How much does it cost?

From CHF 2,303 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,825 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is train travel included?

Yes. A Swiss Travel Pass 15-day 2nd class ticket covers most journeys, and seat reservations for the Bernina Express, Glacier Express, and GoldenPass Express are included. Some regional train legs are covered by the pass.

Is this tour guided or independent?

It is an individual rail journey. You receive an itinerary and a Swiss Travel Pass; most days you manage your own schedule. Optional guided excursions are available in some cities but not included.

Which hotels are included?

3-star hotels in Lucerne (2 nights), Lugano (1 night), St. Moritz (1 night), Zermatt (2 nights), Montreux (1 night), Interlaken (2 nights), and Zurich (1 night). All rooms are standard doubles with breakfast.

What is not included?

Meals other than hotel breakfast, optional excursions such as the Titlis gondola or Mount Pilatus trip, the Gotthard Panorama Express upgrade (requires 1st class ticket and costs extra), airport transfers, and flights to and from Switzerland.

railtour suisse · Individual rail holiday

Best of Switzerland (for international guests)

Swiss Alps rail circle: Lucerne to Zurich on three signature trains

Railtour Suisse's Best of Switzerland for International Guests is an 11-day, 10-night individual rail journey departing from Lucerne and ending in Zurich, linking seven Swiss cities across the Alps and lowlands. The trip centers on three celebrated panoramic trains: the Bernina Express from Tirano to St. Moritz, which descends from subtropical Ticino through serpentine alpine passes; the Glacier Express from St. Moritz to Zermatt, crossing 291 bridges and 91 tunnels over the Oberalp Pass; and the GoldenPass Express from Montreux to Interlaken through mountain forests and villages. All travel is covered by a Swiss Travel Pass 15-day 2nd class ticket with included seat reservations. You stay in 3-star hotels in Lucerne, Lugano, St. Moritz, Zermatt, Montreux, Interlaken, and Zurich, with full days at leisure to explore each city. Two signature excursions are included: Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest railway station at 3,454 metres, and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise at 3,883 metres. This itinerary suits independent rail travellers, first-time train passengers seeking a structured but self-directed experience, and photographers drawn to Alpine scenery and UNESCO World Heritage rail routes.

Price history

Across 4 checks, this price has held at CHF 2,303 every time.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 1 of 4 point is a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

One reading is held out of the price above and this history: an unconfirmed large change. We only price on the operator's package from-price, read from its own page.

What to know before you look closer

The itinerary includes many optional sightseeing excursions (Mount Titlis, Mount Pilatus, Mount Rigi, Gotthard Panorama Express upgrade, Crystal Ride cabins); the core package is rail and hotels only.
Day 2 in Lucerne and day 10 in Interlaken and Zurich are unguided; you organize your own activities.
Mountain excursions on days 6 and 9 require a small additional fee beyond the included Swiss Travel Pass discount.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Lucerne
Arrival in Lucerne
Train journey to Lucerne, the city in the heart of Switzerland. Stroll across the world-famous Chapel Bridge, through the winding streets of the old town and visit the Lion Monument. Overnight in Lucerne.
Day 2overnight: Lucerne
Lucerne
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day at leisure in Lucerne. We recommend the following optional excursions: Titlis with its famous revolving gondola, the Golden Round Trip on Mount Pilatus or Mount Rigi, the Queen of the Mountains. Overnight in Lucerne.
Day 3railovernight: Lugano
Lucerne – Lugano (1h40)
Breakfast at the hotel. Train journey from Lucerne to Lugano. Experience the Gotthard Base Tunnel - at 57 kilometers the longest railroad tunnel in the world. It takes just 17 minutes to reach Ticino on this fast route under the Alpine massif in the heart of Europe. Optional add the Gotthard Panorama Express (with supplement, a 1st class train ticket is required). Overnight in Lugano.
Day 4railovernight: St. Moritz
Bernina Express (5h45)
Breakfast at the hotel. The Bernina Express bus takes you through the idyllic Valtellina valley to Tirano (Italy). There you board the panoramic train Bernina Express to St. Moritz. Enjoy an alpine serpentine journey that takes you from the waving palms of Ticino to the towering glaciers. Overnight in St. Moritz.
Day 5railovernight: Zermatt
Glacier Express (8h30)
Breakfast at the hotel. Today you travel from St. Moritz to Zermatt with the Glacier Express. The train journey takes you over 291 bridges, through 91 tunnels and over the Oberalp Pass at 2'033 m. All along the way, the great spectacle of nature alternates between snow-capped peaks, deep valleys, waterfalls and forests, lush meadows and picturesque villages. Overnight in Zermatt.
Day 6overnight: Zermatt
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
Breakfast at the hotel. The Zermatt mountain railroads will take you up to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Europe's highest cable car station at 3'883 m. For a small fee, you can take the Crystal Ride cabins from Trockener Steg to the summit. Overnight in Zermatt.
Day 7overnight: Montreux
Zermatt – Montreux (2h40)
Breakfast at the hotel. Today you travel by regional trains through Valais, which is known for its excellent wines, to Montreux. We recommend a visit to Chillon Castle, a moated castle on the shores of Lake Geneva. Overnight in Montreux.
Day 8railovernight: Interlaken
GoldenPass Express (3h15)
Breakfast at the hotel. Today you travel from Montreux to Interlaken with the GoldenPass Express. You will pass through alpine forests, see bubbling mountain springs and picturesque mountain villages. Overnight in Interlaken.
Day 9railovernight: Interlaken
Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe
Breakfast at the hotel. The journey to the Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe at 3'454 metres. Enjoy the spectacular view of imposing mountain peaks and the Aletsch Glacier, discover enchanting sculptures in the Ice Palace and take a journey through the history of the Jungfrau Railway. Overnight in Interlaken.
Day 10railovernight: Zurich
Interlaken – Zurich (2h)
Breakfast at the hotel. Train journey along the lake of Thun to Bern and possibility for a stopover to discover Switzerland's beautiful capital. Continue to Zurich and time at your leisure to discover the city. Overnight in Zurich.
Day 11
Zurich and return journey
Breakfast at the hotel. Time at leisure and individual return journey. This tour can also be booked in the opposite direction.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3Travel through the Gotthard Base Tunnel, at 57 kilometres the world's longest railroad tunnel, crossing from Lucerne to Lugano in 17 minutes.
Day 4The Bernina Express climbs from palm-lined Tirano in Italy through serpentine alpine passes to St. Moritz, descending from Ticino's subtropical landscape to glaciers.
Day 5The Glacier Express travels from St. Moritz to Zermatt over 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels, crossing the Oberalp Pass at 2,033 metres.
Day 9Journey to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest railway station at 3,454 metres, where snow and ice are guaranteed year-round and the Aletsch Glacier is visible.

Included

Swiss Travel Pass 15 days in 2nd class
Seat reservation in the Bernina Express, Glacier Express and GoldenPass Express
Excursion to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and Jungfraujoch
2 nights each in Lucerne, Zermatt and Interlaken, 3*-hotel, standard double room with breakfast
1 night each in Lugano, St. Moritz, Montreux and Zurich, 3*-hotel, standard double room with breakfast
50% discount on most mountain railways, free entry at more than 500 museums

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From CHF 2,303 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,825 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?: Yes. A Swiss Travel Pass 15-day 2nd class ticket covers most journeys, and seat reservations for the Bernina Express, Glacier Express, and GoldenPass Express are included. Some regional train legs are covered by the pass.
Is this tour guided or independent?: It is an individual rail journey. You receive an itinerary and a Swiss Travel Pass; most days you manage your own schedule. Optional guided excursions are available in some cities but not included.
Which hotels are included?: 3-star hotels in Lucerne (2 nights), Lugano (1 night), St. Moritz (1 night), Zermatt (2 nights), Montreux (1 night), Interlaken (2 nights), and Zurich (1 night). All rooms are standard doubles with breakfast.
What is not included?: Meals other than hotel breakfast, optional excursions such as the Titlis gondola or Mount Pilatus trip, the Gotthard Panorama Express upgrade (requires 1st class ticket and costs extra), airport transfers, and flights to and from Switzerland.