Want to feel like you’re on the set of The Sound of Music? Rigi Mountain is the perfect place to hike the Swiss Alps during the summertime and experience pure freedom and adventure!

Rigi is nestled in the Swiss Alps, and the best way to access it is by starting in Lucerne, a charming town just south of Zurich, Switzerland. Arrive early in the morning to explore a bit, and don’t miss the Chapel Bridge, a picturesque wooden footbridge adorned with vibrant flowers.

From Lucerne, take a scenic ferry ride to Vitznau, where you’ll cruise across the crystal-clear waters of Lake Lucerne, surrounded by towering mountain peaks. The ferry ride lasts about an hour, making several stops at lakeside villages along the way.

Once in Vitznau, you’ll be greeted by Rigi Bahnen, home to the iconic red cogwheel train that takes you all the way up to the summit of Rigi Kulm.

Rigi Kulm sits at 1,797 meters in elevation, offering breathtaking 360-degree views of the Swiss Alps and the tiny villages below, scattered along the lake. Here, you’ll find chairs perfectly positioned to soak in the scenery and a cozy café where you can grab a coffee or hot chocolate before starting your hike.

Now, while you can start hiking from here, we opted to take the train down to Rigi Kaltbad since we were traveling with Alberto’s grandparents and the incline from the summit was a bit too steep for them. From Rigi Kaltbad, cross the tracks, and the hike begins. All you need to do is just follow the trail!

The hike took us about three hours, including stops for pictures (and waiting for cows to cross the path!). The views? Absolutely unreal. No photo could truly capture the surreal feeling of standing among the vastness of the Alps, gazing out at the turquoise lake nestled between the peaks.

The hike ends at Rigi Scheidegg, where you’ll hop on a gondola down to Kräbel. From there, take a train to Arth-Goldau RB, which connects you back to Zurich.

Enjoy the hike of a lifetime, especially with the cows!