Lake Lucerne's winter timetable

When does the Lake Lucerne winter timetable start and end?

It started on 19 October 2026 and runs until 16 April 2027. The SGV has published the 2027 spring timetable as a draft from 17 April 2027.

The SGV splits its year into four timetables. Winter is the longest, about six months, and also the quietest. The draft dates for 2027 follow the 2026 pattern closely: spring from mid-April, the full summer timetable from late May, autumn from early September.

A draft can still change, so treat the 2027 lines below as a planning guide. The SGV timetable page carries the final versions as they are confirmed.

Which Lake Lucerne cruises still run in winter?

Three round trips sail every day all winter: the 55-minute catamaran cruise toward Bürgenstock, the Short Lake Cruise to Beckenried and back, and the Grand Lake Cruise to Flüelen at the far end of the lake.

The catamaran is the easy one. It leaves Pier 3 in front of the KKL every hour, from 09:07 to 19:07 on the SGV winter schedule, and until 22:07 on Fridays and Saturdays. Between 24 December and 2 January the late departures run every night. The round trip turns at Kehrsiten-Bürgenstock without a stop, so the ticket does not let you get off.

The Short Lake Cruise takes about 2 h 30 to Beckenried and back, from Pier 1, with four winter departures listed. The Grand Lake Cruise is the big day: about 5 h 30 to Flüelen and back, with stopovers allowed, and just one listed departure in winter at 10:12. Miss it and the day is gone, so be at Pier 1 early.

What stopped running on 18 October 2026?

The 1-hour Discovery Cruise from Pier 7, the boat from Pier 2 to Alpnachstad for Pilatus, and the paddle steamers on timetabled courses. All three come back with the spring and summer timetables.

The Discovery Cruise ran from 18 April to 18 October 2026 (SGV). Pilatus Railways states that the Lucerne to Alpnachstad boat operated only until 18 October, which is why the Golden Round Trip with boat is a May to October ticket. And at the same time, Pilatus closed its gondolas and cableway for maintenance; our Pilatus closure post has the dates and the way up by cogwheel.

For the steamers, the enthusiasts' timetable at swissitalianpaddlesteamers.com lists no paddle steamers advertised on timetabled sailings from late October to the end of December. The steamer Uri is the exception for special trips: SGV describes her as the only steamer fit for winter operation, used for Advent and festive cruises in November and December. Our paddle steamer post covers all five ships.

What changes on 4 November 2026 for the Rütli shooting?

The SGV runs a special timetable on Wednesday 4 November 2026 for the 163rd Rütli shooting, with extra courses to the Rütli from Flüelen, Brunnen and the Lucerne side of the lake. All valid tickets are accepted.

The Rütlischiessen is held on the Rütli meadow above Lake Uri, the traditional founding site of the Swiss Confederation. Lucerne Tourism describes it as probably the most traditional shooting event in Switzerland, held for over 160 years on the Wednesday before St. Martin's Day. Shooting sections from Uri, Schwyz, Nidwalden, Lucerne and Engelberg-Anderhalden take part, plus guest sections; shooting runs until about 2 p.m., followed by a gathering with a speech at 3 p.m.

For a visitor, it mostly means busy boats on Lake Uri that day and departure times that differ from a normal winter Wednesday. The SGV special timetable notes that other connections follow the official timetable. Planning a Grand Lake Cruise to Flüelen on 4 November? Check the SGV operating information page the day before.

Are the winter boats covered by the Swiss Travel Pass?

Yes. The scheduled SGV boats are covered in winter just as in summer by the Swiss Travel Pass, the Flex on a travel day and the Lucerne Travel Pass. The Half Fare card gives 50%.

Pass holders can walk onto the catamaran, the Short Lake Cruise or the Grand Lake Cruise without a ticket. The SGV's winter culinary cruises are a different matter: fondue, raclette and fondue chinoise cruises, plus the Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day cruises, are priced separately. The same goes for the first-class lunch cruise, which adds the seat and a three-course meal.

Winter is also a good season for Rigi. Rigi Railways advertises cogwheel operation 365 days a year, and the pass covers the boat to Vitznau and the railway. One snag: the cable car between Rigi Kaltbad and Weggis is closed for maintenance from 16 to 27 November 2026, so on those days the Rigi round trip goes up and down via Vitznau, per the listing. More in our Swiss Travel Pass guide.

Boat to Vitznau, the cogwheel railway to Rigi Kulm and back by boat, on one ticket at your own pace, in any season.

★ 4.6 · 1 day, own pace · from $165

Explore the classic Rigi round trip → Tour details

How do you plan a day on the lake in winter?

Pick the trip by its departure time, not the other way round. The catamaran fits any gap in the day; the Grand Lake Cruise needs the 10:12 start; the Short Lake Cruise has one morning and three afternoon departures.

A few practical points for this winter:

• The piers stay reachable. Construction at Bahnhofplatz runs until 12 December 2026 and moves some VBL bus stops, but the SGV says access from the station to the piers remains open.
• Evenings on Fridays and Saturdays: the late catamaran departures, until 22:07, show the lit lakefront from the water.
• Dress for the open deck. The saloons are heated; the views are better outside, and the wind on the water is colder than on the quay.
• Look up the day's timetable. Fewer courses mean longer waits if you miss one, especially for the return from Flüelen or Beckenried.

Guests on the catamaran tend to be pleasantly surprised by the hour. Rebecca, in Sep 2026: "It was a really beautiful ride and longer than I thought." For month-by-month planning, see our best time to visit guide.

The one cruise with a departure every hour all winter: 55 minutes toward Bürgenstock from Pier 3 by the station.

★ 4.4 · 1 hour · from $33

Explore the 1-hour catamaran cruise → Tour details

Frequently asked questions