There are basically two different ways to get to the Pilatus.
You can take the aerial cableway from Kriens or the cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad.
The cogwheel railway only runs up the Pilatus during the summer months (approx. mid/end of May to October). In the winter months, the cogwheel railway is closed due to the snow situation, and it is only possible to take the aerial cableway up the Pilatus.
The two options for travelling to the Pilatus are explained in more detail below:
Kriens - Pilatus Kulm aerial cableway
To get to the aerial cableway in Kriens, take bus 1 from Lucerne railway station to Kriens, Pilatus centre. After a short walk you will reach the valley station of the aerial cableway. From there, take the panoramic cable car to Fräkmüntegg. Here you change to the large cable car ("Dragon Ride"), which takes you all the way to the top.
Alpnachstad - Pilatus Kulm cogwheel railway
During the summer months (approx. mid/end of May to October), the cogwheel railway runs from Alpnachstad to Pilatus. To get to Alpnachstad, you can take the train or boat from Lucerne to Alpnachstad. You can find the timetables here: www.pilatus.ch or www.lakelucerne.ch
Die beiden Varianten können auch zu einer Rundfahrt kombiniert werden:
Goldene Rundfahrt: Schifffahrt nach Alpnachstad - Zahnradbahn auf den Pilatus - Luftseilbahn nach Kriens - Bus nach Luzern (oder umgekehrt)
Silberne Rundfahrt: Zugfahrt nach Alpnachstad - Zahnradbahn auf den Pilatus - Luftseilbahn nach Kriens - Bus nach Luzern (oder umgekehrt)