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Railbookers · Independent rail vacation

The Best of Switzerland

Independent 10-day Swiss rail circuit from Lucerne to St. Moritz

Illustration of The Best of Switzerland

Railbookers operates this independent, self-guided rail vacation across Switzerland, running 10 days and 9 nights from Lucerne to St. Moritz. Travelers arrive at Zurich airport and take a train straight to Lucerne, a lakeside town, before day trips to Mount Titlis by rotating cable car and to Jungfraujoch through Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen. The route continues over the Golden Pass line to Montreux, then to Zermatt for views of the Matterhorn from the Gornergrat Cog Railway, before finishing with the Glacier Express, which the operator describes as the slowest express train in the world, and the Bernina Express, into St. Moritz. Because the trip is independent rather than escorted, travelers move between five base cities at their own pace, checking in and out of hotels rather than following a group leader. It suits travelers who want a highlights reel of Switzerland's named scenic railways without a fixed group schedule, and who don't mind changing hotels roughly every one to two nights.

What to know before you look closer

  • The operator lists 29 hotel options across several cities and comfort tiers for this trip; which hotel you get depends on the tier and city option you choose.
  • The evidence for this trip does not include current departure dates; confirm availability and current pricing with Railbookers before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Lucerne

    Your Journey Begins in Lucerne

    Arrival into Zurich airport, then a train directly to Lucerne to begin exploring this lakeside historic town.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Lucerne

    Day Trip to Mount Titlis

    Short train journey, gondola ride then a rotating cable car to the top of Mount Titlis (3,328m).

  3. Day 3railovernight: Interlaken

    Lucerne to Interlaken

    Train through the Bernese Oberland to Interlaken, with views of the Monch, Eiger and Jungfrau Mountains.

  4. Day 4overnight: Interlaken

    Day Trip to Jungfraujoch

    Travel through Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen to the peak of the Jungfrau mountain, with views of the Great Aletsch Glacier.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Montreux

    The Golden Pass from Interlaken to Montreux

    Scenic rail line to Zweisimmen, then a MOB GoldenPass Panoramic train to Montreux.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Zermatt

    Montreux to Zermatt

    Train to Zermatt via a change in Visp, through some of Switzerland's highest peaks.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Zermatt

    Gornergrat Day Trip

    Gornergrat Cog Railway climbing 1486m in 33 minutes, with views of the Matterhorn.

  8. Day 8railovernight: St. Moritz

    The Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz

    Journey aboard the slowest express train in the world.

  9. Day 9railovernight: St. Moritz

    The Bernina Express

    Famous red train crosses snow-covered mountain peaks into Italy, with a stop in Tirano before returning north.

  10. Day 10

    Your Journey Ends in St Moritz

    Check out of your hotel and transfer to Zurich airport for your flight home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2A rotating cable car climbs to the top of Mount Titlis at 3,328 meters.
  • Day 4The train travels through Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen to the peak of the Jungfrau, with views of the Great Aletsch Glacier.
  • Day 7The Gornergrat Cog Railway climbs 1,486 meters in 33 minutes to views of the Matterhorn.
  • Day 8The Glacier Express, which the operator calls the slowest express train in the world, runs its full length from Zermatt to St. Moritz.
  • Day 9The Bernina Express crosses snow-covered mountain peaks into Italy, stopping in Tirano before returning north.

Included

  • Rail Travel as per itinerary
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Lucerne
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Interlaken
  • 1 night's hotel accommodation with breakfast in Montreux
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Zermatt
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in St Moritz
  • Day trips to Jungfraujoch, Mount Titlis and Gornegrat
  • Reservations aboard the Golden Pass, Glacier Express and Bernina Express trains

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. Railbookers includes rail travel throughout the itinerary, along with reservations on the Golden Pass, Glacier Express and Bernina Express trains.
Is this trip guided or independent?
It is an independent, self-guided rail vacation; there is no tour leader accompanying travelers between stops.
Which trains does the itinerary use?
The route uses the MOB GoldenPass Panoramic from Zweisimmen to Montreux, the Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz, the Bernina Express from St. Moritz to Tirano, the Gornergrat Cog Railway, the Jungfraujoch railway, and the rotating cable car to Mount Titlis.
What is included with the hotels?
Breakfast is included with every stay: 2 nights in Lucerne, 2 in Interlaken, 1 in Montreux, 2 in Zermatt and 2 in St. Moritz.
Where does the trip start and end?
It starts in Lucerne after arrival at Zurich airport and ends in St. Moritz, with a transfer back to Zurich airport for departure.

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