Magical Rail Journeys of Switzerland
- 7 Days
- From $2,299
- Switzerland
- The resort of Montreux on Lake Geneva
- The Golden Pass Route up to Interlaken
- A day trip up to the Jungfraujoch, the highest train station in Europe
- Journeys on the Glacier Express and Bernina Express
- Add extra nights & destinations
- Choose alternative hotels
- Upgrade your journey to First Class
- Let us suggest the most scenic routes
- Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations on the Glacier & Bernina Expresses and Golden Pass
- 6 nights’ handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
- A day trip to Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe
- City maps and comprehensive directions to your hotels
- Clearly-presented wallets for your rail tickets, hotel vouchers and other documentation
- All credit card surcharges and complimentary delivery of your travel documents
Suggested Itinerary
Arrive into Switzerland and make your way to Montreux by train. Geneva is the most convenient and has an airport train station, but you could also arrive into Zurich, Basel or Milan airports and still make the journey to Montreux fairly easily. If you take the train from Geneva, your journey takes you right along the shores of the lake with the French Alps rising majestically on the far shore.
On arrival in Montreux, check in at the Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic (or similar) for an overnight stay. Montreux is a lovely resort town on Lake Geneva, famous for its annual jazz festival and its associations with Freddie Mercury, who lived there at the end of his life.
Leave Montreux today and return to the station for a journey on the Golden Pass route to Interlaken. Depending on the departure you have, you will either be in modern, panoramic gold carriages or Belle Epoque style carriages combining the ambience of the 1930s with modern comfort.
Your journey takes you up above Lake Geneva before you continue through Alpine meadows, climbing up into the mountains to the ski resort of Gstaad before changing at Zweisimmen and continuing around Lake Thun and into Interlaken. Check in here for a 2-night stay at the Hotel Interlaken (or similar).
Today, you have an exciting trip on the century-old cogwheel Jungfrau Mountain Railway up to Jungfraujoch, the highest station in Europe, perched on a mountain top at 3,454 metres above sea level. From the observation deck, you can see out across snow-capped peaks and the huge Aletsch glacier. Once you’ve admired the views and perhaps stopped for a coffee, it’s time to head back down the mountain for your final night in Interlaken.
Enjoy a leisurely dinner in town, or take a trip to the Harder Kulm, reachable by cable-car, for sunset drinks and mountain views.
You have a fairly short rail journey today between Interlaken and Brig. With your Swiss passes, you can travel at any time you choose (though we will give you suggested timings as a guide). So, you can choose to spend some more time in Interlaken this morning, visiting one of the lakes that give the town its name or discovering one of the other nearby mountain railways like Schynigge Platte or alternatively, you can move on to Brig in time for lunch.
You’ll be staying at the Ambassador Hotel (or similar), in easy walking distance of the town centre and station.
After a leisurely breakfast this morning in Brig, head back to the station. You won’t need to go into the station building as the Glacier Express runs from a platform right next to the road! Enjoy a journey on ‘the world’s slowest express train’ from Brig to Chur and take in some of Switzerland’s most dramatic scenery. Pass through stunning valleys and gorges, cross an extraordinary 291 bridges, and hold your breath over the Oberalp Pass, a 2,033 metre high mountain pass connecting the cantons of Uri and Graubünden.
On arrival in Chur, make your way to the ABC Swiss Quality Hotel (or similar) for a 2-night stay.
Enjoy the second of your iconic rail journeys as you board the Bernina Express and head towards Tirano. A truly magical four-hour journey through snow-topped mountains and glaciers, the train climbs to more than 2,253 metres and crosses an impressive 196 bridges before descending into Italy.
There’s time for a quick lunch and wander in Tirano, before you board the train back to Chur for an evening at leisure in the town’s historic centre.
Leave Chur today for your onward journey. You might like to head north to the famous resorts of Klosters and Davos or head east across the Austrian border to Innsbruck and Salzburg. If you wanted to discover more of northern Italy, we could look at just a 1-night stay in Chur and and one-way journey to Tirano with onward travel from there to Lake Como. There are plenty of options so just give us a call!
Typical hotels on this itinerary
Montreux
Looking every-inch the fairy tale Swiss villa, the Suisse Hotel Majestic provides guests with incredible views over Lake Geneva and the French Alps. Rooms not only offer air conditioning, desks and minibars, but also balconies from where you can enjoy the scenery. The hotel makes the most of its enviable location by ensuring the on-site bar and restaurant overlook the lake.
Interlaken
A short walk from Interlaken Ost, the imposing Hotel Interlaken is perfectly situated, adjacent to the historic Schloss Interlaken and its surrounding park. Rooms are large and comfortable, providing guests with a desk, safe, minibar and free internet access. The hotel has an excellent restaurant serving modern Swiss cuisine, as well as a very comfortable lounge area with a bar offering you a wide-range of drinks to help you relax at the end of the day.
Brig
This small, family-owned hotel enjoys a quiet and central location only 300 yards away from the train station in Brig. The hotel features an excellent restaurant serving French and Swiss specialities. The rooms combine a traditional ambience with modern comfort, and sound proof windows.
Chur
This modern hotel is located just 350 metres from the railway station, making it the perfect base for a short stay in Chur. The hotel also offers a sauna and a steam room on site along with a pleasant bar lounge where you’ll find the perfect place to have a drink. Guests are also welcome to make use of the free high-speed Wi-Fi available throughout the property.
Upgrade your accommodation
Montreux
The Belle Epoque Fairmont le Montreux Palace is the most luxurious hotel in Montreux, boasting 236 opulently furnished bedrooms, three restaurants (one directly on the lake shore), a wellness centre including an indoor and outdoor pool, and two bars.
Interlaken
A 7-minute walk from Interlaken West train station, this luxury 19th-century hotel is elegantly furnished in traditional style. Rooms come complete with free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs, and facilities include two restaurants, a piano bar, spa, indoor pool and fitness centre.
St Moritz
Situated in the heart of St Moritz as part of the Upper Engadine, this 5-star unique hotel offers stunning views over Lake St Moritz. The prestigious Kulm Hotel combines its warm unparalleled tradition with the grand luxury of the present. One of the finest hotels in Switzerland, the Kulm is an ideal retreat for your stay in St Moritz.
