11

Best Train Rides In Switzerland

The Glacier Express is probably the most recognisable of the best train journeys in Switzerland, connecting two of the country's famous mountain destinations, Zermatt and St Moritz. The journey takes around eight hours and crosses approximately 290 kilometres of Alpine scenery. Along the way, the train passes through valleys, mountain villages, tunnels and spectacular viaducts, including the famous Landwasser Viaduct.

One of the top views to see on a Glacier Express journey is the route through the Rhine Gorge, often referred to as the "Swiss Grand Canyon". The scenery changes gradually from the Matterhorn region around Zermatt to the Engadin landscape surrounding St. Moritz. This is a journey to choose when you want the train ride itself to be a major part of the holiday. It also works particularly well if Zermatt and St Moritz are already part of your itinerary.

The Bernina Express is one of the most spectacular scenic train rides in Switzerland, especially if you want dramatic changes in landscape within a single journey. It connects Chur with Tirano in Italy, crossing the Alps through the Albula and Bernina regions and reaching elevations of more than 2,000 metres.

Expect glaciers, mountain lakes, forests, steep valleys and impressive viaducts, including the famous Brusio Circular Viaduct. Unlike the Glacier Express, this journey can also work well for travellers who want to combine Switzerland with northern Italy, making it a useful addition to Europe tours covering multiple countries in one trip. From an itinerary perspective, the route is particularly useful if your trip already includes Chur or the Engadin region and you want to continue towards Italy without unnecessary backtracking.

Not every one of the best train trips in Switzerland needs to take several hours. The Gornergrat Railway connects Zermatt with Gornergrat at over 3,000 metres, offering spectacular views of the Matterhorn, surrounding peaks and glaciers.

The railway operates year-round, although views vary with weather and season. For travellers with limited time, it is an easy addition to a Zermatt itinerary and can be combined with other local experiences rather than taking up an entire day.

The Jungfrau Railway takes travellers towards Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe, one of Switzerland's most popular mountain attractions. The journey involves travelling through the Jungfrau region before reaching the high-altitude railway station at more than 3,400 metres. The final section passes through the mountains before opening up to views around the Jungfrau-Aletsch region.

Snow and glaciers make this a popular choice for Switzerland family tour packages as well, even during months when lower-altitude destinations are warm. Our itinerary planning experience shows why the Jungfrau Railway is better treated as a mountain excursion rather than just another train ride. Travellers need to account for the return journey, altitude, weather and time spent at the attraction itself. If you're already staying in Interlaken, the experience can fit naturally into a day dedicated to the Jungfrau region.

The Luzern–Interlaken Express is one of the most practical scenic train rides in Switzerland for a first-time visitor. The journey takes around two hours and connects two major tourist bases: Lucerne and Interlaken. Along the route, the train passes several lakes and Alpine landscapes, making the journey scenic without requiring a full-day commitment.

For travellers building a classic Switzerland itinerary, this is particularly useful because the train journey itself can become part of the transfer between destinations. It is also well suited to Switzerland group tours, where shared transfers and coordinated sightseeing can make moving between Lucerne and Interlaken more convenient.

The Rigi Railway takes you up Mount Rigi from Vitznau towards Rigi Kulm. It is one of the oldest mountain railways in Europe and offers wide views over the surrounding lakes and Alps. The journey is relatively short, making it easy to incorporate into a Lucerne itinerary. You can combine the railway with other transport options around Lake Lucerne for a more varied day.

Mount Rigi is also a good alternative for travellers who want mountain views without necessarily committing to a high-altitude excursion such as Jungfraujoch. When planning our packages, we often look at the overall pace of the itinerary before adding mountain railways. A shorter experience such as Rigi can sometimes provide better value for a traveller with only a few days in Lucerne.

The Voralpen-Express is less famous internationally than the Glacier Express or Bernina Express, but it offers a quieter way to experience train travel in Switzerland. The route connects Lucerne and St. Gallen, passing through central and eastern Switzerland. Instead of dramatic high-altitude mountain scenery throughout, the journey offers rolling landscapes, lakes, towns and views of the Swiss countryside

This makes it particularly useful if you're interested in seeing a less tourist-heavy side of the country or connecting destinations outside the standard Zurich–Lucerne–Interlaken–Zermatt route.

The Montreux–Zweisimmen route is another excellent way to experience the GoldenPass landscape, particularly if your itinerary includes the Lake Geneva region. The journey moves from Montreux through vineyards and mountain scenery towards the Bernese Oberland. As you climb away from Lake Geneva, the landscape becomes increasingly Alpine, with forests, villages and mountain views.

The route works particularly well when combined with Montreux, Gstaad or Zweisimmen rather than being booked as an isolated train experience. For travellers comparing the best train trips in Switzerland, this is a good choice when the western part of the country is already on your itinerary.

For a slower sightseeing experience, combine a boat ride across Lake Lucerne with the railway journey towards Mount Rigi. The lake section gives you views of the surrounding mountains from the water, while the mountain railway then climbs towards Rigi Kulm. The combination makes the experience feel more like a full-day excursion than a simple train journey.

It is particularly convenient from Lucerne and can be adapted around weather conditions. If visibility is poor at the summit, travellers can adjust the timing rather than committing their entire Switzerland itinerary to a long-distance panoramic train. This is one of the best train trips in Switzerland for travellers who want to combine different modes of transport and experience several landscapes in one day.