Ticket
Ticket funicular Seelisberg from Treib
FromCHF 11
8 Highlights of Seelisberg
- In Seelisberg, you’ll find plenty of hiking trails that take you through stunning nature, allowing you to enjoy views of the Lake Lucerne and the surrounding mountains.
- The ride on the cogwheel train offers a fantastic panorama overlooking Lake Lucerne and the nearby mountains. This little red train is one of the oldest cogwheel trains in Switzerland.
- The Bergseeli is a crystal-clear mountain lake in Seelisberg. It features a lovely natural swimming area with a playground for kids and boat rentals.
- The Seelisberg Tunnel has been an important north-south connection in Central Switzerland since 1980.
- In Seelisberg, you’ll find a historic pilgrimage chapel that houses a statue of Mary from the 14th century.
- It takes about 40 minutes on foot from the mountain station of the Treib-Seelisberg cable car to reach the Seelisberg-Alp Weid cable car. The four-seater cabin takes you to a particularly beautiful viewpoint with a mountain restaurant.
- In the village of Seelisberg, you can visit the Aschwanden cheese dairy, where you can take a tour and taste some cheese.
- You can stay in Seelisberg at the Hotel and Nature House Bellevue, which offers views of Lake Lucerne.
What to Expect in Seelisberg
Seelisberg is the starting point for both leisurely and challenging hikes. The small mountain lake has a natural swimming area and reaches temperatures of up to 24 °C in summer. The area is also very popular with cyclists.
Historical Journey Seelisberg-Rütli
Seelisberg is located near the famous Rütli, the cradle of Switzerland. Along a trail with information panels, you'll learn about the most important milestones along the way. The Rütli meadow is where the Rütli Oath was made in 1291. Representatives from the three original cantons—Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden (now Obwalden and Nidwalden)—formed this alliance. Thus, the Rütli, known as the “cradle of Switzerland,” has the character of a national monument.
This hike takes about two hours. If you start your journey at the Seelisberg mountain station, you can take a boat back from Rütli via Brunnen to Treib. From there, you'll take the little funicular railway up. Including the boat ride, this takes about half a day.
The stations located in the village of Seelisberg are accessible by wheelchair or stroller (stations 5-10).
Stages of the Historical Journey
| No. | Location | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Treib Ship Station | Information |
| 02 | House at Treib | Historic meeting place in Treib with audio play |
| 03 | Valley Station TSB | Railway and tourism stories, Part 1 |
| 04 | Railway Car TSB | Questions answered by the historical journey |
| 05 | Mountain Station TSB | Railway and tourism stories, Part 2 |
| 06 | Train Station Square | Information and Maxi-Memory |
| 07 | Schibenboden | Five experience viewers about Rütli, Wilhelm Tell, and Gotthard |
| 08 | Schiller Balcony | Three reflections on Rütli |
| 09 | Sonnenberg Pavilion | What makes Seelisberg special: Four famous guests share their stories |
| 10 | Marienhöhe | Picture of the National Council Chamber by Charles Giron |
| 11 | Path to Rütli | A Kärcher philosophy about Switzerland |
| 12 | Rütli | Information |
Bergseeli in Seelisberg
The Bergseeli reaches up to 24°C water temperature in summer. The natural pool opens from mid-May to early September. The lake covers 18 hectares, is nearly 800 meters long, and around 350 meters wide. Its depth is 37 meters. The lake gets its water through underground seepage, and the drainage also likely occurs through an extensive cave system. Facilities of the natural pool:
- wheelchair-accessible entry to the water
- changing cabins
- restroom and shower facilities
- lawn for sunbathing
- children's playground
- beach volleyball court
- kids' pool with a swing
- dive board
- raft
At the Bergseeli, there are grill spots with grills, plus a kiosk where you can buy snacks. You can rent paddleboats, pedal boats, stand-up paddleboards, canoes, and kayaks.
Dogs are not allowed in the natural pool.
More Activities and Excursion Destinations from Seelisberg
Families will find various attractions and excursion spots in and around Seelisberg. Here’s a small selection for you:
Gold Family Safari to Klewenalp
- with playgrounds, cozy mountain inns, and numerous barbecue spots
- 1 hour 35 minutes hike
- Use of 5 modes of transport
- Route: Funicular from Seelisberg to Treib - Boat to Beckenried - Cable car Beckenried - Klewenalp - Stockhütte - Gondola to Emmetten - Postbus back to Seelisberg
- Distance: 20.36 km
Mountain Cheese Dairy Aschwanden
- Cheese factory tour including tasting
- 24-hour self-service shop
- Located in the middle of the village of Seelisberg
Excursion to Alp Weid
- Beautiful viewpoint above the village of Seelisberg with an alpine inn
- Accessible from Seelisberg via the Seelisberg-Alp Weid cable car
- From the Treib-Seelisberg mountain station, it’s about a 40-minute walk to the valley station Seelisberg-Alp Weid
Beroldingen Castle
- First mentioned in documents in 1500
- In the 16th century, a Laurentius Chapel was added
Pilgrimage Chapel
- The pilgrimage chapel dates back to 1666
- The statue of Mary is from the 14th century and is the centerpiece of the chapel
Arrival in Seelisberg
You can easily reach Seelisberg by boat, making it perfect for planning a lovely day trip.
By Boat
From Lake Lucerne, you can get to Seelisberg using the little red Treib-Seelisberg funicular. It’s one of the oldest funiculars in Switzerland, having opened in 1916. The ride covers 1.2 km and a height difference of 369 meters in about eight minutes.
The valley station in Treib is located right by the lakeshore and is easily accessible by boat. This makes it a great option to combine your trip with a boat ride. From Lucerne, the boat takes just under two hours to reach Treib. You can also catch a boat from Brunnen or Flüelen.
By Postbus
If you’re traveling by land, the best way to get to Seelisberg is by the Postbus line 311. It operates from Stans via Ennetbürgen, Buochs, Beckenried, and Emmetten to the village of Seelisberg.
By Car
You can also drive to Seelisberg via the same route as the Postbus. From Flüelen, take the A2 to Beckenried, then continue on the Seelisbergstraße. You will pass through the Seelisberg tunnel. The Seelisberg tunnel is part of the A2 and has been an important north-south connection in central Switzerland since 1980. At 9,292 meters, it is the longest dual-tube tunnel in Switzerland, running underneath Niederbauen Kulm, which is part of the municipality of Seelisberg. You enter the tunnel near Bolzbach in the south and exit close to Beckenried.