August 15, 2026, 12:26 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
In the Swiss canton of Nidwalden, you have the chance to ride a very special gondola to the 1,898-meter-high Stanserhorn mountain. In the CabriO cable car, as it’s called, guests can travel not only inside a cabin but also outside on its roof. TRAVELBOOK spoke with the operators about this globally unique attraction, its costs, and the guests’ reactions to this extraordinary summit ride.
Above the Swiss town of Stans, in the canton of Nidwalden, stands the 1,898-meter-high Stanserhorn mountain. Compared to the country’s 48 peaks over 4,000 meters, it’s relatively modest. However, it offers a globally unique attraction. Those who take a ride to the summit with the CabriO cable car can literally feel the wind on their faces. In this special gondola, you can ride not only inside the cabin but also on a sun deck on its roof. At the top of the mountain, numerous other attractions await guests from around the world.
According to the official Stanserhornbahn website, transportation via funicular to the impressive summit has existed since 1893. Built by mountain railway pioneers Franz Josef Bucher-Durrer and Josef Durrer-Gasser, the railway opened on August 23 of that year, along with the Stanserhorn Kulm summit hotel. Just two years later, another literal highlight was installed: a spotlight on the mountain that still shines into the valley every night. Hotelier Josef Durrer-Gasser had it installed with a luminous intensity of “22,000 standard candles” to advertise his resort. Unfortunately, it met a tragic end.
Tragic Fire
On the night of October 3, 1970, the building caught fire due to a short circuit and was completely destroyed by the flames. The former inn was converted into a restaurant, which still exists today. Spectacularly, after a ride on the CabriO cable car, you can dine in rooms that rotate, offering a unique way to enjoy the spectacular panorama. With a 100-kilometer view of the Alpine mountain ranges and numerous mountain lakes. In 1974, the funicular to the Stanserhorn ceased operations. Just a year later, the still-existing aerial cableway opened.
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Peter Bircher, CEO of Stanserhorn-Bahn-AG, told TRAVELBOOK: “My highly esteemed predecessor Jürg Balsiger and cable car engineer Reto Canale came up with the idea for our globally unique CabriO cable car. We wanted to offer guests something truly unique.” It took four years from planning to implementation. On June 28, 2012, the then-world novelty was opened. Development and geological challenges on the mountain ultimately drove construction costs to 29 million Swiss francs, or about 31 million euros.
Only for the Brave
Bircher proudly adds: “Our guests are fascinated by the technology and, of course, by the 360-degree panoramic view during the ride to the Stanserhorn.” It certainly takes a bit of courage to stand on the gondola’s roof, as the spectacular images of the CabriO cable car suggest. However, there have been no incidents or accidents since its inauguration. “The CabriO aerial cableway operates very reliably.” Unfortunately, the ride on the roof is not yet barrier-free. The breathtaking views are not the only thing that might take guests’ breath away; the prices for a ride on the globally unique gondola are also steep. It costs 82 CHF per person, roughly 88 euros, for a round trip.
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With the so-called “Half-Fare Card” of Swiss public transport, the fare is reduced by half, but at 41 CHF (about 44 euros), it is still quite substantial. In addition to regular rides, you can also take sunrise and sunset rides with the CabriO cable car, and there are special events. On the mountain itself, guests can enjoy offerings such as yoga, hang gliding, and paragliding, in addition to the rotating restaurant.
On busy days, the cable car departs from Stans every 10 minutes to the Stanserhorn, and the schedules for special rides can also be found on the official website. The special summit ascent takes about 25 minutes in total, with the CabriO cable car ride lasting just under 10 minutes. First, you take a historic funicular from Stans to the Kälti middle station, and from there, the open-air gondola takes you to the summit. A not-so-cheap but globally exclusive pleasure.