Rigi

The Rigi, nicknamed the Queen of the Mountains, rises to 1,798 metres at Rigi Kulm, about 15 kilometres east of Luzern in central Switzerland. It stands between Lake Lucerne, Lake Zug and Lake Lauerz and is known for wide views over the lakes and the Alps. The Vitznau-Rigi-Bahn, opened in 1871, was the first mountain railway in Europe, and it climbs from Vitznau on the lakeshore to the summit in about 30 minutes. A second cogwheel line runs from Arth-Goldau on the other side, so many visitors go up one side and down the other. Both give a different perspective on the landscape, and the day pass for the two cogwheel railways starts from CHF 78. Children aged 6 to 15 travel at half price, and the Swiss Travel Pass and Lucerne Travel Pass cover travel for holders. Boats from Luzern to Vitznau take about one hour, or visitors can take a train to Arth-Goldau and reach the summit in about 45 minutes. At the top, walking paths, restaurants and viewpoints invite a half-day or full-day visit. Sunrise and sunset trains on clear days are especially popular for the light over the peaks and the sea of cloud that sometimes fills the valleys. The railways run daily from morning to evening, with timetables that change by season on rigi.ch. Weekends and clear summer days bring the largest crowds, while mid-week visits are calmer. Warm clothing is useful at the summit even in summer, since the wind and temperature can change quickly.