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Zurich Tours
Mount Rigi Winter Day Trip from Zurich
4.5

Mount Rigi Winter Day Trip from Zurich

By Best Of Switzerland Tours
Recommended by 94% of travelers
94% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Visit Mount Rigi and Lucerne with this fuss-free day trip from Zurich. Perfect for those who want to see the mountain and lakeside city independently, the excursion packages round-trip transport, a cable car ride to the summit, a cogwheel train ride, and a boat cruise to Lucerne into one easy trip. Ample free time is factored in, so you get to discover the sites as you wish.

Ages 0-99, max of 48 per group
Duration: 9h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More

Highlights
  • Relax with prearranged travel plans to Mount Rigi and the lake city of Lucerne
  • Travel to Weggis with a guide
  • Avoid language difficulties with prebooked cable car, train, and boat tickets
  • Spend time in Lucerne Old Town as you wish, perhaps shopping or eating

  • Aerial cable car, cogwheel train
  • Boat ride from Vitznau to Lucerne
  • Transportation by air-conditioned coach from Zurich to Weggis and from Lucerne to Zurich
  • Partly guided tour by professional multilingual guide as per description
  • Carbon-balanced operations certified by myclimate
What's not included
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pick-up and drop off
  • Meals and drinks
  • Personal expenses

Leave the central Zurich starting point by coach, and gaze at the scenery as you travel to Mount Rigi, Central Switzerland’s mountain massif that’s flanked by lakes. Hop out at the alpine town of Weggis and ride up to the peak by cable car. As the chalets of Weggis slip into the distance, your views are replaced with the snowy vistas of the Swiss Alps. Pose for summit-level photos against a backdrop of lakes and mountains and use your free time to stroll around and soak up the views. Then, head back down the mountain by one of Europe’s earliest cogwheel trains and cruise over the lake to the city of Lucerne. After more free time to explore Lucerne Old Town, meet your guide for the journey back to Zurich, where your day trip ends at the starting point.

Start:
  • Best of Switzerland Tours AG, Sihlquai Coach Parking, Limmatstrasse 4, 8005 Zürich, Switzerland
    The official departure point for all tours departing from Zürich is Sihlquai Coach Terminal, close to Zurich’s main train station (Zürich HB). Please check in at least 15 minutes prior to departure at the white ticket office marked with “Best of Switzerland Tours” or “City Tours & Excursions”.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Near public transportation
    • Infant seats available
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3885SW305BW

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
    • 18.-22.11.2024 | 25.-29.11.2024 | 10.03-04.04.2025 | 17.11.-21.11.2025 | 24.11.-28.11.2025: the round-trip up and down Mt Rigi will be by cogwheel train due to cable car maintenance.
    • The tour is accompanied from Zurich to Weggis and from Lucerne to Zurich. For the individual stay in Mt Rigi and Lucerne, tickets and a written itinerary are provided.
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 48 travelers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3885SW305BW

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    Itinerary
    • Sihlquai Coach Parking, Limmatstrasse 4, 8005 Zürich, Switzerland
      The official departure point for all tours departing from Zürich is Sihlquai Coach Terminal, close to Zurich’s main train station (Zürich HB). Please check in at least 15 minutes prior to departure at the white ticket office marked with “Best of Switzerland Tours” or “City Tours & Excursions”.
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      Zurich
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      Zurich
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Best Of Switzerland Tours
      3,242
      Switzerland
      Joined in January 2011
    • ryansX8416PQ
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Jungfraujoch tour
      My wife and I went on two tours in January 2025: Jungfroujoch and Rhine Falls. Both tours were excellently led by Bruno and Monica, respectively. The tours were well organised and allowed us to visit these amazing areas with no stress or hassle. The tour guides were informative and provided great commentary on all aspects of the areas we saw, as well as general Swiss life. We highly recommend booking either of these tours!
      Written January 12, 2025
    • 259ravs
      0 contributions
      1.0 of 5 bubbles
      Services to mislead customers knowing the weather impacts their services
      This is a business that is false advertising online and over the counter. They are purposely selling services to mislead customers knowing the weather impacts their services with a rehearsed statement when customers complain. We arrived at the counter of Grindelwald-First - Top of Adventure to purchase two tickets for the Adventure pack (unlimited gondola rides + 2 activities). Only to be told told their website is not up to date and this can no longer be purchased anymore. Furthmore, the activities are now sold separately at each of the stops and only 'they' (assuming the providers) know their availability when you get there. To add more insult, the Mountain Carts and Trottibikes are now sold as 'summer' activities and no longer available in the winter. However, on their website it clearly states this as being winter and summer activies with date periods provided. I then mentioned we would only be seeing the First Cliff Walk presented by Tissot for the view, due to the lack of activities available to be told "that's fine and you will need a return ticket" We purchased two adults tickets £114 for the gondola ride. We were told First Cliff Walk presented by Tissot was 'free' to see. We got on to the gondola for it to be surrounded by clouds and frost on the exterior of the glass, unable to see any of the panoramic views. We then arrived at the final stop (First) to see the First Cliff Walk presented by Tissot for its views. We were incredibly disappointed as the view was hidden in a white cloud/mist, where we were unable to see anything at an arms length. We then returned back to the counter, mentioned we were unhappy and provided pictures and videos as evidence. We mentioned we would like to return tomorrow (exchange) or if it's possible to be provided with a refund. We were given a rehearsed statement by two seperate individuals both saying "it's non-refundable, as we provide tickets to only the gondolas and we fulfilled those services". However, I explained that I purchased the tickets to see the view and mentioned this to the sales advisor as the counter before purchasing tickets for the First Walk. I also stated that these tickets should not have been sold to customers as its unfair, knowing you are aware the weather/cloud impacts the view. I was told "it is not our obligation to tell customers, and to view cameras online before purchasing" or looking at their tiny LCD in the counter office in the corner. They were incredibly unhelpful and I was told there is nothing they could do. This is a business that is false advertising online and over the counter. They are purposely selling services to mislead customers knowing the weather impacts their services with a rehearsed statement when customers complain. The Swiss Commission for Fairness needs to take a stand to support tourism and prevent companies like this from misleading tourists.
      Written January 11, 2025
    • Cukie0905
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Breathtaking
      It was a great tour!!! Gonzálo, our guide was great, and he was very helpful and so attentive to the group the whole time. I highly recommend the tour!
      Written January 9, 2025
    • taim844
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Nice tour!
      My boys and I have fun on this tour. Our tour guide was excellent, very knowledgeable. The view on top of Mount Titlis is amazing!
      Written January 8, 2025
    • David G
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fun Five Hour Zürich Tour
      The city tour of Zurich included a short bus ride around the city to some great view points, a fun walking tour, boat ride and delicious tour of the Lindt Chocolate Factory. Five hours was enough to see everything and our tour guide, Sarinne, had gone to university in Zurich and knew the city well. Informative and fun.
      Written January 6, 2025
    • kasiakash
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Excellent experience, we took the late tour and it was Worth every penny.
      Excellent tour would highly recommend this company for any tour in Switzerland. The buses are clean, the service is extremely professional. We didn't book online and bought tickets at the Zurich central station however I would recommend making a reservation they do get fully booked rather fast.
      Written January 5, 2025
    • K_a_s_i_a_1331
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Excellent
      Excellent experience would highly recommend any tour by this company, can't wait to come back to Switzerland and do another tour.
      Written January 5, 2025
    • Carol74davison
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Better than expected. Particularly if you chose a perfect weather day!
      Loved our tour. It was better than promised. The weather was perfect. The views spectacular. Xia, our guide, kept us on time and perfectly informed. Her love of the area was infectious. And her love of chocolate 😀. We had the most phenomenal trip. Would strongly recommend this excursion. Xia was fantastic!
      Written January 4, 2025
    • bhawkllc
      0 contributions
      3.0 of 5 bubbles
      Leave early
      If you go here be sure to make lift reservations or you will be waiting two to three hours if you take the boat, which is a great boat ride, the reason for the 3 stars because of the wait not know until you get there. Then you have a very short time to get to the top then go to the next level down for more adventure things. The view from the top is awesome. Coming back and having to go back to Montruex you take the gondola down the mountain and walk about 1/2 mile to the bus. It is not very well marked to get to the bus stop. The bus you get on in the afternoon is very crowded. Not happy with the bus ride either, thus 3 stars. You must be on the first boat.
      Written January 4, 2025
    • Trek39506801124
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Overall great. Plan to be on a bus for 4-5 hours.
      Overall great experience. I would have loved a better description of what to expect. I would have packed differently. I was thinking it would be mostly a train ride with stops. A lot of time was spent on a bus and I was not expecting that. Also, the stops for lunch was short. Would have loved 30 minutes more in Interlaken. Had too much time at the final destination (Top of Europe). Guides were great.
      Written January 4, 2025
    • dashab2025
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      One of the coolest things I have ever done
      This excursion blew our minds! The views are impeccable. We are both scared of heights but still had a blast riding the 40 min lift up and down the mountain. So exciting being so high up. Don't miss the delicious restaurant - order the Kaizer Wiener. Sadly due to bad weather - the bridge was closed but we still got to go outside and look. Recommend dressing in layers and bringing hand warmers! We got our tickets on the Get Your Guide app.
      Written January 3, 2025
    • HARRIET D
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      An exhilarating experience!
      The excursion to Mt Titlis was outstanding from start to finish. Our tour guide, Dario was very knowledgeable & explained how to navigate the tour on our ride up to Mt Titlis from Lucerne. The day that we visited was very windy so the chair lift was closed for safety purposes. Dario made sure we were able to maximize our experience. If you’re on the fence about this tour, stop contemplating it & BOOK THE TOUR! We had an amazing time.
      Written January 2, 2025
    • smfrankie70
      0 contributions
      3.0 of 5 bubbles
      Not good in cold and rainy weather.
      Unfortunately it rained the entire time we were in the bus and near the falls. We couldn’t see outside. All in good humor. We found a pub and a lovely wine tasting to get out of the cold rain. Recommend not spending the time on the bus in cold and poor weather.
      Written January 2, 2025
    • James S
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing views in the winter!
      Very good day trip for my partner and I. Jungfraujoch was beautiful (we got there about an hour before a snow storm rolled in, we saw the views, got our pictures, then visibility went to 0). Ice palace was quite fun (bring good shoes!). -1 star only because of the price. Far too expensive for what was functionally no different than renting your own car and buying admission tickets to Jungfraujoch and the trains / cable car.
      Written January 2, 2025
    • WillBernz
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great bang for your buck
      Great opportunity to see Mt Titlis and participate in a few activities. Our tour guides were great (Maeve and Rolf), pickup was seamless. The coach was comfortable. The ride was roughly 45 minutes. Yhe tour company takes care of everything. One thing to note, you really can’t do all of the activities in the time allotted. So you will have to prioritize what you want to do we did the suspension bridge and ice flyer, but opted to eat instead of snow tubing. Sure, you can book all of this on your own and likely have more time but this was perfect. I would recommend if you want to get some snow time in without the hassle of research.
      Written January 2, 2025
    See all 3,242 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    4.5
    4.5 of 5 bubbles19 reviews
    Excellent
    15
    Very good
    3
    Average
    0
    Poor
    1
    Terrible
    0

    Petra
    9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2020 • Couples
    Mt Rigi is completely included as part of the Swiss Rail pass and includes the boat trip to the bade station of the cog train to the top and all the cable cars on the mountain. There are heaps of walking tracks and the most spectacular views over Vierwaldstaetter See (lake) and the surrounding mountains. There was snow on top.you don't need to pre book. Just buy a day ticket at the train station if you don't have the rail pass.
    Written January 23, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Sam W
    60 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    I have seen lots of views from all over the world ranging from New Zealand, Grand Canyon and Canada just to name a few with mountain landscape views and this one topped them all. It was amazing! Easy train from Zurich to Arth-Goldau only 40mins once an hour. Then from Arth-Goldau it’s another 40mins in a mountain train up to the summit. You can also hike instead of a train in under 3hours I wouldn’t recommend in the snowy months. The train was beautifully scenic it’s 72 per person for a day pass. The day was very clear for us not a cloud in the sky which really was lucky for the views in February. One cafe and one restaurant at the top so not a lot of choice for food but we enjoyed some drinks overlooking the views. It does get cold so you can sit inside as well.
    Written February 17, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    grwashington04
    New York City, NY108 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2022
    Let me start this review by stating the day that we went on the tour it was very foggy and snowy. We had a very limited view from the top of the mountain. I cannot take that into consideration in this review. Please be aware that this tour is advertised as a "Partially guided" tour. The only thing that is "Guided" are the bus rides to and from the drop off points. When the bus drops you off at the cable car station you are left with a map and directions of how to get to the next attractions. The bus then picks you up in Lucerne that evening. I was under the impression that there would be somewhat more guiding. Never the less, we were able to find our way from point to point following the map and with the help of the railway staff. The boat ride was beautiful and all though the visibility from the top of the mountain was reduced, it was still a good day.
    Written December 17, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Lekshmi R
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2023 • Family
    The breathtaking panoramic views from the summit were worth every moment of the journey. The cogwheel train ride offered stunning landscapes, and the hiking trails provided a closer connection with nature. The serene Lake Lucerne in the backdrop added to the charm. A perfect destination for those seeking a mix of adventure and tranquility. Highly recommended!

    Our trip guide Peter made our experience truly exceptional. His knowledge of the local history and culture enriched every moment of our journey. He was attentive, accommodating, and went above and beyond to ensure our comfort. A heartfelt thank you to our guide for turning a great trip into an unforgettable adventure.
    Written February 4, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Court & Jords
    Newcastle, Australia9 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    We actually booked originally for Mount Titlus, but unfortunately the mountain was closed due to the wind. Although, the tour arranged for us to go to another mountain - mount Rigi on the same day.

    The tour started with a bus ride to Weggis, which we then caught a cogwheel train up Mount Rigi. Here we spent two hours up on the mountain. We found the two hours to be excessive - we had enough time to take plenty of photos and have something to eat and the take away shop, with time to spare. Next we caught the cogwheel back down, to where we caught a boat across Lake Lucern to the town of Lucerne. Here you had two hours free time to explore the city. We enjoyed this and wish we had more time here to enjoy something to eat.

    Overall: great tour, and our tour guides Christina and Isa were lovely and informative. We went mid December and didn’t have any snowfall.
    Written December 18, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    skk
    Singapore, Singapore1 contribution
    2.0 of 5 bubbles
    Boring mountain with little to do. The view would have been nice but sadly it was too foggy to see anything. Beyond that there was nothing much.
    There was a hot bath but that requires another 53 CHF.

    Ferry ride back was beautiful, get to see different cities. However the return to Zurich was too soon so couldn't really check out Lucerne.
    Written March 21, 2018
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Dear Kah Keong S Thank you for your review. Due to your explanation we assume you went on our partly-guided excursion to Mt. Rigi, the so-called Queen of the Mountains. This excursion gives quite a lot of flexibility to design your day depending on weather conditions and your interest. You can either stay only two hours on the mountain having then 2 hours in Lucerne or for example if you go for one of the splendid hikes you could stay 3 hours by shortening the stay in Lucerne to one hour. You mention, that the weather conditions this day where not very favourable as it was foggy. We understand that in this weather you didn’t opt for an extensive hike and visiting the Mineral Bath and Spa would have been more desirable. You are right when you say it is quite expensive, especially if you would only stay for an hour or so and not enjoying it the full day. It is a very nice, modern bath and we do think has a good value but as almost everything in Switzerland it has its price. Why didn’t you opt for the first descent, taking then the early boat ride to Lucerne to enjoy more time in Lucerne? Lucerne is a beautiful but small town and with two hours’ time you would have been able to get to know it quite well. We hope you still have good memories on your time spent in Switzerland and visit us once again in the future. With best regards
    Written March 30, 2018
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Kristi L
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2019 • Couples
    I literally felt as if I had been elevated into the Heavens ! Magnificent day!! It could not have been more perfect ! I would highly recommend this wonderful excursion!!
    Written December 30, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    deejie2014
    Cape Town Central, South Africa12 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2019 • Friends
    What an experience! Will definitely recommend this trip to all my family and friends. This trip was a dream come true all thanks to the Tour guide Alex / Buffalo Tours! Excellent service!
    Written December 29, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Cristina M
    Syosset, NY3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2018 • Family
    We didn't know what to expect when we booked this tour. After spending the day, we were so happy we did it! The cable car offered stunning views. The cogwheel train ride up Mount Rigi was a new experience for us. And the views from the top of Mount Rigi were unmatched!! I liked the fact that the tour left us to be as independent as we wanted to. We were told what time we had to be back to take the ferry across Lake Lucerne to meet the bus at the end of the day. The rest was up to us! We enjoyed the freedom to sightsee and find a place to have lunch at our own leisure. I definitely recommend this excursion if you've never been to Mount Rigi
    Written May 6, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Pauline L
    Zurich, Switzerland8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    It was a very nice trip that combined different experiences. We got the bus to the cable car on the base of Mount Rigi. We got up and had 2 hours to explore. For us 2 hours were enough to go to the top, take photos and then take our time to eat. Then we got the train to a village where we started a boat trip to Lucerne. In Lucerne we had a bit more than 2 hours that were enough for a basic exploring through the town. We love our guide Isabelle. Very nice person and had a lot to tell us and help us.
    Recommend!!! :o)
    Written December 30, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    Mount Rigi Winter Day Trip from Zurich provided by Best Of Switzerland Tours

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