Trainlink
Lucerne, photographed for Wikimedia Commons
Switzerland

Explore Switzerland by Train

5 curated experiences · 6 destinations · 3 rail corridors

Browse experiences
Experiences
5
Destinations
6
Corridors
3

Switzerland runs one of the densest and most punctual rail networks in the world. Trains, boats and mountain railways are timed to meet each other, so even small Alpine villages are easy to reach without a car.

Where to go

Rail corridors

  • Through the Gotthard

    Zurich → Lucerne → Lugano

    From Zurich the line runs along lakes to the base tunnel, then emerges in the Italian-speaking south above Lake Lugano.

  • Into the Bernese Oberland

    Bern → Interlaken

    From Bern the line follows Lake Thun to Interlaken, where mountain railways climb toward the high peaks.

  • Along Lake Geneva

    Bern → Geneva

    West of Lausanne the railway runs above terraced vineyards and the lake shore on its way to Geneva.

Experiences in Switzerland

5 experiences

Lugano

Across the Gotthard

Four very different Swiss towns along one mountain line.

Cross the spine of the Alps on one of Switzerland's great mountain railways, from lakeside Zürich to Lugano's Italian-speaking south.

Pontresina

Into the Engadin

A quieter, higher corner of the Swiss Alps.

Follow the mountain railway east from Zürich into the high valleys of Graubünden, ending among the peaks around Pontresina.

poschiavo

The Bernina Express

Switzerland's highest railway crossing, on the way down to Italy.

Climb out of Graubünden's high valleys and over the Bernina Pass on one of the great unguarded rail crossings of the Alps, dropping through vineyards and palm trees into northern Italy by the end of the day.

Martigny, photographed for Wikimedia Commons

Around Mont Blanc

From Lake Geneva to the roof of Western Europe.

Travel from Geneva along the lake and up the Rhône valley, then climb a narrow-gauge mountain line over the border to Chamonix, below Mont Blanc, before ending by the clear waters of Lake Annecy.

zermatt

The Glacier Express

Across the Swiss Alps on the glacier line.

Cross the Swiss Alps from the foot of the Matterhorn to the Engadin on a chain of narrow-gauge mountain lines, over the Oberalp Pass and the Landwasser Viaduct, with a night in Andermatt to break the journey.

Photo credits