How much does it cost?

From CHF 386 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $473 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. The package includes a 2nd class connecting train from any Swiss domicile station (on a Half Fare Travelcard basis), plus 1st class seat and supplement on the Gotthard Panorama Express.

A multilingual guide accompanies travelers on the Gotthard Panorama Express train, pointing out key sights. Day two in Lugano or Locarno is independent.

What trains are used?

The Gotthard Panorama Express runs from Flüelen through Bellinzona to Lugano or Locarno, featuring 1st class panorama windows and an open-window photo car.

One night in a 3-star hotel in either Lugano or Locarno, standard double room with breakfast included.

railtour suisse · Individual rail journey

Gotthard Panorama Express Luzern – Lugano/Locarno

Railtour Suisse's two-day Gotthard Panorama Express journey combines two signature Swiss experiences: a boat cruise across Lakes Lucerne and Uri, and a 1st class train ride through the Alps on one of Europe's most scenic rail routes. Starting from any Swiss railway station, travelers board a steamboat or motorboat at Lucerne, cruising past the Rütli meadow and Tell's Chapel to Flüelen, where the distinctive panorama train awaits. The route climbs through the Gotthard Pass, threading the famous double hairpin bend at Wassen and the 15-kilometer Gotthard tunnel, before descending to Lugano or Locarno in the Italian-speaking Ticino region. A multilingual guide narrates the journey from the train; photographers can use the open-window photo car to capture Alpine views. After a night in a 3-star hotel with breakfast, day two is free to explore Lugano or Locarno's Mediterranean atmosphere at your own pace. The trip suits first-time rail travelers, couples seeking a scenic escape, and photographers seeking both comfort and access to outstanding vistas.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has held at CHF 386 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. 2 of 5 points are 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.

What to know before you look closer

The return journey on day two is unguided and independent; you arrange your own transport back to your starting point
Day two is free time to explore Lugano or Locarno; no activities or meals beyond breakfast are included
The connecting train to and from your home station is in 2nd class; 1st class panorama seats are only on the Gotthard Panorama Express itself

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Lugano or Locarno
arrival in Lugano/Locarno
Arrival in Lucerne by train. Your unique travel experience starts with a boat trip on Lake Lucerne and Lake Uri to Flüelen. The Rütli lies on the western shore of Lake Uri. According to legend, the alliance of the three original cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden, the famous Rütli Oath, was signed on the Rütli. Tell's Chapel immediately follows on the left side of the lake. This is where William Tell is said to have saved himself from the bailiff Gessler by jumping out of the boat. The Gotthard Panorama Express is already waiting in Flüelen for the onward journey on the old Gotthard route to Bellinzona and Lugano. The double hairpin bend at Wassen is famous because the view of the church of Wassen is possible three times. The journey to Airolo leads through the 15-kilometer Gotthard railroad tunnel. The construction of the tunnel (1872-1882) was a masterpiece at the time. From Piottino to Biasca, a total of 650 vertical meters are overcome via two further helical tunnels. The three imposing castles of Castelgrande, Montebello and Sasso Corbaro greet you in Bellinzona; they are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Travelers to Locarno change to the regional train in Bellinzona. Overnight in Lugano or Locarno.
Day 2
Lugano/Locarno and return journey
Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the day in Switzerland's sunniest region. Individual return journey. This tour can also be booked in the opposite direction.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 1Boat cruise on Lake Lucerne and Lake Uri past the Rütli meadow and Tell's Chapel to Flüelen, where the Gotthard Panorama Express awaits
Day 1The Gotthard Panorama Express traverses the famous double hairpin bend at Wassen and the 15-kilometer Gotthard railroad tunnel

Included

Train journey in 2nd class from/to domicile, Half Fare Travelcard basis
Seat reservation and supplement for 1st class on the Gotthard Panorama Express
1 night in Lugano or Locarno, 3*-hotel, standard double room with breakfast

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From CHF 386 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $473 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. The package includes a 2nd class connecting train from any Swiss domicile station (on a Half Fare Travelcard basis), plus 1st class seat and supplement on the Gotthard Panorama Express.
Is the tour guided?: A multilingual guide accompanies travelers on the Gotthard Panorama Express train, pointing out key sights. Day two in Lugano or Locarno is independent.
What trains are used?: The Gotthard Panorama Express runs from Flüelen through Bellinzona to Lugano or Locarno, featuring 1st class panorama windows and an open-window photo car.
Where do I stay?: One night in a 3-star hotel in either Lugano or Locarno, standard double room with breakfast included.