On the Swiss Trans-Alpin and Glacier Express to Geneva

Only this way will you truly experience the majestic Alpine panorama, stretch by stretch. More than 1,427 kilometers of train travel right through the mountains of Switzerland and Austria. The panoramic journeys on the Glacier Express and Trans-Alpin Express through the Swiss and Austrian Alps are packed with highlights from start to finish. The Trans-Alpin train: You may have heard of the two legendary Swiss express trains – the Glacier and the Bernina Express. You sit by the large panoramic window in the midst of the stunning mountain world and pay a tourist train surcharge for the privilege. A relatively unknown panoramic train runs daily between Graz and Zurich through equally wild and romantic mountain scenery. 9 ½ hours. For a regular fare. In 1st class, the EuroCity features a panoramic car. With the sun from east to west through the Alps: You start in Graz. As you travel, you cross the entire Alpine region from east to west – and the sun is your radiant companion. A picturesque finale is the journey along the Walen and Zurich lakes at sunset, just outside Switzerland’s largest city. You can also start in Zurich. Every day, a pair of trains runs in both directions on this spectacular trans-Alpine route. The journey over the Schober Pass, through the mountain landscape of the Salzburg-Tyrol route to Innsbruck and further along the Arlberg route is particularly rewarding. Behind every curve, new views of the majestic mountains await. The tunnels seem like flaps opening up the landscape. You travel over breathtaking viaducts, pass arched stone bridges, and are continually rewarded with fantastic views. Narrow gorges and deep valleys, shimmering glaciers and dizzying snow-capped peaks rising over 4,000 meters accompany you throughout the day. Sparkling blue lakes and crystal-clear streams, colorful flower meadows and dark forests, picturesque villages and bustling small towns – all this alternates throughout your journey. Viennese charm and the green gold of Styria: It’s not just the music that casts romantic dreams over Vienna’s guests. The city of waltzes will captivate you just as it has millions of visitors before you. Let yourself be enchanted by the special flair, charm, and elegance of this world city. Via the Semmering Railway route, still an intact masterpiece of engineering from days gone by, you arrive in the land of pumpkin seed oil. The old town of Graz and Eggenberg Palace are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Magnificent buildings, Mediterranean charm, and a cosmopolitan atmosphere. But Graz is and always has been more: a former imperial city, a Renaissance gem, a city of science and modern architecture, and one of Europe’s cultural capitals. Is Zurich really the busiest city in Switzerland? Nestled picturesquely by the lake in the heart of Europe, Zurich is not only Switzerland’s economic and financial metropolis but also a city with exceptionally high quality of life – an elegant boutique city. Not only the “Helvetica” font, muesli, and “Züri Gschnätzlets” originate from Zurich, but also Freitag bags made from recycled materials and the Dada art movement. Is Zurich really the busiest city in Switzerland? If you believe the residents of other Swiss cities, they’d rather not move to Zurich. Yet Switzerland’s largest city is the epitome of tranquility. See for yourself. 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels. The Glacier Express experience: Over its roughly 289 km route, the “slowest express train in the world” crosses 291 bridges. In other words, the journey consists almost entirely of bridges – almost one per kilometer. See for yourself! Your adventure begins in Chur, the old bishop’s city on the Rhine. After the opening of the Furka Tunnel, the Oberalp Pass at 2,033 meters above sea level is now the highest point on the journey. Previously, it was the Furka Pass. Until 1982, trains had to travel over the mountain – and only in summer. In Brig, you say goodbye to the friendly train staff. Geneva, so small yet so significant worldwide: Your journey continues through unknown wine-growing regions and along Lake Geneva. From afar, you can already see the symbol of the “smallest metropolis in the world”: the Jet d’Eau, a water fountain with a 140-meter-high jet. The multifaceted city of Geneva offers a wide range of experiences. Lived Swiss traditions blend with French influences. The long lakeside promenade, countless parks, lively old town alleys, and elegant shops invite you to stroll. The old town is dominated by St. Pierre Cathedral. Near the “Place du Bourg-de-Four,” Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born on the Grand-Rue. As the birthplace of watchmaking and home to creative chocolate makers, Geneva has earned a worldwide reputation. The UN and the Red Cross also contribute to this.