Seelisberg is a municipality that stretches up the mountainside from the Treib landing stage on Lake Lucerne. The village lies almost 400 meters above Lake Lucerne. The highest point of the municipality is 2116 meters above sea level at the summit of the Oberbauenstock. The Treib-Seelisberg Railway is a historic funicular railroad that connects the village of Seelisberg with Lake Lucerne. Opened in 1916, the railroad line is around 1.2 km long and climbs 369 meters in altitude. From Seelisberg, you have a wonderful view of Lake Lucerne and the surrounding mountains.
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“It was a fabulous day starting with a boat trip up the lake to Vitznau, then stepping onto the train up to Rigi Kaltbad. The mineral baths were totally relaxing, from the bubble pools to the stunning outdoor views, plus the herbal steam room, mineral pool tranquility and sauna. A truly sensational day.”
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Travel Guide
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.
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).
| 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 |
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:
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.
Families will find various attractions and excursion spots in and around Seelisberg. Here’s a small selection for you:
You can easily reach Seelisberg by boat, making it perfect for planning a lovely day trip.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
| 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 |
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:
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.
Families will find various attractions and excursion spots in and around Seelisberg. Here’s a small selection for you:
You can easily reach Seelisberg by boat, making it perfect for planning a lovely day trip.
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.
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.
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.
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