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Back to Stans

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Voykit pocket guide · Switzerland

Stans

Spend a half‑day in Stans to ride the Stanserhorn cable car and stroll the old town, then continue to Lucerne or Engelberg.

Stans, capital of Nidwalden, sits on the Lucerne‑Engelberg rail line. Its main draw is the Stanserhorn funicular‑cable‑car combo (Fr 37 one‑way) and nearby glass works. With a train link to Lucerne (15 min) and Engelberg (30 min), it works as a quick stop rather than a base.

GenevaAarauAlbinenAndermattAppenzellArosaAsconaAvenchesBadenBaselBellinzonaBernBielBrigStans50 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
Switzerland
Best months
May–Sep
Avoid
Dec–Feb (cable car limited hours)
Stay
0–1 nights

Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.

Essentials

Currency
CHF
Money
Currency is the Swiss franc (CHF). Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere; euros are sometimes taken with change in francs.
Daily spend
Budget Fr 70–100 excl. bed · Mid Fr 100–150 excl. bed · High Fr 150+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
SIM and data
Swisscom, Sunrise and Salt sell prepaid SIMs (ID needed); Swisscom covers the most mountain terrain.
Emergency
Police 117 · Fire 118 · Ambulance 144 · Rega Air Rescue 1414
Plugs
Types J, C · 230 V · 50 Hz · Swiss three-pin sockets are recessed: thin two-pin (type C) plugs fit, but thick German Schuko plugs do not — bring a Swiss adapter.
Tipping
Restaurant: Service included; round up or leave 5–10% for good service.; Café or bar: Round up.; Taxi: Round up.; Hotel: Optional; CHF 2–5 for porters.; Mountain guide: CHF 20–50 for a day, optional.
Water
Tap and fountain water is excellent. Restaurants usually charge for bottled water; ask for 'Hahnenwasser' / 'eau du robinet'.
Toilets
Station toilets cost CHF 1–2; restaurants and department stores are free for customers.

What things cost

ItemPrice
Coffee at caféFr 4–6
Pizza at Der Italiener im TellFr 17–20
Stanserhorn cable car returnFr 74
Glasi Hergiswil exhibitionFr 7
Fürigen Fortress entryFr 7

Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.

Get in

By air

ZRH · Zurich Airport
—

Typical fares

Lucerne → Stans IR train
about Fr 12 one‑way, 15 min (check)
Stanserhorn funicular + cable car
Fr 37 single, Fr 74 return (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card

Get around

Trains run hourly from Lucerne (15 min) and Engelberg (30 min). Walk to the Stanserhorn funicular (≈5 min). Buses connect Stans to Stansstad boat pier.

See and do

Known for

  • Stanserhorn mountain
  • Glasi Hergiswil glass works
  • Fürigen Fortress

Day trips

WhereHowTime
StanserhornFunicular from Stans (5 min walk) then cable car≈30 min total
Glasi HergiswilBus or walk 2 km (1.2 mi) from Stans station≈15 min

Sleep

Hotel Engel
Central Stans, Fr 100–160 single/double
Hotel Winkelried (Stansstad)
Lake‑front, Fr 190–250 single/double

Phrase card

EnglishSay or show
Excuse me / SorryEntschuldigungEntschuldigung
Thank youDankeDanke
How much is it?Wie viel kostet das?Wie viel kostet das?
Where is the toilet?Wo ist die Toilette?Wo ist die Toilette?
Can I pay by card?Kann ich mit Karte bezahlen?Kann ich mit Karte bezahlen?
Help!Hilfe!Hilfe!

Etiquette, safety and scams

Etiquette

  • Greeting: Handshake; three cheek kisses among friends; avoid: Skipping the greeting in shops
  • Punctuality: Be exactly on time; avoid: Running for the train expecting it to wait
  • Language: Greet in the local language, then ask for English; avoid: Speaking German in Geneva as a default
  • Quiet: Low voices in trains; quiet carriages are marked; avoid: Speakerphone calls
  • Money: Keep financial talk discreet; avoid: Asking people's salaries
  • Recycling: Separate PET, glass and cans; avoid: Leaving rubbish in hotel or flat bins unsorted

Scams and watch-outs

  • Cable‑car runs Apr–Nov, half‑hourly; check schedule in winter.
  • Fürigen Fortress open Apr–Oct only; verify opening days.

Generally safe; watch mountain weather forecasts for Stanserhorn and keep valuables secure on trains.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Stans yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Stanserhorn mountain
  • Glasi Hergiswil glass works
  • Fürigen Fortress

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Stans

Bitte zu dieser Adresse

To this address, please

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

Swiss Federal Office for Migration handles visas; US consulate in Zurich (check address).

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/stans). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.