The Bernina Express is Europe’s ultimate high-alpine journey, a UNESCO World Heritage railway that combines sheer alpine drama with Mediterranean charm. Departing from Chur or St. Moritz, the train climbs over the Bernina Pass at more than 2,200 meters, weaving through snowfields, glaciers, and turquoise lakes that mirror the peaks above. Stone viaducts and spiral tunnels guide the red panoramic coaches gracefully across the mountains, every turn revealing another breathtaking tableau.
As the train descends toward Tirano, Italy, the landscape transforms: snow-dusted alpine summits give way to olive groves, vineyards, and sunlit valleys, creating a spectacular contrast within just a few hours. Along the way, iconic landmarks like the Landwasser Viaduct and Brusio Circular Viaduct offer photo opportunities worthy of a travel magazine cover. This journey is compact yet intense — a perfect half-day adventure, or part of a larger multi-day Swiss itinerary.
Operating Notes
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Year-round service, seasonal timetable adjustments
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Minor route diversions possible during autumn maintenance
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Best seasons: Winter for snow drama, Summer for vibrant alpine scenery
Route & Highlights
Duration: ~4 h 15 min (Chur ↔ Tirano)
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Landwasser Viaduct – Iconic towering stone bridge
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Morteratsch Glacier & Alp Grüm – Close-up alpine glacier views
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Lakes Bianco & Lej Nair – High-altitude mirror lakes
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Tirano (Italy) – Mediterranean light, vineyards, olive trees
Discover Switzerland from panoramic train windows where every mile is a masterpiece.
From turquoise lakes and snow-capped peaks to rolling vineyards and medieval villages, scenic trains let you explore effortlessly, gliding through alpine passes, marveling at viaducts and spiral tunnels, and soaking in landscapes that feel straight out of a storybook. Whether it’s a full-day alpine journey or a half-day escape, every moment is an unforgettable adventure.
Let us help you turn these journeys into your perfect Swiss itinerary, selecting one or several scenic trains to match your interests, pace, and dream experiences. From alpine odysseys on the Glacier Express to UNESCO wonders on the Bernina Express, or lakeside panoramas on the GoldenPass Express, we handle the planning so you can sit back, relax, and let the views do the talking. Scroll down to explore full train descriptions, key data, seasonal highlights, and suggested itineraries, and get inspired to craft your own unforgettable Swiss adventure.
Panoramic Trains in Switzerland – Relax, Enjoy, Discover
GoldenPass Express
Lakes, Vineyards & Interlaken Magic
What Makes It Special:
The GoldenPass Express combines lakeside panoramas, vineyard terraces, and alpine drama in a single day, with panoramic windows and optional luxury vintage carriages. It is ideal for travellers seeking both scenic beauty and cultural diversity.
Step aboard the Glacier Express and enter a world where every glance out the window is a masterpiece. Known as the slowest express train in the world, it is a journey that allows you to savor Switzerland’s alpine heart in unhurried luxury. Departing from Zermatt, the car-free village framed by the Matterhorn, the train carries you over emerald valleys, rushing rivers, and charming hamlets that appear like illustrations from a fairytale. The rising sun glimmers on the jagged peaks while alpine meadows, dotted with cows and chalets, stretch beneath a sky painted with wisps of clouds.
Climbing toward the Oberalp Pass, you encounter a panorama of snow-dusted mountains, turquoise lakes, and wildflower-carpeted valleys. The Rhine Gorge, often called Switzerland’s “Grand Canyon,” reveals its dramatic cliffs and rushing river far below, creating a cinematic spectacle. Historic towns like Andermatt and Chur punctuate the journey with cobbled streets, medieval churches, and centuries-old charm. The final arrival in St. Moritz, the luxury mountain resort town, completes a journey that feels like stepping through the pages of a Swiss travel magazine. Every seat offers panoramic views, and onboard gourmet dining turns this day-long crossing into an immersive alpine theatre.
Operating Notes
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Year-round service; seasonal maintenance mid-Oct → early Dec
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Reservations highly recommended; Excellence Class optional
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Best seasons: Summer for lush green valleys, Autumn for golden forests, Winter for snowy alpine panoramas
Route & Highlights
Duration: ~8 hours (Zermatt ↔ St. Moritz)
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Zermatt – Matterhorn vistas, alpine pastures, car-free village charm
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Andermatt & Oberalp Pass – Alpine highlands, wildflower meadows, remote valleys
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Rhine Gorge – Dramatic cliffs and river scenery
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Chur & St. Moritz – Historic towns, lake views, luxury resort atmosphere
The GoldenPass Express is Switzerland’s most versatile scenic train, a route that threads together Montreux’s lakeside elegance, Gstaad’s rolling alpine pastures, and Interlaken’s twin lakes framed by the Jungfrau trio. Travelling from French-speaking to German-speaking Switzerland, the train offers a seamless blend of vineyards, turquoise lakes, forested hills, and high-mountain drama. The journey feels like a moving tapestry, with each window framing a different aspect of Swiss culture and landscape — from Belle Époque architecture on Lake Geneva to quaint chalets in the pre-Alps.
The route is a favourite for travellers based in Interlaken, linking the adventure capital with the cosmopolitan elegance of Montreux, while offering spectacular vistas throughout the journey. Modern panoramic coaches ensure uninterrupted views, and seasonal variants add a touch of luxury and nostalgia.
Optional Seasonal & Experiential Variants
La Belle Époque Train
Step aboard the Belle Époque Train from Montreux, gliding through charming places such as Gstaad and Saanen, and travel back in time through the golden age of Swiss rail. Polished wood interiors, brass details, and elegant seating create an atmosphere of refined nostalgia as vineyards, alpine valleys, and traditional chalets drift past your panoramic windows. Every mile feels cinematic, with each view framing the serene charm and timeless beauty of the Swiss landscape. A journey that blends sophistication, romance, and the magic of slow travel.
Chocolate Train
From Montreux, the Chocolate Train winds through picturesque landscapes touching Gruyères and Broc, pairing Switzerland’s stunning scenery with its sweetest tradition. Rolling vineyards, gentle foothills, and quaint villages provide the backdrop for a culinary adventure, including visits to the medieval town of Gruyères and the famous Maison Cailler chocolate factory. Panoramic views and indulgent flavors make this a journey that delights both the eyes and the taste buds, creating memories as rich as the chocolate itself.
Cheese Train
Starting in Montreux, the Cheese Train travels through sun-dappled vineyards and alpine meadows, passing near the iconic village of Gruyères before arriving in Château-d’Oex. Along the way, guests enjoy a guided tasting at a traditional dairy, discovering the craft behind Switzerland’s world-famous cheeses. Scenic, flavour-filled, and relaxed, this excursion captures the essence of the alpine landscapes and culinary heritage that make Switzerland so unforgettable.
Operating Notes
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Main GoldenPass Express year-round
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La Belle Époque: Spring–Autumn
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Chocolate Train: May–September
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Cheese Train: Spring–Autumn
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Best seasons: Summer for lush green valleys, Autumn for golden forests, Winter for snowy alpine panoramas
GoldenPass Express
Route & Highlights
Duration: ~3.5 hours ( Interlaken Ost ↔ Montreux)
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Montreux – Lake Geneva, palms, vineyards, Belle Époque charm
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Gstaad – Rolling alpine meadows, cows, luxury resort atmosphere
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Interlaken – Twin lakes, Jungfrau peaks, adventure capital of the Alps
Glacier Express
The Alpine Classic Across Switzerland
What Makes It Special:
Panoramic windows, gourmet meals, and nearly a full day immersed in Switzerland’s
most dramatic alpine scenery make this the ultimate bucket-list rail experience.
Gotthard Panorama Express
Lakes & Historic Alpine Passage
What Makes It Special:
The seamless combination of lake cruise and high-alpine rail adventure makes the Gotthard Panorama Express a truly unique Swiss journey, ideal for travellers seeking variety, drama, and cultural contrast in a single day.
The Gotthard Panorama Express is a journey of contrasts and elegance, blending a steamboat cruise on Lake Lucerne with a panoramic train over the historic Gotthard line. The day begins on glittering waters, framed by forested fjords and alpine peaks, before the train climbs into the mountains, where engineering marvels like the Wassen spiralscarve a path through dramatic rock faces.
Descending into Ticino, the scenery changes once more — palms, subtropical vegetation, and Mediterranean light create a lush, almost cinematic finale. This is one of the most complete Swiss scenic journeys, combining water and rail, central and southern Switzerland, alpine peaks and Italian valleys — all in one immersive experience.
Operating Notes
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Seasonal: Mid-April → Mid-October for boat + train
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Year-round trains available without boat segment
Route & Highlights
Duration: ~6 hours (Lucerne ↔ Lugano)
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Boat + train
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Lake Lucerne – Reflective waters, forested fjords, alpine peaks
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Gotthard Pass & Wassen Spirals – Engineering highlights, alpine vistas
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Lugano / Ticino – Mediterranean light, lakeside promenades, lush subtropical vegetation
Luzern–Interlaken Express
Lakes & Mountain Passes
What Makes It Special:
Even on standard trains, the Luzern–Interlaken Express delivers stunning alpine scenery at every turn.
Glide past turquoise lakes, charming villages, and snow-capped peaks, all from comfortable panoramic windows.
A short journey that captures the essence of Switzerland.
Linking two of Switzerland’s most beloved destinations, Lucerne and Interlaken, this scenic train winds past turquoise lakes, forested valleys, and the iconic Brünig Pass, with alpine villages and sun-dappled meadows adding charm along the way. Every window frames classic Swiss landscapes — from snow-capped peaks to gently rolling hills dotted with chalets and grazing cows — creating a journey that feels like a living storybook.
Compact yet immersive, it’s perfect for shorter scenic excursions, effortless connections between major rail lines, or simply a few hours of pure alpine magic. With frequent daily departures, there’s no need to prebook — you can hop on when it suits your schedule, or let in2switzerland design a seamless itinerary that includes this scenic route for a truly stress-free Swiss adventure.
Operating Notes
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Year-round service
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Included with Swiss Travel Pass
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Panoramic windows
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Operates hourly throughout the day, typically from early morning until evening
Route & Highlights
Duration: ~2 hours (Lucerne ↔ Interlaken)
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Lake Lungern & Lake Brienz – Turquoise waters and dramatic slopes
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Brünig Pass – Alpine meadows, grazing cows, traditional chalets
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Interlaken – Twin lakes and Jungfrau mountain backdrop
Centovalli Railway (Locarno ↔ Domodossola)
Alpine Valleys & Italian Charm
What Makes It Special:
This route offers a truly scenic cross-border experience, perfect for travellers seeking alpine landscapes, dramatic gorges, and the charm of Swiss and Italian valleys in one day. Even without luxury panoramic coaches, the large windows and regular carriages provide breathtaking, photo-worthy views throughout the journey.
Bernina Express
UNESCO Mountain Masterpiece
What Makes It Special:
A combination of alpine extremes and Italian warmth, all from the comfort of panoramic seats, makes the Bernina Express one of the world’s most photogenic and emotionally powerful scenic rail journeys.
The Centovalli Railway is a journey of enchanting mountain scenery and cross-border charm, connecting Locarno on Switzerland’s Lake Maggiore with Domodossola in Italy. Departing from the lakeside, the train quickly climbs into the Centovalli (“Hundred Valleys”), where deep gorges, cascading waterfalls, and chestnut forests create a storybook landscape. Along the way, charming Swiss and Italian villages appear around every bend, their stone houses and terraced hillsides framed by dramatic alpine peaks.
As the train approaches Domodossola, the scenery gently shifts to the rolling valleys of Piedmont, offering a delightful taste of Italy’s northern charm. This scenic railway is one of southern Switzerland’s most captivating journeys, blending mountain panoramas, alpine villages, and Italian culture — all in a single, immersive trip.
Operating Notes
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Year-round service with multiple daily departures (~hourly)
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No mandatory seat reservations, flexible travel on the day
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Panoramic-style windows provide excellent views of mountains, valleys, and villages
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Swiss Travel Pass included; small supplement may apply for special panoramic carriages
Route & Highlights
Duration: ~2 hours (Locarno ↔ Domodossola)
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Locarno – Lakeside start with views of Lake Maggiore and surrounding hills
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Intragna & Camedo – Alpine villages and deep Centovalli gorges
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Santa Maria Maggiore & Re – Vigezzo Valley highlights and charming Italian villages
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Domodossola – Northern Italian town with regional connections and historical streets