Explore Lucerne — the full day

Pick one (or split up)

• Mt. Pilatus — The "Golden Round Trip": boat across Lake Lucerne, the world's steepest cogwheel railway up, cable cars and gondolas down. A whole day. Photo gold.
• Mt. Rigi — Gentler than Pilatus, equally stunning. Mark Twain wrote about it. Better for a calmer pace and easier on the legs.
• Just Lucerne — Chapel Bridge, Lion Monument, Old Town shopping, an afternoon boat cruise on the lake. Less travel, more relaxing — the calmer-pace option.

Tip

Weather is everything for the mountain trips. Check forecasts the night before and morning of. A bluebird day on Pilatus is unforgettable; a foggy one isn't worth the money — pivot to the lake-and-Old-Town plan if the peaks are socked in.