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railtour suisse · Self-guided rail tour

Swiss Panoramic Trains (for international guests)

Self-guided Swiss rail circuit on the Glacier and Bernina Express

Illustration of Swiss Panoramic Trains (for international guests)

railtour suisse runs this six-day, five-night self-guided rail tour across Switzerland, starting in the car-free resort of Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn and ending in Lugano on the shores of Lake Lugano. The trip is built around two of Switzerland's best-known scenic trains: the Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz, which crosses 291 bridges and 91 tunnels over the Oberalp Pass, and the Bernina Express from St. Moritz to Tirano, Italy, which climbs the Bernina Pass and the circular viaduct at Brusio before a bus connects on to Lugano. Along the way, the Gornergrat Bahn cogwheel railway climbs to a viewing platform surrounded by 29 peaks above 4,000 meters. Travelers stay two nights each in Zermatt and St. Moritz and one night in Lugano, all in 3-star hotels with breakfast included. Because there is no tour manager and the return journey is described as individual, this trip suits independent-minded travelers who want a self-guided route built around named scenic trains rather than a fully escorted tour.

What to know before you look closer

  • The route includes one bus leg, the Bernina Express Bus from Tirano to Lugano, alongside the named panorama trains, so this is a rail-and-coach itinerary rather than all rail.
  • The included 50% discount on mountain railways and free entry to more than 500 museums is 'only valid on a selected travel day,' not for the whole trip.
  • The final day's 'individual return journey' from Lugano is not detailed in the evidence; travelers arrange their own onward transport.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Zermatt

    Arrival in Zermatt

    Train journey to Zermatt, the world-famous car-free mountain resort at the foot of the Matterhorn. Overnight in Zermatt.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Zermatt

    Gornergrat

    Breakfast at the hotel. From Zermatt, the Gornergrat Bahn, Europe's highest open-air cogwheel railway, takes you up to the Gornergrat. The train crosses impressive bridges, galleries and tunnels. On the Gornergrat viewing platform you are surrounded by 29 peaks rising to above 4'000 m. Overnight in Zermatt.

  3. Day 3railovernight: St. Moritz

    Glacier Express (8h)

    Breakfast at the hotel. Today you travel from Zermatt to St. Moritz on the Glacier Express. The train journey takes you over 291 bridges, through 91 tunnels and over the Oberalp Pass at 2'033 metres. Travel in comfort through the unspoilt natural beauty of a landscape with ancient, fragrant mountain forests, tranquil alpine meadows, rushing mountain rivers and valleys steeped in tradition and centuries-old culture. Overnight in St. Moritz.

  4. Day 4overnight: St. Moritz

    St. Moritz

    Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a full day at leisure in and around St. Moritz. In summer, our hotels in St. Moritz offer you free travel on various Upper Engadine mountain railways. Our favourite is an unforgettable trip to the Diavolezza. Overnight in St. Moritz.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Lugano

    Bernina Express (8h15)

    Breakfast at the hotel. Today you travel with the Bernina Express from St. Moritz over the Bernina Pass and the circular viaduct at Brusio to Tirano (Italy), the south end of the Bernina Line. After lunch or a stroll through the romantic old town, you travel with the Bernina Express bus through the idyllic Valtellina valley and along Lake Como to Lugano. Overnight in Lugano.

  6. Day 6

    Lugano and return journey

    Breakfast at the hotel. Experience the Mediterranean lifestyle in this charming paradise on Lake Lugano and enjoy the magnificent view of the surrounding mountains. The picturesque old town and the lake promenade invite you to take a stroll. Individual return journey. This tour can also be booked in the opposite direction.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Arrival in car-free Zermatt, the mountain resort at the foot of the Matterhorn.
  • Day 2The Gornergrat Bahn, Europe's highest open-air cogwheel railway, climbs to a viewing platform surrounded by 29 peaks rising above 4,000 meters.
  • Day 3The Glacier Express crosses 291 bridges and 91 tunnels on the way to St. Moritz, including the Oberalp Pass at 2,033 meters.
  • Day 5The Bernina Express crosses the Bernina Pass and the circular viaduct at Brusio on the way to Tirano, Italy.
  • Day 6In Lugano, the old town and lake promenade sit beside Lake Lugano with views of the surrounding mountains.

Included

  • Swiss Travel Pass Flex 4 days in 2nd class
  • Seat reservation in the Glacier Express and Bernina Express
  • Excursion Gornergrat
  • 2 nights in Zermatt, 3-star hotel, standard double room with breakfast
  • 2 nights in St. Moritz, 3-star hotel, standard double room with breakfast
  • 1 night in Lugano, 3-star hotel, standard double room with breakfast
  • 50% discount on most mountain railways, free entry at more than 500 museums (only valid on a selected travel day)

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes, a 4-day Swiss Travel Pass Flex in 2nd class is included, along with seat reservations on the Glacier Express and Bernina Express.
Is it escorted or independent?
It is a self-guided rail tour with no tour manager mentioned; day 6 is described as an 'Individual return journey.'
Which trains are used?
The Gornergrat Bahn, the Glacier Express, the Bernina Express, and the Bernina Express Bus between Tirano and Lugano.
What hotels are included?
3-star hotels with breakfast: 2 nights in Zermatt, 2 nights in St. Moritz, and 1 night in Lugano, all in standard double rooms.
Can this tour run in the other direction?
Yes, the evidence states 'This tour can also be booked in the opposite direction.'
Are the mountain railway discounts valid every day?
No, the 50% discount on mountain railways and free museum entry is 'only valid on a selected travel day.'

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