Search

Ffestiniog Travel · Escorted tour

Christmas & New Year in Switzerland

Festive rail journey through Switzerland from Cologne to Tirano on Glacier and Bernina Express

Illustration of Christmas & New Year in Switzerland

Ffestiniog Travel's Christmas and New Year in Switzerland is a 14-day escorted tour that departs from London in December, traveling via Eurostar to Cologne, then by rail through Switzerland's most celebrated winter destinations: Lucerne, Thun, and Chur. The journey spans three countries, boarding the Glacier Express and Bernina Express, two of Europe's most celebrated scenic trains. A tour leader accompanies the entire group from London, and a First Class Swiss Travel Pass grants unlimited access to trains, boats, mountain railways, and cable cars throughout the Swiss portion of the itinerary. Accommodation is in centrally located, good-quality hotels on a bed and breakfast basis. The tour balances structured travel days, such as the full-day Bernina Express excursion from Chur to Tirano, with leisure time in each city to explore independently or join optional escorted outings. Special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners are included during the Lucerne stay. The itinerary is tailored for repeat rail travellers and couples seeking guided comfort, festive festive landscapes, and the reliability of Switzerland's full-year transport service.

What to know before you look closer

  • Glacier Express and Bernina Express journeys are subject to availability; Ffestiniog Travel may substitute scheduled services if the named trains are not running
  • Optional excursions are offered daily but are not included in the from-price; costs for these activities are not specified in the operator's published information
  • Only one departure is listed: December 2026 at GBP 3880; confirm current availability and dates directly with Ffestiniog Travel

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Cologne

    To Cologne

    Lunchtime Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels and connecting to another Eurostar service to Cologne for an overnight stay.

  2. Day 2overnight: Lucerne

    Lucerne

    We travel from Cologne via Basle to Lucerne where we stay at the Hotel Wilden Mann for 4 nights. A special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner is included during our stay.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Lucerne

    At Leisure to Explore

    Free day based in Lucerne. Nestled at the foothills of the Alps on the shores of the stunning lake, Lucerne is considered to be Switzerland’s most scenic city. Your First Class Swiss Travel Pass covers trains, trams, post buses, boats and even entry to national museums. Your experienced tour leader offers an optional escorted excursion, which may include a boat trip to Vitznau, a journey to the summit of the Rigi and a ride on the world’s steepest funicular railway, the ‘Stoosbahn’, or a trip to Andermatt via the Gotthard Pass and Göschenen.

  4. Day 4overnight: Lucerne

    At Leisure to Explore

    Another free day based in Lucerne with an optional escorted excursion offered by the tour leader; precise details vary to make the best of winter weather conditions.

  5. Day 5overnight: Lucerne

    At Leisure to Explore

    Final free day based in Lucerne, with an optional escorted excursion offered by the tour leader. A special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner is included during the Lucerne stay.

  6. Day 6overnight: Thun

    To Thun

    Leisurely half-day journey to Thun via Interlaken, where we arrive early afternoon and stay for 3 nights. Located at the lower end of Lake Thun, the town is often referred to as the gateway to the Bernese Oberland. Take time to wander around this historic centre with its Medieval architecture and the elevated walkways of the Obere Hauptgasse in the Old Town.

  7. Day 7overnight: Thun

    Free Days or Escorted Excursions

    Free day based in Thun with your First Class Swiss Travel Pass. An optional escorted excursion is offered, which may include Mürren, Wengen or Grindelwald to explore the Bernese Oberland and views of the Eiger, Monch & Jungfrau, or a visit to Montreux to see Chillon Castle, returning via Bern. Other possibilities include trips to Neuchâtel and the ancient walled town of Murten.

  8. Day 8overnight: Thun

    Free Days or Escorted Excursions

    A second free day based in Thun, with a further optional escorted excursion offered by the tour leader.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Chur

    Glacier Express

    We leave Thun and travel to Brig where we change for the Glacier Express to Chur for a 4-night stay. Chur is Switzerland’s oldest city with a charming pedestrianised ‘Old Town’ and is ideally located for travelling on the UNESCO World Heritage Rhaetian Railways network, including the Bernina and Glacier Express routes.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Chur

    Bernina Express

    Today we offer a full day escorted excursion from Chur to Tirano travelling on the stunning Bernina Express route with its spirals and tunnels and reaching an altitude of more than 2000m – an unforgettable rail journey.

  11. Day 11overnight: Chur

    Rhaetian Railways

    Free day to explore Chur and the surrounding area using the Rhaetian Railways network. An optional escorted excursion is offered, likely to include a journey from Samedan along the picturesque Engadine, combined with a journey via Klosters and Davos.

  12. Day 12overnight: Chur

    Rhaetian Railways

    A second free day to explore Chur and the surrounding area, with an optional escorted excursion likely to include the mountain resort of Arosa and a visit to the Appenzell region and St Gallen.

  13. Day 13overnight: Cologne

    Return to Cologne

    Leaving Chur after a leisurely breakfast we travel to Basle and connect with the ICE service on the high speed line to Cologne for an overnight stay.

  14. Day 14rail

    Return Home

    Morning departure on an ICE service to Brussels to connect with the Eurostar to London.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Day 2: Travel from Cologne via Basle to Lucerne, arriving at the Hotel Wilden Mann on the shores of the lake at the foothills of the Alps
  • Day 9Day 9: Board the Glacier Express at Brig and travel to Chur through Alpine scenery
  • Day 10Day 10: Full day escorted excursion on the Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano, featuring spirals, tunnels, and altitudes exceeding 2000 metres
  • Day 6Day 6: Half-day journey to Thun via Interlaken; Thun sits at the lower end of Lake Thun with Medieval Old Town architecture

Included

  • Standard Class travel to and from Switzerland
  • First Class Swiss Pass for unlimited travel on trains, postbuses, lake steamers and many city buses and trams
  • Optional escorted excursions
  • Special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners
  • Accommodation in good quality, centrally located hotels on a bed and breakfast basis
  • All local taxes/fees
  • Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. Standard Class rail travel to and from Switzerland (London to Cologne and return), all train travel within Switzerland, and journeys on the Glacier Express and Bernina Express are included. A First Class Swiss Travel Pass covers unlimited rail, boat, postbus, and some tram and bus travel while in Switzerland. A 1st Class rail upgrade is available upon request, subject to availability.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
It is escorted. A tour leader from Ffestiniog Travel travels with the group from London throughout the 14 days. Daily optional escorted excursions are offered, though there are also free days to explore independently using the Swiss Travel Pass.
What hotels are included?
Accommodation is in good quality, centrally located hotels on a bed and breakfast basis: CityClass Hotel am Dom in Cologne (2 nights), Hotel Wilden Mann in Lucerne (4 nights), Hotel Krone in Thun (3 nights), and Hotel Freieck in Chur (4 nights).
What meals are included?
Bed and breakfast daily at the hotels. Special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners are included during the Lucerne stay. Other meals are not mentioned as included.
When does this tour depart?
One departure is listed for December 2026. Contact Ffestiniog Travel to confirm the exact dates and whether additional departures are available.
How much walking is involved?
Days are a mix of leisure time for self-guided exploration of the cities (Lucerne, Thun, Chur) and optional escorted excursions. The itinerary mentions wandering the historic centres and Old Towns, but does not specify distances or difficulty levels for free days. Optional excursions vary and are subject to weather and availability.

Similar journeys