Grand Train Tour of Switzerland

Interlaken is a popular base for exploring the surrounding mountains of the Bernese Oberland. Why not take a mountain railway up to the top of one of the nearby peaks, such as the famous Jungfrau Railway or the steam-hauled Brienz Rothorn? There are also plenty of  other mountain excursions to choose from, such as the Schilthorn, one of filming locations for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

Alternatively, for a relaxing afternoon, why not take a cruise on nearby Lakes Brienz or Thun?

Leave Interlaken this morning and make your way to the Ost station for a scenic journey down via Spiez and Zweisimmen to Montreux on the Swiss Riviera. The last leg of this journey can be made either aboard a modern train with panoramic windows, or by vintage style ‘Belle-Epoque’ carriages. Let us know which you would prefer!

On arrival in Montreux, head to the conveniently located Suisse Hotel Majestic (or similar), where you will be spending the next 2 nights.

Enjoy a day at leisure on the Swiss Riviera, where you can walk, swim, cruise or even paddle-board around Lake Geneva, with its fantastic backdrop of snow-capped mountains.

From Montreux, you can walk along a promenade fringed with flowers to the lovely Chateau de Chillon (pictured) which is free to enter with your Swiss Pass. You can also take a boat to other lakefront towns including Vevey, Lausanne and Geneva. If you fancy another day on the rails, there’s also a scenic train, the Rochers de Naye, taking you up into the hills for sweeping panoramic views of the lake, mountains and nearby vineyards.

It’s time to leave Lake Geneva today and head through the Swiss canton of Vaud and then across into the canton of Valais. After a quick change in Visp, the Matterhorn-Gotthard Bahn will take you up to 5,250 feet above sea level and the mountain-ringed village of Zermatt.

You will be spending 2 nights here, at the Hotel Pollux (or similar). Settle into your centrally located hotel before heading out to eat in one of Zermatt’s many restaurants.

You have a free day today in the resort town of Zermatt, which is a haven for skiers and snowboarders in the winter and a base for other outdoor pursuits like hiking and mountain biking at other times of the year.

You can take the opportunity to climb aboard the Gornergrat Mountain railway so that you can get up close to the distinctive peak of the Matterhorn. Alternatively, enjoy a walk on one of the well-signposted hiking trails or simply relax and enjoy the stunning scenery.

Board the Glacier Express this morning for your stunning journey across Switzerland to St Moritz. Watch from the panoramic windows as the train snakes alongside the the Rhône at its source, and across to Andermatt, before climbing to over 6,560 feet at the Oberalp Pass. You will follow the course of the Rhine as you make your way into St Moritz. Commentary is provided along the way and a lunch is served on board (payable locally).

On arrival, check in for an overnight stay at the San Gian Hotel (or similar), with the rest of the afternoon at leisure in St Moritz.

After breakfast this morning, it’s time for another beautiful journey as you head south to Tirano, just across the Italian border. After time for lunch here, return to the station for the second stage of your journey, which takes you past Lake Como and the picturesque landscape of Valtellina to Lugano. During December and January, you can make this last stretch of the journey by train.

On arrival in Lugano, check in for a 2-night stay at the Villa Sassa Hotel & Spa (or similar).

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Lugano is located on the lake of the same name, which becomes Lake Maggiore across the Italian border. This sunny corner of Switzerland has a distinctly Mediterranean feel, with palm trees, lovely piazzas and al fresco dining.

For breathtaking views of the lake and mountains, take a funicular train to the top of Monte Bré or Monte San Salvatore. Alternatively, you can easily reach other lakefront resorts like Locarno or Ascona by rail and other public transport.

Your last stop on the Grand Tour takes you to the shores of Lake Lucerne. Catch a train back across the Alps to Lucerne, where you will have 2 nights at the Waldstaetterhof Hotel (or similar).

Enjoy a full day at leisure here. Explore the cobbled streets of the Old Town and the city’s famous wooden bridges, take a cruise on the lake or perhaps visit the stunning Lion Monument, which commemorates the massacre of the Swiss Guards during the French Revolution.

During your stay in Lucerne, you will receive a complimentary Visitor Card, giving you discounted rates on attractions such as city tours and the Titlis Mountain Railway. It also gives you free rail, bus and tram travel throughout the city and its immediate environs. The city itself is set stunningly against the backdrop of its lake (known locally as Vierwaldstättersee), and one of its main highlights is the Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge) crossing the River Reuss, which is beautifully decorated on the interior with various paintings, some of which date back to the 17th century.

The Voralpen-Express starts along the banks of Lake Lucerne against the backdrop of the prominent Alpine panorama of Central Switzerland. It then crosses Lake Zurich and passes through Rapperswill before crossing Switzerland’s highest railway bridge, the Sitter Viaduct just before reaching St Gallen.

On arrival, check in for a 2-night stay at the Sorell Hotel City Weissenstein (or similar).

Located close to three international borders (Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein), St Gallen is a cultural centre and travel hub for Eastern Switzerland. The main attraction here is the spectacular, UNESCO World Heritage listed Abbey of St Gaul, founded around 720AD. The abbey boasts an ancient library, with books dating back to the 9th century. 

In the evening, you may like to wander around the charming, traffic-free Old Town with its pretty cobbled streets and houses with colourful oriel windows. Visit in the winter and you’ll most likely see some snow as St Sallen is the highest city in Switzerland.

Take the train today from the historic city of St. Gallen through pastoral rolling scenery towards Lake Constance. The train line follows the shore of the lake for over 30 miles before joining the Rhine down to Schaffhausen. We recommend a stop here for lunch and possibly even a visit the famous Rhine Falls, before you re-board the train for the 2-hour journey to Basel.

On arrival, check in at the Essential by Dorint Basel City (or similar) for an overnight stay. Take a wander into town this evening and enjoy dinner in Basel’s pretty Old Town, straddling both banks of the Rhine. 

It’s time to leave Switzerland today and make your way back to the UK via Germany. In fact, once you are at Basel Bad station, you have already crossed the German border! Catch a train via Cologne to Brussels, where you head for the Eurostar check-in and your final journey back to the UK.