The Grand Train Tour of Switzerland is a fantastic way to get introduced to Switzerland. Sometimes it’s a challenge to select where you want to go in a country if you’ve never been there before. The Grand Train Tour – The Original, is an 8-night tour that provides an opportunity to take iconic train rides across the country and visit historic cities in each of its linguistic/cultural regions. There are 8 different rail tours available that vary in length and focus.
There are Grand Tour of Switzerland itineraries for tourists that want to drive the country as well.
Note: This is a rail tour, and that is its emphasis. While the itinerary does overnight in iconic cities, some couldn’t be explored due to the schedule. Traveling in October also impacted city investigation as night fell sooner than in the summer months.
Switzerland formally recognizes four official national languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. While you can tell that the Swiss people are immensely proud of being Swiss, there is a noticeably different feel to each region.
I coordinated my travel through the Swiss Travel Centre. Guided tour options are available through other entities.
Disclosure: I receive no compensation from the Swiss Travel Centre, or any of the rail lines mentioned. I have included links regarding the hotels, per the disclaimer at the top of my post.
Itinerary of the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland
The ticket for the tour is a set itinerary that allows you to travel from your base, or entry point, in Switzerland to Luzern or St Gallen, and then from that endpoint to your point of origin. I list “Luzern or St Gallen” as you can determine the direction of travel from one of these endpoint cities.
The itinerary does have some specified departure times with reserved seats. There are also some days where you choose your schedule based on your desires.
The tour includes your hotel stay in each city. You can default to the selection driven by the tour company or select your desired hotel category (1 – 5 star). This allows you to personalize your experience, as well as impact on the cost per person.
I’ll share cost considerations, further in this post.
Resources
There are two applications you should plan on using for the tour.
SBB app
his app lets you see what trains are available for the days when you don’t have a reserved seat. You pick your origin and destination and select the time you want to depart/arrive. The query will result in 5 options starting with your selected criteria. You can also choose earlier and later options.
Train Tour app
The train tour app shows you each of the legs of the trip as well as points of interest on that day. Turn on the location tracker on your phone for the app and it will notify you when you are approaching a point of interest on the train ride. It also allows you to capture virtual stamps for each city.
The Grand Train Ride passport booklet.
The passport booklet is available at locations in each city, and indicated in the app, i.e., the Tourist office in the Zürich train station. Like the train tour app, it gives some insight into each destination, and allows you to capture a physical stamp for each town. It adds a little something to the trip and serves as a neat little souvenir.
Costs
In 2023, my tour was 2,728 CHF. I did purchase upgrades to 4-star lodging, 1st class rail, luggage service for 1 bag, and a 2-course meal on the Glacier Express. Taxes were an incremental fee of approximately 75 CHF.
2024 Tickets and lodging
The cost for the train ticket and lodging depends on the experience you want, driven primarily by your lodging choice. The default offer includes a mix of 3- and 4-star hotels and is priced at 2,871 CHF for April 2024. The spread runs from 1,214 CHF if you want to stay in 1-Star hotels, up to 4,533 CHF if you want to stay in 5-Star hotels for the trip. The Travel Company coordinates the hotel, you have the choice of category, but I don’t believe you can select a specific hotel. You can also upgrade to 1st class cars for the rail for 205 CHF, otherwise they default to 2nd class for most lines.
Breakfast is included in hotel fees.
Additional cost and services
City taxes – The city taxes are not included in your hotel fee and must be paid to the hotel. For my itinerary, the most I paid was 10 CHF, but averaged around 5 CHF.
Meal on the Glacier Express – There is an option to prepay for a 2- or 3-course meal. The 2-course is 42 CHF, and 49 CHF for the 3-course meal.
Luggage Service – This is an optional service for 160 CHF for 6 transfers of a 25 KG suitcase between hotels, add 160 CHF for each additional suitcase up to 960 CHF 6 bags. Starting with the first morning the SBB will pick up your suitcase and deliver it to your next hotel by 6PM (7PM in Zermatt).
Note: I recommend considering the convenience of the luggage service. Delivery was spot on for me, and I heard others complain about having to muscle their suitcases along the itinerary.
Half-Fare card – The half fare card is available to tourists to Switzerland. For 120 CHF, it permits the bearer to have ½ fare on trains, museums, and mountain trains and gondolas. This pays for itself if you do go on excursions to the mountains, i.e. Mount Pilatus, the Jungfrau, etc.
Itinerary
I chose to start in Luzern. If you want to know what the other direction looks like, just turn the following upside down.
Grand Train Tour of Switzerland: Day 1, Zürich-Luzern-Interlaken
Schedule: This day is at your discretion. You will ride the Swiss rail to Luzern where you transfer to the Luzern-Interlaken Express. Arrival in Interlaken is at Interlaken-Ost station.
Hotel: The Hey Hotel, Höheweg 7, 3800 Interlaken. This 4-Star boutique hotel is in the center of the Altstadt, approximately a block from the Interlaken-West train station. My travels were out of Interlaken Ost, but even that was an easy 15–20-minute walk.
Excursions: Interlaken has many options; I chose to take the train to the Schynige Platte. Plan on taking a minimum of 2 – 3 hours. The Harder Kulm, (2 – 3 hours), are Jungfrau Joch (5 – 8 hours) additional regional rail excursions from Interlaken that are well worth the journey. For the outdoor lovers there are several hiking trails, and for adrenaline junkies, you can schedule the chance to go paragliding. There are also opportunities for shopping at the many luxury and souvenir retailers or gambling at the Casino.
For a more detailed summary of Interlaken, check out my blog: here.
Grand Train Tour of Switzerland: Day 2, Interlaken – Montreux
Schedule: Day two starts with a ride on the GoldenPass Express departing from Interlake-West. This is a scheduled ride with a reserved seat. My reservation was on the 9:08 AM train, which got me into Montreux at 12:20PM. There was a later schedule that leaves 2.08 PM, arriving at 5:20PM.
Hotel: This night, I was at the beautiful grand hotel Eden Palace Du Lac, Rue du Théâtre 11,
1820 Montreux. This 4-Star hotel is located along the lake. It is conveniently located to restaurants, the Promenade, and the Casino Barriere Montreux.
Excursions: The Chateau de Chillon. Stroll along the sculpture lined promenade along the lake through Montreux to The Chateau de Chillon. There are jazz bars and a free museum dedicated to the rock band Queen. A statue of Freddie Mercury stands along the lake. The Montreux Jazz Festival is held each year, in late-June to mid-July. For wine aficionados, there is the Lauvaux vineyards, which is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Tip! Hotel guests will receive a “Montreux Riviera Card”. The “Montreux Riviera Card” is a tourist benefit that is financed through the city taxes. The card extends the following benefits: Free public transportation (bus/train/funicular), 50% discount on museums, and the Chateau, and 20% off boat trips and regional trains (2nd class) tickets.
I will be posting a page on what to do in Montreux in the near future. Be sure to check back.
Grand Train Tour of Switzerland: Day 3, Montreux – Visp – Zermatt
Schedule: The travel logistics are at your discretion. You will ride the Swiss rail to Visp where you transfer to the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn. This narrow-gauge cog railway is the last leg up the valley to the Zermatt station.
Hotel: In Zermatt, I overnighted at the Wellness Hotel Alpenhof. Matterstrasse 43, 3920 Zermatt. This hotel is owned and operated by the Julen family. The Julen’s are a large part of Zermatt’s community, owning a portfolio of restaurants and hotels. The Alpenhof is a splendid hotel, mixing technology and modern comforts in a building that maintains a rustic feel. The hotel is an easy 10-minute walk from the station, or you can take one of their shuttles.
Excursions: The Gorner glacier and the Monte Rosa peak. Matterhorn Paradise. Rothorn/Sunegga. Plenty of hiking trails. In Zermatt, there is the Alpine Museum and Zermattlantis. Zermatt also has a plethora of restaurants, and luxury shops in its quaint downtown.
For a more information Zermatt, check out my blog: here.
Grand Train Tour of Switzerland: Day 4, Zermatt – St. Moritz
Schedule: Day 4 is a scheduled trip with a reserved seat on the Panoramic Glacier Express. My reservation was on the 9:52 AM train, which got me into St. Moritz at 5:37PM. There is also an earlier train the leaves at 8:52 AM, arriving at 4:37PM.
The late arrival time didn’t permit sightseeing in St. Moritz. However, the train ride really was the focus of the day. The Glacier Express is referred to as the slowest express train in the world. This 8-hour tour takes you over some amazing landscapes and bridges. For the rail aficionados, the construction of this line is something to appreciate.
Highlights: Landwasser Viaduct (Natural stone bridge measuring 466 feet long and 214 feet high), Disentis Monastery, the Oberalp Pass (6706 feet), The beautiful Rhine Gorge, Chur (Pronounced as “core”, and is Switzerland’s oldest city.
Hotel: In St. Moritz, I was at the Sport & Wellness Hotel San Gian. Via San Gian 23, 7500 San Moritz. This 4-Star hotel is in the Bad San Moritz, as opposed to the San Moritz Village, and is a 20-minute walk from the train station. The hotel accommodations are modern and is great for sports enthusiasts. It is located near Gondolas for hiking and/or skiing. The hotel doesn’t have a gym but is 50 meters from the Ovavera Spa Center. This facility well equipped with fitness equipment, pool, etc. You receive a wristband for access to the spa at check in.
Grand Train Tour of Switzerland: Day 5, St. Moritz – Tirano, Italy – Lugano
Schedule: Day 5 is a scheduled trip with a reserved seat on the Bernina Express. My reservation was on the 9:17 AM train to Tirano, Italy. There is a 3 hour “layover” in Tirano before transferring to a bus coach that finishes the itinerary to Lugano.
The Bernina Express passes some of the most dramatic landscapes of the tour. Passing mountain peaks covered in glacier floes, Alpine reservoir, rugged terrain above the tree line that transitions back to beautiful forests and lakes as you descend into Italy.
Personal comment: The bus coach is a step down in comfort from the train experience. There was also an accident on the 2-lane road around Lake Como that delayed our arrival. Travelers need to understand that there is a possibility of late arrival in Lugano due to traffic or other incidents.
Hotel: In Lugano, I stayed at the Hotel City Lugano, Via Giuseppi Vagutti 4, 6900 Lugano. This 4-Star hotel is classified as a Garni. Garni hotels are a class of hotel that operates like a B&B. They are a hotel structure, and serve breakfast, but otherwise don’t have a restaurant on site. The facilities are very good, and the staff are friendly, engaging, and helpful.
Highlights: Mountain peaks of Diavolezza, Piz Palü, and Piz Bernina. Morteratsch glacier. Lago Bianco, this reservoir marks the watershed between the Black Sea and the Adriatic. Alp Grüm (train stops here allowing for pictures). The Brusio viaduct (360-degree viaduct). 16th Century Church of the Madonna in Tirano. Lake Como.
Grand Train Tour of Switzerland: Day 6, Lugano – Flüelen – Luzern
Schedule: Day 4 is a scheduled trip with a reserved seat on the Gotthard Panorama Express. My reservation was on the 9:18 AM train. In Flüelen there is the option of a transition from train to boat for the last leg to Luzern. While you can continue by train, I went onto the paddle-wheel boat “Uri”. I ultimately arrived in Luzern around quart of 3 in the afternoon.
Hotel: Romantik Hotel Wilden Mann – Bahnhofstrasse 30, 6003 Luzern. Comfortable accommodation. The most intriguing point of this hotel is its history. While a hotel since 1860, the Wilden Mann originated over 500 years ago as a bar, then a tavern. Convenient location to the rail station and the Altstadt.
Highlights: Bellinzona castles (Castlegrande, Montebello, and Sasso Corbaro), The Gotthard Tunnel (This 9.3-mile tunnel took 10 years to build and took the lives of 200 workers. It opened the pathway for travel and trade through the Alps). Lake Luzern. In Luzern: Chapel Bridge, Transportation Museum, mountain excursions: Tilus, Pilatus and Rigi. I went up Mount Pilatus the next morning.
I will be posting a page on what to do in Luzern in the near future. Be sure to check back.
Grand Train Tour of Switzerland: Day 7, Luzern – St Gallen
Schedule: Day 7 is a trip on the Voralpen Express. This day’s schedule is on your own timeline. The logistics are dependent on when you want to leave Luzern or arrive in St. Gallen.
Hotel: Sorrell Hotel City Weissenstein – Davidstrasse 21, 9000 St. Gallen. The Hotel City Weissenstein is conveniently located to the train station and the Altstadt. The rooms in the hotel are surprisingly large and have a comfortable and modern feel.
Highlights: In Luzern: Chapel Bridge, Transportation Museum, mountain excursions: Tilus, Pilatus and Rigi. I used this morning for an excursion to Mount Pilatus. Lakes Zug and Zurich, Rapperswil, rolling farmlands with alpine backdrops and the occasional castle. In St Gallen: The Abbey District (UNESCO site), City-Lounge-Red Square, Textile Museum, Art and Culture Museums, and a lovely Altstadt. The Altstadt has many buildings with ornately decorated box-bay windows.
Schedule: Day 8 This last day of the tour is on your own timeline. The ticket takes you from St. Gallen to your final destination, i.e. Zurich Airport, by way of Schaffhausen.
Highlights: Lake Constance, Schaffhausen castle, Rhine Falls (largest waterfalls in Europe).
I hope you found the tips I provided on the Grand Train Tour beneficial, and this post inspired you to investigate taking a train tour across Switzerland.
Travel well! Pursue experiences.
O.M.I.A.H.