Vitznau and Weggis at the foot of the Rigi
Vitznau and Weggis sit a few kilometres apart on the shore of Lake Lucerne, with Mount Rigi rising behind them. Both have a ship landing stage with services from Lucerne, and each has its own way up the mountain. Vitznau has a cogwheel railway, Weggis has an aerial cableway to Rigi Kaltbad. That difference is the main thing to know when you plan a day here.
Operation and prices are set by the operators and can change, so check them shortly before you travel. For the mountain itself, see our guide to Mount Rigi.
A guided Rigi day via Vitznau and Weggis
This guided day takes the boat to Vitznau, the rack railway up the Rigi and the cable car down to Weggis.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in Swiss francs (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Ship and railway round trip to Rigi
A guided day trip that combines the lake ship, the cogwheel railway and the aerial cableway, with live prices and availability.
Weggis
Ship landing and cableway to Rigi Kaltbad.
Weggis is a landing station for the lake ships from Lucerne. A single ticket in second class costs 23 CHF for adults and the return costs 43 CHF. These values come from the operator's price page as read at the time of writing, so treat them as a current guide and not as a promise for every date of the year. From Weggis an aerial cableway climbs to Rigi Kaltbad, a station on the mountain with a mineral bath and a start for onward railway rides.
The Weggis to Kaltbad cableway is in revision on weekdays from 16.11. to 27.11.2026 and runs at weekends. In that period a weekday trip to the Rigi is easier from Vitznau, where the cogwheel railway starts. Check the current operating notice before you plan.
Vitznau
Ship landing and cogwheel railway.
Vitznau is the other landing station on this stretch of shore. The second-class ship ticket from Lucerne costs 31 CHF single and 53 CHF return for adults. The cogwheel railway starts in the village and runs up to Rigi Kulm. A single trip from Vitznau to Rigi Kulm costs 52 CHF and the return 84 CHF, with fares valid from 01.06.2026.
The Swiss Travel Pass and the GA travel card are free on the Rigi railways and on the regular ships, and the Half Fare card gives 50 percent off. Children under 6 travel free on the ships. More ship fares and the winter day pass are on our page about the Lake Lucerne cruise.
Swimming at Weggis
If you were counting on a swim or a pool visit, note the status as of 1 November 2026. The lido in Weggis has been closed since the end of September, and the indoor pool has been closed since 18.10.2026 because of a full renovation. We therefore do not list admission prices, since they would not describe an open facility.
The canton of Lucerne tests the water at several shores around the lake, including the lido in Weggis. The authority reports good to excellent results over the past 10 years. That is a long-term picture and not a daily clearance for swimming, so look at the notices at the shore before you enter the water.
Boat owners
Since April 2026 the canton of Lucerne requires boats that move between lakes to be reported and cleaned. The quagga mussel was first found in the lake in 2024. If you bring your own boat, ask the canton about the procedure before launching.
Staying in Weggis or Vitznau
The timetable decides which village fits your day.
Both villages work as a base for the Rigi, and neither is better in general. Choose by what you plan. If you want the cogwheel railway to Rigi Kulm, Vitznau is the start. If you want the cableway to Kaltbad and a stop at the mineral bath, Weggis is the start. Ships from Lucerne call at both, and the connection that suits you depends on the timetable of the day.
Our page on where to stay in Lucerne compares the areas without naming hotels. For the journey to the region from Zurich, Basel and Bern, see getting there. Closures and seasons in the coming weeks are collected in the season calendar.
Up by railway
Take the ship to Vitznau and the cogwheel railway to Rigi Kulm.
Up by cableway
Take the ship to Weggis and the aerial cableway to Rigi Kaltbad, outside the weekday revision.
Round trip
Go up from one village and come down to the other. The guided day trip is built this way.
The guided day trip includes a guide, the cogwheel railway, all the tickets, the ship from Lucerne to Vitznau, the ship from Weggis back to Lucerne and the aerial cableway to Weggis.
Weggis and Vitznau: frequently asked questions
How do I get from Lucerne to Vitznau or Weggis?
By lake ship from Lucerne. The ship to Weggis costs 23 CHF single and the ship to Vitznau 31 CHF single for adults in second class. Check the timetable for the day, because the ships are separate from the mountain railways.
Which village is the start for the cogwheel railway?
Vitznau. Weggis has an aerial cableway to Rigi Kaltbad instead.
Can I swim at Weggis in November 2026?
The lido has been closed since the end of September and the indoor pool since 18.10.2026 because of a full renovation. The canton reports good to excellent water quality over the past 10 years, which is not a daily clearance.
Is this the official website of Weggis or Vitznau?
No. This site is an independent guide. Operation and prices are set by the operators and can change.