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Railbookers · Independent rail vacation

Paris to Milan via the Classic Highlights of Switzerland

Six-day rail trip from Paris to Milan via Switzerland's Alps

Illustration of Paris to Milan via the Classic Highlights of Switzerland

Railbookers operates this six-day, five-night independent rail vacation that starts in Paris and ends in Milan, using a 3-day Swiss Pass to cover rail travel across Switzerland. After one night in Paris, a high-speed TGV Lyria train carries travelers to Interlaken for two nights, a mountain village set between the Jungfrau, Eiger, and Monch peaks. Day 3 climbs to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest-altitude railway station at 11,332 feet, with views over the Black Forest and Vosges Mountains. From there, the Glacier Express runs from Brig to Chur through mountain forests and Alpine meadows, and the Bernina Express continues from Chur to Tirano via St Moritz, crossing the 7,391-foot Bernina Pass on a UNESCO World Heritage route before arriving in Milan. With a new hotel most nights, the trip moves quickly and suits travelers who want an intensive, rail-focused tour through some of Switzerland's most scenic routes rather than a slower, single-base stay.

What to know before you look closer

  • The operator lists 21 accommodation options across tiers and cities rather than fixed hotels, so the final hotel depends on the tier chosen; the sample ranges from mid-tier chains to the five-star Sofitel Le Scribe in Paris.
  • Only one night is spent in Paris, Chur, and Milan, with two nights in Interlaken, so this is a fast-moving trip with a new hotel most nights.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Paris

    Your Journey Begins in Paris

    Welcome to Paris! On arrival, check in at your hotel for an overnight stay and begin discovering the magic of the 'City of Light'. Perhaps spend the afternoon shopping on the Champs-Élysées, visit the Basilique du Sacre Coeur, or spend a couple of hours at the Louvre Museum or Luxembourg Gardens. While in Paris, take a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower, or a cruise along the Seine River.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Interlaken

    Paris to Interlaken

    Check out of your hotel in Paris this morning and take a high-speed double-decker TGV train from Paris to Basel, then a direct train to Interlaken. On arrival in the classic Swiss mountain village, check in at your hotel for a two-night stay. Located between the Jungfrau, Eiger, and Monch mountains, Interlaken boasts incredible scenery. Begin using your 4-Day Swiss Pass for access to dozens of activities and adventures.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Interlaken

    Jungfrau Day Trip

    After breakfast this morning, you will climb to Europe's highest-altitude railway station on Jungfrau Mountain, at a colossal 11,332 feet high. The journey takes you to Kleine Scheidegg, before reaching the station at Eigergletscher. At Jungfraujoch, take in the breath-taking views of the Black Forest in Germany and the Vosges Mountains in France, and enjoy the fascinating glacier and ice gallery at the top.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Chur

    The Glacier Express

    Check out of your hotel after breakfast and make your way to the train station for the journey to Brig via the spectacular Lotschberg Mountain through Kandersteg. On arrival in Brig, board the Glacier Express and take a panoramic tour of the Swiss Alps from Brig through to Chur, through mountain forests, Alpine meadows, and lush valleys. Upon arrival in Chur, check in at your hotel for an overnight stay.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Milan

    The Bernina Express

    After an early breakfast, depart from Chur on the Bernina Express to Tirano via St. Moritz. The train crosses the Alps and offers breathtaking views, riding over spectacular viaducts, through sheer rock gorges and switch-back tunnels, including the impressive Landwasser Viaduct. The train climbs up the 7,391-foot-high Bernina Pass, an area that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The line finishes in the Italian border town of Tirano where, after time for some authentic pizza, you will board the onward train to Milan. On arrival in Milan, check in at your hotel for an overnight stay.

  6. Day 6rail

    Depart Milan

    After breakfast, this morning, check out of your hotel and continue with your onward travels. If you wish to extend your journey or take this tour in reverse, one of our Rail Experts would be happy to help you with all the details.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2A high-speed TGV Lyria train carries travelers from Paris to Basel, then on to Interlaken, a mountain village set between the Jungfrau, Eiger, and Monch peaks.
  • Day 3The Jungfrau railway climbs to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest-altitude railway station at 11,332 feet, with views over the Black Forest and Vosges Mountains and a glacier and ice gallery at the top.
  • Day 4The Glacier Express carries travelers from Brig to Chur through mountain forests, Alpine meadows, and lush valleys, after a train ride via the Lotschberg Mountain and Kandersteg.
  • Day 5The Bernina Express crosses the Landwasser Viaduct and climbs the 7,391-foot Bernina Pass, a UNESCO World Heritage route, before finishing in Italy.

Included

  • 1 night hotel stay with breakfast in Paris
  • 2 nights hotel stay with breakfast in Interlaken
  • 1 night hotel stay with breakfast in Chur
  • 1 night hotel stay with breakfast in Milan
  • 3-day Swiss Pass

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes, nearly every day. A 3-day Swiss Pass covers Swiss rail travel, and the trip rides the Glacier Express from Brig to Chur on day 4 and the Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano via St Moritz on day 5, along with the Jungfraujoch railway on day 3.
Is this trip guided or independent?
Independent throughout.
How many nights are spent at each stop?
One night in Paris, two nights in Interlaken, one night in Chur, and one night in Milan, for six days and five nights.
What hotels are used?
The operator lists 21 accommodation options across tiers and cities rather than fixed hotels; the sample ranges from mid-tier chains to the five-star Sofitel Le Scribe in Paris.
How much walking or altitude is involved?
The Jungfraujoch day trip on day 3 reaches Europe's highest-altitude railway station at 11,332 feet, and the Bernina Express on day 5 crosses the 7,391-foot Bernina Pass; both are reached by train rather than on foot.
How much does this trip cost?
Prices start from $2,449 per person, about $408 per day.

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