack railway in the world

The rack railway from Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm has been running since 1889 and is known as the steepest rack railway in the world. The gradient reaches 48%, and the 4.6 km ride takes 27 minutes. You come down the other side of the mountain to Kriens near Lucerne by cable cars. We were here on 13 August 2024, during our campervan holiday through the Alps.

By train to Alpnachstad

Beza stayed at the campsite in Horw, and we took the train 8 km to Alpnachstad. At the station there is a huge photo of a red carriage on a rocky slope, so we knew straight away what was waiting for us.

Up by rack railway

The carriage climbs the rock very steeply. Our youngest did not mind at all: on the way up she fell asleep on dad's lap.

Pilatus Kulm

At the top there is an exhibition with stuffed ibexes and marmots, and from the terraces you can see Lake Lucerne, the city of Lucerne and the Alps.

By cable car to Kriens

We did not go back the same way. From Pilatus Kulm we took the cable cars down the other side of the mountain to Kriens. At the bottom station there is a wooden ibex, and our youngest had to give it lots of kisses. Then we took a bus for 4 km and were back at the campsite at 18:00.

It was our last day of sightseeing in Switzerland. The next day we drove to Liechtenstein.

Practical info

We checked this in November 2026.

Tickets

• One way from Alpnachstad or Kriens to Pilatus Kulm: adults 42 CHF, with the Swiss Half Fare Card and children aged 6-15 21 CHF.
• Golden Round Trip with a boat trip on the lake, in 2nd class: adults 119.80 CHF, with the Half Fare Card and children 59.90 CHF.
• In 2024 the trip from Alpnachstad to Kriens cost us 39 CHF per adult with the Half Fare Card, and the kids travelled for free with the Swiss Family Card.

Season

• The rack railway runs from May to November, in 2026 from 11 May to 29 November.
• In autumn the cable cars to Kriens close for a few weeks for maintenance, so check the timetable before you go.