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Top 5 Lucerne Boat Tours to See More Than Just the Lake


Ready to book one of the best Boat Tours in Lucerne?

Then you’re in the right place! The top 5 boat tours to see more than just Lake Lucerne are all featured here.

How do I know they’re the best? Because John and I have visited Lucerne many times, and we have even cruised the lake in the winter!

So we definitely know a good lake cruise when we see one!

With this in mind, we have vetted all the tours in this article to make sure they’re highly rated and well-reviewed — all you need to do is book and enjoy!

Our Top 3 Picks:

Don’t have time to read the whole article? Here are our top 3 picks for the best cruises to take on Lake Lucerne:


#1 TOP Pick
Lake Lucerne Cruise Boat at Kussnacht dock

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mount Pilatus Summit With Lake Cruise
✔️ Lake Cruise & Cogwheel Train
✔️ Fully Guided

#2 Pick
Lake-Lucerne-Cruise-Boat

Lucerne Walking & Boat Tour
✔️ Lake Lucerne Cruise
✔️ Walking Tour of Lucerne

#3 Pick
Lake-Lucerne-Cruise-Boat-Boarding

Chocolate Tasting & Lake Trip
✔️ Lake Lucerne Cruise
✔️ Chocolate Tasting & Workshop



5 Best Lake Lucerne Cruises

The tours on this list all have perfect or near-perfect 5-star ratings and include the ones we ourselves have taken

But to be quite honest, Lake Lucerne is a gorgeous place to visit, so you really can’t go wrong with any of the tours we have listed here.

Without further ado, let’s get to this list of the best boat tours at Lake Lucerne, so you can book your tour already.

1. Mount Pilatus Summit from Lucerne With Lake Cruise

Lake Lucerne Cruise Boat at Kussnacht dock

⭐️ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 5 hours | ✔️ BOOK NOW


🛥️ The Mount Pilatus Summit from Lucerne With Lake Cruise includes:

  • Transportation is provided in a comfortable coach with AC.
  • 1-hour boat ride on Lake Lucerne
  • Cogwheel Train ride, panoramic gondola and aerial cable car ride
  • Fully guided tour by a professional multilingual guide

If you are interested in seeing Lake Lucerne and Mt Pilatus, consider this 5.5-hour trip which combines both into one tour.

It starts with a 30-minute gondola ride from Kriens up to Fräkmüntegg, followed by an aerial cableway that lifts you to the summit of Mt Pilatus.

There, you’ll have some time to enjoy the views. For the descent, you’ll take the world’s steepest cogwheel train down to Alpnachstad.

The trip wraps up with a relaxing 1-hour boat cruise on Lake Lucerne.

Mount-Pilatus-Station-at-Kriens

😍 What Past Guests Have Said

If you like the outdoors, this is a must excursion. The views are incredible. You can stay at the hotel on top of the mountain if you would like. We took the cogwheel train down the mountain and wow, what an experience. What a beautiful cruise on Lake Lucerne.

— Gary (SEE MORE REVIEWS)

💡 Things to Keep in Mind:

  • This tour is available from May to October.
  • Stroller accessible.
  • Not wheelchair accessible.
  • This tour will have a maximum of 48 travellers.

2. Lucerne Walking & Boat Tour

Lake-Lucerne-Cruise-Boat

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours | ✔️ BOOK NOW


🛥️ The Lucerne Walking & Boat Tour Includes:

  • One hour sightseeing cruise
  • Two hour walking city tour
  • Local guide

Explore Lucerne’s gorgeous medieval architecture and beautiful lakeside views on this one-day tour.

Our family did this tour during a summertime visit to Lucerne and absolutely loved it!

We had a knowledgeable guide that led us through the Old Town, showing us top sights like the Chapel Bridge and Lucerne Lion.

Lucerne-Mural

After strolling through the city, we were then taken out on our cruise. The cruise was pretty relaxing, with a recorded narration explaining all the sites to us.

We really appreciated the fact that this was a small-group tour. We got plenty of personal attention from our guide.

😍 What Past Guests Have Said

Absolutely fabulous experience. We were fortunate to have Louis to ourselves. He was spectacular. We learned so much and he truly tailors the tour to your interests. He added to his descriptions with pictures on his iPad and even gave us fantastic restaurant recommendations and where else we should go while in Lucerne.

— Lisa (SEE MORE REVIEWS)

💡 Things to Keep in Mind:

  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
  • Near public transportation.
  • Not wheelchair accessible.
  • This tour will have a maximum of 8 travellers.

3. Chocolate Tasting with Lake Trip and City Tour

Lake-Lucerne-Cruise-Boat-Boarding

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 4 hours | ✔️ BOOK NOW


🛥️ The Chocolate Tasting with Lake Trip and City Tour Includes:

  • One hour Lake Lucerne Sightseeing Cruise
  • Chocolate tasting
  • Chocolate workshop

What could be better than Swiss chocolate and cruising on a scenic lake? As far as I’m concerned, absolutely nothing!

This 4-hour tour of Lucerne is perfect for seeing the city’s highlights by boat and on foot.

Your guide will take you through the Old Town where they will share interesting tips and insights about Lucerne, as well as take you to several popular chocolatiers.

Chocolate Brittle in Laderach Lucerne

You will get to sample some of the world’s best chocolate, as well as have the opportunity to participate in a chocolate-making workshop.

Lastly, you will hop on a scenic cruise where you will see many of Lucerne’s popular sites from the water.

The tour is in a small group, ensuring a personalized experience.

😍 What Past Guests Have Said

We enjoyed tasting different types of chocolate and making our own chocolate bar. Our walking tour was good as well. We liked learning the history of Lucerne. Our tour guide Luis did an excellent job explaining and giving details and made conversation easy. Thank you Luis for a very nice tour!!

— Elaine (SEE MORE REVIEWS)

💡 Things to Keep in Mind:

  • Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level.
  • Not wheelchair accessible.
  • This tour will have a maximum of 8 travellers.

4. Mt Pilatus self-guided Golden Round Trip from Lucerne

Mount-Pilatus-Cable-Car-from-Kriens

⭐️ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 4-6 hours | ✔️ BOOK NOW


🛥️ The Mt Pilatus self-guided Golden Round Trip from Lucerne Includes:

  • Lake cruise (2nd class) between Alpnachstad and Lucerne (or vice versa) on Lake Lucerne.
  • Cogwheel Train ride, panoramic gondola and aerial cable car ride.
  • Public bus between Lucerne main station and Kriens (or vice versa).

This was the tour that we took during our winter visit to Lucerne.

It lets you explore both Lake Lucerne and the iconic Mt. Pilatus.

Our tour started with a breezy but relaxing cruise around Lake Lucerne. During the summer, it’s nice enough to spend the time on deck.

Next, ride up the steepest cogwheel railway in Europe to reach the top of Mt. Pilatus.

Myself and Kids on Mount Pilatus

Spend as much time as you want to enjoy the views from the peak, go for a hike, and have a snack or a meal.

Lastly, descend via the Dragon Ride cable car to Fräkmüntegg. This was awesome!

Your tour finishes with a public bus ride back to Lucerne. Tickets for all parts of the journey are included.

😍 What Past Guests Have Said

Great trip. Had a blast with the Golden Round Trip. The cruise is amazing plus they have a bar on board so you can sit back and enjoy the beautiful scenery with a glass of wine. Plus the cog railway was super fun… Absolutely a must do excursion if in the Lucerne area!!!

— Darren (SEE MORE REVIEWS)

💡 Things to Keep in Mind:

  • This is an unguided individual tour.
  • Round trips can be taken in both directions.
  • Check the timetable carefully, especially for the boat cruise (2-5 departures per day).
  • Transportation is wheelchair accessible.

5. Lake Lucerne Panoramic Sightseeing Cruise

Lake-Lucerne-Boat-Tour-Yacht

⭐️ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 1 hours | ✔️ BOOK NOW


🛥️ The Lake Lucerne Panoramic Sightseeing Cruise Includes:

  • Transport by 161-foot (49-meter) yacht
  • Expert captain and crew
  • Multilingual audio guide via a smartphone app. Use your own device and headphones.

This last option is for those who are short on time, and just want the cruise.

This tour takes place onboard a large 161-foot yacht, where you can relax on either the main or upper deck.

Lake-Lucerne-Cruise-sightseeing

Use an app on your smartphone to listen to commentary about the beautiful views of the lake, the town, and the Alps.

Snacks and drinks are available for purchase. You can also pick from several departure times to fit your schedule.

😍 What Past Guests Have Said

A nice cruise trip in the lake of Lucern with panoramic sightseeing. Enjoyed the trip while sipping coffee on board. Must for a visit to Lucern.

— Veerabhadrappa (SEE MORE REVIEWS)

💡 Things to Keep in Mind:

  • Near public transportation.
  • Wheelchair accessible.
  • This tour will have a maximum of 100 travellers.

Lake Lucerne Cruise – FAQs

Lake-Lucerne-Cruise
What should I bring on a boat cruise in Lucerne?

Bring a camera, sunscreen, sunglasses, a light jacket (as it can be cool on the water), and a valid ID.

Are there restroom facilities available on the boat?

Yes, restroom facilities are available on board most cruise boats.

Can I bring my own food and drinks on the cruise?

Typically, outside food and drinks are not allowed, but snacks and beverages can be purchased from the onboard bar.

Is the cruise wheelchair accessible?

Many boats are wheelchair accessible. It’s best to check with the cruise company in advance as some require reservations for wheelchairs.

How early should I arrive before my departure time?

It’s recommended to arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure to allow time for boarding.

Can I book a private boat cruise in Lucerne?

Yes, private cruises can be arranged. Contact the cruise operator directly for details and reservations.

Are there any age restrictions for the boat cruise?

There are no age restrictions; however, children must be accompanied by an adult.

What happens if the weather is bad on the day of our cruise?

Cruises generally operate rain or shine, but in the case of severe weather, the cruise may be cancelled for safety. Contact the operator for specific policies.

How long do boat cruises in Lucerne typically last?

Cruise durations can vary, but a typical sightseeing cruise might last between 1 to 3 hours.

Are pets allowed on the cruise?

Pets are usually not allowed on public cruises, except for service animals. Check with the cruise operator for their specific policy.

Lake-Lucerne-Cruise-summer

Final Thoughts

Wrapping up, taking a boat tour in Lucerne is a fantastic way to experience all that this incredible area has to offer in a relaxing and enjoyable way.

Whether you’re soaking in the sights, learning from the commentary, or just unwinding on deck, it’s a great addition to your Switzerland itinerary.

And with the tours that we have carefully selected, you are not just getting an incredible tour of Lake Lucerne, but you are also getting so much more!


Our #1 Pick
Lake Lucerne Cruise in Winter

Mount Pilatus Summit from Lucerne With Lake Cruise

🛥️ Not sure which cruise to book? Mount Pilatus Summit from Lucerne With Lake Cruise is the best boat tour in Lucerne, with 800+ stellar reviews!


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