The 11 Best Panoramic Train Journeys in Switzerland

1.Gruyères Tour from Geneva With Train, Chocolate and Cheese

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 258 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $305Our pick

Leave Geneva by coach for Maison Cailler in Broc, then visit a Gruyères cheese dairy, sample fondue, explore the medieval village, and ride the GoldenPass MOB train toward Montreux. Guides such as Roger, David, Babis, and Aristotle have earned praise for clear instructions and humor. Expect a long, full day with limited free time.

“Learning about the cheese and chocolate making process and it's history is such a great experience! Especially with chocolate degustation! Great weather to explore Gruyere village.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.St. Moritz and Panoramic Bernina Express Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 215 reviews · 13 hours (approx.)

Travel by coach from Milan to St. Moritz, enjoy about two hours of free time, then ride the Bernina route to Tirano in a panoramic carriage when selected. An English-speaking assistant helps with boarding and seats. Expect a 13-hour day, changing schedules, and limited free time.

“This is a long but truly beautiful day, the scenery the whole time is perfect both on the coach and on the train 🚆 St moritz is very quiet and most shops close, but we enjoyed the nature and walk around the lake, watching red squirrels x The guide kept us informed and the train journey with windows down made for perfect pictures x”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Glacier Express, Swiss Alps & Lucerne Tour | From Zurich

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 164 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $599

Travel from Zurich through Chur and the Swiss Alps on a reserved Glacier Express section to Andermatt, then continue to Lucerne by train. A guide handles tickets, connections, and commentary, with stops for Chur and Lucerne. Busy dates may bring route or train changes, so check final instructions carefully.

“Anna was great. Very enjoyable train rides and lots of local information. Saw a lot in one day. Loved the glacier express and touring Lucerne.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Grand Rail Tour of Switzerland

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 68 reviews · from $13,253Top rated

Travel through Switzerland by first-class rail on a semi-guided 10-day route linking Lucerne, St. Moritz, Zermatt, Grindelwald, and Zurich. Ride the Glacier Express and Bernina Express, visit Gornergrat and Jungfraujoch, and join guided outings in Lucerne and Zermatt. Guides have included Andrea, Gabriella, Leo, Denise, and Domenico.

“Our tour guide was excellent. She was knowledgeable about all aspects of the places we visited and always responsive to our questions and needs. Transportation by several of Switzerland’s superb railroads was a highlight and enabled us to Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Glacier Express, Swiss Alps & Lucerne Tour | From Basel

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 67 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $597

Travel from Basel to Chur, ride the Glacier Express toward Andermatt, then continue by train to Lucerne for a guided Old Town walk. Guides such as Jean, Rose, Ana, and Georgina have led departures. Expect a full 10-hour day, several trains, mountain views, and a small group of up to 15 people.

“Wonderful experience and views of the Swiss Alps, cities and history. We did have an issue with Viator and miscommunication with the local contracted Swiss tour company on location to meet which made us miss the original train and caused us to alter the daily plan. Be sure to look for any late emails.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Glacier Express Panoramic Train Round Trip from Zürich With Private Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 34 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $951

Meet your private English-speaking guide at Zurich Tourist Information at 8:20 am. Ride to Chur, board the Glacier Express to Brig, and enjoy a four-hour Alpine journey with lunch at your seat. You will also walk through Chur, Disentis, Andermatt, and Brig before returning to Zurich by regular train.

“Our guide, Michael, was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, accommodating and great company. We particularly appreciated our walking tours of Chur and Brig whilst we waited for our trains. The scenery on the express itself was mind-blowing, and it was amazing to think that we travelled over the headwaters of both the Rhine and Rhône. We saw so much of Switzerland in a single day. The food on the express was good, although it was disappointing to learn that our dietary requirements (specified when I booked on the Viator site) had not been passed on to Glacier Express catering. Despite this rather unsatisfactory lapse, we still say 5 stars - mostly due to…”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Glacier Express, Swiss Alps & Lucerne Tour | From Lucerne

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 21 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $598

Spend about 10 hours traveling from Lucerne through Chur and over the Oberalp Pass toward Andermatt, then return to Lucerne by train. A local guide, Glacier Express seat reservation, and rail pass are included. Guides such as Anna, Ana, and Ray have led this small-group trip, which serves up mountain views, Swiss history, and a walking tour of Lucerne.

“The glacier train ride was wonderful, many beautiful sites. We stopped in Andamatt. A picturesque town. Many great photo spots. The walking tour beforehand gave us a great taste of lake lurcern. The disappointment to this excursion was they changed how our day was supposed to go. Train ride first, followed by walking tour. With this change we were unable to meet up with friends as we had previously planned. Also we were told we would be picked up at our hotel and the day before told we had to meet our guide at the local train station, which I wouldn't have known if I didn't confirm details the night…”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Glacier Express Panoramic Train Round Trip in one Day Private Tour from Basel

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 13 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $959

Travel from Basel to Chur, then ride the Glacier Express to Brig in a reserved second-class seat. Your private Swiss guide helps with connections, points out sights, and joins you for a scenic day featuring the Rhine Gorge, Oberalp Pass, Andermatt, and Goms Valley. A three-course lunch is served at your seat.

“Joelle was a fantastic guide. It’s a long day on the train but well worth the scenery and the history. I highly recommend it.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Attraction Ticket: Mt. Titlis by Train and Cableway from Lucerne

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $277Best value

Travel independently from Lucerne to Engelberg on the Lucerne-Engelberg-Express, then take the aerial cableway to Mt. Titlis. Your ticket includes the Titlis Cliff Walk and ice cave, with about four hours for the full outing. No guide leads the trip, so you set your own pace and schedule.

“Friends told us that we don't need a tourguide for Titlis and that's why we booked the tickets here. With fantastic weather, it was really impressive up there. Travel was easy and comfortable ride on the train.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Glacier Express Panoramic Train Round Trip in one Day Private Tour from Luzern

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 5 reviews · from $901

Leave Lucerne at 8:20 am for a private, guide-led rail day to Chur, then ride the Glacier Express to Brig in a reserved panoramic seat. Your fare includes a three-course lunch, headphones, second-class rail travel, and the return train to Lucerne. Eric is one guide associated with this tour.

“Wonderful day spent with a delightful and informative guide. Eric was very informative, an interesting conversationalist and an excellent guide. Thank you, Eric, for adding another dimensión to our time in Switzerland.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Bern Private Tour – Zermatt Village and Gornergrat’s Railway

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $904

Travel privately from Bern to Zermatt with guide Jonas or another local guide, explore the old mountain village, then ride the Gornergrat Railway to 3,089 meters for views of the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, glaciers, and 29 Alpine peaks. Rail tickets and priority passes are included, but lunch is not.

“Switzerland is definitely a beautiful country wherever you look, and for me, there is no better way to learn about a country than to learn about its history told by somebody else. Jonas, my guide, was very nice, polite and well-versed in interesting facts and told me many of those, that I enjoyed immensely.”

Check availability →Read our full review