Mount Pilatus is the jagged mountain that dominates the skyline south of Lucerne. The summit gives wide views over Lake Lucerne and the central Swiss Alps, and it can be reached by cable car from Kriens or, in season, by the steep cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad.
The classic outing is the Golden Round Trip: boat from Lucerne to Alpnachstad, cogwheel train to the top, then cable car down toward Kriens. Hikers can make the trip harder and cheaper by walking part of the descent, but even non-hikers should allow several hours for the mountain.