---
type: "Article"
title: "A day hike around Vitznau and the Rigi-Scheidegg"
description: "If you’re ok with taking public transit and want to treat yourself to an easy walking tour: Take the Mount Rigi cogwheel railway to grab a little sample of beautiful Lake Lucerne around Lucerne and Vitznau!"
resource: "https://travelmemo.com/switzerland/day-hike-vitznau-rigi-scheidegg"
author: "Walter Schaerer"
publisher: "Travelmemo"
photo_count: 13
tags: ["Hiking", "Lake", "Landscape", "Nature", "Rural", "Switzerland"]
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generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer", at: 2026-07-04T13:23:51+00:00 }
verified:
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sources:
  - id: photos
    resource: day-hike-vitznau-rigi-scheidegg.md#photos
    title: "Original photography by Walter Schaerer"
    author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer"
timestamp: 2026-07-04T13:23:51+00:00
---

# A day hike around Vitznau and the Rigi-Scheidegg

> A low-difficulty day hike combining a scenic Lake Lucerne boat ride with the historic Rigi cogwheel railway, ending with a walk to Rigi-Scheidegg and a descent to Goldau — all easily done from Zurich in a day.

## Destination
Vitznau and Rigi-Scheidegg, Canton Lucerne, Switzerland, on the shores and slopes above Lake Lucerne.

## Getting there
Take the SBB train from Zurich to Lucerne, then a passenger ship to Vitznau, where the Rigi cogwheel railway departs directly from the dock. Return by cable car to Kräbel Valley Station, then cogwheel railway to Goldau and SBB train back to Zurich.

## When to go
The article does not specify a season, but the hike is presented as doable in jogging shoes and is described as a summer-style day trip.

## Why visit
The route combines effortless public-transit connections, sweeping panoramas of Lake Lucerne and Mount Bürgenstock, and a gentle mountain hike accessible to almost anyone, with star-architect landmarks along the way.

## What to see
- **KKL Lucerne (Culture and Convention Center)** — Landmark building by Jean Nouvel, currently under renovation with specially designed scaffolding.
- **Chapel Bridge, Lucerne** — Classic Lucerne landmark passed before boarding the ship to Vitznau.
- **Park Hotel Vitznau** — Newly renovated lakeside hotel visible from the arriving passenger ship.
- **Mineral Baths & Spa Rigi Kaltbad** — Spa facility at the Rigi Kaltbad station designed by architect Mario Botta.
- **Panorama of Lake Lucerne and Mount Bürgenstock** — Described as phenomenal and one of the highlights of the ridge hike.
- **Rigi-Scheidegg summit station** — The endpoint of the hike, with food options available.

## What to do
- **Paddle steamer cruise from Lucerne to Vitznau** — Scenic lake crossing on historic paddle steamers; allows time for wine and cold cuts on board.
- **Rigi cogwheel railway ride** — Board directly from the Vitznau dock for the ascent; the world's first mountain cogwheel railway.
- **Hike from Rigi Kaltbad to Rigi-Scheidegg** — Easy trail in jogging shoes with panoramic lake views; passes an unmanned outdoor self-service kiosk selling apple cider and fresh cheese.

## Good to know
The hike requires no special equipment — jogging shoes suffice. An unmanned honor-system kiosk on the trail sells apple cider and cheese; bring correct change. The return from Rigi-Scheidegg uses a cable car down to Kräbel Valley Station, not the same cogwheel line used on the ascent.

## Photos

```yaml
photos:
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Luzern-Casino-Hotel-Palace-Montana.jpg"
    caption: "Casino and Hotels Palace and Montana"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/KKL-Luzern-Schiff-Saphir.jpg"
    caption: "Liner \"Saphir\" in front of the Concert and Congress Center KKL"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Restaurant-Terrasse-Wintergarten-Montana-Hotel-Luzern.jpg"
    caption: "Montana Restaurant terrace with view of Lucerne"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Schweizer-Fahne-Seerestaurant-Schiff.jpg"
    caption: "Passenger ship with flying Swiss flag at Lucerne"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Park-Hotel-Vitznau-Vierwaldstaettersee.jpg"
    caption: "Park Hotel Vitznau on Lake Lucerne"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Anlegestelle-Vitznau-Zahnradbahn.jpg"
    caption: "The docking station in Vitznau and entry to the cogwheel railway"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Zahnradbahn-Rigi-Kaltbad-First.jpg"
    caption: "Rigi Kaltbad First station"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/wandern-Richtung-Hohfluh.jpg"
    caption: "Hiking in direction Rigi-Scheidegg"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Buergenstock-Aussicht.jpg"
    caption: "Panorama with Lake Lucerne and Mount Bürgenstock"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Most-Kaese-Zwischenverpflegung.jpg"
    caption: "Apple cider and cheese for on the way"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Sitzbank-Hohfluh.jpg"
    caption: "Bench with view at Hohfluh"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Bergstation-Rigi-Scheidegg.jpg"
    caption: "Signpost by the Rigi-Scheidegg mountain station"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Zahnradbahn-Kraebel-Richtung-Goldau.jpg"
    caption: "Cogwheel railway going from Kräbel to Goldau"
```