Switzerland by Scenic Train

Switzerland is small enough that you can cross it in a morning and spend a week trying to see it. The trick is to stop treating the railway as a way to get between places and start treating it as the main event. A Swiss train journey is a tour with a timetable.

Why the train works so well here

Trains run on time, connect with buses and boats, and travel through landscapes that roads simply do not reach. A single ticket can take you from a glacier to a palm tree before lunch, as long as you do not mind leaving the car behind.

The routes worth planning around

In Switzerland the journey is often more beautiful than the destination, which is quite a statement given the destinations.

Where to stay along the line

• Zermatt for the Matterhorn and car-free streets

• Lucerne for a lakeside base with easy day trips

• St. Moritz for high-alpine glamour and quiet trails

• Interlaken for adventure and gentle lake cruises

• A small village for at least two nights, such as:

  • Wengen or Mürren, both car-free

  • Soglio, in the Bregaglia valley

  • Gruyères, for cheese and medieval charm

A relaxed seven-day shape

1. Arrive in Zurich and take the train to Lucerne for two nights

2. Cross by lake boat and rail to Interlaken and the Bernese Oberland

3. Ride up to a high-alpine viewpoint and walk down

4. Travel west on the GoldenPass line to Montreux

5. Spend a day on Lake Geneva and in the vineyards

6. Head to Zermatt for two nights

7. Take the Glacier Express east to St. Moritz, or return to Zurich

Make the tickets simple

Most visitors do best with a Swiss Travel Pass or a Half Fare Card. The first covers trains, buses, boats and many mountain railways for consecutive days; the second suits slower trips with fewer long journeys. Seat reservations are compulsory on the panoramic trains, so book those early.

Practical tips for a calm itinerary

• Sit on the left going up the valley, and the right coming back — or simply ask the conductor

• Carry only what you can lift to the rack yourself

• Leave 20 minutes for connections; the system works, but a delayed sleeper does not wait

• Pack a picnic: bakeries at the station are excellent

• Check the weather the night before and flex your viewpoint day

Best time to go

Late June to September for hiking and long evenings; December to March for snow, steam and fondue. Autumn is quiet and golden and has the best prices.

If you would like the whole route handled — from seat reservations to your hotel porters — see our Swiss Alpine Escape or speak to the team.