Rail Holidays in Switzerland

F ew countries have the allure of Switzerland, particularly when it comes to rail holidays. Glass-roofed trains cater specifically to those who travel in their droves to experience the snow-capped peaks, awe-inspiring glaciers and cosmopolitan cities that make up this small but perfectly formed country. Travel on the Glacier Express from the foothills of the Matterhorn to the world-famous resort of St Moritz. Take a train to the highest station in Europe at Jungfraujoch or glide across crystal-clear lakes on a boat cruise. Take a trip to Mount Titlis, near the quaint village of Engelberg, or visit the dramatic Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen. There are also the cities – Zurich, Lausanne and Bern are just some of the cities that lure in visitors from all over the world.

Recommended Holiday Ideas

Tailor Made Rail

Destination Switzerland

Tailor Made Rail

Switzerland is a stunning country, with its towering peaks, verdant meadows, glacial rivers and clear blue lakes. Even the cows are beautiful! And it’s amazingly easy to get around by public transport with all but the smallest places served by a train station and services running frequently and on time. The country boasts some of the best mountain railways in the world (more on this later) and the steepest cog railway (Pilatus). The food is hearty and delicious with not to be missed dishes including traditional rosti, raclette and of course, fondue, all washed down with fantastic local wines which you can only taste in Switzerland, as they don’t share with the rest of us.

Discover cultural centres like Basel and Zurich as well as less-known but stunning destinations like Bern and Chur. Stunning lakeside resorts like Locarno and Montreux can be combined with the majestic castles of Bellinzona, Reichenbach Falls (where Sherlock Holmes met his end) and exciting cableways into the mountains like Titlis and Schilthorn, where On Her Majesty’s Secret Service was filmed. If you like a scenic train journey, you couldn’t really do much better than the famous Glacier Express or the Bernina Express down across the Italian border. But there are plenty of others to consider, including the Golden Pass route from Montreux up to Interlaken and the Jungfrau Railway, which conveys passengers up to the highest train station in Europe.

Accessing Switzerland from the UK by rail is very easy. There are two main routes we recommend. Paris provides easy access to the French-speaking west of Switzerland, serving cities such as Lausanne and Geneva. If you are heading to Zurich, Chur or Basel, there is the option to travel via Brussels and Frankfurt – connections that do not require a change of station as is necessary in Paris. InterCity trains in Switzerland link major cities such as Geneva, Lausanne, Basel, Zurich and Lugano. Trains are air-conditioned, and most have dining cars and a trolley service of drinks and light refreshments. Reliability is excellent and most staff speak many languages, including English.

Itineraries in Switzerland

Tailor Made Rail
6 Days
  • Strasbourg
  • Lenk
  • Lyon
This fabulous hiking holiday based in Lenk offers hikers the opportunity to walk two stages of the renowned Via Alpina hiking route without needing to carry luggage. Routes can be adapted to suit you and the hotel concierge in Lenk is always ready to offer advice.
From £1,999
9 Days
This is a traditional escorted tour by rail, with a difference. You'll be guided by an English long-term resident of the Bernese Oberland, who will take you to some of the most beautiful corners of the country, with some unique and unforgettable experiences including a night in a hotel overlooking the Aletsch Glacier, a trip up a mountain on an open-top cablecar and cheese tasting with added schnapps!
From £3,899
8 Days
Enjoy a glorious week of self-guided walking in the beautiful Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland, in the shadow of the Jungfrau, Mönsh and Eiger peaks. Throughout your holiday, you will benefit from the local knowledge and experience of your hotel hosts who can help with daily walks and day trip ideas.
From £2,499
6 Days
This fabulous self-guided hiking holiday based above the Aletsch Glacier in Belalp offers hikes for all levels and allows you explore the surrounding region of Valais in Switzerland, dominated by the iconic peak of the Matterhorn.
From £1,299
8 Days
  • Strasbourg
  • Zermatt
  • Giessbach
  • Cologne
Embark on a Swiss rail adventure as you travel to the summit of three of the most famous mountain railways - the Gornergrat, the Jungfrau Mountain Railway and the enthralling steam train on the Brienzer Rothorn. Stay in beautiful Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn, followed by 3 nights at the iconic Grandhotel Giessbach on the shores of Lake Brienz in the Bernese Oberland.
From £1,799
12 Days
  • Cologne
  • Grindelwald
  • Lugano
  • Chur
  • Brig
  • Lausanne
This exciting Swiss adventure takes you through some of the country's most beautiful scenery, with journeys on the Glacier Express, the Bernina Express and the Gotthard Panorama Express (featuring a boat cruise across Lake Lucerne). You'll also take in the views from the top of the Schilthorn and enjoy a day trip to Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn.
From £2,599
Offer
11 Days
  • Strasbourg
  • Zermatt
  • St Moritz
  • Como
  • Basel
  • Brussels
Combine a visit to Italy's best loved lake resort with some of the world's most stunning rail journeys on this holiday to Switzerland and Lake Como, taking in the Glacier Express, Bernina Express and Gornergrat Mountain Railway. Enjoy a 3-night stay on lovely Lake Como before returning via Basel and the Rhine Gorge.
From £1,999
9 Days
  • Bern
  • Hilterfingen
Take the train to Swiss capital Bern and then head out into the stunning surroundings of the Bernese Oberland with your hire car. Spending a week near lovely Lake Thun, you'll have plenty of time to visit nearby Interlaken and Brienz, the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Gantrisch Naturepark and the quintessentially Swiss region of Emmental.
From £1,499
Offer
5 Days
  • Zermatt
  • St Moritz
Enjoy a journey on one of the most famous scenic trains, travelling in style with the new Excellence Class on the Glacier Express. Your holiday also includes first class travel on your rail journeys in and out of Switzerland along with luxury hotels.
From £2,599
Offer
8 Days
  • Chur
  • Como
  • Freiburg
Travel out to one of Italy's most sought-after holiday regions, majestic Lake Como. Take the train via Paris to Chur in Switzerland, then make your entrance in style via the Bernina Express and boat.
From £1,149
Offer
7 Days
  • Chur
  • Brig
  • Venice
  • Munich
Make the journey part of the holiday with train travel from London to Switzerland, a night in Chur and then a spectacular ride aboard the Glacier Express en route to the stunning city of Venice.
From £1,249
Offer
11 Days
  • Strasbourg
  • Bellinzona
  • Lugano
  • Locarno
  • Lausanne
Visit Ticino, the beautiful Italian-speaking canton of southern Switzerland. Take in the best of the region with a complimentary Ticino Ticket - a travel pass to use throughout your stay.
From £1,499
16 Days
  • Zurich
  • Interlaken
  • Montreux
  • Zermatt
  • St Moritz
  • Lugano
  • Lucerne
  • St Gallen
  • Basel
From east to west and top to bottom, take an epic tour of Switzerland by rail, including stunning mountain vistas, lakefront resorts and some of the country's most famous scenic rail journeys.
From £2,749
Offer
9 Days
  • Strasbourg
  • Zermatt
  • St Moritz
  • Cologne
Journey to the foot of the Matterhorn in Zermatt, then take the world's slowest express train, the Glacier Express, on its full run through to St Moritz. Return home via the Rhine Valley and a night in Cologne.
From £1,649
6 Days
  • Vevey
Speed down to the Swiss Riviera and enjoy 5 nights in the pretty town of Vevey on the shores of Lake Geneva, including a regional rail pass so that you can make the most of your stay.
From £1,099
Offer
5 Days
  • Interlaken
  • Montreux
Take the train through France to Interlaken, surrounded by the wonders of the Bernese Oberland. Then catch the Belle Epoque or modern panoramic carriages of the Golden Pass line through stunning scenery to Montreux on Lake Geneva.
From £1,049
Offer
6 Days
  • Frankfurt
  • Chur
  • Interlaken
Experience three of Europe’s most thrilling and impressive train journeys as you take the Glacier Express, Bernina Express and Jungfrau Mountain Railway in stunning Switzerland.
From £1,499
Offer
4 Days
  • Basel
  • Interlaken
Travel by train to Interlaken with a night en route in Basel, then take an unforgettable day trip up to the highest station in Europe near the peak of the Jungfrau Mountain.
From £1,099
Offer
4 Days
  • Brig
  • Chur
Take a whistle-stop tour of Switzerland and experience two of its most famous rail journeys - the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express.
From £1,099
Offer
  • Cologne
  • Salzburg
  • Chur
  • Zermatt
  • Strasbourg
Make the most of your winter holiday with a scenic journey through the Alps. Travel from Cologne, through the Rhine Gorge to Salzburg, by panorama coach to Chur, across Switzerland to Zermatt with the Glacier Express and then back to London via Strasbourg.
From £1,499
Offer
  • Zermatt
  • Chur
  • Innsbruck
  • Lake Bled
  • Graz
  • Stuttgart
Travel from Zermatt, in the shadow of the Matterhorn, through the best of the Swiss and Austrian Alps, to picture-perfect Lake Bled in Slovenia's Julian Alps.
From £2,099

Famous Trains in Switzerland

Glacier Express View More
Bernina Express View More

Blogs About Switzerland

3 Sep, 2018
If you're thinking of tackling a mountain - the easy way - on your next rail holiday to Switzerland, our handy guide will help you distinguish your Schilthorn from your Rothorn.
3 Apr, 2019
Mrs Hopkins was a client of Tailor Made Rail on the Glacier and Bernina Express short break itinerary in June 2014. She added an additional night in Cologne on the return journey.
3 Apr, 2019
As I sit at the cafeteria with a panoramic view out onto the Aletsch Glacier, I am totally awe-struck by the engineering of the mountain railway that brought me up here.
3 Apr, 2019
Swiss Rail Passes offer flexibility and great value for money on your Switzerland rail holiday. For a set number of days in a row, or a designated amount of days in one month, you can enjoy unlimited travel on trains, buses and boats on the Swiss Travel System network.
3 Apr, 2019
Ticino in southern Switzerland is the only canton (state) that is entirely Italian-speaking. “Where Swiss efficiency speaks Italian”, Ticino is a glorious blend of everything that is good about Italy combined with the clean, orderly Swiss modus operandi.
2 Apr, 2019
The village of Engelberg in the heart of the Swiss Alps is the perfect winter or summer destination by rail. Located just 45 minutes from Lucerne, Engelberg is a gem in the mountains.
21 Apr, 2020
Known as the most sought-after seats in Switzerland, the Excellence Class on the Glacier Express was introduced in early 2019 as a “super-first” class on board what is one of Europe’s most popular rail journeys.
23 Nov, 2020
If you're travelling to Switzerland from the UK and you have the time, taking the train over a couple of days with a stunning journey along the Rhine Valley is highly recommended. It's possible to get to Zurich, Basel or Interlaken in one day, but this route is far more scenic.
12 Apr, 2023
The magnificent Grandhotel Giessbach sits alongside Lake Brienz in the heart of the stunning Swiss Alps.