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Lucerne, Zermatt, and St Moritz

Nine-day Swiss rail trip: Lucerne, Zermatt, and St Moritz to Milan

Illustration of Lucerne, Zermatt, and St Moritz

Railbookers operates this nine-day, eight-night rail trip from Zurich to Milan, crossing Switzerland into Italy with stops in Lucerne, Zermatt, and St Moritz. The pace is largely self-directed, with trains caught at your own convenience and cities left free to explore. Day 3's trip up Mount Pilatus, available mid-May to mid-November, climbs the steepest rack railway in the world after a short lake cruise. Day 5's Gornergrat Cog Railway, Europe's highest, climbs from 5,262 to 10,138 feet in 33 minutes for views of the Matterhorn. Day 6 rides the Glacier Express across mountain passes and viaducts to the lakeside town of St Moritz, and Day 8 continues on the Bernina Express into Italy, passing glaciers, gorges, and the Brusio spiral viaduct before a local train reaches Milan. The trip strings together five named scenic railways across two countries, suited to travelers who already have some rail experience and want a marquee mountain-train itinerary.

What to know before you look closer

  • The hotel list for this package is 29 options across different tiers and cities rather than a fixed set of stays, so the specific hotel you get depends on the tier and city you choose.
  • The Mount Pilatus day trip described on Day 3 covers travel between mid-May and mid-November; the itinerary does not describe how the day trip runs outside that window.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Zurich

    Your Journey Begins in Zurich

    Welcome to Zurich! On arrival at the airport use your Swiss Pass for the quick journey to the city where you can check-in at your hotel for a one-night stay. If time allows head to the lake for a scenic cruise, then enjoy an evening stroll around the pretty Old Town.

  2. Day 2overnight: Lucerne

    Zurich to Lucerne

    At a time of your choosing hop onto any of the regular trains direct to Lucerne, then head to your hotel for a two-night stay. The Chapel Bridge is unmissable, and the town itself is full of picturesque cobbled streets and small-town squares.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Lucerne

    Mount Pilatus

    Today enjoy one of the best day trips in Switzerland. If travelling between mid-May and mid-November take a short lake cruise boat to Alpnachstad where you then take the steepest rack railway in the world to the peak.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Zermatt

    Lucerne to Zermatt

    After breakfast take a train to the Swiss capital Bern where spending an hour or two exploring is highly recommended. When you are ready take the train to Zermatt via Visp and check-in at your hotel for a two-night stay.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Zermatt

    Gornergrat Day Trip

    Another spectacular mountain railway experience today, and the Gornergrat is Europe's highest climbing from 5262ft above sea level to 10138ft in just 33 minutes. From the top the views are amazing, across to Italy and France on a clear day as well as the nearby Matterhorn mountain.

  6. Day 6railovernight: St Moritz

    The Glacier Express

    Travel across Switzerland onboard the Glacier Express today, crossing numerous mountains passes and impressive viaducts. Your journey ends today in the glamorous lakeside town of St Moritz.

  7. Day 7overnight: St. Moritz

    St. Moritz

    Enjoy a day at leisure today and discover the history of this famous resort. Wander around the lake and perhaps make use of your Swiss Pass to enjoy the funicular and cable car ride up to Piz Nair for some spectacular views.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Milan

    The Bernina Express

    This morning, take the Bernina Express south to Tirano in Italy, then change onto a local train to Milan. The Bernina Express is one of the most thrilling train routes in the world, with incredible views of huge glaciers, sheer rock gorges and amazing feats of engineering such as the Brusio spiral viaduct.

  9. Day 9rail

    Your Journey Ends in Milan

    Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before heading to the airport for your flight home or speak to one of our Rail Specialists if you would rather extend your travels elsewhere.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Between mid-May and mid-November, a lake cruise to Alpnachstad connects to the steepest rack railway in the world, climbing Mount Pilatus.
  • Day 5The Gornergrat Cog Railway, Europe's highest, climbs from 5,262 feet to 10,138 feet in 33 minutes, with views to the Matterhorn and, on a clear day, Italy and France.
  • Day 6The Glacier Express crosses numerous mountain passes and viaducts on its way to the lakeside town of St Moritz.
  • Day 7A funicular and cable car ride up to Piz Nair from St Moritz opens onto spectacular views.
  • Day 8The Bernina Express runs south to Tirano, Italy, past huge glaciers, sheer rock gorges, and the Brusio spiral viaduct, one of the most thrilling train routes in the world.

Included

  • Rail Travel as per the itinerary
  • 1 nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast in Zurich
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Lucerne
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Zermatt
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in St Moritz
  • 1 nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast in Milan
  • Day trip to Mount Pilatus
  • Day trip on the Gornergrat Cog Railway
  • Seat reservations on the Glacier and Bernina Express trains

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. Rail travel is included as per the itinerary, with seat reservations on the Glacier Express and Bernina Express.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
It is independent. Trains and city time are self-paced, such as catching trains to Lucerne at a time of your choosing, with no guide mentioned.
What hotels are used?
The package offers a list of 29 hotel options across Zurich, Lucerne, Zermatt, St Moritz, and Milan at different tiers, so the specific hotel depends on the tier and city option you select.
When does the Mount Pilatus day trip run?
The lake cruise and rack railway ascent described on Day 3 run between mid-May and mid-November. The itinerary does not describe an alternative outside that window.
What are the Glacier Express and Bernina Express?
The Glacier Express crosses numerous mountain passes and viaducts from Zermatt to St Moritz. The Bernina Express continues south into Italy, passing glaciers, rock gorges, and the Brusio spiral viaduct on its way to Tirano.
How much altitude is involved?
The Gornergrat Cog Railway reaches 10,138 feet above sea level, and Piz Nair is reached by funicular and cable car from St Moritz. No hiking is described in the itinerary.

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