5 Best Train Journeys in Switzerland

Swiss trains are more than transport. They glide, snake, and climb through a country carved, blasted, and engineered into a railway wonderland. Forget the standard commute. Instead, imagine you’re floating along rails that twist through glacier-scored valleys and past chocolate-box villages.

With over 4,800 kilometres (3,000 miles) of scenic railways to explore, Swiss train travel is iconic for good reason. Logistically seamless, slow-paced by design, and packed with cinematic views.

Ready to ride? Read on for a round-up of the 5 best train tours in Switzerland, plus 3 bonus routes that are well worth the climb.

• Soak up epic vistas on a rail tour of Switzerland planned by regional experts

Glacier Express crossing the Landwasser Viaduct

1. Glacier Express

Route: Zermatt to St. Moritz
Distance: 291 kilometres (180 miles)
Duration: 8 hours
Best for: Unhurried travel, panoramic views and scenic vistas

Don’t be fooled by the name. The Glacier Express isn’t in a hurry, and that’s the point. Dubbed the slowest express train in the world, it’s one of the best train trips in Switzerland.

You’ll spend 8 hours crossing the Swiss Alps from Zermatt to St. Moritz. 291 kilometres (180 miles) of forest, river, and rock, wondering why you didn’t do this sooner.

This route is often called the most scenic train ride in Switzerland. You’ll pass through 91 tunnels and cross 291 bridges, some so delicately perched they look stitched into the mountains by hand. On clear days, you can see the Matterhorn looming behind you as you leave Zermatt.

The train itself is built for comfort. Expect spacious seats, bright carriages and a menu of local dishes and wine served at your seat. Running year-round, you’ll see snowy peaks or valleys in bloom depending on when you travel.

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The Bernina Express winding through the Swiss Alps

2. Bernina Express

Route: St. Moritz or Chur to Tirano
Distance: 144 kilometres (90 miles)
Duration: 4 hours to 4 hours, 30 minutes
Best for: Bold engineering, border-hopping and UNESCO bragging rights

This is the only train in Europe where you’ll start beside glaciers and end under palm trees. The Bernina Express takes you from Chur or St. Moritz to the Italian town of Tirano.

It cuts straight across the Bernina Pass and the Rhaetian Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Along the way, you’ll pass through 55 tunnels and cross 196 bridges, including the dramatic Landwasser Viaduct.

This route is a lesson in 20th-century engineering. The train grips the rails with its rack-and-pinion system as it climbs gradients of up to 7%. It navigates hairpin bends, tight spirals and altitude shifts that would leave most trains wheezing.

You’ll see the shimmering surface of Lago Bianco, the Morteratsch glacier, and alpine hamlets from this panoramic train. Onboard commentary highlights the landmarks in English, German, and Italian. And if you’re lucky with the weather, you can lower the windows in standard-class carriages to snap glare-free photos.

There’s no dining car, but a minibar rolls through the aisles. Your lunch break comes in Tirano, where espresso and pasta wait just across the Swiss-Italian border.

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The resort town of Montreux, Switzerland

3. GoldenPass Express

Route: Montreux to Interlaken
Distance: 115 kilometres (71 miles)
Duration: 3 hours
Best for: Comfortable travel and lakes to mountain ranges in a single ride

The GoldenPass Express is easily one of the best Swiss train rides. Linking Montreux, on the shores of Lake Geneva, to Interlaken, the adventure capital of the Bernese Oberland. In just over 3 hours, you’ll pass rambling vineyards and chalet-dotted valleys with glimpses of Mont Blanc from Lake Geneva’s shores.

You can travel in either direction, and there are 4 departures daily. Heading east from Montreux, you’ll glide through Gstaad and Château-d’Oex. Interlaken awaits at the other end with mountain scenes of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The city is a hub for hiking, paragliding, and other outdoor activities.

It’s not just the scenery that sets this train apart. It’s in the detail and comfort. The ability to pre-order champagne and caviar straight from Frutigen right to your seat. Go on. Treat yourself.

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Historic steamboat cruising on Lake Lucerne

4. Gotthard Panorama Express

Route: Lucerne to Lugano or Bellinzona
Distance: 221 kilometres (137 miles)
Duration: 5 hours
Best for: History buffs, steamboat bliss and old-world romance

The Gotthard route was once a lifeline, an artery between north and south Switzerland. These days, it’s a time machine. One woven together by tunnels and lake crossings.

Your journey begins with a steamboat ride across Lake Lucerne, gliding past forested hills and mountain silhouettes. In Flüelen, step aboard the Gotthard Panorama Express and head south, crossing the Alps through the historic Gotthard tunnel – an engineering marvel completed in 1882.

Watch the landscape shift as you travel from German-speaking Switzerland to the Mediterranean feel of Ticino. Along the way, you’ll spot the church of Wassen 3 times, each from a different angle, thanks to the railway’s bold spiral loops.

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The Toggenburg Valley near the town of Wattwil, along the Voralpen Express route

5. The Voralpen Express

Route: St. Gallen to Lucerne
Distance: 125 kilometres (77 miles)
Duration: 2 hours 20 minutes
Best for: Understated beauty, rural life and relaxed journeys

Running between St. Gallen and Lucerne, this route takes you through the rolling hills of the country’s east. While many visitors come to Switzerland for the high alpine drama, the Voralpen Express shows you a softer side of Switzerland.

This is the pre-Alps. Think orchards, meadows, timber-framed houses and the occasional cowbell echoing in the distance. Gentler, quieter and oh-so beautiful.

You’ll cross the 99-metre-high (324-foot) Sitter Viaduct, cruise past upland moors near Rothenthurm and glide through villages that feel untouched by time.

A cogwheel train climbing to the Jungfraujoch station

Bonus: 3 short train rides with sky-high scenery

Not every train ride is about distance. These short journeys whisk you up to high altitudes and pack sweeping vistas into less than an hour.

1. Jungfrau Railway

Route: Grindelwald to Jungfraujoch
Duration: 45 minutes each way
Altitude: 3,454 metres (11,332 feet)
Best for: Altitude lovers, ice palace explorers and wide-open views

This is Switzerland at its most spectacular.

The Jungfrau Railway starts at Grindelwald and climbs to 3,454 metres (11,332 feet) to Jungfraujoch, the highest train station in Europe. You’ll glide through tunnels and crawl up steep slopes where the journey spits you out into a high-alpine landscape.

Along the way, there’s a 5-minute stop at Eismeer Station, where blue-tinged ice walls press against the windows. Then you’ll travel to the sphinx observatory. Outside, you’re standing on a glacier. Inside, it’s all snow domes, ice sculptures, souvenir shops and restaurants serving everything from rösti, a crispy, golden potato dish, to wine with a view.

The air feels crisp, and the views are immense. On one side, you’ll look out across the Swiss Plateau into France. On the other, you’ll stare straight down onto the Aletsch Glacier.

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The Harder Kulm viewpoint overlooking Interlaken and its lakes

2. Harder Kulm Funicular

Route: Interlaken Ost to Harder Kulm
Duration: 10 minutes each way
Altitude: 1,322 metres (4,337 feet)
Best for: Quick trips, big rewards and golden hour cocktails

The Harderbahn funicular lifts you from Interlaken to Harder Kulm, 1,322 metres (4,337 feet) above sea level, in under 10 minutes. The track is steep. The incline hits 64%. Lake Thun and Lake Brienz spread out below you, with the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains just behind them.

The base station is a short walk from Interlaken Ost, and the funicular runs every 30 minutes from April to November. At the top, a restaurant and panoramic platform hang out over the valley.

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The Gornergrat train with the Matterhorn in view

3. Gornergrat Mountain Railway

Route: Zermatt to Gornergrat
Duration: 35 minutes each way
Altitude: 3,089 metres (10,135 feet)
Best for: Summer hikes, glacier gazing and Matterhorn moments

This is your front row seat to the Matterhorn. The Gornergrat Railway climbs 3,089 metres (10,135 feet) above sea level, right into a riot of glaciers and alpine peaks. The Matterhorn stands proud, flanked by 28 other mountains over 4,000 metres (13,123 feet) high.

Leaving from Zermatt, the cogwheel train takes just 35 minutes to reach Gornergrat. Once at the top, step out onto the observation platform.

In summer, enjoy gentle hiking trails, including an easy walk to Ruinsee, a nearby alpine lake with even more breathtaking scenery. You could also explore Europe’s highest Alpine Garden and spot the charming Blacknose sheep, native to the Valais region of Switzerland.

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The Sphinx Observation Deck near the summit of Jungfrau

Let us plan your next Swiss adventure

Switzerland’s railways show you the country’s most beautiful corners one panoramic window at a time. Whether you want to glide along turquoise lakes or ride to some of Europe’s highest train stations. These are the Swiss rail journeys that will stay with you long after the track ends.

Skip the EuroRail Pass. With Nordic Visitor, you can enjoy all the breathtaking sights with none of the hassle. Your dedicated travel consultant will organise a customised itinerary that includes handpicked hotels, local transport, including all rail tickets, and personal recommendations.

You can explore on an Alps group guided tour, where journeys like the Glacier Express are included in the itinerary and brought to life by your knowledgeable guide.

Or, go at your own pace on a Switzerland self‑drive tour. This way, you’ll enjoy the freedom to pause wherever the scenery tempts you. Plus, you can add day trips on routes like the Jungfraujoch Railway to your itinerary as optional extras.

Get in touch to start planning your train tour of Switzerland.