lormarscribs

My husband and I will be in Lucerne on July 28th. (Sunday) (Will be spending overnight on Sat) This is the day before we leave to return to US. Wondering which of these mountains would be good to do on Sunday. I assume the trams, etc. will be running on Sunday, when nothing else is open. Will return to Zurich on Sun. eve to catch our flight home early on Monday. Also, what is the best transportation to get to either of these mountains. My husband is into trains and trams so would want to use these, if possible. We will be staying at the Hotel Lucerne Renaissance.

Thanks for any help.

Dukey1

The Titlis trip does not involve trams. You take the train up to Engleberg; part of that route is rack-assisted.

The cableway station is within sight of the Engleberg rail station and the trip up to the top is in three different stages. the last stage is on the Italian "Rotair" lift which revolves 360 degrees as you ascend and descend.

You can easily do this trip in 1/2 day

neckervd

At Titlis, you are in snow and ice; Pilatus is a rocky view point which can be reached either by cog railway from Alpnachstad boat pier or by city bus and gondola from Lucerne.

Both are fine if the weather is good and awful if it rains.

nytraveler

Be aware that you can have sun in the valley and clouds at the mountaintop. Do check the weather before you ascend. When we went up Pilatus were had about an hour ro look around and then decided to have lunch at the restaurant. Just as the waitress brought our food a cloud rolled in - and we could hardly see each other across the table. Then it began to rain and we had to grab our food and race to a table inside.

There was some snow on top of Pilatus when we were year - but that's not necessarily true every year or all year long (we were there in May),

PalenQ

Titlis is far more the Alpine wonderland of your dreams - a whole summer and winter resort town tucked in under soaring ice-girdled peaks all year-round as neckervd says Pilatus is a rocky outpost known for its views (and visage of a man-like figure when seen from say Lucerne!) - the train up to Pilatus is one of the world's most thrilling mountain railways - if I had to chose one it would be Engelberg for a real taste of Alpine Switzerland.

docdan

PalenQ speaks with straight tongue. Either mountain is wonderful (doing both is somewhat redundant) however, a trip to Engelberg for Mt Titlis also can allow you a few hours to stroll that very pretty little town, which is recommended. The train ride to/from is a remarkable journey by itself.
Be sure to check out the extremely impressive interior of the Abbey church in Engleberg, which is completely unidentified by any signage, but the people there can help direct you around.