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The Grand Train Tour
of Switzerland

The Grand Train Tour of Switzerland is the ultimate train journey through Switzerland. It rolls all the famous premium panoramic lines into one spectacular round trip and takes visitors to the most popular sights and landmarks in complete comfort. 

On a total of 1,280 km and 8 sections, visitors explore all the top experiences of Switzerland: charming cities like Lucerne, impressive natural spectacles like the Rhine Falls, and majestic mountains like the Matterhorn and the Jungfraujoch. Travellers can enjoy this one-of-a-kind train journey year-round, and its duration and route can be arranged according to personal preferences.

The Grand Train Tour of Switzerland App.

Grand Train Tour App

The Grand Train Tour of Switzerland has its own app that helps guests to plan the perfect route and explore all highlights along the most beautiful train lines of Switzerland.

In addition to push notifications about upcoming sights and landmarks, guests can collect digital stamps and awards. Also, digital coupons offer presents and discounts.

The app is available in German, English, French, Korean, Japanese and Thai.

Discover now

● Sections: Round trip with 8 sections
● Combined tour length: 1,280 km
● Duration: Number of days can be selected individually

Das Grand Train Tour Booklet in Aktion.

It’s an attractive souvenir that will keep the journey alive for a long time – myGrandTrainTour Booklet. Travellers can collect nine unique stamps along the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland. It also contains a wealth of fascinating travel information.

The booklet is available free of charge at the central stations in Basel, Geneva (including Geneva Airport) and Zurich (including Zurich Airport) as well as at many tourist offices along the route. 

More information

1,280 kilometres

to travel

10 destinations

to visit

5 premium panoramic trains

to enjoy

11 lakes

to pass

  • Luzern–Interlaken Express
  • Voralpen Express
  • Glacier Express
  • GoldenPass Panoramic
  • Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn
  • Bernina Express
  • Thurbo in Schaffhausen
Map: Overview Grand Train Tour of Switzerland

Discover the Sections of the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland.

From lake to lake, from city to city.

On the ride from the urban centre of Switzerland to Lucerne, a gentler mountain- and hillscape dominates the scenery, with sparkling lakes in between. The train follows the shorelines of Lakes Zug and Rotsee towards Central Switzerland. At Lucerne, guest change to the Luzern–Interlaken-Express. The ride on this Premium panoramic train connects two world-famous destinations. Time flies faster than one would wish – due to mountain scenery, turquoise lakes and numerous waterfalls.

Highlights:

A panoramic ride between two worlds.

The journey starts in Interlaken onboard the GoldenPass Express, whose travel class “Prestige” sets new standards. The global novelty first takes guests along Lake Thun and then through the Simmen Valley to Zweisimmen. Guests can remain in their comfortable seats as the train prepares for the second stretch of the journey that runs on narrower tracks. The transformation only takes a few seconds but is nothing short of a magic trick. The Premium panoramic train continues from Zweisimmen in the Bernese Oberland towards Montreux, the fashionable city at the shores of Lake Geneva. It runs past magnificent castles as well as peacefully grazing cattle and finally passes the German-French language border. On the last leg, it winds down through the hills – and with the arrival at Montreux visitors become engrossed in the Mediterranean flair of the region.

Highlights:

Up the valley to the “mountain of mountains”.

Through the fertile Rhone Valley, it is only a stone’s throw from fashionable Montreux to Visp. From here, the journey continues on the narrow-gauge railway network of the Matterhorn Gotthard Railway through the Nikolai Valley, the deepest-incised valley of Switzerland, to Zermatt. Before the “mountain of mountains” – the Matterhorn – comes into view, the train has to overcome more than 900 metres in altitude, partly with the help of cogwheel technology.

Highlights:

  • Montreux: Vineyards of Lavaux, Chillon Castle, Chaplin’s World, mountain excursion to Rochers-de-Naye
  • Train line: Ride with Matterhorn Gotthard Railways through the Nikolai valley
  • Zermatt: world famous car-free village with a view to Matterhorn, mountain excursions to Gornergrat and Matterhorn glacier paradise

The slowest express train in the world.

The luxurious paragon of panoramic trains travels across the Alps and connects fashionable Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn with the equally sophisticated St. Moritz. On its eight-hour ride through the mountainous Cantons of Valais, Uri and Grisons, it dives through 91 tunnels and balances over 291 bridges. From the comfort of the coach, ceiling-high panoramic windows offer unobstructed views of an imposing mountainscape, tradition-rich health resorts, deep ravines and picturesque valleys – scenic splendour at its finest.

Highlights:

  • Zermatt: world famous car-free village with a view to Matterhorn, mountain excursions to Gornergrat and Matterhorn glacier paradise
  • Train line: Glacier Express
  • St. Moritz: chic destination on 1.822 m a.s.l., surrounded by mountains and lakes, mountain excursions to Diavolezza and Muottas Muragl

From glaciers to palm trees.

The Bernina Express inspires a sense of delight and bridges language regions as well as cultures. One highlight follows hot on the heels of the next: the sparkling Morteratsch glacier and, at 2,253 metres altitude, the Lago Bianco. Embedded in the Alpine landscape, the vibrant turquoise of the lake stands out beautifully. From the UNESCO World Heritage route of Rhaetian Railways, the train winds its way over the Bernina Pass and down through the scenic Val Poschiavo towards Tirano in Italy.

The journey continues on the Bernina Express Bus through the Valtellina Valley via Lake Como to Lugano. In winter, the journey leads alternatively from St. Moritz on the Palm Express over the spectacular, serpentine road of the Maloja Pass down the Val Bregaglia and finally – also along Lake Como – to Lugano.

Highlights:

  • St. Moritz: chic destination on 1.822 m a.s.l., surrounded by mountains and lakes, mountain excursions to Diavolezza and Muottas Muragl
  • Train and bus line: Bernina Express
  • Lugano: mediterranean town at the lake, mountain excursions to Monte San Salvatore and Monte Brè

The panoramic journey by train and boat.

The Gotthard Panorama Express presents Switzerland from its most diverse side: The 1st class panoramic train takes guests from the Mediterranean-style Ticino along the world-famous Gotthard panorama route and through the mighty Reuss Valley of the Canton of Uri to Flüelen. During the train ride, passengers hear fascinating tales and background information about the unique Gotthard region. Flüelen is the point where travellers change from the panoramic train, with personal travel guidance, to a steam boat or a motor vessel. In a leisurely fashion, the boat then glides over Lake Lucerne through the traditional Swiss heartland surrounded by imposing mountains to Lucerne.

Highlights:

Over gentle hills with a view of the Alps.

Matterhorn, Titlis or Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau – these high peaks are certainly the stars of the Swiss Alps. However, the green hillscape and gentler mountain scenery that spread out before the high-Alpine mountain chain are full of charms as well. Here’s where the Voralpen-Express runs between Lucerne and St. Gallen. It starts at Lake Lucerne against the backdrop of the prominent Alpine panorama of Central Switzerland, among which are Pilatus, Bürgenstock and Rigi, to name a few. The Voralpen-Express rides along the Rothenthurmer upland moor and crosses Lake Zurich. Shortly before arriving at St. Gallen, another highlight awaits: the Sitter Viaduct, with 99 metres Switzerland’s highest railway bridge.

Highlights:

The “maritime” side of Switzerland.

Despite being landlocked, Switzerland is by all means able to radiate true maritime flair. Lake Constance is a case in point: Between the Rhine and the “Swabian Sea”, the leading role during the ride from St. Gallen to Zurich is nicely divided up. From the history-steeped city of St. Gallen, the train winds through a pastoral hillscape towards the lake and then rolls along its shoreline for 40 kilometres. Afterwards, it follows the Rhine downstream to Schaffhausen, where the Munot Fortress towers as the town’s landmark. Schaffhausen is also famous for harbouring Europe’s largest waterfalls: the Rhine Falls. After crossing the imposing railway bridge of Eglisau, the train soon arrives at Zurich, financial metropolis of Switzerland.

Highlights:

  • St. Gallen: Abbey District and Abbey Library (UNESCO World Heritage)
  • Train line: ride along Lake Constance and the Rhine Falls
  • Schaffhausen: medieval town at the Rhine Falls
  • Zürich: Switzerland’s metropolis

​Taking the direct connection from Chur back to Zurich rewards travellers with magnificent views of the Bündner Herrschaft (dominion of the Grisons), the Churfirsten, and Lake Walensee as well as Lake Zurich.

Railjet at Lake Walensee

​​An alternative leg that is worth taking: the RegioExpress Lötschberger and the Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway take travellers to fabulous views. While the Kander Viaduct and the view of the Rhone Valley amaze passengers on the Lötschberg mountain route, the Centovalli (“100 valleys”) offers stunning vistas of deep ravines and rugged mountain ranges.

​The Palm Express is an alternative connection from the Engadin to the Ticino. In contrast to the Bernina Express Bus, this connection operates year-round. On the stretch from St. Moritz to Lugano, the famous yellow PostBus tackles the Maloja Pass and then winds its way down through the Bregaglia Valley to Italy. It’s a journey that includes glaciers as well as palm trees.

Palm Express - PostAuto

Travel Suggestions for the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland.

Several travel suggestions offer routing ideas for the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland. Some tours take no longer than three days to explore. Packages at special B2B conditions are available for all journeys. However, travellers may also experience the suggested routes individually with the Swiss Travel Pass.

General information for all travel suggestion routes
● Start and endpoint, places of overnight stays, and travel direction are freely selectable
● Mountain excursions and other excursions can be combined with the routing according to the client’s wishes
● Routes can be travelled individually with the Swiss Travel Pass (Flex)
● Tailor-made tickets for all six routes are available for AgenturClient system partners
● Journeys are available as bookable packages for event organisers/agents via Railtour Suisse and Switzerland Travel Center (STC)

Grand Train Tour of Switzerland – Original

Map: Original Tour (Grand Train Tour of Switzerland)

Whether fascinating panoramic lines or relaxed boat cruises: Switzerland by train, bus and boat is always a wonderful experience. Just so with the Grand Train Tour. On the “Original” tour, you are travelling on the panoramic trains to all the highlights and sights Switzerland has to offer. Get in, lean back and enjoy – whenever and wherever you wish.

Sections:
● Zürich/Genève*/Basel – Luzern – Interlaken (Luzern–Interlaken Express), from 2 h 51 min
● Interlaken – Zweisimmen – Montreux (GoldenPass Express), 3 h 12 min
● Montreux – Visp – Zermatt, 2 h 31 min
● Zermatt – St. Moritz (Glacier Express), 7 h 46 min
● St. Moritz – Tirano – Lugano (Bernina Express), 6 h 46 min
● Lugano – Flüelen – Luzern (Gotthard Panorama Express), 5 h 30 min
● Luzern – St. Gallen (Voralpen-Express), 2 h 17 min
● St. Gallen – (Stein am Rhein** –) Schaffhausen  – Zürich/Genève*/Basel, from 2 h 34 min

*the suggested starting and ending point for travellers from Geneva is Montreux.
**option to take the boat between Stein am Rhein and Schaffhausen

Duration: from 8 days / 7 nights

Ticket suggestion:
● Swiss Travel Pass (Flex) 8 days / Tailor-made ticket available (please contact your Market Manager)

Packages: Switzerland Travel Centre / Railtour
Contact for agents: Switzerland Travel Centre / Railtour

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Documents and Downloads

All Media & Trade information as well as pictures, videos and maps regarding the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland are available here.

Swiss Travel System Excellence E‑Learning.

Welcome aboard! The Swiss Travel System Excellence E-Learning is the e-learning platform for future Swiss public transport experts. Heidi and Peter take trade specialists on a virtual learning journey through Swiss public transport. In the process, agents can broaden their knowledge in an entertaining way and acquire essential public transport know-how to support their clients professionally and competently.

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