Tailor Made Rail · Self-guided rail holiday

Travelzoo: Best of Switzerland by Rail

Travelzoo: Best of Switzerland by Rail, a rail journey with Tailor Made Rail

A Travelzoo rail holiday to Switzerland with a free First Class upgrade and free UK rail, following the Golden Pass and Glacier Express routes via Montreux, Brig, Chur and Lugano.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Lyon (Mercure Part Dieu or similar)

    London to Lyon

    Eurostar in Eurostar Plus class (free First Class upgrade) to Paris, connecting at the Gare de Lyon for a TGV to Lyon.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Montreux (MONA Montreux or similar)

    Lyon to Montreux

    Train south-east to the Swiss border at Geneva, changing onto a Swiss service along the lake shore to Montreux.

  3. Day 3overnight: Montreux (MONA Montreux or similar)

    Montreux

    Free day overlooking Lake Geneva - the Lavaux vineyards or the Chateau de Chillon are recommended.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Brig (Ambassador Hotel or similar)

    Montreux to Brig

    The scenic Golden Pass Express route through the resorts of Chateau d'Oex and Gstaad to Spiez on Lake Thun, then over the Lötschberg Pass to Brig.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Brig (Ambassador Hotel or similar)

    Brig & day trip to Zermatt

    Day trip to the resort of Zermatt beneath the Matterhorn, with an optional Gornergrat cog railway trip for the views.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Chur (ABC Swiss Quality Hotel or similar)

    Brig to Chur (Glacier Express route)

    Follow the Glacier Express route on Swiss regional services via Andermatt and Disentis, over the Oberalp Pass.

  7. Day 7overnight: Chur (ABC Swiss Quality Hotel or similar)

    Chur

    Switzerland's oldest town - a cable car up the Brambuesch mountain, an open-air swimming pool, or hiking in the surrounding mountains.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Lugano (Hotel Admiral or similar)

    Chur to Lugano via Bernina Express route

    The Albula Railway (Landwasser Viaduct) and the Bernina Pass down into the Poschiavo Valley to Tirano, briefly into Italy via Monza and Lake Como, then back into Switzerland to Lugano.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Lugano (Hotel Admiral or similar)

    Lugano

    Explore Ticino - a Ticino Ticket gives free train and bus transport throughout the region.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Strasbourg (Hotel des Vosges or similar)

    Lugano to Strasbourg

    The Gotthard Pass north, a glimpse of Lake Lucerne, changing at Basel onto the French network for a local train to Strasbourg.

  11. Day 11rail

    Strasbourg to London

    Europe's fastest railway to Paris, then the Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel back to London, with onward UK connections the same evening.

Included

  • Free upgrade to First Class rail travel with seat reservations
  • 10 nights' handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Comprehensive directions to your hotels
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation
  • Despatch of tickets by email, post or collection from our London office

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