Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

First Class Swiss Mountains & Italian Lakes

First Class Swiss Mountains & Italian Lakes, a rail journey with Vacations By Rail

Travel aboard the Gotthard Panorama Express to combine the beauty of the Swiss Alps with the elegance of Milan and Italy's Lakes Maggiore and Como.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Zurich

    Arriving in Zurich

    Land in Zurich and travel independently by train to a four-star hotel in the Altstetten district, with time to explore the Old Town and Niederdorf.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Stansstad

    To our hotel on the shore of Lake Lucerne

    First Class train to Lucerne, continuing to the lakeside village of Stansstad for a three-night stay at a lakefront hotel. Meet the Tour Manager and group for dinner at the hotel.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Stansstad

    Panoramic views from the Rigi Mountain Railway

    Boat to Vitznau via Lucerne, then ride Europe's first mountain railway (operating since 1871) to the summit of Mount Rigi, before returning via Goldau and Lucerne, with free time to explore Lucerne's Old Town and the Kapellbrucke.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Stansstad

    Free day to explore central Switzerland

    Free day using the Swiss Half Fare Card, with options including the Mount Pilatus cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad, the Stanserhorn funicular or CabriO cableway, or a train to Interlaken and the Lauterbrunnen Valley via the Brunig Pass and Meiringen.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Lugano

    Gotthard Panorama Express to Lugano

    Boat from Lucerne to Flüelen (passing Rutli meadow), then board the Gotthard Panorama Express in First Class through the Reuss Valley, past Wassen Church and the Devil's Bridge, through the Gotthard Crest Tunnel to Lugano.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Lugano

    Exploring Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands

    Rail from Lugano to Locarno with time to explore, then along Lake Maggiore to Stresa, followed by a boat trip to the Borromean Islands (Isola Bella's Borromeo Palace and Isola dei Pescatori), returning to Lugano by coach.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Lugano

    Monte Generoso Mountain Railway

    Train to Capolago, then a historic cogwheel railway climbing over 5,500 feet to the summit of Monte Generoso (40-minute journey) for views of lakes Lugano and Como, the Alps, and on clear days Milan and the Matterhorn.

  8. Day 8overnight: Lugano

    Lake Como cruise to Bellagio and Tremezzo

    Coach into Italy to sail across Lake Como to Bellagio, then to Villa Balbianello (a 12th-century lakeside home) for a guided tour, before crossing to Tremezzo and returning by coach to Lugano for dinner.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Milan

    Guided tour of Milan

    First Class train to Milan, then a guided city tour taking in the Piazza del Duomo, the Gothic cathedral, and the Teatro alla Scala opera house, followed by a final dinner together.

  10. Day 10

    Traveling home

    After breakfast, the trip concludes; travel home independently or continue exploring Italy at your own pace.

Included

  • Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 9 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
  • First Class rail travel
  • All rail, cruise, ferry and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Breakfast each day, 4 dinners
  • Group luggage transfers between all hotels
  • Swiss Half Fare Card, permitting 50% discounted fares on free days for rail, boat and most mountain railway journeys
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance
  • Flights and Airport transfers

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