Switzerland's Most Scenic Train Routes: The Complete Booking Guide

S
Scott Murray

Switzerland has transformed what could be a logistical requirement — getting between mountain towns — into some of the world’s great travel experiences. The scenic train routes here are not merely transport: they are the destination. Sitting in a panoramic car watching the Rhone Valley pass at 100 km/h, crossing a 65-meter viaduct over an Alpine gorge, or staring at the Matterhorn through an oversized window as it recedes behind you — these moments justify an entire trip.

Here are the essential routes, how to book them, and how to get the most from each.

The Glacier Express: Zermatt to St. Moritz

Route: Zermatt → Visp → Brig → Andermatt → Chur → St. Moritz (or reverse) Duration: Approximately 8 hours Distance: 291 km Altitude highlight: Oberalp Pass, 2,033 meters Operator: Glacier Express AG (joint Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn / Rhaetian Railway)

The Glacier Express markets itself as “the world’s slowest express train” — a self-aware joke about its mountain-pace journey across the Alps. The route crosses 291 bridges and passes through 91 tunnels, climbing from Zermatt’s 1,604 meters to the Oberalp Pass at 2,033 meters and then descending through the Graubünden to St. Moritz at 1,822 meters.

What you see: The Rhone Valley vineyards, the red-rocked Goms Valley, the snowfields around the Oberalp, the Rhine Gorge (Ruinaulta — often called the “Swiss Grand Canyon”), and the dramatic Landwasser Viaduct near Filisur (65 meters high, emerging from a tunnel on a curve — one of Switzerland’s most spectacular engineering moments).

Best windows: Southward-facing seats (right side traveling from Zermatt to St. Moritz) for the best Matterhorn views in the first section. From Andermatt onward, the Rhine Gorge is best seen from the left side (east-facing).

Booking: At glacierexpress.ch or any SBB station. Swiss Travel Pass covers the fare; a compulsory reservation fee of 39 CHF per person is required. Book 6–8 weeks ahead in peak summer (July–August) and December–January. Panoramic 1st class cars provide the best window views and table service for meals.

Practical notes: The journey is too long without stops for most travelers. Consider splitting into two days: Zermatt → Andermatt (3 hours) or Andermatt → St. Moritz (5 hours). Both partial routes are scenic and cheaper to book.

The Bernina Express: St. Moritz to Lugano (via Tirano)

Route: St. Moritz → Pontresina → Bernina Pass → Tirano (Italy) → [PostBus] → Lugano Duration: 2.5 hours by rail to Tirano; approximately 4.5 hours total to Lugano UNESCO World Heritage status: Yes (the entire Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina landscape)

The Bernina Express crosses the Alps without a tunnel — climbing over the Bernina Pass at 2,253 meters, making it the highest Alpine railway crossing in the world achieved by normal railway (not cogwheel). The scenery at the Bernina Pass is extraordinary: the Morteratsch Glacier flanks the route, the Lago Bianco sits in a high-altitude plateau, and the descent into Italian Ticino feels like falling off the edge of the world.

The Brusio Spiral Viaduct: Near the Italian border, the railway makes a complete spiral loop (360°) on a stone viaduct to lose altitude without exceeding the gradient limit. This engineering solution, visible from above, is one of the most photographed railway moments in Europe.

Best windows: Left side (south) from St. Moritz for the best glacier views approaching the pass. Right side on the descent for the Poschiavo valley panorama.

Booking: At rhb.ch or SBB stations. Swiss Travel Pass covers to the Italian border (Campocologno); separate ticket required for Tirano–Lugano PostBus. Seat reservation required in panoramic cars (around 13 CHF). The PostBus section to Lugano is scenic in its own right through Valchiavenna and the Mesolcina valley.

Tip: The Bernina Express runs the full Chur–Tirano route, not just from St. Moritz. The Chur–St. Moritz section through the Albula tunnel and via the extraordinary Landwasser Viaduct (also seen on the Glacier Express) adds scenery and an extra 2 hours.

The GoldenPass Line: Lucerne to Montreux

Route: Lucerne → Interlaken → Zweisimmen → Montreux Duration: Approximately 5 hours full route (no through train — connection required at Zweisimmen) Signature moment: The GoldenPass Express now runs direct Lucerne–Montreux with gauge-changing technology (as of 2022)

The GoldenPass Line connects central Switzerland’s mountain heartland to the French-speaking Riviera above Lake Geneva. The route passes through Interlaken, climbs over the Brünig Pass, crosses the pre-Alps of the Bernese Oberland, and descends through the vineyards of the Vaud to Montreux.

The GoldenPass Express (new 2022): The first through train that doesn’t require a change at Zweisimmen — uses gauge-changing wheelsets to transition between the narrow and standard gauge sections. A genuine engineering achievement. The panoramic first-class dome cars offer an extraordinary view experience.

What you see: The Brünig Pass through the Bernese Oberland, the Saanen valley (where Gstaad is located), and the dramatic descent through the Montreux Riviera vineyards to Lake Geneva.

Booking: At goldenpass.ch or SBB. Swiss Travel Pass valid; seat reservation recommended for panoramic cars (10–15 CHF). No single peak season — the route is year-round.

The Wilhelm Tell Express: Lucerne to Lugano

Route: Lucerne → [Lake Steamer] → Flüelen → [Train] → Lugano Duration: Approximately 5.5 hours What makes it special: Begins with a 3.5-hour lake steamer across Lake Lucerne

The Wilhelm Tell Express is Switzerland’s most dramatically theatrical scenic journey. It begins with a lake steamer departing Lucerne — 3.5 hours crossing Lake Lucerne through mountain-hemmed scenery before docking at Flüelen. Then the train section takes the Gotthard railway south through the dramatic Gotthard massif to Lugano.

Best for: Travelers who want the lake experience combined with the Gotthard crossing, or anyone traveling Lucerne–Lugano who has time for the scenic route (the direct Gotthard Base Tunnel train does the same journey in under 2 hours, but through a 57-km tunnel).

Booking: At the SBB or luzern.com. Swiss Travel Pass valid for both boat and train sections. Seasonal operation (May–October).

The Centovalli Railway: Locarno to Domodossola

Route: Locarno (Swiss) → Centovalli → Domodossola (Italy) Duration: Approximately 1.5 hours Language of travel: Italian throughout

The Centovalli (“Hundred Valleys”) Railway is Switzerland’s most overlooked scenic route — a narrow-gauge line threading through 83 bridges and viaducts across the wild valleys between Locarno and Domodossola. The route passes medieval stone villages perched above gorges, through dense chestnut forests, and over dramatic river crossings.

Best combination: Take the Bernina Express from St. Moritz to Lugano; bus to Locarno (40 min); Centovalli Railway to Domodossola; return to Switzerland via the Simplon Pass route. This creates a remarkable circular Alps tour.

Booking: At centovalli.ch. Swiss Travel Pass covers the Swiss section (to Camedo); separate Italian ticket required onward.

Rail Pass vs. Point-to-Point: Making the Right Call

The decision between a Swiss Travel Pass and individual tickets comes down to how many scenic train routes you plan to travel:

Scenario A — Glacier Express only (Zermatt to St. Moritz):

Scenario B — Glacier Express + Bernina Express + 2 city trains:

Scenario C — Full Switzerland circuit (5+ intercity trains + 2 scenic routes):

Seat Booking Strategy

  1. Book panoramic/dome cars specifically — on Glacier and Bernina Express, panoramic 1st class offers larger windows and better views. The extra cost (30–60 CHF for 1st class upgrade) is worth it on 8-hour routes.

  2. Book online in advance — glacierexpress.ch and rhb.ch both allow online booking. Seats sell out 4–6 weeks before peak dates in summer and ski season.

  3. Research which side of the train before boarding — the best window is specific to the route direction and changes at major passes. This guide notes the best sides for each route.

  4. Travel in the morning — morning light typically provides better photography conditions. Alpine mountains are often cloud-free in the morning and develop afternoon clouds.

  5. Consider the Eurail/InterRail option — if the Swiss leg is part of a broader European journey, Eurail Global Pass provides Switzerland coverage at 50% discount on scenic trains (seat reservation still required).

Switzerland’s scenic trains are among the world’s great travel experiences — not transport endured to reach a destination but journeys that are themselves the point. The Glacier Express crossing the Oberalp at 2,033 meters with the Rhone valley spread below, or the Bernina Express rounding the Brusio spiral as Ticino opens below in the Italian south — these hours in motion constitute some of travel’s finest experiences.

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