The Glacier Express

The Glacier Express is known for its slow pace, spectacular views, and luxurious comfort. It links Zermatt to St. Moritz.

It’s an eight-hour train ride, and this long journey through the Swiss Alps is truly unforgettable.

The whole ride has some lovely views, but I particularly love the segments after Andermatt with the Oberalp Pass, the ride along the Rhienschlucht before Chur, the whole way from the Landwasser Viaduct before Filisur until the end of the Albula line with countless viaducts. 

The Glacier Express is a great way to combine a memorable panoramic train experience with a trip back to Zurich from Zermatt at the end of your vacation.

If this is your plan, then consider stopping either in Chur and taking a direct train to Zurich or continuing a bit further until Filisur to experience crossing the Landwasser Viaduct.

One important thing to consider when planning your trip is that the Glacier Express typically does not operate from mid-October until the beginning of December.

Also, you will need to reserve a seat for the Glacier Express on their website and have a valid ticket for the ride.

I highly recommend you get either the Saver Day Pass or the Swiss Travel Pass.

The GoldenPass Express

The GoldenPass Express links Interlaken to Montreux with a direct train.

The 3 ½ hour train ride will take you through perfect Swiss postcard views. It travels through green rolling hills, wooden chalets, and small villages.

This specific train is an awe-inspiring feat of Swiss engineering as it rides through different rail networks with varying widths of track.

The train can adapt to the change in width and also to the height of the platform.

I especially love the prestige class cabin, and the price difference from the first-class seat is definitely worth it.

For an additional 49 Francs, it is very reasonable for Swiss panoramic train standards.

The GoldenPass runs four trains a day and operates all year long.

You will pass through Gstaad and Saanen, where you can stop for a village stroll.

You can do this before taking a regular GoldenPass panoramic train to Montreux or the GoldenPass Express in the other direction back to Interlaken.

The Belle Epoque Train

The Belle Epoque Train also runs on the GoldenPass line. It links Montreux to Zweisimmen.

I want to highlight it for the unique cabin experience. This train runs twice a day between Montreux and Zwisimmen via Gstaad.

The wagons are replicas of the 1920s trains with elegant green seats and wood finishes.

A great thing about the Belle Epoque train is that no seat reservations are needed.

You can ride it with the Saver Day Pass, Swiss Travel Pass, or Half Fare Card.

For those who want to explore Gruyere from Montreux, I typically recommend taking the Belle Epoque train to Montbovon before heading to Gruyere.

From there, you can go to Gruyere with a short train ride.

The Bernina Express

The Bernina Express Links Landquart (Chur) to Tirano in Italy.

This train takes you on a unique journey through 55 tunnels and over 196 bridges. 

You will travel through high mountains, seeing 4000-meter peaks in Italy via beautiful places such as Pontresina and Poschiavo.

You can even go further than Tirano by taking the Bernina Express bus to Lugano in Ticino, the beautiful Italian region of Switzerland which is not far from Lake Como.

Like the Glacier Express, you will need to reserve a seat for this trip on their website and have a valid ticket for the ride.

The Centovalli Railway

The Centovalli Railway is in the Italian region of Switzerland, departing from Lugano to Domodossola, Italy.

This panoramic train might be the least known on this list, but it still packs a punch.

It is located between Lugano and Ticino. Lugano and nearby gem Ascona are both on Lake Maggiore and are definitely worth a detour.

The train crosses 83 bridges and viaducts along its route from Lugano to Domodossola.

Centovalli means “100 Valleys” as you will cross forests and see countless valleys joining the main one that the train is following.

I love this train for its simplicity but also its dramatic views.

No seat reservations are needed. The round is covered by the Swiss Travel Pass, with potentially a small 1 ½ Euro additional fee in Italy.

The Gotthard Panorama Express

The Gotthard Panorama Express is a ride between Lucerne and Ticino that takes you by boat from Lucerne to Fluelen and then by panorama train from Fluelen to Bellinzona.

With the boat, you will travel through historical sites of Switzerland such as Rutli Meadow, the William Tell Chapel, and Schillerstein.

The panoramic route is open between spring and fall, typically from April to October.

You will also go through the famous Gotthard Base Tunnel (GBT), which is 57.1 km (35.4 miles) long, before reaching Ticino.

The Gotthard Panorama Express is a great way to experience Switzerland’s natural beauty, making it a must-do for travelers seeking a memorable travel experience.

The Rigi Bahn

The Rigi Bahn goes from Vitznau to Rigi Kulm. You have amazing views of the Lake Lucerne along the way.

The Rigi Railway offers amazing views and countless opportunities for hiking along the way.

You can use the Rigi Railway either from Vitznau after having taken a boat from Lucerne or from Goldau (Arth), which is easily reachable from Zurich or Lucerne by train.

My favourite route is definitely via Vitznau, as the ride start will offer countless views overlooking Lake Lucerne from above.

One highlight of the Rigi train happens on Wednesdays in the Summer when you can ride their historical trains.

The Gornergrat Bahn

The Gornergrat Bahn is a slightly shorter one. It takes you from Zermatt to Gornergrat (3135 m or 10,285 ft above). 

Along the way, you will have clear views of the mighty Matterhorn (4,478 m or 14,692 ft above sea level). 

I highly recommend you try to sit on the right side of the train on the way up.

With the Gornergrat ticket, you can hop on and hop off the train at the different intermediary stations.

If you need only one stop, I would highly recommend you stop at Rotenboden.

Hike down for 10 minutes to the Riffelsee and enjoy a beautiful reflection of the Matterhorn on the lake. 

At the top, there is a 360° panoramic view of some of the highest peaks in Switzerland.

There is also a VR experience included in your ticket that lets you paraglide above the famous mountain.

The Gornergrat train departs from Zermatt every 24 minutes, and it is open all year long.

There are some special trains offered along the Gornergrat train now. 

One is the chance to witness the sunrise on the Riffelsee with a very early morning train from Zermatt.

Another one is the new and gives a nostalgic offer.

It is created for the 125th anniversary of the Gornergrat Railway, which invites you to ride a 1961 original carriage and eat a full-course meal.

Standard SBB Trains

Any train in Switzerland really has amazing views and panoramas. So, don’t forget to just enjoy going around on normal trains in Switzerland.

I have three normal train lines for you that are, for me, the best ones in Switzerland.

Lausanne To Fribourg

The IC1 train is Lausanne to Fribourg. You will take this train if you link Zurich to Geneva.

You will have a bird’s eye view of the Lavaux (Vineyard Terraces), Lake Geneva, and the Alps.

I think it is one of the most breathtaking routes. 

The IC1 train operates every day from 5:07 am to 11:32 pm, every 15 to 60 minutes.

Zurich To Chur

This one is from Zurich to Chur. The views of Lake Zurich, but especially on the Bollingen afterward and its dramatic overlooking mountains, are spectacular.

If you head to Chur or Saint Moritz to ride the Glacier Express or the Bernina Express, make sure to keep an eye out on this segment.

Lauterbrunnen To Wengen

The last one is Lauterbrunnen to Wengen. This ride might often be eclipsed by the Jungfraujoch marketing, but for me, it is one the most beautiful in Switzerland.

It overlooks the Lauterbrunnen Valley and gives you views of the mountains around.

This costs 3 Francs and 60 cents or is free on the Berner Oberland Pass or the Swiss Travel Pass.