Search

Travel to Europe (To-Europe) · Independent rail vacation package

9-Day Switzerland Round Trip by Rail (9R14)

Swiss rail loop Zurich to Bern via Lucerne, Interlaken, Grindelwald, Thun.

Illustration of 9-Day Switzerland Round Trip by Rail (9R14)

Travel to Europe's 9-Day Switzerland Round Trip by Rail is a self-guided independent vacation across Switzerland's major cities and Alpine regions. The tour begins in Zurich and concludes in Bern, with stops in Lucerne, Interlaken, Grindelwald, and Thun over 9 days and 8 nights. You travel by train (2nd-class rail tickets included), staying in centrally located hotels with daily breakfast. The highlight is the scenic GoldenPass Panorama-Express, a 2-hour train ride from Lucerne to Interlaken that runs through the Swiss Alps beneath peaks like the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau. Each city offers self-guided walking tours, museums, historic monuments, and shopping; a day trip to Grindelwald allows optional high-altitude excursions. The Zurich Card provides free public transport, funiculars, river cruises, and museum discounts. This trip suits independent travelers seeking Alpine scenery and Swiss culture without a daily guide, as well as first-time rail travelers comfortable navigating cities and trains on their own.

What to know before you look closer

  • Most hotels are listed as 'or similar', meaning your final accommodation depends on availability and the tier you select.
  • Single rooms cost significantly more (USD 4,459 vs. USD 2,839 for a double); single supplement is steep.
  • Popular optional excursions like Jungfraujoch and Mt. Rigi are not included and must be paid separately; Jungfraujoch is weather-dependent.
  • This is a self-guided tour with no daily group meetings or guide; you navigate cities and trains independently using provided information sheets.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Zurich

    Zurich

    Tour starts in Zurich. Includes the Zurich Card: free public transport, discounts at museums and galleries, funiculars and river cruises. Optional Limmat River Cruise or Uetliberg cable-car excursion.

  2. Day 2overnight: Zurich

    Zurich

    Continue exploring Zurich with the Zurich Card, including the Bahnhofstrasse shopping street and Fraumunster church.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Lucerne

    Lucerne

    Train from Zurich to Lucerne (about 50 minutes). Visit the 14th-century Chapel Bridge, the most photographed monument in Switzerland.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Lucerne

    Lucerne

    Visit the Lion Monument of Lucerne; optional excursion to Mt. Rigi via boat to Vitznau and mountain train (not included).

  5. Day 5railovernight: Interlaken

    The GoldenPass Panorama Train Ride through the Swiss Alps to Interlaken

    Scenic GoldenPass Panorama-train ride from Lucerne to Interlaken (about 2 hours), included. Interlaken sits between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz with views of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Interlaken

    Grindelwald (Day Trip)

    Rail to Grindelwald (under 40 minutes). Optional excursions to Jungfraujoch (Europe's highest rail station, ticket not included) or Grindelwald First gondola (not included).

  7. Day 7railovernight: Thun

    Thun

    Train to Thun; visit Thun Castle on the Schlossberg (admission not included) and the Bälliz shopping island.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Bern

    Bern

    Rail to Bern; visit the Cathedral of Bern (Switzerland's largest ecclesiastical building) and the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town.

  9. Day 9rail

    Zurich Int. Airport

    Direct train from Bern to Zurich International Airport (about 1.5 hours), where the tour ends.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Day 1: Arrive in Zurich and use the included Zurich Card for free funicular rides, river cruises on the Limmat, and museum discounts.
  • Day 3Day 3: Train to Lucerne and see the 14th-century Chapel Bridge, the most photographed monument in Switzerland.
  • Day 5Day 5: Ride the GoldenPass Panorama-Express from Lucerne to Interlaken through the Swiss Alps, with views of the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau mountains.
  • Day 6Day 6: Short rail excursion to Grindelwald with optional access to Jungfraujoch (Europe's highest rail station) or Grindelwald First gondola.
  • Day 8Day 8: Arrive in Bern to explore the Cathedral and UNESCO World Heritage Old Town before returning to Zurich Airport on Day 9.

Included

  • 2nd-class rail tickets for all listed journeys
  • Hotels as listed (or similar), centrally located near each train station
  • Buffet breakfast daily
  • Zurich Card (public transport, funiculars, river cruises, discounts)
  • Scenic-Panorama GoldenPass-train ride from Lucerne to Interlaken
  • Day-by-day itinerary, tickets, vouchers and city information

Not included

  • Airfare from/to your origin to/from Zurich International Airport
  • All meals other than breakfast
  • Gratuities (tips)
  • Jungfraujoch train tickets (optional, weather-dependent, purchasable locally)
  • Mt. Rigi excursion
  • Grindelwald First gondola

Questions travellers ask

Is all rail travel included?
Yes, 2nd-class rail tickets for all listed journeys are included: Zurich to Lucerne, the GoldenPass Panorama-Express from Lucerne to Interlaken, and connections to Grindelwald, Thun, and Bern. 1st-class upgrades (including seat reservations) cost USD 159 per person extra.
Is this a guided tour or independent?
It is a self-guided independent tour. Travel to Europe provides day-by-day itineraries, tickets, vouchers, and information sheets with walking suggestions for each city. There are no daily guided tours or group meetings.
What is included in the price?
Included are 2nd-class rail tickets, hotels (centrally located, 'or similar'), daily buffet breakfast, the Zurich Card (with public transport, funiculars, river cruises, and museum discounts), the GoldenPass Panorama train ride, and day-by-day itineraries and city information.
What meals are included?
Only daily buffet breakfast is included. Lunch and dinner are not included and must be arranged on your own.
Are optional excursions included?
No. The Jungfraujoch train, Mt. Rigi boat and mountain train, and Grindelwald First gondola are optional and not included. Tickets must be purchased separately.
When does this tour run?
Travel to Europe does not publish a departure calendar in the materials provided. Contact the operator directly to confirm available dates.

Similar journeys