Sections of the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland
Intro
On the following sections, the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland merges the most scenic train rides into one breathtaking route. Year-round, this train journey of 1,280 kilometres leads from the most charming Swiss cities to Alpine hotspots, through UNESCO World Heritage Sites and past word-famous sights and landmarks.
Alternative section:
Chur – Zürich
Panoramic route from Chur to Zürich
Alternative section: Spiez – Domodossola (IT) – Locarno
Through the beautiful Centovalli
Alternative section:
St. Moritz – Lugano (by bus)
Switch to the bus and road
Interlaken – Zweisimmen – Montreux
A panoramic ride between two worlds.
Lugano – Flüelen – Luzern
The panoramic journey by train and boat.
Luzern – St. Gallen
Over gentle hills with a view of the Alps.
Montreux – Visp – Zermatt
Up the valley to the “mountain of mountains”.
St. Gallen – Schaffhausen – Zürich
The “maritime” side of Switzerland.
St. Moritz – Tirano – Lugano
From glaciers to palm trees.
Zermatt – St. Moritz
The slowest express train in the world.
Zürich – Luzern – Interlaken
From lake to lake, from city to city.
2¾ h / 131 km Zürich – Luzern – Interlaken
From lake to lake, from city to city.
On the ride from the urban centre of Switzerland to Lucerne, a gentler mountain- and hillscape dominates the scenery, with sparkling lakes in between. In Lucerne, you can conveniently transfer to the Luzern–Interlaken-Express. The ride on this premium panoramic train connects two world-famous destinations. Time flies faster than one would wish – due to mountain scenery, turquoise lakes and numerous waterfalls.
Highlights:
- Scenic ride: Luzern–Interlaken Express
- Top sight: Jungfrau Region
- Mountain excursions: Brienzer Rothorn, Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn, Harder Kulm, Schynige Platte, Grindelwald First
- Zurich: The cosmopolitan city at the shores of Lake Zurich – creative urban life combined with nature in all its glory.
- Interlaken: Starting point for many activities and adventures – surrounded by a gorgeous mountain scenery.
Timetable: Zürich–Luzern / Luzern–Interlaken
Hotels:
3¼ h / 120 km Interlaken – Montreux
A panoramic ride between two worlds.
Starting from Interlaken, guests onboard the new GoldenPass Express first glide along Lake Thun and then through the Simmen Valley to Zweisimmen. The exclusive travel class “Prestige” sets new standards, and the travel experience rivals the breattaking views that can be enjoyed through the large windows. The panoramic train runs past magnificent castles as well as peacefully grazing cattle and finally passes the German-French language border. On the last leg, it winds down through the hills – and with the arrival at Montreux visitors become engrossed in the Mediterranean flair of the region.
Highlights:
- Scenic ride: GoldenPass Express
- Top sights: Jungfrau Region, UNESCO Lavaux Vineyards, Chillon Castle
- Mountain excursions: Brienzer Rothorn, Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn, Harder Kulm, Schynige Platte, Grindelwald First, Glacier 3000, Rochers-de-Naye, Niesen
- Interlaken: Starting point for many activities and adventures – surrounded by a gorgeous mountain scenery.
- Montreux: Lake Geneva, majestic mountains, lovely vineyards – the picture-perfect scenery of Montreux
Timetable: Interlaken–Zweisimmen / Zweisimmen–Montreux (for GoldenPass Express or Belle Epoque, click „Advanced search“ and select only „IR/PE“ under transport type)
Hotels:
- Zweisimmen: Rinderberg Swiss Alpine Lodge
- Montreux: Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, Tralala Hotel, Hôtel Masson
2½ h / 148 km Montreux – Visp – Zermatt
Up the valley to the Matterhorn.
It is only a stone’s throw from fashionable Montreux to Visp. From here, the journey continues through the Nikolai Valley, the deepest-incised valley of Switzerland, to Zermatt. Before the “mountain of mountains” – the Matterhorn – comes into view, the train has to overcome more than 900 metres in altitude, partly with the help of cogwheel technology.
Highlights:
- Montreux: Vineyards of Lavaux, Chillon Castle, Chaplin’s World, mountain excursion to Rochers-de-Naye
- Zermatt: world famous car-free village with a view to Matterhorn, mountain excursions to Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
7¾ h / 291 km Zermatt – St. Moritz
The slowest express train in the world.
The Glacier Express travels across the Alps and connects fashionable Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn with the equally sophisticated St. Moritz. On its eight-hour ride through the mountainous Cantons of Valais, Uri and Grisons, the train dives through 91 tunnels and balances over 291 bridges. Unobstructed views of an imposing mountainscape, deep ravines and picturesque valleys – all from the comfort of the coach.
Highlights:
- Scenic ride: Glacier Express
- Top sights: Matterhorn, Rhine Gorge, Landwasser Viaduct
- Mountain excursions: Gornergrat, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Rothorn, Diavolezza, Muottas Muragl, Piz Nair, Corvatsch
- Zermatt: Car-free resort at the foot of the majestic Matterhorn: almost unlimited excursion possibilities – year-round.
- Chur: Switzerland’s oldest city of many charms: twisting alleys, historic buildings, a spectacular backdrop.
- St. Moritz: The bustling and chic birthplace of Alpine winter tourism amidst a splendid lake and mountain scenery.
Timetable: Zermatt–St. Moritz (for Glacier Express, click „Advanced search“ and select „Direct connections“)
Hotels:
6 ¾ h / 154 km St. Moritz – Tirano – Lugano
From glaciers to palm trees.
The Bernina Express inspires a sense of delight and bridges language regions as well as cultures. One highlight follows hot on the heels of the next: the sparkling Morteratsch glacier and, at 2,253 metres altitude, the Lago Bianco. Embedded in the Alpine landscape, the vibrant turquoise of the lake stands out beautifully. From the UNESCO World Heritage route of Rhaetian Railways, the train winds its way over the Bernina Pass and down through the scenic Val Poschiavo towards Tirano in Italy. The journey continues on the Bernina Express Bus through the Valtellina Valley via Lake Como to Lugano.
Highlights:
- Scenic ride: Bernina Express
- Top sight: Brusio Circular Viaduct
- Mountain excursions: Diavolezza, Muottas Muragl, Piz Nair, Corvatsch, Monte San Salvatore, Monte Brè
- St. Moritz: The bustling and chic birthplace of Alpine winter tourism amidst a splendid lake and mountain scenery.
- Lugano: Small town charms combined with modern city perks – all sprinkled with Mediterranean flair.
Timetable:
- St. Moritz – Tirano (for Bernina Express, click „Advanced search“ and select only „IR/PE“ under transport type)
- Tirano–Lugano (Bernina Express Bus)
Hotels:
5½ h / 182 km Lugano – Bellinzona – Flüelen – Luzern
The panoramic journey by train and boat.
From April through October, guests can board the Gotthard Panorama Express from the Mediterranean-style Ticino along the world-famous Gotthard panorama route. In Flüelen, travellers change from the panoramic train, with personal travel guidance, to a boat. In a leisurely fashion, the boat then glides over Lake Lucerne through the traditional Swiss heartland surrounded by imposing mountains to Lucerne. Alternatively, the Treno Gottardo along the scenic Gotthard route operates all year, taking guests to Lucerne.
Highlights:
- Scenic ride: Gotthard Panorama Express (combination of train and boat, operates April - October) or Treno Gottardo (operates all year)
- Top sights: Bellinzona Castles, Chapel Bridge
- Mountain excursions: Monte San Salvatore, Monte Brè, Pilatus, Rigi, Stanserhorn, Titlis
- Lugano: Small town charms combined with modern city perks – all sprinkled with Mediterranean flair.
- Lucerne: The gateway to Central Switzerland with its delightful lake and impressive Alpine panorama.
Timetable: Gotthard Panorama Express Lugano - Flüelen (train) and Flüelen - Luzern (boat), Treno Gottardo Lugano - Luzern (train)
Hotels:
- Bellinzona: Youth hostel Bellinzona
- Flüelen: Hotels in Flüelen
- Lucerne: Hotel Wilden Mann, Hotel Rebstock, Hotel des Alpes
2¼ h / 125 km Luzern – St. Gallen
Over gentle hills with a view of the Alps.
The green hillscape and mountain scenery that spread out before the high-Alpine mountain chain are full of charms. Here’s where the Voralpen-Express runs between Lucerne and St. Gallen. It starts at Lake Lucerne against the backdrop of the prominent Alpine panorama of Central Switzerland. The Voralpen-Express crosses Lake Zurich and passes Rapperswil, the city of roses. Shortly before arriving at St. Gallen, another highlight awaits: the Sitter Viaduct, with 99 metres Switzerland’s highest railway bridge.
Highlights:
- Scenic ride: Voralpen-Express
- Top sights: Chapel Bridge, UNESCO Abbey District
- Mountain excursions: Pilatus, Rigi, Stanserhorn, Titlis, Säntis
- Lucerne: The gateway to Central Switzerland with its delightful lake and impressive Alpine panorama.
- St. Gallen: Between Lake Constance and the Appenzellerland: picturesque St. Gallen with its UNESCO Abbey District.
Timetable: Luzern–St. Gallen
Hotels:
- St. Gallen: Einstein St. Gallen, Sorell Hotel City Weissenstein
2½ h / 133 km St. Gallen – Schaffhausen – Zürich
The “maritime” side of Switzerland.
From the history-steeped city of St. Gallen, the train winds through a pastoral hillscape towards Lake Constance and then rolls along its shoreline for 40 kilometres. Afterwards, it follows the Rhine downstream to Schaffhausen, where the Munot Fortress towers as the town’s landmark. Schaffhausen is also famous for harbouring Europe’s largest waterfalls: the Rhine Falls. After crossing the imposing railway bridge of Eglisau, the train soon arrives at Zurich, financial metropolis of Switzerland.
Highlights:
- Scenic ride: Thurbo lake line along Lake Constance and the river Rhine, optional river boat ride between Stein am Rhein and Schaffhausen
- Top sights: UNESCO Abbey District, Rhine Falls
- Mountain excursion: Säntis
- St. Gallen: Between Lake Constance and the Appenzellerland: picturesque St. Gallen with its UNESCO Abbey District.
- Schaffhausen: A quaint medieval town surrounded by vineyards – just a stone’s throw from the famous Rhine Falls.
- Zurich: The cosmopolitan city at the shores of Lake Zurich – creative urban life combined with nature in all its glory.
Timetable:
- St. Gallen–Schaffhausen or St. Gallen–Stein am Rhein
- Stein am Rhein–Schaffhausen (for river boat connections click „Advanced search“ and select only „Ship“ under transport type)
- Schaffhausen–Zürich
Hotels:
- Schaffhausen: Sorell Hotel Rüden, Youth hostel Schaffhausen
- Zurich: Design Hotel Plattenhof, Marktgasse Hotel, Signau House and Garden
Alternative sections
Sometimes, there is not enough time to see it all – the following three shortcuts help you to shorten the trip if needed.
Chur – Zürich (1¼ h)
Taking the direct connection from Chur back to Zurich rewards travellers with magnificent views of the Bündner Herrschaft (dominion of the Grisons), the Churfirsten, and Lake Walensee as well as Lake Zurich.
Spiez – Domodossola (IT) – Locarno (4¾ h)
An alternative leg that is worth taking: the RegioExpress Lötschberger and the Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway take travellers to fabulous views. While the Kander Viaduct and the view of the Rhone Valley amaze passengers on the Lötschberg mountain route, the Centovalli (“100 valleys”) offers stunning vistas of deep ravines and rugged mountain ranges.
St. Moritz – Lugano (4 h)
The Palm Express is an alternative connection from the Engadin to the Ticino. In contrast to the Bernina Express Bus, this connection operates year-round. On the stretch from St. Moritz to Lugano, the famous yellow PostBus tackles the Maloja Pass and then winds its way down through the Bregaglia Valley to Italy. It’s a journey that includes glaciers as well as palm trees.