Vitznau lies on the Lucerne Riviera between the southern slope of Mount Rigi and Lake Lucerne. Hiking trails, mountain railways and cultural and historical sites offer a range of options for your stay. You can choose a marked circular trail with a fixed start and finish, take the cogwheel railway up Mount Rigi, or plan separate visits to the fortress and museum.
Plan hikes and railway trips
The Vitznau Circular Trail is a 5.11-kilometre loop of moderate difficulty. It starts and ends at the Vitznau boat station. Along the marked trail, you can discover local flora; it also passes the MĂĽhlebach waterfall. Its length, circular route and difficulty level provide clear details to help you choose a hike.
For the Vitznau circular tour, the return journey is described as a choice: you can return to the starting point either via the Waldstätterweg Trail No. 98 or by cogwheel railway from Mittlerschwanden. The Vitznau–Rigi Kulm cogwheel railway is another option: it takes passengers directly from Vitznau to Rigi Kulm, with the journey taking around 30 minutes. The options described therefore differ both in the shape of their routes and in the possibility of taking the railway for part of the return journey.
Excursions on the southern side of Mount Rigi
Hinterbergen is a starting point for hikes in the Mount Rigi area. It lies on the southern side of Mount Rigi at 1,100 metres above sea level, in an unspoilt natural landscape with impressive biodiversity. The Vitznau–Hinterbergen aerial cableway takes you from Vitznau to the mountain station in just a few minutes. Check the operating arrangements before your trip.
Another mountain railway option is the Vitznau–Wissifluh aerial cableway. This nostalgic cable car is one of the few with just one circulating cable. It takes visitors to the viewpoint at the Wissifluh mountain restaurant, which offers a magnificent panorama. You should also check the operating arrangements for this railway before your trip.
The different highlights can help you choose a destination: the cogwheel railway goes to Rigi Kulm, Hinterbergen is a starting point for hikes, and Wissifluh offers a viewpoint by the mountain restaurant. The approximate journey time of around 30 minutes is given for the trip to Rigi Kulm; no journey times are specified here for the two aerial cableways.
Fortress, museum and St. Mark’s Church
The formerly top-secret Vitznau Artillery Fortress has been open as an interactive fortress since 1998. Guided tours take visitors through tunnels, firing positions and supply corridors, as well as a small hospital hidden inside the mountain. Visits are available to registered guests by prior arrangement, 365 days a year.
The Vitznau-Rigi Museum is housed in Vitznau’s heritage-protected Old School and Municipal Building, built in 1894. It is the museum of the three Lucerne Rigi municipalities of Greppen, Vitznau and Weggis. The permanent exhibition covers the land and its people, Mount Rigi and the Rigi railways, tourism and Lake Lucerne. The same museum thus brings together local life, mountain railways and lakeside tourism. The building is a few minutes’ walk from the bus, boat and Rigi railway stations.
Another cultural stop is St. Mark’s Church in Vitznau. Built in 1904 in a neo-Romanesque-Gothic style, it is the first and oldest Reformed church in the Lucerne countryside.
Discover more destinations: Rigi Kaltbad, Meggen, Meierskappel, Root, Dierikon, Gisikon, Horw, Kriens.
Go to the main travel overview: Lucerne.
