7 Most Scenic Train Rides in Switzerland
Here are the 7 most scenic train rides in Switzerland for the ultimate Swiss adventure.
Switzerland is one of Europe’s most beautiful countries complete with world-renowned mountain ranges, emerald lakes, historic cities, and charming villages.
When traveling to Switzerland you will want to see and experience as much as possible of this beautiful country and there is no better way to do so than with a train ride! Switzerland offers a handful of different train rides that bring you around the country that are beyond beautiful.
It is time to see and experience some of the most beautiful landscapes and views from the comfort of a world-class train on one of these 7 most scenic train rides in Switzerland.
You might also be interested in:
- 4 Days in Switzerland
- Switzerland in Summer
- Switzerland in Winter
- Most Beautiful Villages in Switzerland
- Most Beautiful Places in Switzerland
- 25 Best Things to do in Switzerland
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In This Post
7 Most Beautiful Scenic Train Rides in Switzerland
The Glacier Express
- Distance: 291 kilometers
- Time: 8 hours
- Train Schedule: One daily
- Start Point: Andermatt, Brig, Zermatt, Chur, St. Moritz
- End Point: St. Moritz or Zermatt
- Price: CHF 74 – CHF 268 (depending on class on start point or end point)
The Glacier Express is one of the most beautiful train rides in Switzerland that connects two of the country’s most famous resort towns: Zermatt and St. Moritz.
This train ride brings you to the Swiss Alps and some of the country’s most stunning villages and towns. The world-famous ride takes 8 hours if you ride from end to end and travels almost 300km through the magnificent Swiss Alps.
Embark on this journey in Switzerland in winter to see the country covered in magical snow.
Jungfrau Railway
- Distance: 9 kilometers
- Time: 3+ hours
- Train Schedule: Hourly
- Start Point: Interlaken Ost or Grindelwald
- End Point: Jungfraujoch
- Price: CHF 235 (Interlaken) or CHF 222 (Grindelwald)
The Jungfrau Railway is an amazing train ride that ascends 1400 meters up the steep Bernese Swiss Alps to Europe’s highest railway stop 3454 m above sea level. The ride takes only a few hours and runs hourly. It brings you to another world atop the Swiss alps where you can admire the beautiful views of snow and ice.
You can start from Interlaken Ost or Grindelwald and travel up the mountains on a traditional train.
The Bernina Express
- Distance: 144 km
- Time: 4 hours
- Train Schedule: A few trains depart daily depending on the season
- Start Point: Chur/St. Moritz
- End Point: Tirano (Italy)
- Price: Around CHF 89.00 one way
The Bernina Express is one of the most unique scenic train rides in Switzerland that brings you from the very famous resort towns of Chur or St. Moritz to Tirano in Italy! The journey through the spectacular alps and descending into Italy is easily one of the best ways to travel between the two countries with scenic views like no other.
The Cogwheel Railway on Pilatus
- Distance: 4,618 m
- Time: 30-minute ascent, 40-minute descent
- Train Schedule: A few trains depart daily depending on the season
- Start Point: Alpnachstad
- End Point: Esel
- Price: CHF 103.60
The Cogwheel Railway on Pilatus is the steepest railway in the world that into the world-famous Mount Pilatus with a max gradient of 48%! The railway brings you from Alpnachstad to the Esel summit of Pilatus and offers stunning views over Lucerne and the surrounding landscapes.
Rhine Gorge Experience Train
- Distance: 13 km
- Time: 90 minutes roundtrip
- Train Schedule: Every Saturday & Sunday (only run seasonally)
- Start Point: Reichenau station
- End Point: Reichenau station
- Price: CHF 26.00 – CHF 40.00
The Rhine Gorge Experience is a beautiful train ride that brings you through the Rhine Gorge in the most magical way possible. This is one of the most scenic train rides in Switzerland that lets you admire the stunning landscapes in a windowless panoramic coach. You can get off the train at one of the many stops along the way and explore the river and surroundings.
The Transalpin
- Distance: 223 kilometres
- Time: Just under 5 hours
- Train Schedule: Once a day
- Start Point: Zürich
- End Point: Graz
- Price: 1st Class starting from € 49.90
This scenic train ride brings you from Switzerland to Austria via Liechtenstein. It’s the perfect ride to take to explore more of Europe’s special beauty and move between more countries than just Switzerland.
There are many stops along the way so you can get off at any point. Enjoy the stunning views of the Alps on one of the most scenic train rides in Switzerland.
The Golden Pass
- Distance: 191 km
- Time: 5.5 hours
- Train Schedule: Few departures a day
- Start Point: Lucerne
- End Point: Montreux
- Price: From CHF 42.10
The Golden Pass is a beautiful train line that is focused on serving tourists. This scenic train ride involves 3 different trains complete with stunning mountain views, bright blue lakes, and many excursions.
Along the way, you will see Montreux, the lakes in the Bernese Oberland, Lake Geneva, and more! It’s the perfect trip for tourists who want to see as much of Switzerland as possible in a short amount of time.
Travel Insurance
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Use this list of the best train rides in Switzerland for your next visit.
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Love,
SSW
