Travel by Train

The punctuality of Swiss public transport remains one of the wonders of the modern world. Train services nearly always depart on time, and rail timetables are well integrated with those of the post bus system, which operates on routes not covered by rail, serving remote villages and valleys. Trains, lake steamers, postal buses and city transportation lines in Switzerland are all synchronized for easy connections, making it one of the densest transportation networks in the world. Click here for the Map showing the Swiss Railway Network. 

There is no other form of transportation that brings you closer to the charm of Switzerland, both affordable and easy. Trains are synonymous with the spirit of going places, and nowhere is this more true than in Switzerland. Travel in style!

>> Ticket & Rail Pass Options and Booking    Scenic Trains 

>> Train Itineraries  Swiss Federal Railways Schedule

Train Ticket Options:
Swiss Transfer Ticket:
The Swiss Transfer Ticket provides you with return travel from the Swiss border or one of Switzerland's airports to your selected destination (valid up to 1 month).

Swiss Card:
The Swiss Card offers you the same advantages as the Swiss Transfer Ticket, plus you can travel for a whole month by train, bus and boat at only half the normal ticket price. Many mountain railways also grant reductions.

Swiss Pass:
The Swiss Pass entitles you to unrestricted travel by rail, postal buses and lake steamers on the Swiss Travel System network for 4, 8, 15 or 21 or 30 consecutive days. Also included are public trams and buses in 36 towns and cities as well as discount fares on many mountain railways and cable cars.

Swiss Flexi Pass:
This Swiss Flexi Pass gives you unrestricted travel on the Swiss Travel System on 3, 4, 5, 6, or 8 days of your choice within a period of 1 month. Plus the same extras that apply for the Swiss Pass.

Click here for a List with Prices of all Swiss Rail Passes

Book A Train:
Swiss Rail Passes are easily booked online: Click here to purchase your ticket with STS (Swiss Travel System). The train tickets will be sent to your address.
Travelers from Great Britain and Ireland, please click here to purchase your Swiss Rail Passes. The tickets will be sent to your address by the Swiss Travel Centre office in London.


Scenic Trains:
Glacier Express:
Switzerland's most famous of all scenic trains ! A panoramic trip through the Alpine heartland of Switzerland, and a memorable way of traveling from the eastern to the western Swiss Alps. Route: Zermatt - Brig - Andermatt - Chur - Davos / St. Moritz and vice versa.
Journey time: 7 1/2 hours, runs all year. Summer: 4 trains daily; Winter 1 train daily

Bernina Express:
The north-south Alpine crossing from/to Chur to/from Tirano, Italy by train via Filisur, the Albula Pass, St. Moritz-Pontresina and Poschiavo; from/to Tirano to/from Lugano by scenic bus. This route offers breathtaking views as you travel from ice-age glaciers to palm trees.  From the Engadine the train will take you from 1,800 m (5,450 ft) to the Bernina Pass at 2,253 m (6,830 ft) above sea level at an incline sometimes as steep as 7% without the use of cog wheels, which is unique in Europe. The impressive ride over deep valleys and across stone viaducts ends in Tirano at a mere 429 m (1,300 ft) above sea level.
Journey time: 7 hours. Train runs all year, bus runs May to mid October. Frequency: 1 train daily.

William Tell Express:
The William Tell Express links German-speaking central Switzerland with the Ticino, the Italian-speaking Mediterranean-like portion of Switzerland. Route: Lucerne - Fluelen by boat on ake Lucerne, then continue by train to Lugano/Locarno (change in Bellinzona for Lugano). A lunch is included on the boat.
Journey time: 5 1/2 hours. Train runs May to October. Frequency: 2 trains daily. Runs in both directions

Golden Pass Line:
Golden Pass is the natural link between Central Switzerland and Lake Geneva. Route: Lucerne - Interlaken - Zweisimmen - Montreux and vice versa. We suggest to reserve the Zweisimmen to Montreux Route.
Journey time: 6 hours or 1 1/2 hours from Zweisimmen to Montreux or vice versa. Train runs all year. Frequency: several trains daily

Chocolate Train:
Enjoy stunning views of the vineyards surrounding Montreux and medieval Gruyères and continue to Broc, where the chocolate factory is marvelously situated between Lake Gruyères and the Alps.
Journey time: 8 hours. Runs June to October. Frequency: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday

Palm Express:
A scenic bus-ride from/to Lugano to/from St. Moritz via Chiavenna, Italy and the Maloja Pass. Contrasts are ever fascinating! - A ride in the Palm Express is full of wonders. The snowy peaks, the lofty larch forests, the limpid mountain lakes of the Upper Engadine, the bizarre rock tops of the Bergell, the characteristic Bergell villages surrounded by chestnut forrests, the towns of Chiavenna and Menaggio, the subtropic climate along the Lake of Como in Italy and then Lugano, the bustling city in the Tessin. A four hour trip full of surprises in the air conditioned post bus! Information and booking at the information desk of the Grisons post buses. 
 
See sample itineraries

For train schedules, please check www.sbb.ch/en and for a detailed route map, please click here.


other Transport Options in Switzerland:   >> Car Rental  Private Limousine Service