We took a ferry from Lucerne to Vitznau.

It was a delightful trip on the lake with several picturesque stops.

I personally enjoyed seeing Park Hotel Vitznau, a spectacular hotel on Lake Lucerne.

The “oldest mountain railway cogwheel train” is but a few hundred feet away when you land in Vitznau. It takes a good thirty minutes or so, with several stops to reach the top known as Rigi Kulm.

There is a delightful hotel, Hotel, Rigi Kulm, near the top. We actually stayed here for a night in 1988, something which we will never forget.

A refurbished restaurant has been added with a cafeteria style service with a large deck too. If you want something a bit cheaper, there is a restaurant down by the end of the Rigi Kulm train station.

What we didn’t like seeing since 1988, was the addition of a very large communications tower. It dominates the area.

The views at the top are spectacular.

Three lakes can be seen and in the distance the city of Lucerne. Technically, Mount Rigi is not part of the Alps, but of the Swiss Plateau area. It all looks the same to us.

There is another route with a cable car. But, we decided to take the cog down to the delightful city of Vitznau. Either way, you are in for a real treat, particularly if you have a nice day.

Even Mark Twain loved this place. He wrote in 1897 while living on the mountain, “This is the charmingest place we have ever lived in for repose and restfulness.”