Switzerland is the most beautiful country. Rolling green meadows, snow-capped peaks and azure lakes abound. Criss-crossing the gorgeous landscape is an incredible transport network. Efficient and well organised, it is the gold standard and leading the way are the trains. Pretty views, incredible destinations and unusual carriages make these the 10 best scenic trains in Switzerland.

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What is the Swiss Travel Pass?

Travelling around Switzerland by train is easy but it isn’t always cheap. There are a few different passes on offer, including the half-fare card and Interrail/Eurail passes which will help. However, for the best flexibility and coverage, we love the Swiss Travel Pass. As well as trains throughout Switzerland, it includes trams, boats and buses as well as entry to over 500 museums. It can be incredible value if you use it wisely.

What to know more? Check out what we LOVE about the Swiss Travel Pass here.

The 10 Best Scenic Trains in Switzerland (In No Particular Order)

A Quick Note About the Golden Pass

Running between Montreux on the shore of Lake Geneva and Interlaken/Zweisimmen, the Golden Pass Line has three trains on this list. Each train traverses a lakeside hill above Lake Geneva, which glistens gently below. Then meander through green or snow-blanketed hills and picturesque villages with steep valley sides rising up to either side. It is one of the cutest routes in Switzerland and three super trains run on this route (number 1, 2 & 3 on this list).

1 – Golden Pass Panoramic

The first of our Golden Pass options is not the prettiest on the inside. However, it is not the inside we are concerned with. Each carriage has large windows, with extra panoramic windows on the roof to extend the views up to the surrounding peaks, and sky beyond. It is modern and comfortable but with a slightly plasticky feel.

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For an extra special treat (and an extra fee) you can pay to sit at the very front of the front carriage. The driver sits above this area so riders gets a view of the tracks ahead of them and to both sides. This is very immersive, incredibly novel and if you speed up your videos, looks like a very scenic rollercoaster. It even has windscreen wipers, something I have never experienced on a train!

2 – Belle Epoque

Boasting the same beautiful lakeside switchbacks, and sweeping valley views as the Golden Pass Panoramic, the Belle Epoque train has carriages to rival the superb views outside. The interior is designed to recreate the magic of vintage train travel. The wooden accents and turquoise brocade finishings are warm and inviting, with a clean but vintage vibe. It feels so luxurious.

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The best part is that this train does not cost a penny more than the normal train. You need to check the schedule. You can reserve a seat for €9, or thereabouts, but we found that all the reservations were in one carriage and the next carriage along was empty so it may not be worth it unless it is peak season

3 – Golden Pass Express

The third of our Golden Pass trio is the newest of the three. The Golden Pass Express is a modern and ingenious train. Whereas you need to change at Zweisimmen on the previous two Golden Pass trains, on the Golden Pass Express you can travel directly through to Interlaken. This is due to the undercarriage wizardry. When the track gauge changes at Zweisimmen, the wheel bogeys extend along with it. If you are seated in the extremely luxurious Prestige Class, there are screens where you can watch it happen.

For a full review of the Golden Pass Express Prestige Class, CLICK HERE

4 – Bernina Express

Taking passengers across the Swiss/Italian border several times a day, the Bernina Express is the most famous train that runs on this track. It travels up from the foothills to the Swiss mountains above through the Bernina pass. There are striking valleys views and cute towns to peer nosily through.

The most famous section of the track is something we all tried to create with our wooden Brio train kits as kids. The Brusio Spiral Viaduct (also known as the circular viaduct), sends the train around a 360° loop as it climbs or descends depending on which way you are facing. The viaduct is 110 metres long and was built to minimise the slope of the tracks here, whilst avoiding the tedium of switchbacks.

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Although the Bernina Express runs between Switzerland Italy, you can hop off at … if you have a Swiss only rail pass. Disembark here before catching the return journey.

5 – Gornergrat Bahn

Hauling tourists from Zermatt up to the Gornergrat for over 100 years, the Gornergrat Bahn is a highlight of any trip to the small resort town. This is the highest open rack rail (cog rail) train in Europe climbing from from Zermatt station at 1,620m up to its top station at 3,089m. The trip takes 33 minutes and has gradients of up to 20%.

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You can pay for priority boarding on the Gornergrat Railway. This is around CHF 7 and is 100% worth it if you want fantastic photos. Either way, try and snag seats on the right-hand side of the train as you face forward. for stunning Matterhorn views.

6 – Jungfrau Railway (With Some Extras)

There are two ways to reach Jungfraujoch and we think it is worth going both ways for some fantastic trains views (as well as a rather super cable car). First, hop on a Wengernalp Railways train to Lauterbrunnen (this in itself is a very pretty little train ride). If you can, spend an hour marvelling at the gorgeous waterfalls that tumble towards the valley floor.

From here, head for Kleine Scheidegg. Here you can switch to the original Jungfrau Railway train to take people up to the Jungfraujoch station. The train passes through the valley and plenty of waterfalls before it curves around the pretty car-free village on Wengen. Then you will find it cranking slowly uphill and into a tunnel that ends at the Junfraujoch station, Europe’s highest station. For this leg, you are going to want to be on the right side of the train as it is facing forwards.

On your way back, the train (jungfrau Railway) is in a tunnel 99% of the time but it stops at Eismeer Station, down at 3,159 m. It has windows with a fabulous view of the Ischmeer (Ice Sea).. or so we hear. The day we visited, the clouds were inpenetrable.

The train temrinates at Eigergletsher Station which has a fun outdoor terrace and from here, you can catch the swanky new Eiger Express cable car down to the popular town of Grindlewald. From there, you can hop back on the cure blue and yellow train down to Interlaken.

7 – Glacier Expresshttps://www.swissrailways.com/en/buy-swiss-travel-pass?affiliateId=285&utm_source=adwords&utm_campaign=TravelPaesse_Shop_EN_UK&utm_medium=ppc&utm_term=swiss%20travel%20pass&hsa_kw=swiss%20travel%20pass&hsa_mt=b&hsa_tgt=kwd-317837258862&hsa_src=g&hsa_ad=634043126381&hsa_ver=3&hsa_cam=1423968925&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_acc=5203234384&hsa_grp=143093859333&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw1NK4BhAwEiwAVUHPUNSuOLCBlxyggL-ILSMCMPZxqlAMeV8NeJf_fVmatDHw6Wd7nMzFXxoCyvUQAvD_BwE

I was thinking of doing a “saving the best for last” moment with the Glacier Express but there are a couple of things people dislike about this iconic train journey…but more on that later.

Commonly known as “The slowest express train in the world”, the Glacier Express takes eight hours to wind its stately way between St Moritz and Zermatt. The slow pace is intentional, allowing people to soak in the sumptuous views. For slightly more than half of the year, snow surrounds the higher sections of tracks but even in summer, it caps the mountains around. As you travel the 180 miles between Sematt and St Moritz, the tracks travel over 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels. Countless gorgeous valleys appear below you and then rise up above. The Schöllenen Gorge will take your breath away, the Landwasser Viaduct is utterly capitivating and the Oberalp Pass, right up at 2,033 m, is the crowning glory of the route.

The most obvious drawback for some people is the price. Although your ticket is covered by your Swiss Travel Pass, you do still need a seat reservation. As many people’s dream trip is sitting in Excellence Class, the £500ish reservation fee can put some people off. The good news is, the views are the same from every carriage so you can definitely just spend enough to sit in second-class and have a lovely time.

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If the expensive Excellence Class is a little out of your budget, (as it is ours), don’t fret! You can bring a picnic on board and enjoy your own food and drink throughout the trip. This means if you really want to sit and sip a bottle of bubbly, you can! Just remember to bring your own glasses. 

8 – Vorelpen Express

The Vorelpen Express travels between Lucerne in central Switzerland to St Gallen in the east every hour. This is the slowest way to connect between these two cities. Going via Zurich and switching trains is actually about 20 minutes quicker, but we are here for a relaxing time. It meanders through the low-lying foothills of the “pre-Alps” and skirts pretty lakes. The modern copper/orange Traverso trains lack the panoramic windows of many of these scenic trains, but they do have nice big windows so the views are still great. Some particularly picturesque sections include the glittering Lake Lucerne with Pilatus rising beyond, Mount Rigi and rolling green of the Toggenburg. Finally, just outside St Gallen, the train crosses the 99m high Sitter Viaduct, the highest train bridge in Switzerland….and that’s saying something.

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Don’t miss the “bistro car” which, rather than being a person behind a counter, is comprised of a couple of vending machines. One serves hot drinks, and then other cold drinks and snacks.

9 – Zurich to the Rhine Falls

As this train journey from Zurich to Schaffhausen trundles through the grey outskirts of the city you will assuredly be wondering why it on the list of best scenic trains in Switzerland. That’s fair, suburbs are rarely stunning. The scenic section comes right before you arrive at Neuhausen Rheinfall, 50 minutes and 23 miles later. The train line edges its way up the Rhine river at its most dramatic point. You are going to get wonderful views across the Rhein Falls, Europe’s biggest waterfall.

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Make sure you are sitting on the right as the train is facing forward for the view.

Full disclosure, we haven’t taken this train to Rhine Falls, but have some some of the route on another trip and got to see the view in the museum at the Rhine Falls.

10 – Luzern–Interlaken Express

It is a lesser-known panoramic train so you will find it much easier to find a seat, and may even have a section all to yourself. The route is plied by swanky modern trains with roof windows, giving lovely views of the valleys it passes through. There are two main sections to this route, one traverses pretty green hills and cute villages. The other curves around the edge of the stunning, milky turquoise Lake Brienz. If you get peckish, there is a bistro car in the middle of the train which serves food and drinks all day.

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Both sides of the train will have fab views during the train ride so there is no need to scramble for seats. If you are departing from Lucerne, Lake Lucerne and Lake Alpnach will be on the left but then the best views switch for the rest of the journey. If you have room in the carriage, you can hop seats but if not, opt for the right. (The train switches direction during its journey but don’t move at this point, you are still in the right seat).

Final Thoughts on the 10 Best Scenic Trains in Switzerland

After two extensive trips through Switzerland by train, I can confidently say I am hooked. The seamless travel and fantastic pass options make travelling a breeze. Thus far, these are the 10 best scenic trains in Switzerland that we have taken but there may be some more hidden gems. The Gotthard Express and Brienz-Rothorn Railway for instance…we will have to return to try and find them!

Rosie xx