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Vacations By Rail · Independent rail vacation

Centovalli Railway & the Majestic Swiss Alps

Nine-day independent rail journey through Swiss Alps and Italian lakes

Illustration of Centovalli Railway & the Majestic Swiss Alps

Vacations By Rail's nine-day Centovalli Railway & the Majestic Swiss Alps is an independent vacation that guides you by train from Zürich through the heart of the Swiss Alps to Grindelwald. You stay in moderate three-star hotels in Lucerne, Lugano, Zermatt, and the Bernese Oberland, with eight nights' accommodation and eight meals included. The itinerary centers on two signature scenic trains: the Gotthard Panorama Express, which descends from Lucerne by paddle steamer and rail across alpine passes and through the Gotthard tunnel into Italian-speaking Lugano, and the Centovalli Railway, a narrow-gauge line crossing the "Hundred Valleys" between Italy and Switzerland. An eight-day Swiss Travel Flex Pass grants unlimited travel on all public trains, buses and boats in Switzerland, plus free museum entry and half-price mountain rail excursions. Each destination offers a full free day for your own exploration: Chapel Bridge and Mount Rigi excursions in Lucerne, the lakefront and Old Town in Lugano, the Matterhorn views and Walser village in Zermatt, and access to Jungfraujoch and hiking in the Bernese Oberland. This package suits independent travelers who prefer self-paced sightseeing within a structured route.

What to know before you look closer

  • The hotels listed in the moderate tier are examples; your actual accommodation depends on the tier and city you select, which may affect the final nightly hotel name
  • Day 9 is a travel day; the package concludes as you depart toward Zürich, Basel, or continue independently through Switzerland

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Lucerne

    Arrive in Zürich and on to Lucerne

    Arrive in Zürich and take the train (just over 1 hour, via Zug and lakes) to Lucerne. Free evening to begin exploring the medieval city.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Lucerne

    Lucerne

    Full day with the Swiss Travel Flex Pass exploring Lucerne's Chapel Bridge, Spreuer Bridge and Old Town, with optional excursions to Mount Rigi (Vitznau-Rigi Kulm Cogwheel Railway), Mount Pilatus or Mount Titlis.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Lugano

    Gotthard Panorama Express to Lugano

    Paddle steamer cruise across Lake Lucerne to Flüelen, then board the Gotthard Panorama Express through the Reuss River Valley, three spiral loops and the Gotthard tunnel into Italian-speaking Switzerland, arriving in Lugano.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Lugano

    Lugano

    Free day in Lugano: Old Town, Piazza della Riforma, Parco Civico lakefront, and the funicular railway up Monte San Salvatore. Optional Lake Lugano cruise and risotto-making experience.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Zermatt

    Centovalli Train to Zermatt

    Short train journey to Domodossola, then the Centovalli Train through the "Hundred Valleys" to Locarno, followed by a local train to Zermatt.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Zermatt

    Zermatt

    Free day in car-free Zermatt: the Old Village's Walser houses, the Matterhorn Museum, the Mountaineer's Cemetery, and the Gornergrat Railway for views of the Matterhorn.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Wengen/Grindelwald

    Rail to the Bernese Oberland

    Travel from Zermatt (about 3 hours) to either Wengen or Grindelwald, depending on departure date, gateway destinations to the Jungfrau Region.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Wengen/Grindelwald

    The Bernese Oberland

    Free day with easy access to the Jungfrau Railway to the Jungfraujoch ("top of Europe"); good base for hiking and mountain excursions.

  9. Day 9rail

    Wengen/Grindelwald

    Adventure concludes as you board your train for the return journey to Zürich or Basel, or continue independently through Switzerland.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Day 3: The Gotthard Panorama Express carries you by paddle steamer across Lake Lucerne to Flüelen, then by rail through the Reuss River Valley and three spiral loops of the Gotthard tunnel into Italian-speaking Switzerland and Lugano
  • Day 5Day 5: The Centovalli Railway crosses the "Hundred Valleys" from Domodossola to Locarno on the way to Zermatt
  • Day 6Day 6: In car-free Zermatt, the Gornergrat Railway ascends for views of the Matterhorn above the Old Village's Walser houses

Included

  • Hotel accommodations for 8 nights
  • Rail travel on the Swiss Travel System
  • Swiss Travel Pass, permitting unlimited travel on public trains, buses and boats
  • 8 meals

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance (not included but can be arranged)

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes rail travel on the Swiss Travel System and an eight-day Swiss Travel Flex Pass, which covers unlimited travel on public trains, buses and boats throughout Switzerland, plus free admission to 500 museums and half-price mountain excursions
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
Independent. Vacations By Rail provides a well-planned itinerary; you travel on your own, with free days for self-directed exploration
Which trains are featured?
The Gotthard Panorama Express (Lucerne via Flüelen to Lugano) and the Centovalli Railway (Domodossola to Locarno), both in second class with seat reservations
What cities are included?
Lucerne (2 nights), Lugano (2 nights), Zermatt (2 nights), and Wengen or Grindelwald (2 nights), with arrival in Zürich
What meals are included?
Eight meals total across the nine days; other meals are on your own
When does the trip run?
The operator publishes no specific departure dates in the package information; confirm availability and dates directly with Vacations By Rail

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