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Vacations By Rail has withdrawn this trip from sale. We keep the page for reference and comparison. The same itinerary is still sold by another operator, listed under Also sold by below.

Vacations By Rail · Independent rail vacation

Grand Train Tour of Switzerland

Swiss scenic rail circle from Zurich through Alps and lakes on five named trains

Illustration of Grand Train Tour of Switzerland

Vacations By Rail's 11-day Grand Train Tour of Switzerland is an independent rail vacation designed for travelers comfortable navigating cities and trains without a guide. You board five signature Swiss trains: the GoldenPass Panoramic, Glacier Express, Bernina Express, Gotthard Panorama Express, and Jungfrau Railway, beginning in Zurich and ending in Lucerne. Days blend supervised rail journeys with free time in towns like Grindelwald, Zermatt, Montreux, and Lugano. The itinerary moves through the Bernese Oberland, Simmen Valley, Matterhorn region, and Rhine Gorge, with a highlight excursion to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest railway station, and a paddle steamer crossing Lake Lucerne. Ten nights in hotels plus meals and a Swiss Half Fare Card are included. This trip suits experienced travelers who have taken rail vacations before and enjoy self-directed exploration within a structured framework.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price (USD 4,195) covers the hotel, rail travel, and meals but excludes flights, airport transfers, and city taxes payable locally.
  • City accommodations vary by seasonal demand; some departures use Lausanne instead of Montreux, and seasonal changes affect Grindelwald or Wengen placement.
  • Two days (6 and 9) offer optional paid excursions; unguided free time in towns requires comfort navigating the Swiss rail system independently.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Zurich

    Arrive in Zurich

    Arrive in Zurich and settle into your hotel; free day to explore Bahnhofstrasse or Lake Zurich.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Grindelwald or Wengen (seasonal: Grindelwald for April/May/October departures, Wengen for June-September)

    Train to Wengen/Grindelwald

    Train to Lucerne, then over the Brunig Pass along Lake Brienz into the Bernese Oberland to Grindelwald or Wengen.

    Meals: Breakfast

  3. Day 3railovernight: Grindelwald or Wengen

    Excursion to Jungfraujoch

    Train to Kleine Scheidegg, then the Jungfrau Railway to Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe (3454m), with views of the Aletsch Glacier.

    Meals: Breakfast

  4. Day 4railovernight: Montreux (Lausanne during the Montreux Jazz Festival)

    GoldenPass Panoramic Train to Montreux

    GoldenPass Panoramic train along Lake Thun to the Simmen Valley, Gstaad, and the Pays d'Enhaut Highlands, arriving at Lake Geneva and Montreux.

    Meals: Breakfast

  5. Day 5railovernight: Zermatt

    Train to Zermatt

    Train to Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn; free time in the car-free town.

    Meals: Breakfast

  6. Day 6railovernight: Zermatt

    Optional Excursion to Gornergrat

    Optional non-guided excursion on Europe's highest open-air cogwheel train to the Gornergrat summit.

    Meals: Breakfast

  7. Day 7railovernight: Chur (Excellence Class passengers overnight in St. Moritz)

    Glacier Express

    Panoramic Glacier Express over the Oberalp Pass and through the Rhine Gorge, arriving in Chur.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  8. Day 8railovernight: Lugano

    Bernina Express

    Narrow-gauge Bernina Express over the Brusio Circular Viaduct and through 55 tunnels to Tirano, Italy, then the Bernina Express Bus to Lugano.

    Meals: Breakfast

  9. Day 9overnight: Lugano

    Excursion to Monte Bre or Boat Ride to Gandria

    Optional cable car excursion to Monte Bre or a boat ride to Gandria; a day at leisure in Lugano if neither is purchased.

    Meals: Breakfast

  10. Day 10railovernight: Lucerne

    Gotthard Panorama Express

    First class panorama carriage from Lugano to Fluelen via Bellinzona and the Gotthard tunnel, then a historic paddle steamer cruise across Lake Lucerne.

    Meals: Breakfast

  11. Day 11

    Departure

    Final breakfast before traveling back to Zurich city center or airport.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3The Jungfrau Railway climbs to Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe at 3,454 meters, with views of the Aletsch Glacier.
  • Day 4The GoldenPass Panoramic train travels along Lake Thun through Gstaad and the Pays d'Enhaut Highlands to Lake Geneva and Montreux.
  • Day 7The Glacier Express travels over the Oberalp Pass and through the Rhine Gorge from Zermatt to Chur, with lunch onboard.
  • Day 8The Bernina Express, a narrow-gauge train, crosses the Brusio Circular Viaduct and passes through 55 tunnels into Tirano, Italy.
  • Day 10The Gotthard Panorama Express departs Lugano in a first-class panorama carriage, then transitions to a historic paddle steamer for a cruise across Lake Lucerne.

Included

  • Hotel accommodations for 10 nights
  • Rail travel on the Swiss Travel System
  • 11 meals, including lunch onboard the Glacier Express
  • Swiss Half Fare Card, permitting 50% discounted fares on free days for rail, boat and most mountain railway journeys

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
  • Flights and Airport transfers not included
  • City taxes are not included in the package price and will need to be paid locally

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 the train travel included?
Yes. Vacations By Rail includes rail travel on the Swiss Travel System and provides a Swiss Half Fare Card for 50% discounts on free days for rail, boat, and most mountain railway journeys. The five signature trains (GoldenPass Panoramic, Glacier Express, Bernina Express, Gotthard Panorama Express, and Jungfrau Railway) are included, as is a Lake Lucerne paddle steamer crossing.
Is this trip guided or independent?
It is independent. Vacations By Rail describes it as a self-guided vacation where you travel on your own following a well-planned itinerary with no group guide. Excursions are included, but most time in each town is free.
Which trains are featured?
Five trains: the GoldenPass Panoramic (Interlaken to Montreux), Jungfrau Railway (to Jungfraujoch), Glacier Express (Zermatt to Chur), Bernina Express (Switzerland to Tirano with bus to Lugano), and Gotthard Panorama Express (Lugano to Fluelen, then paddle steamer to Lucerne). Excellence Class passengers on the Glacier Express overnight in St. Moritz instead of Chur.
What is included in the price?
Hotel accommodations for 10 nights, rail travel on the Swiss Travel System, the Swiss Half Fare Card, 11 meals including lunch on the Glacier Express, and access to five scenic rail excursions.
What is not included?
Flights, airport transfers, travel insurance, and city taxes (payable locally). Optional extras such as the Gornergrat cogwheel train and Monte Bre cable car or Gandria boat ride are additional.
How much walking is involved?
Reviewers advise 'be prepared to walk a lot.' Walking includes city exploration in each town and movement between stations and hotels. Optional excursions (cogwheel train, cable car, boat) reduce walking on those days.

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