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Authentic Europe · Self-guided

Grand Tour of Switzerland by Train

Self-guided Swiss rail circuit on the Glacier, Bernina and GoldenPass Express

Illustration of Grand Tour of Switzerland by Train

Authentic Europe runs this 9-day, self-guided rail trip around Switzerland, starting with a transfer from Zurich airport to Lucerne and ending back at Zurich airport. After two nights and a day at leisure in Lucerne, the trip moves quickly through a series of one-night stops built around four named scenic trains: the GoldenPass Express from Interlaken to Montreux on day 4, the Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz on day 6, the Bernina Express from St. Moritz to Lugano on day 7, and the first-class Gotthard Panorama Express back to Lucerne on day 8. Along the way the route passes through Interlaken, Montreux and Zermatt before crossing into the Italian-speaking region around Lugano. Because most stops are a single night, the pace is fast, prioritizing rail miles and scenery over extended time in any one town. This is a self-guided trip with no tour escort, suiting independent travelers who want Switzerland's best-known scenic trains covered in a compact, structured itinerary.

What to know before you look closer

  • This is a self-guided trip: there is no tour escort, and the operator's luggage transportation service only covers the trains from Interlaken through to the return to Lucerne, so travelers handle their own bags on the earlier legs.
  • Tourist taxes are not included and must be paid locally.
  • The operator notes that if a train is fully booked in the direction listed, they will book the trip in the opposite direction instead.
  • Most stops are a single night, Interlaken, Montreux, Zermatt, St. Moritz and Lugano, so this is a fast-moving circuit rather than a trip with extended stays in any one place.

Day by day

  1. Day 1

    Arrival at Zurich airport and transfer to Lucerne

  2. Day 2

    Day at leisure in Lucerne

  3. Day 3rail

    Train from Lucerne to Interlaken

  4. Day 4rail

    Goldenpass Express train to Montreux

  5. Day 5

    Travel from Montreux to Zermatt

  6. Day 6rail

    Board the Glacier Express and travel to St. Moritz

  7. Day 7rail

    Travel on the Bernina Express to Lugano

  8. Day 8rail

    Gotthard Panorama Express from Lugano to Lucerne

  9. Day 9

    Final day & travel to Zurich airport

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 4The GoldenPass Express carries the trip from Interlaken to Montreux.
  • Day 6The Glacier Express carries travelers from Zermatt to St. Moritz.
  • Day 7The Bernina Express continues from St. Moritz to Lugano.
  • Day 8The Gotthard Panorama Express runs in first class from Lugano back to Lucerne.

Included

  • 8 nights hotel accommodation in a standard room with private shower/WC, including breakfast. Tourist taxes are not included and must be paid locally.
  • Rail journeys and touring as per day-to-day itinerary. If trains are fully booked in the direction listed on our website, we will book your trip in the opposite direction. Both directions offer the same great experience.
  • Luggage transportation service on the trains starting in Interlaken and ending in Lucerne
  • Seat reservation on the Golden Express (Interlaken - Montreux)
  • Seat reservation on the Glacier Express (Zermatt - St. Moritz)
  • Seat reservation on the Bernina Express train & bus (St. Moritz - Lugano)
  • Seat reservation in first class on the Gotthard Panorama Express (Lugano - Lucerne)
  • Electronic travel documentation, including a detailed travel itinerary and travel vouchers
  • 24/7 Emergency phone service while travelling

Not included

  • Tourist taxes (paid locally)

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. Authentic Europe includes seat reservations on all four named trains, the GoldenPass Express, Glacier Express, Bernina Express, and Gotthard Panorama Express, plus other rail journeys per the itinerary.
Is this trip guided or independent?
It's self-guided; there is no tour escort included.
Which trains are used?
The GoldenPass Express (Interlaken to Montreux), the Glacier Express (Zermatt to St. Moritz), the Bernina Express (St. Moritz to Lugano, by train and bus), and the Gotthard Panorama Express in first class (Lugano to Lucerne).
What is not included?
Tourist taxes, which are paid locally.
How much luggage help is included?
Luggage transportation is included on the trains starting in Interlaken and ending back in Lucerne; earlier legs are not covered.
How much does it cost?
From 2,490 euros per person, about 2,851 US dollars, roughly 317 US dollars per day.

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