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10 December 2024 by Ian Reddington
It may only be Europe’s 32nd-largest country in terms of geographical area, but Switzerland is home to some of the most magnificent scenery you’ll find across the continent. From soaring peaks and glacial lakes to flower-speckled alpine meadows and grassy valleys lined with villages that wouldn’t look out of place in a fairytale, there’s a seemingly endless showreel of gorgeous views. Switzerland’s towns and cities are also remarkably photogenic, ranging between beautifully preserved medieval architecture in Lucerne and palm-fringed, Mediterranean-esque vistas in Lugano. Thanks to its wide-ranging and ultra-reliable rail network, there’s no better way to weave your way through Switzerland than by train. On our tailor-made Grand Tour of Switzerland by rail, you’ll experience several of the country’s most scenic routes as you sweep between its German, French and Italian-speaking regions. Here’s a taste of what to expect.
GoldenPass Line
Leaving Lucerne, the GoldenPass Line skirts past Mount Pilatus, Lake Sarner and Lake Lungern before climbing the Brünig Pass into Bernese Oberland, a particularly dramatic part of the Swiss Alps, dominated by the snowcapped peaks of the Jungfrau massif. Idyllically nestled between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, Interlaken makes a perfect stop for a couple of nights before continuing, via Zweisimmen and Gstaad, down to Montreux, on the shore of Lake Geneva.
Golden Pass Line
Glacier Express
This eight-hour journey traverses the mountains and valleys of southern Switzerland at a leisurely pace, passing through 91 tunnels and across 291 bridges between Zermatt and St. Moritz. Among the highlights are the 2,033-metre Oberalp Pass, the Rhine Gorge and the Landwasser Viaduct, part of the UNESCO-listed Rhaetian Railway. Optional audio commentary is available onboard, along with gourmet cuisine and fine wines.
Glacier Express
Gornergrat Bahn
Breathtaking panoramas await on the Gornergrat Bahn from Zermatt up to the Gornergrat observation point, climbing 1,469 metres in 33 minutes on the highest open-rail railway in Europe. After passing by forests, rocky ravines and Alpine lakes on your way up to 3,089 metres above sea level, you’ll be greeted by stunning views of the Matterhorn and the adjacent Gorner Glacier.
Gornergrat Bahn
Bernina Express
The narrow-gauge Bernina Express is one of Switzerland’s most impressive rail journeys, passing right through the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Rhaetian Railway from St. Moritz to Tirano, just across the Italian border. Standout sights include the Morteratsch glacier, Lago Bianco and the Brusio Circular Viaduct, a single-track nine-arched stone spiral railway which marks the final stretch before arriving in Italy.
Bernina Express
Gotthard Panorama Express
Setting off from the Italian-speaking lakeside town of Lugano, the Gotthard Panorama Express transports you back into the heart of Alpine Switzerland, passing through the mountain meadow of Rütli, on the southern shore of Lake Lucerne. Here, you can also stop by Schillerstein, a 30-metre-high obelisk, and Tell’s Chapel, a 19th-century lakeside chapel adorned with four intricate frescoes painted by the Basel artist Ernst Stückelberg.
Gotthard Panorama Express
Voralpen-Express
An excellent way of travelling between central and eastern Switzerland, this scenic routes departs hourly, rolling past wide, boggy plains between Rothenthurm and Biberbrugg before traversing the rolling green hills of Toggenburg and passing over the Sitter Viaduct, Switzerland’s highest railway bridge. Its final stop, St. Gallen, is home to an elegant Baroque cathedral, a fully pedestrianised old town and a UNESCO-listed abbey complex.
Voralpen-Express
Pilatus Bahn
Departing from Alpnachstad, just outside Lucerne, and transporting passengers to the summit of Mount Pilatus, the Pilatus Bahn is the steepest cogwheel railway in the world. Commissioned in 1889, it’s a masterpiece in Swiss engineering, clinging to the cliff face as it climbs a vertical distance of 1,629 metres at a maximum gradient of 48 percent. It takes around 30 minutes to reach the final terminus at 2,073 metres above sea level, with spectacular views of pretty alpine meadows and striking rock formations throughout the journey.
Pilatus Bahn
