Discover Switzerland by Rail: Self-Launched Edition

Fly or train into Zurich, Switzerland's largest city and a hub of banking, art and innovation. Check into your hostel or budget hotel in the centre — the Langstrasse district has great affordable options near the action. Spend the afternoon exploring the Old Town (Altstadt) independently: wander Bahnhofstrasse, stroll the banks of the Limmat River, and take in the Grossmünster cathedral for free. Head out for dinner at one of Zurich's many affordable restaurants — try a traditional Zürcher Geschnetzeltes (sliced veal in cream sauce) at a local Beiz (pub-restaurant). Tonight is a great chance to get oriented before the rail adventure begins.

🚌Arrive at Zurich Hauptbahnhof (HB) by train or flight into Zurich Airport (ZRH) — Airport train to HB takes ~10 mins, ~£5. Purchase your Swiss Travel Pass on arrival or in advance online (7-day pass ~£260pp, covering virtually all trains, buses, boats and many cable cars throughout the trip).

🛏EasyHotel Zurich City or Zurich Youth Hostel (official SJH) — expect £45–65/night in a private room or £25–35 in a dorm

• →Explore Zurich's Altstadt (Old Town) independently — free
• →Visit Grossmünster cathedral — free entry
• →Stroll Bahnhofstrasse and the Limmat riverbanks
• →Dinner at a local restaurant in Langstrasse or the Old Town (~£20–25)

Board the train from Zurich HB to Lucerne — a stunning 40-minute ride covered by your Swiss Travel Pass. On arrival, drop your bags at the hotel and head straight into the Old Town. The famous Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke) and its octagonal water tower are free to walk across; the Lion Monument is a short stroll away. After a self-directed morning, take the short train ride (15 mins) to Alpnachstad or visit the Maison Cailler chocolate experience in Broc (bookable via GetYourGuide, ~£18pp) or alternatively, visit the Swiss Chocolate Adventure at the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne itself (~£12pp). Return to Lucerne for a lakeside dinner.

🚌Zurich HB → Lucerne by train, ~40 mins — covered by Swiss Travel Pass. Local trains to chocolatier also covered by pass.

🛏Backpackers Lucerne or Hotel Pickwick Lucerne — expect £40–60/night private room or £25–30 dorm

• →Walk across Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke) — free
• →Visit the Lion Monument — free
• →Self-guided Old Town walking tour — free
• →Swiss Chocolate Adventure at the Museum of Transport, Lucerne (~£12pp) OR Maison Cailler chocolate experience via GetYourGuide (~£18pp)
• →Free time for lunch by the lake (~£12–15)

Today you ride one of the most iconic rail journeys in Europe — the Gotthard Panorama Express. The journey begins with a boat cruise across Lake Lucerne to Flüelen (covered by Swiss Travel Pass), with sweeping views of Mount Pilatus and Mount Rigi. At Flüelen, board the panoramic train southward through dramatic mountain passes, spiralling tunnels and deep valleys all the way to Lugano. The first-class scenic carriage has a supplement even with a Travel Pass (~£15–20pp — book in advance at sbb.ch). Arrive in Lugano, where Swiss precision meets Italian warmth. Explore the lakeside promenade and the charming Lugano Old Town in the afternoon. Dinner at a local trattoria in the centro.

🚌Gotthard Panorama Express (boat + train): Lucerne → Flüelen → Lugano. Covered by Swiss Travel Pass, scenic carriage supplement ~£15–20pp. Book ahead at sbb.ch.

🛏Hotel Pestalozzi Lugano or Ostello della Gioventù Lugano (youth hostel) — expect £45–65/night private room

• →Gotthard Panorama Express: Lake Lucerne boat cruise (Lucerne → Flüelen) — covered by Swiss Travel Pass
• →Gotthard Panorama Express: panoramic train (Flüelen → Lugano) — Swiss Travel Pass covers base fare, scenic supplement ~£15–20pp, book at sbb.ch
• →Explore Lugano's lakeside promenade and Old Town — free
• →Visit Piazza della Riforma — free

Take the train from Lugano to Locarno (35 mins, covered by Swiss Travel Pass) on the shores of beautiful Lake Maggiore. Spend the morning exploring Locarno independently — the Piazza Grande, the sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso (free, with funicular ~£5) and the lakefront are all worth seeing. Then board the Centovalli train from Locarno towards Domodossola, alighting at Intragna (a spectacular narrow-gauge rail journey through gorges and villages, ~35 mins, covered by Swiss Travel Pass). Walk from Intragna station through chestnut forests to the village of Cavigliano (about 15–20 mins on foot). Local farm visits and rustic polenta lunches can be arranged via local agriturismo contact or the Ticino tourism website. Return by train to Lugano in the evening.

🚌Lugano → Locarno by train (~35 mins). Locarno → Intragna on Centovalli line (~35 mins). All covered by Swiss Travel Pass.

🛏Hotel Pestalozzi Lugano or Ostello della Gioventù Lugano — second night

• →Train from Lugano to Locarno (~35 mins) — covered by Swiss Travel Pass
• →Explore Locarno's Piazza Grande and lakefront — free
• →Funicular to Madonna del Sasso sanctuary, Locarno (~£5)
• →Centovalli narrow-gauge train to Intragna — covered by Swiss Travel Pass
• →Walk from Intragna to Cavigliano through chestnut forests (~15–20 mins) — free
• →Rustic polenta lunch at a local farm or agriturismo (~£15–20)

An epic travel day through some of Switzerland and northern Italy's most dramatic scenery. After breakfast, take the train to Locarno, then board the Centovalli Express all the way to Domodossola in Italy — a breathtaking journey through deep gorges, terraced vineyards and stone villages (covered by Swiss Travel Pass, including cross-border section). Pause for lunch in Domodossola's charming market town centre (~£10–14). Then continue by train through the Simplon Tunnel to Brig, where you can admire the extraordinary Baroque Stockalper Palace (exterior free, guided tours ~£7). From Brig, take the local cable car up to car-free Bettmeralp at nearly 2,000m — included with Swiss Travel Pass. Arrive to breathtaking Alpine panoramas and the distant Matterhorn. Dinner at your hotel or a local mountain restaurant.

🚌Lugano → Locarno by train. Locarno → Domodossola (Centovalli Express). Domodossola → Brig by train. Brig → Betten FO by train, then cable car to Bettmeralp. All covered by Swiss Travel Pass.

🛏Hotel Aletsch or Berghotel Bettmeralp — expect £55–80/night (mountain hotels tend to be pricier; this is the trip's premium night)

• →Centovalli Express: Locarno → Domodossola — covered by Swiss Travel Pass
• →Lunch in Domodossola (~£10–14)
• →Train: Domodossola → Brig via Simplon Tunnel — covered by Swiss Travel Pass
• →Visit Stockalper Palace exterior, Brig — free (guided tour ~£7)
• →Cable car from Betten FO station up to Bettmeralp — covered by Swiss Travel Pass
• →Dinner at hotel or local mountain restaurant (~£20–25)

Rise early for the cable car ascent to Bettmerhorn at ~2,872m. From the viewing platform, gaze over the mighty Aletsch Glacier — 23km long, formed of 11 billion tonnes of ice, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Glacier World exhibition at the summit is free once you're up there. The cable car is covered by the Swiss Travel Pass. Return to Bettmeralp, then descend and travel by rail west to Sierre (~25 mins). From Sierre station, it's a short walk or taxi (~£5) to Château de Villa, where you can book a traditional raclette lunch independently (Château de Villa offers walk-in raclette, ~£20–25pp). Continue by train from Sierre to Montreux (~1hr 30mins, covered by Swiss Travel Pass). Spend the evening on the lakeside promenade or in the Old Town.

🚌Cable car Bettmeralp ↔ Bettmerhorn — covered by Swiss Travel Pass. Train Betten FO → Sierre (~25 mins). Train Sierre → Montreux (~1hr 30 mins). All covered by Swiss Travel Pass.

🛏Hotel Masson Montreux or Montreux Youth Hostel (beautifully located above the lake) — expect £45–70/night private room

• →Cable car ascent to Bettmerhorn (~2,872m) — covered by Swiss Travel Pass
• →Aletsch Glacier viewing platform and Glacier World exhibition — free at summit
• →Train: Bettmeralp/Betten → Sierre (~25 mins) — covered by Swiss Travel Pass
• →Raclette lunch at Château de Villa, Sierre (~£20–25pp, book ahead where possible)
• →Train: Sierre → Montreux (~1hr 30 mins) — covered by Swiss Travel Pass
• →Evening stroll along Montreux lakeside promenade — free

Start with a short walk or cycle along the lakeside path from Montreux to Chillon Castle (~3km, or take the local bus for ~£2). Chillon Castle is one of Switzerland's most visited monuments — entry is ~£12pp and no guide is needed, as excellent audio guides are included. Explore the dungeon, towers and courtyards at your own pace with spectacular Lake Geneva views. Afterwards, jump on the train to Vevey (15 mins, Swiss Travel Pass) for a lakeside lunch at one of the many cafés (try the area around Place du Marché, ~£12–15). In the afternoon, take the train to Epesses or Cully in the UNESCO-listed Lavaux vineyard terraces (15 mins). Book a small-group wine tasting at a local domaine directly (Domaine Croix Duplex or similar, ~£20–25pp) or via GetYourGuide. Return to Montreux by rail in the evening for a final dinner.

🚌Local bus or walk to Chillon Castle (~£2 or free). All trains covered by Swiss Travel Pass.

🛏Hotel Masson Montreux or Montreux Youth Hostel — second night

• →Walk or cycle the lakeside path from Montreux to Chillon Castle (~3km) — free
• →Chillon Castle entry with audio guide (~£12pp, book online at chillon.ch)
• →Train: Chillon/Veytaux → Vevey (~15 mins) — covered by Swiss Travel Pass
• →Lunch in Vevey at Place du Marché cafés (~£12–15)
• →Train: Vevey → Epesses or Cully for Lavaux vineyard wine tasting (~15 mins) — covered by Swiss Travel Pass
• →Wine tasting at a Lavaux domaine (~£20–25pp, book via GetYourGuide or directly)
• →Train back to Montreux — covered by Swiss Travel Pass
• →Final dinner in Montreux (~£20–25)

Enjoy a final breakfast in Montreux with lake views before checking out. If your onward journey allows, take one last stroll along the famous Freddie Mercury statue on the lakeside promenade (free) — a fitting farewell to one of Switzerland's most glamorous towns. From Montreux, trains connect easily to Geneva Airport (~1hr 10 mins by train, covered by Swiss Travel Pass) for flights home, or continue onwards by rail into France or Italy. If you have time to spare, consider a morning boat trip on Lake Geneva (covered by Swiss Travel Pass) before departing.

🚌Montreux → Geneva Airport by train (~1hr 10 mins) — covered by Swiss Travel Pass.

🛏Check-out day — no accommodation needed

• →Final lakeside stroll and Freddie Mercury statue — free
• →Optional morning boat trip on Lake Geneva — covered by Swiss Travel Pass
• →Train to Geneva Airport or onward destination — covered by Swiss Travel Pass