What is the best way to see Switzerland by train?

Golden Pass If you only have time for one train journey, the Golden Pass line is the best way to see lots of Switzerland in one go. The journey takes you from Lucerne in Central Switzerland to Montreux, near the French border. The Golden Pass is made up of three different legs.



The best way to see Switzerland by train is by purchasing a Swiss Travel Pass and following the "Grand Train Tour of Switzerland" route. This all-in-one pass is essential because it covers all public transport, including trains, buses, boats, and even some mountain excursions, while providing free entry to over 500 museums. A classic 10-day itinerary often starts in Lucerne, moves to the Jungfrau Region (Interlaken/Grindelwald) for alpine vistas, and then heads to Zermatt to see the Matterhorn. From there, you can take the world-famous Glacier Express—the "slowest express train in the world"—to St. Moritz, featuring panoramic windows that showcase the Alps in high definition. Another highlight is the Bernina Express, which crosses the spectacular Landwasser Viaduct. Using the SBB mobile app is highly recommended for real-time connections. Because the trains are famously punctual and interconnected, you can seamlessly transition from a lakeside city to a high-altitude glacier without ever needing a car, making it the world's most efficient and scenic rail experience.

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By taking a clockwise or anticlockwise circuit and simply following the Grand Tour road signs, I got to see the best sights of Switzerland on a thrilling circular road trip. It's not meant to be the fastest route, just one of the most dramatic and memorable journeys you're ever likely to experience.

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There's no other country that does stunning scenery quite like Switzerland, and it's all accessible by train. Rolling hills dotted with wooden chalets, snowy peaks, dramatic waterfalls and mountain-fringed lakes and choose from a variety of itineraries and activities, from scenic gondola rides to hiking adventures.

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You can enjoy the Bernina Express as a day trip - this is the highest railway across the Alps, yet the train negotiates 55 tunnels, 196 bridges and steep inclines with ease. The carriages have panoramic windows so that you can enjoy unrestricted views of the stunning landscape through which you are travelling.

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Rail passes are almost always a smart buy for Switzerland, with its fairly high pay-as-you-go ticket costs and excellent transportation system. The Swiss Travel Pass is a particularly good deal, as it covers nearly all transport in Switzerland — not only trains, but buses, boats, and many high-mountain lifts.

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1. The Lake Lucerne region has without doubt the most splendid landscape of Switzerland. Only about 45 minutes drive from Zurich you find yourself inside a diverse mountain and lakeside scenery with iconic peaks, dent forests, shimmering waters and stunning alpine panoramas.

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Mountain excursions are not included with the Swiss Travel Pass (with the exception of Mt Rigi, Stanserhorn, and Stoos as mentioned above), but you do get a discount on most of them. Under 'mountain excursions' they mean cable cars, gondolas, funiculars, cogwheel trains, trains to the mountain peaks, etc.

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