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Planet Rail · Tailor-made rail holiday

Zell am See by First Class Rail

Eight-day Alpine rail journey from London to Zell am See via Munich and Zurich

Illustration of Zell am See by First Class Rail

Planet Rail's eight-day tailor-made holiday takes you by First Class rail from London across continental Europe to Zell am See, Austria, a lakeside town set beneath the Hohe Tauern National Park. You travel independently, with the operator arranging your rail tickets, four-star hotels, and daily breakfasts. Your journey begins on Eurostar from London St Pancras International, continues through Brussels and Munich, and includes five nights based in Zell am See, where you can explore the historic town centre with its cobblestone streets and St Hippolyte's church, or hike for views of the surrounding Alpine region and Grossglockner mountain. The trip ends with single nights in Zurich and a return to London by TGV and Eurostar. This package suits independent rail travellers and couples seeking a slower pace, with plenty of unscheduled time to discover each location on your own.

What to know before you look closer

  • This is a tailor-made itinerary, not a group tour with fixed departures; confirm availability and final routing with Planet Rail before booking.
  • Days 3 to 6 do not specify guided activities; your time in Zell am See is self-directed.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Munich

    London to Munich

    Your holiday starts at the beautifully restored London St. Pancras International station, where you board the Eurostar service to Brussels, with a light meal and drinks served on board in Standard Premier Class (Eurostar's First Class for leisure travellers). On arrival in Brussels you change train and continue eastwards into Germany, ultimately reaching Munich, the Bavarian capital. On arrival head for your overnight hotel, the comfortable Eurostars Book Hotel (4 star), ideally located close to the station.

  2. Day 2overnight: Zell am See

    Munich to Zell am See

    If you are up early this morning, take a whistle-stop tour of Munich; this affluent Bavarian city is famous for its beer festival and vehicle manufacturing, and many of the major landmarks, museums and art galleries are close to your hotel. In the early afternoon you return to the station and travel southwards across the Austrian border to Woergl, where you connect with the regional service through scenic Austria to the charming lakeside town of Zell am See. On arrival make your own way to your hotel for the next five nights, the highly-rated Tirolerhof Hotel (4 star).

  3. Day 3overnight: Zell am See

    Exploring Zell am See and the surrounding area

    Located beneath the Hohe Tauern National Park, on the shores of Lake Zell, this picture-postcard town offers a peaceful retreat amid stunning scenery. Start by exploring the historic town centre, with its cobble lined streets filled with friendly cafes, bars and shops and St. Hippolyte's church, one of the oldest buildings from the Pinzgau region. For spectacular views of the surrounding region take a hike to the Schmittenhoehe and Maiskogel peaks, easily accessible by foot or cable car, or simply spend a day strolling along the shores of Lake Zell, watching the world go by.

  4. Day 4overnight: Zell am See

    Exploring Zell am See and the surrounding area

    Located beneath the Hohe Tauern National Park, on the shores of Lake Zell, this picture-postcard town offers a peaceful retreat amid stunning scenery. Start by exploring the historic town centre, with its cobble lined streets filled with friendly cafes, bars and shops and St. Hippolyte's church, one of the oldest buildings from the Pinzgau region. For spectacular views of the surrounding region take a hike to the Schmittenhoehe and Maiskogel peaks, easily accessible by foot or cable car, or simply spend a day strolling along the shores of Lake Zell, watching the world go by.

  5. Day 5overnight: Zell am See

    Exploring Zell am See and the surrounding area

    Located beneath the Hohe Tauern National Park, on the shores of Lake Zell, this picture-postcard town offers a peaceful retreat amid stunning scenery. Start by exploring the historic town centre, with its cobble lined streets filled with friendly cafes, bars and shops and St. Hippolyte's church, one of the oldest buildings from the Pinzgau region. For spectacular views of the surrounding region take a hike to the Schmittenhoehe and Maiskogel peaks, easily accessible by foot or cable car, or simply spend a day strolling along the shores of Lake Zell, watching the world go by.

  6. Day 6overnight: Zell am See

    Exploring Zell am See and the surrounding area

    Located beneath the Hohe Tauern National Park, on the shores of Lake Zell, this picture-postcard town offers a peaceful retreat amid stunning scenery. Start by exploring the historic town centre, with its cobble lined streets filled with friendly cafes, bars and shops and St. Hippolyte's church, one of the oldest buildings from the Pinzgau region. For spectacular views of the surrounding region take a hike to the Schmittenhoehe and Maiskogel peaks, easily accessible by foot or cable car, or simply spend a day strolling along the shores of Lake Zell, watching the world go by.

  7. Day 7overnight: Zurich

    Zell am See to Zurich

    Following a relaxed start to the day, make your way back to the station in the early afternoon. Here you bid farewell to Zell am See as you join the comfortable EuroCity service to the cosmopolitan Swiss city of Zurich. It is a short walk to your hotel for the night, the comfortable and highly-rated Hotel Helmhaus (4 star).

  8. Day 8rail

    Zurich to London – homeward bound

    After breakfast why not make a whistle-stop tour of Zurich? Most of the city's sights lie within the compact area on either side of the River Limmat: the churches and burgher houses of the Old Town, the elegant shops along Bahnhofstrasse, the baroque Rathaus, the Grossmuenster, Fraumuenster and the city's oldest church, St Peterskirche, whose clock face is the largest in Europe. Then make your way back to the station and board the TGV to Paris. On arrival at Paris Gare de Lyon you are transferred by private taxi to the Gare du Nord, where you connect with the Eurostar service back to London, with a light meal and drinks included in your Standard Premier service, arriving at London St Pancras International ahead of the final leg of your journey home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Board Eurostar from London St Pancras International in Standard Premier Class, with light meal and drinks served on board to Brussels.
  • Day 2Travel southward by regional service across the Austrian border to Woergl, then continue to Zell am See, a lakeside town on the shores of Lake Zell beneath Hohe Tauern National Park.
  • Day 7Depart Zell am See by EuroCity train in early afternoon for Zurich, a Swiss city centred on its own lake.

Included

  • First Class rail travel throughout as described (Standard Premier Class on Eurostar)
  • 7 nights' hotel accommodation in 4 star hotels with breakfast each day, including 1 night in Munich, 5 nights in Zell am See and 1 night in Zurich
  • Taxi transfers in Paris

Questions travellers ask

Is all rail travel included?
Yes. First Class rail is included throughout, except on Eurostar where you travel in Standard Premier Class (Eurostar's First Class equivalent for leisure travellers).
Is this a guided or independent trip?
It is independent and self-guided. Planet Rail provides the tailor-made itinerary, rail travel, and hotel accommodation, but no tour guide.
Which trains are used?
Eurostar (London to Brussels and Paris to London), First Class trains Brussels to Munich and Munich to Zell am See via Woergl, EuroCity (Zell am See to Zurich), and TGV (Zurich to Paris).
What hotels are included?
Eurostars Book Hotel (4 star) in Munich for 1 night, Tirolerhof Hotel (4 star) in Zell am See for 5 nights, and Hotel Helmhaus (4 star) in Zurich for 1 night, all with breakfast included.
What is not included?
Meals beyond breakfast, personal expenses, and activities in Zell am See and the cities are not included. Taxi transfers in Paris are included; other local transfers are not.
How long does it take to travel each day?
The itinerary does not specify journey durations; contact Planet Rail for exact train times and transfer windows between connections.

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