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

Highlights of Switzerland

Swiss rail circle St. Moritz to Lucerne on three signature trains

Illustration of Highlights of Switzerland

Magic Switzerland's Highlights of Switzerland is an eight-day individual rail tour linking four Alpine resort towns via three of Switzerland's most celebrated trains. Beginning in St. Moritz, the Glacier Express carries you through 291 bridges and 91 tunnels across 181 miles to Zermatt, where you ascend Gornergrat for Matterhorn views. A train journey brings you to Interlaken between lakes Thun and Brienz; from there, the Jungfrau Railway climbs to Jungfraujoch at 3,454 metres (11,333 feet), Europe's highest accessible mountain railway station. The return leg travels the Luzern-Interlaken Express, a panoramic train following Lake Lungern and alpine valleys to Lucerne, where Mt. Pilatus offers a cable car summit. Throughout, Magic Switzerland books 2nd class rail tickets, reserved seats on the Glacier Express, all accommodations with breakfast, and three mountain excursions. The tour suits first-time rail travellers exploring Switzerland's most famous routes, couples seeking shared mountain experiences, and photographers drawn to Alpine and glacial scenery.

What to know before you look closer

  • Single supplement is substantial: CHF 2,661 to CHF 3,984 (depending on season and hotel tier), roughly 1.3 to 1.4 times the double-room price.
  • The itinerary is bookable in reverse or as an open-jaw routing; confirm your preferred start and end cities when booking.
  • Excursions use cable cars and mountain trains; physically mobile travellers suit this tour, though no technical climbing is involved.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: St. Moritz

    Arrival in St. Moritz

    Arrival in St. Moritz by train. This ultimate ski resort was the birthplace of Alpine winter tourism and has hosted the Winter Olympics twice.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Zermatt

    Glacier Express to Zermatt

    Travel through the Alpine heartland of Switzerland with the Glacier Express, the "slowest express train in the world," traversing 3 cantons, 291 bridges and 91 tunnels over 181 miles.

  3. Day 3overnight: Zermatt

    Gornergrat Excursion

    Excursion to the summit of the Gornergrat, a spot to gaze at the majestic Matterhorn and its surrounding area.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Interlaken

    Train to Interlaken

    Train transfer to the Bernese Oberland. Arrival at the famous resort of Interlaken, nestled between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Interlaken

    Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe

    Visit the Top of Europe at 3,454m/11,333ft, Mt. Jungfrau, via train through Grindelwald and Kleine Scheidegg up to the Jungfraujoch.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Lucerne

    Panoramic train to Lucerne

    Take the scenic panoramic train Luzern-Interlaken Express along Lake Lungern, Sarnen and Alpnach to Lucerne.

  7. Day 7overnight: Lucerne

    Mt. Pilatus Excursion

    Excursion to Mt. Pilatus - bus journey to Kriens then cable car up the mountain, with views of Lake Lucerne and the alpine panorama.

  8. Day 8

    Departure

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

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Glacier Express journey from St. Moritz to Zermatt: the train traverses 291 bridges and 91 tunnels across 181 miles through three Alpine cantons.
  • Day 3Gornergrat summit excursion above Zermatt with views of the Matterhorn and surrounding peaks.
  • Day 5Jungfrau Railway ascent to Jungfraujoch (3,454 m / 11,333 ft), the Top of Europe, via Grindelwald and Kleine Scheidegg.
  • Day 6Luzern-Interlaken Express panoramic train along Lake Lungern, Sarnen, and Alpnach to Lucerne.

Included

  • Rail ticket in 2nd class for rail travel per itinerary
  • Seat Reservation on the Glacier Express from St. Moritz to Zermatt
  • Excursion to Jungfraujoch
  • Excursion Pilatus via cable car
  • Excursion Gornergrat
  • 1 night in St. Moritz, quality hotels, standard rooms with private facilities and breakfast
  • 2 nights each in Lucerne, Zermatt and Interlaken, quality hotels, standard rooms with private facilities and breakfast
  • 50% discount on additional rail tickets (local transport) and some mountain excursions

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. Magic Switzerland includes 2nd class rail tickets for all journeys per the itinerary, plus reserved seats on the Glacier Express. First class upgrades are available for CHF 222 per person.
Which trains are used?
The Glacier Express (St. Moritz to Zermatt), Jungfrau Railway (Grindelwald/Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch), and Luzern-Interlaken Express (Interlaken to Lucerne).
What hotels are included?
One night in St. Moritz, two nights each in Zermatt, Interlaken, and Lucerne. Hotels are quality 3-star or 4-star (depending on tier chosen), with standard rooms, private facilities, and breakfast included.
What mountain excursions are included?
Three excursions are included: Gornergrat (cable car and train above Zermatt), Jungfraujoch (train to 3,454 m), and Mt. Pilatus (bus and cable car from Lucerne).
Is this tour guided or independent?
This is an individual rail tour. Magic Switzerland books your train tickets, hotels, and reserved seats; you travel independently on the trains and navigate the towns.
When does this tour run?
The evidence shows pricing for Jan 05 - Mar 31, 2026 and May 01 - Oct 09, 2026. Confirm current departure dates and availability with Magic Switzerland.

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