Have you ever dreamt of sleeping on a mountaintop, surrounded by breathtaking scenery and a sky full of stars?
I recently had the incredible opportunity to do just that at the historic Pilatus Kulm Hotel, and let me tell you, it was an experience unlike any other! Imagine the most spectacular view to lake lucerne and the sounding mountains, at night a sky FULL of stars as far as the eye can see and colorful sunrise ans sunset.
It was a DREAM. & Here are all the insider tips and recommendations for your own trip!
Getting There:
The journey begins in Kriens, which is easily accessible by public transportation from Lucerne or by car.
If you come from Lucerne you can take bus B1 near the main train station to Kriens, Zentrum Pilatus. The ride is taking only about 15 minutes and then about a 10 minutes walk to the cable car station. Address: Pilatus-Bahnen AG, Schlossweg 1, 6010 Kriens. The walk is very well marked with red arrows.
(There is also a way to reach the Pilatus Kulm via a cogwheel railway from Alpnach, although this option is not all year round and will resume working in April)
I recommend buying your tickets online to avoid the queue. From there, a scenic gondola ride whisks you up the mountain all the way to the mid-station Fräkmüntegg. The gondola ride is around 30 minutes and is followed by a cable car ascent with panoramic views. Insider tip: sit on the left side going up for the most stunning vistas!
Good to know: when staying in the hotel some o the room rates include the ascend and decent by cable car.
The Hotel:
The Pilatus Kulm Hotel, built in 1890, with historic charm and offers a cozy retreat at 2,132 meters above sea level. The rooms are beautifully appointed with wooden décor and offer breathtaking views of the surrounding Alps.
Once we arrived to the reception they offered us a warm drink and checked us in. Later we discovered that you have a 24 hours access to warm drinks just next to the room. (And a coffee machine inside the room for addicts like me)
At the reception, they will also make sure to tell you when is the sunset and sunrise times and make sure you don’t miss it as they are both absolutely outstanding on the Pilatus!!
Summit dreams incl. half board and ascent/descent: What our Overnight Stay Package Included:
The overnight package we took was super spoiling! And although we went for the “Summit Dreams half board” and not the romantic package– it felt super romantic! (I can only imagine what the romantic package feel like!) Here is what it included:
- Accommodation in a superior double room – with cozy wooden decor and breathtaking view from the windows.
- A delicious 4-course dinner for two– Yes, yes! that was included in the package!
- Round-trip cable car transportation- all we needed to do was heading to the ticket office at the cable car base and give our names and they printed us the tickets.
- A welcome drink- since we booked the astronomical evening we had it combined with that.
- A pampering breakfast buffet- an all you can eat breakfast at the beautiful Victoria Hall.
- Star gazing- at night, due to the lack of light pollution you will get to see stars as far as the eye can see!
I am not kidding when I say that it was one of the most romantic experiences I’ve ever had here in Switzerland. Plus, if you think about it, the cable car stops working around 16:00 which means that afterwards you kinda have the entire mountain to yourself (and the hotel guests).
Since we also booked the astronomical evening, which usually happens once a month. After sunset we received an aperitif that included delicious Swiss wine and a light snack. We got to know our guide- Chris, who was super passionate to teach us about astronomy and by nightfall we went outside to gaze onto the stars.
Even without the telescope, being far from light pollution we could see so many stars!! I honestly think that the last time I’ve seen so many stars was as a kid going camping. Later we got to use the telescope and even saw Venus (!)
That being said, if you’re not very passionate about astronomy you can book it without the astronomy part and simply go out of the hotel after the spoiling dinner to enjoy the stars. The sights will keep you speechless.
Morning, Sunrise and the Dragon Path:
At the reception we got informed that the sunrise will be at around 08:00 but of course I wanted to be there a bit earlier to catch it at all its glory. So I threw on myself some warm winter hiking clothes (don’t forget gloves as it can get quite windy) and “hiked” the 5 minutes walk to the summit.
And WHAT a sight. Every time I thought that this was the peak of the view, it got better! Imagine pink, purple and orange shades. Sparkling on the lake and the mountain peaks.. It was just outstanding!
After this incredible spectacle we went down to the breakfast at the Victoria Hall where we enjoyed a pampering breakfast buffet. Later, once we were all satisfied and packed a bit of our bag we went out again to enjoy the view. Only this time we headed to the picturesque caves of the Dragon Path.
It’s a short but outstanding walk inside the caves with cave like windows which will allow you to gaze into the view. Both the caves and the summit are great locations to enjoy the sunrise.
Unique Activities on the Pilatus:
Apart from that the Pilatus also offer an entire list of fun and unique activities you can enjoy there! Now I’m talking about Champagne Gondola rides, All you can eat Raclette, Fondue Gondola, Sunday brunch, sledging and more! You can find all of the activities here: Experiences on the Pilatus.
Good to know: Some of them are booked very fast and some are weather depended so make sure to check it in advance.
Other amenities at Pilatus Kulm:
There are restaurants at the top, a bar with panoramic view and a souvenir shop at the top. Stopping for lunch or to grab a cup of coffee with the view is always a great idea.
Why You Should visit:
- Unparalleled Views: Honestly I think that the pictures say it all. Waking up to a spectacular sunrise and witness a mesmerizing sunset over the Swiss Alps and the sound of silence while having the mountain to yourself is everything.
- Entire Experience: Not only that you get to sleep on a mountain summit but I also loved that they included the dinner as well and some other programs- it really felt like a well rounded stay.
- Astronomical Wonders: (Optional if you are into astronomy) The astronomical evening was a super fascinating experience! But even if you decide to book it without it, prepare yourself to an incredible sight of stars as far as the eye can see at night.
Booking Your Adventure:
You can visit the Pilatus Bahnen website for more information and I also just posted a reel featuring my entire experience.
Don’t Forget:
- Wear sturdy shoes, as some areas at the summit can be icy.
- Check with the hotel reception for sunrise and sunset times.
- Consider adding the astronomical evening for an extra special experience.
Note: This post was created in partnership with Pilatus Bahnen.
