If you’d like to scale a mountain on your next European holiday, it’s possible to climb amongst the highest peaks of the Alps without even breaking a sweat thanks to Switzerland’s amazing mountain railways. Some of the world’s highest, steepest and best mountain railways are here and this handy guide will tell you where to find them, how to get to them and what you’re likely to find at the top after all that easy climbing.

Jungfraujoch

ACCESS FROM: Interlaken, Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen
HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL: 3,454 metres
SEASONALITY: Open year round

IN ONE WORD: World-famous

This is the highest and most famous of Switzerland’s mountain rail lines, which runs up from Kleine Scheidegg station (already 2,060 metres above sea level), burrowing through the Eiger and Mönsch mountains to reach the highest of the three peaks, the Jungfrau. The Jungfraujoch station is the highest rail station in Europe and you can enjoy jaw-dropping panoramic views from here over the Alps and the Aletsch Glacier. You can also have a look around an ice palace, enjoy a meal or buy souvenirs of your journey. During certain times of the year, there’s even husky sledding.

As featured in: Magical Rail Journeys of Switzerland & Grand Tour of Switzerland

Gornergrat

ACCESS FROM: Zermatt
HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL: 3,089m
SEASONALITY: Open year round

IN ONE WORD: Matterhorn

As featured in: Wonders of Winter in First Class

This is the second highest mountain railway in Switzerland, and also the country’s oldest electric rack railway (with cog wheels running along a toothed rack rail so that the train can cope with gradients of over 10%. The journey threads over dramatic bridges, through tunnels, across forests and mountain lakes. The summit station offers access to a wide choice of hiking trails along with beautiful views of the instantly recognisable Matterhorn.

Brienz Rothorn

ACCESS FROM: Interlaken and Brienz
HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL: 7,632 ft
SEASONALITY: June to October

IN ONE WORD: Steam

The only mountain railway to offer a full steam service, Brienz Rothorn is the elder, less showy cousin to the Jungfraubahn at the other end of Lake Brienz. Open windowed carriages allow upobstructed camera shots along the way and once you reach the top, you are treated to fabulous 360 degree views of Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland region.

Les Rochers de Naye

ACCESS FROM: Montreux
HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL: 2,042m
SEASONALITY: Open year round

IN ONE WORD: Marmots

As featured in: Grand Tour of Switzerland

It takes the panorama carriages of the Rochers de Naye about an hour to complete the scenic journey via Glion to the Dent de Jaman and round the mountain to the summit. On arrival, you can enjoy a meal at the panoramic restaurant, stroll through alpine gardens or caves and visit the sweet marmot farm. It’s also far cooler up here than down by the lake – making it the perfect excursion on a sultry day.

Mount Pilatus

ACCESS FROM: Lucerne
HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL: 2,132m
SEASONALITY: May to November

IN ONE WORD: Steep

If you suffer from vertigo then the world’s steepest cog railway might not be the mountain rail trip to choose. But if the idea of gradients up to 48% excite you, then this stunning feat of engineering is well worth the ride. From Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm, the train winds up past mountain meadows carpeted with Alpine flowers and glacial streams to the summit, where you can have a meal, take a short hike or catch a soaring, bird-like cableway to another peak.

OTHER MOUNTAIN RIDES

Although they are not actually  train journeys, the Schilthorn and Titlis Mountains both offer scenic rides by cable car and both are accessible by rail, the first from Lauterbrunnen (or Interlaken) and the second from Lucerne via Engleberg. The restaurant at the summit of the Schilthorn featured in the Bond movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Mount Titlis boasts the world’s first rotating gondolas.