Search

railtour suisse · Self-guided rail tour

Swiss Premium Tour (for international guests)

Eight-day self-guided rail tour through Swiss Alps and lakes

Illustration of Swiss Premium Tour (for international guests)

Railtour Suisse's Swiss Premium Tour is an 8-day self-guided rail journey across Switzerland's most celebrated mountain scenery. The tour begins in Lucerne, the lakeside city dominated by Mount Pilatus, and ends in St. Moritz, the alpine resort known for elegance and mountain culture. Travellers spend two nights each in Lucerne, Interlaken, and Zermatt, with a final night in St. Moritz. Four named trains connect these cities: the Luzern-Interlaken Express winds through passes and passes three small lakes; the Jungfrau Railway ascends to the Jungfraujoch at 3,454 metres, Europe's highest railway station, where glaciers and dozens of 4,000-metre peaks surround the viewing platforms; the Gornergrat Bahn cogwheel railway climbs to another viewing platform in the shadow of the Matterhorn; and the Glacier Express, billed as the slowest express train in the world, takes eight hours to travel from Zermatt to St. Moritz, crossing 291 bridges and tunnelling through 91 mountain passages. All hotels are 3-star properties with breakfast. Most days include a full-day excursion on rail or cable car, with one unguided day in Lucerne to explore independently.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price (CHF 1,655) covers the rail pass, hotels, and breakfast; optional excursions like the Titlis revolving gondola cost extra
  • The package includes hotels marked as 3-star standard; the exact hotel name or property may vary by booking date
  • Day 2 in Lucerne is unguided at leisure; optional excursions to Mount Titlis, Mount Pilatus, or Mount Rigi must be booked separately at 25-50% discount with the transfer ticket

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Lucerne

    Arrival in Lucerne

    Train journey to Lucerne, the city in the heart of Switzerland. Stroll across the world-famous Chapel Bridge, through the winding streets of the old town and visit the Lion Monument. Overnight in Lucerne.

  2. Day 2overnight: Lucerne

    Lucerne

    Breakfast at the hotel. Full day at leisure in Lucerne. We recommend the following optional excursions: Titlis with its famous revolving gondola, the Golden Round Trip on Mount Pilatus or Mount Rigi, the Queen of the Mountains. Overnight in Lucerne.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Interlaken

    Luzern-Interlaken Express (1h50)

    Breakfast at the hotel. Travel with the Luzern-Interlaken Express from Lucerne via the Brunig Pass to Interlaken. Passing three small lakes, you will reach Lake Brienz, which has a special colour due to its glacier water. Overnight in Interlaken.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Interlaken

    Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe

    Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to the Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe at 3'454 metres. Snow and ice are guaranteed 365 days a year. Enjoy the spectacular view of imposing mountain peaks and the Aletsch Glacier, discover enchanting sculptures in the Ice Palace and take a thrilling journey through time on the multimedia adventure tour into the history of the Jungfrau Railway. Overnight in Interlaken.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Zermatt

    Interlaken - Zermatt (2h30)

    Breakfast at the hotel. Rail journey through the wonderful Bernese Oberland to Zermatt, the famous resort at the foot of the Matterhorn. Overnight in Zermatt.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Zermatt

    Gornergrat

    Breakfast at the hotel. The Gornergrat Bahn, Europe's highest cogwheel railway, takes you up to the Gornergrat. On the Gornergrat viewing platform you are surrounded by 29 peaks rising to above 4'000 m. Overnight in Zermatt.

  7. Day 7railovernight: 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.

  8. Day 8

    St. Moritz and return journey

    Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the mountain landscape with its fantastic views or stroll through Via Serlas, one of Switzerland's most exclusive shopping streets. Individual return journey. This tour can also be booked in the opposite direction.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Arrival in Lucerne: stroll across the Chapel Bridge and through the winding streets of the old town, then visit the Lion Monument
  • Day 4Jungfraujoch excursion to Europe's highest railway station at 3,454 metres with views of the Aletsch Glacier and 29 peaks above 4,000 metres
  • Day 6Gornergrat Bahn cogwheel railway ascends to viewing platform surrounded by 29 peaks rising above 4,000 metres, with the Matterhorn at Zermatt's base
  • Day 7Glacier Express journey from Zermatt to St. Moritz crosses 291 bridges, passes through 91 tunnels, and climbs the Oberalp Pass at 2,033 metres over eight hours

Included

  • Swiss Transfer Ticket Combi: Swiss Premium Tour (7 transfers) incl. excursion Jungfraujoch and Gornergrat in 2nd class
  • Seat reservation in the Luzern-Interlaken Express and Glacier Express
  • 2 nights in Lucerne, 3-star hotel, standard double room with breakfast
  • 2 nights in Interlaken, 3-star hotel, standard double room with breakfast
  • 2 nights in Zermatt, 3-star hotel, standard double room with breakfast
  • 1 night in St. Moritz, 3-star hotel, standard double room with breakfast

Not included

  • Additional tickets for optional excursions by rail, boat, postal-coach and cable car (purchasable at 25-50% of the regular fares with the transfer ticket)

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The Swiss Transfer Ticket Combi covers seven rail transfers including the Luzern-Interlaken Express, Jungfrau Railway, journey to Zermatt, Gornergrat Bahn, and the Glacier Express. Seat reservations on the Luzern-Interlaken Express and Glacier Express are included. All travel is in 2nd class.
Is this tour escorted or self-guided?
This is a self-guided tour. You travel independently between cities and hotels. A full day at leisure in Lucerne (Day 2) allows for optional excursions.
Which hotels and cities are included?
Two nights in Lucerne (3-star), two nights in Interlaken (3-star), two nights in Zermatt (3-star), and one night in St. Moritz (3-star). All rooms are standard doubles with breakfast included.
What is not included in the from-price?
Optional excursions such as the Titlis revolving gondola, the Golden Round Trip on Mount Pilatus, or Mount Rigi are not included. These can be purchased at a 25-50% discount with the transfer ticket.
How much walking is involved?
The tour includes moderate walking in cities (Lucerne, Interlaken, Zermatt, St. Moritz) and walks to viewing platforms at Jungfraujoch (3,454 metres) and Gornergrat. Train journeys and cogwheel railways handle the altitude gain.
How long is the Glacier Express journey?
The Glacier Express runs for eight hours from Zermatt to St. Moritz, crossing 291 bridges, passing through 91 tunnels, and climbing the Oberalp Pass at 2,033 metres.

Similar journeys