Five Train Journeys Through the Heart of the Alps
A day-by-day rail itinerary in Switzerland, the best times to travel, and everything you need to plan your rail adventure
There are few countries in the world where the train itself becomes the main attraction. Switzerland is one of them. Across a nation roughly the size of the Netherlands, more than 5,000 kilometres of railway track thread through valleys, climb mountain passes, cross stone viaducts built over a century ago, and deliver passengers to stations that sit above the clouds. The Swiss rail network is not simply a way to get between cities. It is, by design and by tradition, one of the finest travel experiences on the continent.
What makes Switzerland’s trains different is precision matched with spectacle. The country’s railways run on time — famously so — but they also run through landscapes that shift dramatically within a single hour. You might board a train beside a lakeside promenade lined with palm trees and step off into a snowfield surrounded by glaciers. The engineering required to make this possible is staggering. Spiral tunnels, rack-and-pinion sections, bridges spanning gorges hundreds of metres deep — these were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and many remain in daily service.
For the slow traveller, Switzerland by rail offers something rare: a journey where you never need to rush, where the scenery does the work, and where a single pass — the Swiss Travel Pass — unlocks nearly the entire network. You do not need a car. You do not need to book months ahead for most routes. You simply need a window seat and a willingness to let the journey take its time.
In This Email:
Five Train Journeys Through the Heart of the Alps - Below we cover five of Switzerland’s finest scenic rail journeys, each one offering a different side of the Alps. We include a practical seven-day itinerary, the best months to travel, and tips for making the most of your Swiss rail adventure.
The Glacier Express (Zermatt to St. Moritz)
The Bernina Express (St. Moritz to Tirano)
The GoldenPass Express (Montreux to Interlaken)
The Gotthard Panorama Express (Lucerne to Lugano)
The Jungfrau Railway (Interlaken to Jungfraujoch)
Suggested 7-day itinerary of Switzerland’s scenic rail network
When to visit Switzerland by rail
How to get there and How long to spend
Five Train Journeys Through the Heart of the Alps:-
