railtour suisse
Grand Train Tour of Switzerland «Classic» (for international guests)
Independent 8-day Swiss rail circuit on the Glacier and Bernina Express
8 daysfrom $2,092
88% rail
Vacations By Rail · Independent rail vacation
Centovalli Railway & the Majestic Swiss Alps
Dramatic scenes of snow-capped mountains and lovely towns guide the way on this journey through the Swiss Alps, featuring rides aboard the Gotthard Panorama Express and the Centovalli Train.
Day by day
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Day 9rail
Wengen/Grindelwald
Adventure concludes as you board your train for the return journey to Zürich or Basel, or continue independently through Switzerland.
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)
