The Lucerne Travel Pass (previously “Tell Pass”) is an all-inclusive pass that offers unlimited, free access to public and mountain transport throughout the Central Switzerland region.
With the pass, you can travel freely on trains, trams, buses, boats, and mountain railways, making it the perfect companion for exploring this beautiful part of Switzerland.
If you plan to spend several days in the Lucerne area, the Lucerne Travel Pass is a convenient, cost-effective option that saves you money and time.
In this guide, I’ll cover the many benefits of the pass, how to use it, and compare it with other popular Switzerland travel passes to help you choose the best option for your trip.
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➡️ Buy Lucerne Travel Pass…
Note: Through March 2025, you can buy the discounted Winter Tell Pass valid for the Lake Lucerne region.
Quick info: Benefits of the Lucerne Travel Pass
Here are the key benefits of the Lucerne Travel Pass. See the full coverage map on lucernetravelpass.ch.
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Free Public Transport | Explore the region with unlimited, free access to trains and most buses, offering flexibility and cost-effective travel. |
| Mountain Railways | Travel free of charge on over 40 mountain railways (gondolas, cable cars, and funiculars) in the Central Switzerland region. |
| Boat Cruises | Enjoy free scenic boat cruises on Lake Lucerne. |
| Scenic Trains | Free travel on the Luzern-Interlaken Express, one of Switzerland’s most stunning panoramic train routes. Enhance your experience by making a seat reservation or upgrading to 1st class. |
| Museums & Attractions | Get discounts at museums, activities, and other attractions in the region. |
⬇️ See best excursions with the pass…
Swiss Travel Pass vs Lucerne Travel Pass
Another popular option for tourists is the Swiss Travel Pass, which includes unlimited public transportation and 50% discount on mountain railways for all of Switzerland. If you are visiting multiple regions in Switzerland, it’s usually better to get the Swiss Travel Pass.
If you are only visiting the Lucerne region or 5 or more days there, it’s better to get the Lucerne Travel Pass.
⬇️ Which travel pass should you buy...
Price for the Lucerne Travel Pass 2026
You can buy the Lucerne Travel Pass for 3, 4, 5 or 10 consecutive days. It is available to both tourists and residents of Switzerland.
| Days | 2026 Price (CHF) | Cost per day |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Days | 240 | 80 |
| 4 Days | 265 | 66 |
| 5 Days | 290 | 58 |
| 10 Days | 365 | 37 |
➡️ Buy Lucerne Travel Pass…
Cost for children
For children aged 6-15, the Lucerne Travel Pass costs CHF 30. They get the same benefits as the adult.
Children under age 6 are usually free on public and mountain transport, even without the pass.
Note: If the parent is traveling on the Lucerne Travel Pass, you must also purchase one for children aged 6-15 (under age 6 are free). You cannot use the SBB Junior Card or Swiss Family Card for your child in conjunction with the Lucerne Travel Pass.
Reservations
Most excursions in the Lucerne region do not require advance booking. But a few mountain railways have optional reservations to reduce your waiting time, including:
- Pilatus – You can reserve a time slot for the mountain train from Alpnachstad.
- Stanserhorn – You can book an “online boarding pass” to reserve a specific ascent time
- Brienz Rothorn mountain train -You can purchase a “seat guarantee” for specific day/time
These reservations are not included with the Lucerne Travel Pass and must be made separately on the relevant mountain websites.
Where to buy the Lucerne Travel Pass
It’s best to purchase the Lucerne Travel Pass online, shortly before your trip. If you purchase via GetYourGuide, you can get a full refund up to 3 days before your trip.
➡️ Buy Lucerne Travel Pass…
You can also purchase the Lucerne Travel Pass at staffed train stations and tourism offices in the Lake Lucerne region.
Is the Lucerne Travel Pass worth it?
The savings of the Lucerne Travel Pass add up very quickly. Here are some sample prices of mountain excursions and the savings with different Switzerland travel passes:
Which Switzerland travel pass is right for you?
If you are visiting the Lucerne region, your options are Lucerne Travel Pass, Swiss Travel Pass and Swiss Half Fare Card.
Here is a quick comparison of the passes.
Choosing the best travel pass for your trip can be tricky, as you would need to calculate and compare costs for your exact itinerary.
If you’d rather skip the math, here’s a quick guide to help you decide which pass might suit you best.
The Lucerne Travel Pass is ideal if:
- you’ll be using public transportation frequently
- most of your trip will be spent in the Lake Lucerne region
- you plan to visit multiple expensive mountains like Pilatus or Titlis
The Swiss Travel Pass is usually better if you are:
- visiting 3 or more regions in Switzerland, staying just 1-3 days at each
- taking a few long train journeys (2 hours or more), like Lucerne to Zermatt
The Swiss Half Fare Card is usually better if you are:
- renting a car
- taking shorter public transport trips (under 1 hour)
- focusing on day trips near your hotel
- staying in Switzerland for more than 15 days (max length of Swiss Travel Pass)
Need help choosing a travel pass?
Book a travel consult with Tanya to discuss your trip.
Below are a few cost comparisons for Lucerne day trips with these passes.
Best excursions with Lucerne Travel Pass
The Lucerne Travel Pass includes over 40 mountain railways. Below are some of the most popular excursions near Lake Lucerne. See also our favorite Day Trips form Lucerne and Best Hikes near Lucerne.
1. Mt Rigi
Rigi is a tall mountain near Lucerne, a popular destination for both tourists and locals. You can easily reach the viewpoint at the top with a cogwheel mountain train.
The best way to visit Mt Rigi is on the Classic Round Trip, which starts with a boat cruise from Lucerne to the base of the mountain, then transfer to the cogwheel train. With the Lucerne Travel Pass, both the boat and mountain train are free.
- From Lucerne: 1hr by boat or train/bus to Vitznau to catch Rigi mountain train
- Cost 2026: round trip from Lucerne CHF 131 • free with Lucerne Travel Pass
- Open: best May to Oct / open year round
- Website: www.rigi.ch
Learn more about visiting Mt Rigi
2. Mt Pilatus
Mt. Pilatus is a tall mountain peak overlooking Lake Lucerne, one of our favorite places to take our visitors. From the big observation deck at the top, you can enjoy stunning panorama views over Lake Lucerne and many mountains without hiking at all. You can add on a summer toboggan and adventure ropes course in the forest with ziplines and free fall jumps.
The most popular way to get to Mt. Pilatus is the Golden Round Trip, which includes a boat ride from Lucerne city, cogwheel mountain train to the top, and cable car down the other side of the mountain.
With the Lucerne Travel Pass, the boat, mountain train, and cable car are all free.
- From Lucerne: 10 mins by car, 20 mins by bus to Kriens cable car (see on map)
- Cost 2026: starting at CHF 84/adult • free with Lucerne Travel Pass
- Open: May to Oct with lake cruise / year round via cable cars
- Website: www.pilatus.ch
Learn more about visiting Mt Pilatus
3. Stoos
Stoos is famous for the steepest funicular train in the world, which whisks you up to an idyllic alpine village in just a few minutes. Then chair lifts up to the Fronalpstock viewpoint over the cliffs down to Lake Lucerne.
If you like to hike, you can do the spectacular ridge trail that ends at the Fronalpstock viewpoint.
With the Lucerne Travel Pass , this entire outing is free, including the train from Lucerne, the Stoos funicular and chair lifts. If you paid full fare, it would costs about CHF 100/adult.
- From Lucerne: 45 mins by car, 1h10 by train/bus
- Open: summer season June to early November / viewpoint also open in winter
- Website: stoos-muotatal.ch
Learn more: Visiting Stoos
4. Titlis
Mt Titlis is the tallest mountain peak near Lucerne, with a glacier at the top, so you can play in the snow even in summer.
At the top, you’ll find a suspension bridge, ice cave, restaurants and large snowy plateau where you can enjoy the view and throw snowballs.
On the way back down, you can get off the cable car at the middle station, where there’s a short and easy walk around an alpine lake, possible in summer and winter. For kids, in summer, there are fun activities along the trail, large playground, and big air jump into inflated bouncy pillows.
With the Lucerne Travel Pass , the train from Lucerne to Engelberg and Titlis cable cars are all free. If you paid full fare, it would cost cover CHF 130/adult.
- From Lucerne: 40 mins by car, 50 mins by bus
- Open: glacier viewpoint open year round / summer hiking June to Oct
- Website: www.titlis.ch
Learn more about visiting Mt Titlis.
5. Stanserhorn
Stanserhorn is a tall mountain southwest of Lucerne city. To reach the viewpoint, you ride a vintage funicular train, then cable car with an open-air balcony.
At the top, you can wander a short path around the peak to enjoy panorama views over Lake Lucerne and the surrounding mountains. The restaurant has a large terrace and indoor seating overlooking the view.
With the Lucerne Travel Pass, the train from Lucerne to Stans, funicular train, and cable car are all free. If you paid full fare, it would cost over CHF 100/adult.
- From Lucerne: 15 mins by car, 20 mins by train
- Open: May to November
- Website: www.stanserhorn.ch
Learn more about visiting Stanserhorn.
6. Scenic Train to Interlaken
One of the nicest scenic train rides in Switzerland is the Luzern-Interlaken Express. This two hour direct train passes multiple lakes and many mountains on its journey between these two popular destinations.
With the Lucerne Travel Pass , the train ticket for this journey is free. However, you may want to book a seat reservation on this train, particularly during busy summer season.
If you are transferring to the Jungfrau Region, your Lucerne Travel Pass will cover the journey from Lucerne as far as Interlaken. Then you will need to purchase a ticket for the train to Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen or other village in the Jungfrau Region.
Learn more about the Luzern-Interlaken Express.
7. Lake Lucerne boat cruise
Lake Lucerne, aka Vierwaldstättersee, is one of the nicest features of the Lucerne region. The lake is surrounded by mountains and cute villages, making for a beautiful sightseeing tour anytime of year.
There are many cruise options: short loops, full lake cruises, dinner cruises, musical events, etc. We like cruising from Lucerne to Flüelen at the southern end of the lake, then returning by bus or train to the city.
With Lucerne Travel Pass, all boat rides on Lake Lucerne are free. You can optionally pay for a 1st Class upgrade to sit on the upper deck, which can be worth it on busy days.
If you book a themed cruise with a meal, you will need to pay fee on top of the Lucerne Travel Pass for the extra services.
- From Lucerne: ferry dock is just outside Lucerne train station – see on map
- Cost: cruises start at CHF 18 per adult • free with Lucerne Travel Pass and Swiss Travel Pass
- Open: year round, but best May to October
- Website: www.lakelucerne.ch
Learn more about cruising Lake Lucerne.
What’s included with the Lucerne Travel Pass
All the mountains and activities below are free with the Lucerne Travel Pass. For more ideas, see Lucerne Day Trip ideas.
Popular mountain viewpoints
With the Lucerne Travel Pass, mountain transport to all these spectacular viewpoints is included.
* Optional timeslot reservation at these mountains for extra fee.
Fun hikes & playgrounds for kids
This family-friendly mountains, alpine playgrounds and activity trails are all free with the Lucerne Travel Pass. See even more Fun Hikes for Kids near Lucerne.
- Engelberg Brunni Treasure Hunt & Tickle Trail
- Engelberg Trübsee Smuggler’s Trail
- Moorculum
- Sattel Goat Adventure Trail (extra fee for bouncy castles)
- Melchsee-Frutt “Fruttli-Weg”
- Illgau Ladybug Trail
- Wirzweli Witch Trail
- Hasliberg Muggestutz Storybook Trail and Marble Run Trail
Spectacular hikes
The Lucerne Travel Pass includes the mountain transport to reach these hikes.
- Stoos Ridge Trail
- Walenpfad
- Niederbauen Kulm
- Fürenalp
- Haldigrat Brisen Peak
- Grosser Mythen Peak Hike
- Brienzer Rothorn Ridge Trail
See more beautiful hikes near Lucerne.
Pretty Lakes
The Lucerne Travel Pass covers the trains and mountain transport to reach these lakes.
How to use the Lucerne Travel Pass
When you purchase the Lucerne Travel Pass online, you get a QR Code that you can print at home. This pass functions as your ticket for public and mountain transport within the covered network.
When traveling, it’s best if each person in your group carries a copy of their Lucerne Travel Pass and ID. Parents can hold these documents for children.
When riding trains and public transport
On most public transport, you can simply hop on public transport (train, tram, bus or boat) without showing your ticket when boarding. Ticket staff members will check tickets during the journey.
When asked for a ticket, show the Lucerne Travel Pass and your ID.
When riding mountain railways
For mountain railways, you can sometimes scan your Lucerne Travel Pass QR Code at the turnstile to board the cable car.
If that doesn’t work, go to the ticket office and show your Lucerne Travel Pass to get a scan-able ticket.
➡️ Book Lucerne Travel Pass
(or Winter Tell Pass valid thru March 2025)
FAQ
Do I get a discount with the Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card?
No, there are no discounts on the Lucerne Travel Pass. If you have the Swiss Travel Pass, it’s
Can I get a 1st Class version of the Lucerne Travel Pass?
No, there is no 1st class version of the Lucerne Travel Pass. If you want to travel in 1st class on trains and boats, you can buy individual 1st class upgrades for those journeys.
Do dogs need a ticket?
Yes, dogs generally need a ticket for public and mountain transports. You can purchase a Lucerne Travel Pass for your dog for the same price as the child pass.
Does my bike need a ticket?
Yes, you need a ticket for your bike and it is not included with the Lucerne Travel Pass. Learn more about bike tickets.
Can I use the Lucerne Travel Pass in winter?
Yes, the winter version of Lucerne Travel Pass is valid from November to March. It has almost the same coverage as the summer pass, excluding a few mountains that are closed during winter. See winter validity map.
Note that the winter pass does not function as a ski or sledding pass. It only allows riding the included mountain railways as a pedestrian to access viewpoints and winter hiking trails.
What changed from the Tell Pass 2025 to Lucerne Travel Pass 2026?
The new Lucerne Travel Pass does not give discounts to museums and attractions. The summer and winter pass costs the same.
