Switzerland by Train: The Most Breathtaking Way to See the Alps
Bernina Express
If Switzerland has been sitting on your travel bucket list, here's a secret that seasoned travelers already know: the best way to experience it isn't by car. It's by train.
Switzerland has one of the most scenic, efficient, and downright magical rail networks in the world. Riding the rails here isn't just a way to get from one place to another — it is the experience. Some of the most jaw-dropping moments of a Swiss vacation happen while you're sitting in a panoramic train car, watching the Alps unfold outside your window.
If you're considering a trip to Switzerland, here's why traveling by train should be at the top of your list — and what you need to know before you go.
Why See Switzerland by Train?
Switzerland's rail network connects nearly every corner of the country, from glamorous lakeside cities to tiny alpine villages tucked beneath glaciers. Trains run on time, the views are spectacular, and you never have to worry about parking, navigating unfamiliar roads, or driving exhausted after a long day of sightseeing.
It's also simply a more relaxing way to travel. Instead of keeping your eyes on the road, you can keep them on the scenery — soaring viaducts, crystal-clear lakes, and snow-capped peaks that seem almost too perfect to be real.
The Iconic Routes You Need to Experience
The Glacier Express Connecting Zermatt to St. Moritz, the Glacier Express is often called the slowest express train in the world — and that's exactly the point. Over roughly eight hours, you'll wind through 91 tunnels and across 291 bridges, with panoramic windows offering uninterrupted views of the Swiss Alps the entire way.
The Bernina Express A UNESCO World Heritage rail route, the Bernina Express travels from Chur into Tirano, Italy, crossing dramatic mountain passes and the famous Landwasser Viaduct. It's considered one of the great engineering achievements of early 20th-century railway design — and one of the most photographed train journeys on Earth.
The GoldenPass Express Traveling between Interlaken and Montreux, the GoldenPass Express winds through valleys and vineyards along the Swiss Riviera, ending at the edge of glittering Lake Geneva.
The Gornergrat Railway This historic cogwheel railway carries travelers from Zermatt up to the Gornergrat summit — Europe's highest open-air railway station — for what may be the single best view of the Matterhorn anywhere in the country.
What to Expect
A Switzerland rail journey typically combines several of these iconic routes into one seamless itinerary, with overnight stays in towns like Lucerne, Zermatt, St. Moritz, and Montreux along the way. Days are spent soaking in alpine scenery from the comfort of a panoramic train car; evenings are spent wandering charming Swiss towns, enjoying fondue, or simply taking in the mountain air.
Most rail journeys are well suited to travelers of nearly any age or activity level. You don't need to be an avid hiker to enjoy Switzerland by train — you just need to enjoy beautiful scenery and a slower, more intentional pace of travel.
Why Book With a Travel Advisor
Switzerland's rail system, while extraordinary, can be genuinely confusing to navigate on your own. Between scenic train reservations, regional connections, hotel placement, and seasonal availability, a lot can go wrong if it's not planned correctly — and seat reservations on the most popular routes sell out well in advance.
Working with a travel advisor means every detail is handled before you ever set foot on a train: routes, reservations, hotels, and pacing all mapped out so you can simply enjoy the ride.
Ready to Experience Switzerland by Train?
Switzerland has always been on my own wish list. There's something about those sweeping mountain views that captured my imagination long ago. (If I'm being completely honest, it started with the opening of The Sound of Music — turns out that scene was actually filmed in Bavaria, not even Austria, but those mountains are what first put the Alps on my heart.) And from what I've learned, the Swiss Alps take that feeling and turn it up even higher — literally. Bigger peaks, real glaciers, and views that are somehow even more dramatic. The idea of sitting back and watching mountains like that unfold outside a train window feels mesmerizing. I'll admit, some of these routes climb high enough that I might get a little bit scared — but I would much rather be a slightly nervous passenger than the one white-knuckling a rental car around alpine switchbacks!
I'm leading a small group through Switzerland by rail in September 2027 — nine days, five cities, and zero cars. If Switzerland has been calling your name too, this is the trip that finally gets you there.
Contact me to learn more about the Switzerland by Train group departure →
