Hammetschwand Lift
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- Visit: 4h 15m
- from CHF 10
- Step-free access
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Hammetschwand Lift is an outdoor elevator on Bürgenstock, in an exclave of the canton of Luzern, linking the Felsenweg cliff walk with the Hammetschwand viewpoint.
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Why go
- Rise 152.8 metres from the lower station to Hammetschwand.
- Travel in a glass cabin in under a minute.
- Look across Lake Lucerne and the Alps from the upper station, 1,132 metres above sea level.
Opening hours
Today09:30 – 18:00Show all
Monday09:30 – 18:00
Tuesday09:30 – 18:00
Wednesday09:30 – 18:00
Thursday09:30 – 18:00
Friday09:30 – 18:00
Saturday09:30 – 18:00
Sunday09:30 – 18:00
Don't miss
- Rock-cavern entranceThe lift entrance and machine room are tucked inside a rock cavern.Lower station, inside Bürgenstock
- Narrow lattice structureThe outdoor cabin travels inside a metal framework with sides two metres long.Outdoor section of the lift
- Lake view from the shaftBeyond the first 14 metres inside the mountain, another 30 metres of shaft extend outdoors, opening onto Lake Lucerne.Outdoor shaft section
Interesting facts2
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1905
When it opened in 1905, it was Switzerland’s first lift of this outdoor type.
Hammetschwand Elevator - Wikipedia -
Hotel and railway businessmen Franz Josef Bucher and Josef Durrer built the lift and the nearby Bürgenstock Resort.
Hammetschwand Elevator - Wikipedia
History
Bürgenstock became a holiday destination for wealthy visitors in 1872. From 1897 to 1902, Franz Josef Bucher-Durrer had a path cut into the mountain’s north face.
- 1903–1905Löhle & Cie. of Kloten built the open-air lift from Känzeli to Hammetschwand.
- 1905The lift opened with a wooden, zinc-clad cabin carrying up to eight people or 600 kg. The journey took nearly three minutes.
- 1936Schindler & Cie. strengthened the tower and fitted a light-metal cabin for 12 passengers.
- 1959/1960An overhaul reinforced the tower and raised the lift’s speed to 4 m/s.
- 1981The lift was partly refurbished.
Show all
- 1990After about four million passengers in 85 years, authorities required a full overhaul or closure. The owner and Schindler formed a joint operating company to restore the lift.
- 1991–1992The restoration expanded the lower station and installed a glazed cabin for 12 passengers.
- April 1992The lift reopened at 3.15 m/s, a slower speed chosen to emphasize the views during the ride.
Tips for your visit
- Expect an exposed cliffside approach on the Felsenweg.
- Plan to reach the lift on foot: only walking trails at the cliff base or summit lead to it.
With kids
- Walking to the top is also possible instead of taking the lift.
How to get there
- BoatBoats from Lucerne and other port towns reach the cliff-foot landing stage.
- TrainA funicular from the landing stage reaches tourist facilities west of the summit.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible lift The lift has been wheelchair accessible since the 1992 rebuild.
On the same route
Hidden gems nearby
Sources: Hammetschwand Elevator - Wikipedia · Stans - Wikivoyage (do) · Hammetschwand Lift | Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lu… · Hammetschwand-Lift - Wikipedia · Ascenseur du Hammetschwand - Wikipedia · checked 24 Sep 2026
Where
Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne, Obbuergen, 6363
- Phone
- +41 41 612 60 00
Questions and answers
Is there somewhere to eat at the top of Hammetschwand Lift?
There is a restaurant at the top of Bürgenstock.
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