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Magic Switzerland (Magic Travel Services GmbH) · Individual rail tour

Grand Train Tour of Switzerland

Eight-day Swiss rail loop through seven regions on five named trains

Illustration of Grand Train Tour of Switzerland

Magic Switzerland's Grand Train Tour is an eight-day individual rail journey that strings together seven Swiss cities and five of the country's most celebrated scenic trains. Starting in Interlaken, gateway to the Jungfrau region with views of the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau peaks, you travel south and east via the GoldenPass Express to Montreux on Lake Geneva, then board the Glacier Express for its descent through the Rhone valley to St. Moritz. From there, the Bernina Express carries you over UNESCO-listed viaducts and through tunnels toward the Italian border. The Gotthard Panorama Express then takes you north from Lugano via boat across Lake Lucerne to reach Lucerne, and finally the Voralpen-Express carries you to St. Gallen in eastern Switzerland. You spend one night in each city at a 3-star or 4-star hotel with breakfast included, and all major rail journeys come with seat reservations. The tour suits travelers new to scenic rail travel who want a structured itinerary without a guide, as well as repeat rail travelers collecting famous routes. Because you move each day, the pace is brisk, best suited to those who enjoy sampling many destinations in one trip.

What to know before you look closer

  • The tour moves to a new city each night; there are no multi-night stays to settle into one place.
  • A single supplement is CHF 740 above half the double-room price for the 3-star tier (single CHF 2,772 vs. double CHF 2,032), a significant premium.
  • The Bernina Express segment on Day 5 involves a bus leg from Tirano to Lugano; the scenic train portion ends at the Italian border.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Interlaken

    Arrival in Interlaken

    Arrival in Interlaken - the gateway to the Jungfrau region with the famous peaks Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau.

  2. Day 2overnight: Montreux

    GoldenPass Line to Montreux

    Journey continues with the GoldenPass Line to Montreux on the shore of Lake Geneva, through alpine forests, bubbling mountain springs and picturesque mountain villages.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Zermatt

    Train to Zermatt

    Board the train to Zermatt, the famous car-free alpine resort at the foot of the Matterhorn. Optional cogwheel railway excursion to the Gornergrat for panoramic views of the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc and other 4000m peaks.

  4. Day 4railovernight: St. Moritz

    Glacier Express to St. Moritz

    Take the world-famous Glacier Express through the deep Rhone valley and a fascinating part of the Alps. Optional lunch on the Glacier Express.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Lugano

    Bernina Express to Lugano

    Board the Bernina Express, travelling the UNESCO World Heritage route over circular viaducts and through winding tunnels to Tirano in Italy. Change to the Bernina Express bus to Lugano in Ticino.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Lucerne

    Gotthard Panorama Express to Lucerne

    The Gotthard Panorama Express travels from the Mediterranean south to the traditional heart of Switzerland. From Fluelen, a boat ride over Lake Lucerne.

  7. Day 7railovernight: St. Gallen

    Voralpen-Express to St. Gallen

    Enjoy the journey on the Voralpen-Express which connects Central and Eastern Switzerland.

  8. Day 8

    Departure

    Return to Swiss border or individual onward journey. Itinerary bookable in reverse; Open Jaw possible (starting in St. Gallen and ending in Interlaken or vice versa).

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2The GoldenPass Express departs Interlaken for Montreux, traveling through alpine forests and past mountain villages to reach Lake Geneva's shore.
  • Day 3In Zermatt, an optional cogwheel railway climbs to Gornergrat for panoramic views of the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc, and other 4000-meter peaks.
  • Day 4The Glacier Express descends through the Rhone valley and the deep Alps from Zermatt to St. Moritz, with optional lunch on board.
  • Day 5The Bernina Express follows a UNESCO World Heritage route over circular viaducts and through winding tunnels from St. Moritz toward Italy and Lugano.
  • Day 6The Gotthard Panorama Express travels from the Mediterranean south in Lugano north to Fluelen, then a boat carries you across Lake Lucerne to Lucerne.

Included

  • Rail ticket in 2nd class for rail travel per itinerary
  • 1 overnight each in Interlaken, Montreux, Zermatt, St. Moritz, Lugano, Lucerne and St. Gallen, quality hotels, standard rooms with private facilities and breakfast
  • Seat Reservation on the GoldenPass Express from Interlaken to Montreux
  • Seat Reservation on the Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz
  • Seat Reservation on the Bernina Express train from St. Moritz to Tirano
  • Seat Reservation on the Bernina Express bus from Tirano to Lugano
  • Seat Reservation on the Gotthard Panorama Express from Lugano to Lucerne in 1st class
  • Journey on the Voralpen-Express from Lucerne to St. Gallen
  • 50% discount on additional rail tickets (local transport) and some mountain excursions

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed by more than one company. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Questions travellers ask

Is rail travel included?
Yes. Magic Switzerland includes 2nd class rail tickets for all journeys, seat reservations on the GoldenPass Express, Glacier Express, Bernina Express train, Bernina Express bus, Gotthard Panorama Express (in 1st class), and the Voralpen-Express.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
This is an individual rail tour. You travel at your own pace between cities; Magic Switzerland provides no guide.
What hotels are included?
Magic Switzerland includes one night each in Interlaken, Montreux, Zermatt, St. Moritz, Lugano, Lucerne, and St. Gallen in 3-star or 4-star hotels with private facilities and breakfast. You choose the tier when booking.
When does it run?
The tour operates April 25 to October 6, 2026. Magic Switzerland notes the itinerary is bookable in reverse and offers an Open Jaw option, starting in St. Gallen and ending in Interlaken or vice versa.
What is not included?
Lunch and dinner are not included except optional lunch on the Glacier Express. Optional excursions such as the Gornergrat cogwheel railway are extra. Luggage transfer and 1st class upgrades are available for additional fees.
How much walking is involved?
The evidence does not specify the level of physical activity or walking expected each day. Contact Magic Switzerland to clarify mobility needs.

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