Lake Lucerne Panoramic Sightseeing Cruise
4.5
Lake Lucerne Panoramic Sightseeing Cruise
By Panorama-Yacht Saphir
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About
Discover famous alpine views without breaking a sweat on this Lake Lucerne sightseeing cruise, with a choice of morning, afternoon, or evening departure to suit your schedule. Unwind as you absorb sweeping views of the medieval city, Mt. Pilatus, and more from your vessel’s deck and gain deeper insight into the region’s history from audio commentary, available through a smartphone app.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 100 per group
Duration: 1h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Audio guide: Arabic, German, Chinese, Russian, Korean, Portuguese, Japanese, English, Italian, French, Spanish
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Highlights
- Discover Lucerne’s landmarks from the water on this sightseeing cruise
- A choice of departure times lets you easily manage your day’s itinerary
- See Mt. Pilatus, lakeside chalets, and the city of Lucerne from the water
- Learn about the region’s long history through audio commentary
- Transport by 161-foot (49-meter) yacht
- Expert captain and crew
- WiFi on board
- Multilingual audio guide via smartphone app. Use your own device and head phones.
What's not included- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Start:
- Luzern Schweizerhofquai, 6003 Lucerne, SwitzerlandPIER 7
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Wheelchair accessible
- Pushchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 6400SAPHIR- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travellers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 100 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 6400SAPHIR
From
₹3,127.68
per adult
Select date and travellers
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- 6003 Lucerne, SwitzerlandPIER 7
- Pass byLake LucerneLucerne
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- santi3310 contributionsComfortable cruiseVery pleasant way to tour Lake Lucerne. The yacht is very comfortable, with seating that affords you good views. The accompanying audioguide is comprehensive, entertaining and easy to understand.Written 5 November 2019
- Jonpan20140 contributionsOne-hour tour of Lake LucerneLucerne is one of my favorite cities in Switzerland and I wanted to take a one-hour cruise around the lake and chose the Panorama-Yacht Saphir. There's inside and outside seating, but the best views if you're taking photos are outside. It was a good learning experience. The cruise passed the Richard Wagner Museum that I visited later that day.Written 19 October 2019
- JAH201320130 contributionsGreat boat tripGreat views of Lake Lucern. Audio tour provided. Snacks and cocktails available on board. Inside seating available.Written 2 October 2019
- Pam T0 contributionsPleasant cruiseVery pleasant late afternoon cruise around Lake Lucerne with some wonderful views back to the town and towards the mountains and villages. Seating inside and out is available. There is also a bar serving hot and cold drinks.Written 1 October 2019
- Jack B0 contributionsRelaxing, BeautifulVery relaxing boat ride. Beautiful scenery along the entire one hour ride. Informative audio. Drinks and food availableWritten 24 September 2019
- gatecrasher0 contributionsBeautiful lake with good audio reviewThis is one hour so perfect way to start your evening. It gets chilly on the water so bring a wrap or simply sit inside as we did. We sat near the outside door so we could get up to take pictures. An audio guide is included in the pri ce and I guess they don't record all languages because we had a noisy boat!! Nonetheless i enjoyed seeing Lucerne from the water. I recommendWritten 23 September 2019
- Marilyn B0 contributionsBeautiful Cruise on Lake LucerneThe weather was beautiful as we (7 in my group) cruised Lake Lucerne aboard Saphir. The Saphir was very clean, comfortable and very stable, making for a very enjoyable mid-day cruise. We sat outside, but they had indoor seating as well with full windows for viewing. They offer food and drink onboard. The complimentary audio headsets offered good commentaries of the lake, the region, some homes, and some castles. I highly recommend sailing on the Saphir. Beautiful to view Lake Lucerne from the shoreline and even more spectacular to view her while cruising around her.Written 22 September 2019
- L0ve2Escape0 contributionsBeautiful views!Beautiful views but would’ve liked more commentary. Clean. Smooth ride. Several families. Quiet and very enjoyable ride. Buy water beforehand as we paid 21 euros for 3 regular sized bottles of water!Written 30 July 2019
- louisellebryan0 contributionsMagical tour of Lake LuzernGo to Pier 7, directly opposite the Hotel Schweizerhof. The signage is good; you can't miss it. The Saphir sails every 1:15 starting at 10:15 AM. Tickets are half-price with the Swiss Travel Pass. It's a pretty big boat. When you board, you will get a free audio guide: a little transmitter and a pair of headphones. On the back of the transmitter is a little list of languages with a number next to each. You can change the language of the guide using the up and down buttons to change the number displayed in the window to match your language of choice. I started upstairs, but moved down to the bow-section pretty quickly. Better photo opportunities, fewer people. This is a wonderful, easy cruise, best in good weather. Just one hour. A great way to start the day. I don't think you would have much fun on a chilly or cloudy day. My parents and I took the 10:15 and when we were done, we still had room for all the other things we wanted to do. The views are insanely beautiful and as varied as those through a kaleidoscope. Mt. Pilatus has something to give from every angle. The audio guide is interesting and informative.Written 30 July 2019
- lloydm9720 contributionsEnjoyable boat tourVery nice tour of Lake Lucern. The boat is nice and clean and very stable, no swaying or turbulence. The tour itself is beautiful, thanks to Lake Lucern and the surrounding area. I also enjoyed the audio tour, some interesting tidbits, but you don’t need it and can just enjoy the scenery.Written 12 July 2019
- Florida-Traveler-8880 contributionsVery EnjoyableLake Lucerne is lovely from the shoreline but to fully appreciate the views and architecture you need to get our on the water. This ship was built for this lake and offers seating outside and in a cabin with floor to ceiling windows. A narration is offered in multiple languages via headphones. We feared another tourist rip off but this experience was terrific. In an hour it is possible to see much of the lake front and various mountain passes in the distance.Written 11 July 2019
- Max M0 contributionsVery nice way to spend an hourWe are not big on cruises, to many tourists and they tend to "under deliver". In this case however we can thoroughly recommend taking the trouble and hopping on board, particularly if the day is fine. You get a running commentary through complimentary head phones and there are food and drinks available. It goes without saying, the views are breathtaking.Written 17 June 2019
- robp790 contributionsGood way to see a bit of the lake.We are only in town for two days but this was worth the time. A quick trip around the lake with an audio guide that is in whatever language you wish. A few snacks and drinks on the boat. The ride was smooth and you got to see a lot of different views of the mountains and some of the castles around the edge. We got a deduction because they any hotel in town you get some off the price of admission.Written 8 May 2019
- ChrisKCLT0 contributionsReally niceThis is a great 1 hour boat ride around the lake - wonderful sites - totally worth it - has food and drinks on the boatWritten 24 February 2019
- May19580 contributionsNIce CruiseWe enjoyed our trip on the Saphir. They have an audio service in many languages. Most people on board were South Korean. We got good seats inside by the window which we appreciated. The cruise was nice, and the audio informative. There is food and drink on board which some used. Liked being welcomed on board by the Captain, nice tough!Written 5 January 2019
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
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Ivonne Mo
Madrid, Spain64 contributions
Aug 2023
We took a family trip through Switzerland, we had the intention of taking a trip where we could appreciate the crystal clear waters of the rivers that are so emblematic. In this case we decided on Lake Lucerne, we took this tour because it was very affordable compared to the rest and lasted approximately one hour with the possibility of panoramic views. We had the possibility of an audio guide in the language you speak, which is very good since it explains a little of the history of Zurich.
Best of all is the beauty of the views that are accessible on the boat, so if you can take this experience I would 100% recommend it even if you have visited Zurich before.
Best of all is the beauty of the views that are accessible on the boat, so if you can take this experience I would 100% recommend it even if you have visited Zurich before.

Written 4 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PBlyth
Tampa, FL252 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
This is a very nice relaxing way to see the city sights from the water. The hour long tour follows the shoreline of Lake Lucerne at a leisurely pace and has a headset commentary of what you are viewing interspersed with classical music. There is plenty of seating both inside and outside and the bathrooms are very clean.
Written 24 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laurie V
2 contributions
Hubby & I just wanted to sit back and take in the amazing scenery on the lower Lake Lucerne. We sat upstairs in the back open area on the sofa-like benches.
Did not use the headphones they provided for the tour. The boat was not crowded on a Monday 1:30 tour. It was rather serene and so beautiful- quietly moving through the calm water.
Took many pictures
One hour - just enough
Captain was polite as we entered and disembarked
The boat was newer & clean
Did not use the headphones they provided for the tour. The boat was not crowded on a Monday 1:30 tour. It was rather serene and so beautiful- quietly moving through the calm water.
Took many pictures
One hour - just enough
Captain was polite as we entered and disembarked
The boat was newer & clean
Written 17 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beckywalker
Cotswolds, UK101 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
The views are lovely, but this is a very busy boat with people packed in everywhere.
Ther was no information on where to get headphones, or what app to use to use your own.
There was no information either on where the boat goes from apart from "Lucerne" which meant we were left with running about a mile to get to a different dock as when we found out which one it was going from, in this case dock 7. It was nowhere near dock 6 but a long way away on the other side.
Hardly anyone was able to use the headphones so it was a silent taxi tour from one side of the lake to pick up passengers and back again.
Saying that Lake Lucerne is lovely just dont go on this one.
Ther was no information on where to get headphones, or what app to use to use your own.
There was no information either on where the boat goes from apart from "Lucerne" which meant we were left with running about a mile to get to a different dock as when we found out which one it was going from, in this case dock 7. It was nowhere near dock 6 but a long way away on the other side.
Hardly anyone was able to use the headphones so it was a silent taxi tour from one side of the lake to pick up passengers and back again.
Saying that Lake Lucerne is lovely just dont go on this one.
Written 8 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
aberfitchgr534
Bolivar, OH1,988 contributions
Jun 2023
We booked this thru the get your guide app, however you can also buy tickets on sight at the stand. The “Yacht” Docks at Pier # 7 very close to the main tourist area of lucerne. I would use the word “Yacht” here loosely, its not what you think of when you think of yacht but does seem like compared to the other boat tours it is the superior boat, we sat on the bow of the boat which has un comfortable hard wooden benches. The cruise has no narration unless you bring head phones and download an app. It was a nice day and the breeze felt good, the cost was also cheap $19 a person so it was fine for what it was but it was not a must do and was a bit boring to be honest.
Written 26 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DandR5153
Holly Springs, NC74 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
The cruise is nice, but nothing special. The boat follows a direct line from the bridge near the train station to a point on the opposite end of the lake. It's fairly mundane. The audio option is not advertised very well on the boat - you have to go search for the headphones. It was interesting to see Lucerne & Mt. Pilatus from the water, but that's about all I can say about it.
Written 24 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review.
We are very pleased that we were able to welcome you on our boat tour.
We will pass on your feedback regarding the headphones to the responsible department and see if there is a better solution.
Written 16 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Vezuka
London, UK126 contributions
Sept 2021
They do not limit the number of tickets sold for the tour. Our boat on Sunday was very overcrowded with unhappy people not having enough sits and having to stand by the railings and blocking the view of others who managed to get seats. Their free audio guide that they heavily advertise is an app that you have to download and listen with your own headphones. As no one takes headphones for a boat tour, no one in our overcrowded bot listened to the commentary. Do not recommend to take this Saphir tour on a nice sunny day.
Written 18 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are sorry that you had a bad experience. Of course we do limit the number of tickets, but yes, sometimes with nice weather, it gets crowdy, you are right.
Due to covid security rules we do not offer the audio guide anymore. It should be announced on all platforms.
Anyway, we apologize for any bad experiences you may had.
Written 14 October 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
DREW R
Glasgow, UK341 contributions
Jun 2023 • Solo
Was pushed for time having been to Pilatus so did the 1 hour cruise on Saphir. Relaxing and enjoyable. Idyllic views. Departs from pier 7. You can buy tickets at pier 1 (allow 5 minutes walking time) or pier 7 which is in front of Schweizerhof Hotel.
Written 14 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elijah K
Vienna, Austria25 contributions
Aug 2024 • Friends
While a bit expensive, we definitely do not regret booking this tour! It offers an absolutely phenomenal view over the Swiss alps from the lake. The water is incredible, and if you have the time and money, this is definitely something that will improve you experience in Lucerne. Great way of seeing the mountains surrounding the city!
Written 19 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janet M
Cordova, TN821 contributions
Aug 2021
Ticket prices for this one hour boat ride were 16.50 CHF per person with our Swiss Travel Pass on the MS Saphir (panorama yacht). We caught the boat at Pier 7 and decided to relax on the main desk while we drank the wine and dessert we purchased onboard (22 CHF). Although it was raining the day we went, we enjoyed the cruise and the scenery we saw thorough the panoramic windows.
Written 23 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Does this cruise run during the month of December?
Written 13 August 2022
Como hacer la reserva, y valor de la misma y expresar en que moneda, de donde salen
Written 29 May 2021
Hi, I'd like to come on the 14:00 tour on Tuesday 12th November. Trip advisor won't let me pay by card for some reason. Would I be able to pay cash on the day? Thanks, Adam.
Written 10 November 2019
I would second the idea of verifying they are still operating, which could explain the difficulty in paying online. However, there is a ticket booth at the pier, and I think they would also take a credit card.
Written 11 November 2019
Roy SP RASYID
Bekasi, Indonesia
I have a Siwss Pass and is it a valid to join your Sightseeing?
Written 12 October 2019
I don't believe the Swiss Pass is good for the lake sightseeing cruise, but it might get you a discount on the ticket.
Written 13 October 2019
Hola, necesitaríamos ir 10 personas el 31 de Octubre, no tenemos otro día disponible, podría se por favor? Muchas gracias
Written 6 October 2019
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