Switzerland by Rail
$0.00
per item
Highlights:
Given its size and topographical diversity, Switzerland is made for rail travel especially when it is designed and operated by the meticulous Swiss. From your 1st Class seat, each journey (usually less than three hours) is like watching a well-made travel film as you cross over viaducts into tunnels, view alpine peaks and valleys made up of lakes and meadows. It explains why so many of the best hotels are close to the train station.
We have created a program that allows you to explore the French, Italian and German portions of Switzerland while at the same time providing access to their specialty trains like the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express. To make the trip even more relaxing, we offer door to door luggage handling which allows you to send your luggage on ahead to your next hotel.
Given its size and topographical diversity, Switzerland is made for rail travel especially when it is designed and operated by the meticulous Swiss. From your 1st Class seat, each journey (usually less than three hours) is like watching a well-made travel film as you cross over viaducts into tunnels, view alpine peaks and valleys made up of lakes and meadows. It explains why so many of the best hotels are close to the train station.
We have created a program that allows you to explore the French, Italian and German portions of Switzerland while at the same time providing access to their specialty trains like the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express. To make the trip even more relaxing, we offer door to door luggage handling which allows you to send your luggage on ahead to your next hotel.
SKU:
Explore: Switzerland by rail
Customizable Itinerary - 14 Days (from $8,678 per person)
Day 1: USA-Switzerland
This evening you board your aicraft for the overnight flight to Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city and a major financial centre.
Day 2: Welcome to Switzerland
Upon arrival in Zurich, you will be met by one of our representatives who will assist with your luggage and take you to your car which will take you into the city and your centrally located hotel. Take advantage of its location to do some exploring. In the evening dine well at the hotel.
Dinner
Day 3: Discovering Zurich
Today you will have a privately guided tour of the highlights of the city, most of which are accessible either on foot or by tram. You will get a tour of the main financial district home to the ‘gnomes of Zurich’. You will also walk down Bahnhofstrasse which is the Zurich version of Madison Avenue or the ‘Miracle Mile’. The Fraumunster dates back to medieval times but also houses stain glass windows created by Chagall. You will spend quite a bit of time in Altstadt which is the pedestrian free old town of the city with its quaint squares and medieval alleyways, home to cozy bars and traditional Swiss restaurants. It is also home to the opera house and performing arts centre. We suggest that you return here for dinner and will provide a list of restaurants that offer a quality meal at a non-expense account price. Keeping in mind that this is a Global Financial Centre.
Breakfast
Day 4: Zurich to Lucerne
After breakfast and luggage free you meet your driver who will take you to the station where you have 1st Class seats for the short ride to the charming lakeside city of Lucerne. You are met upon arrival and driven up the mountainside to your impressive hotel with service to match the view over the city and the lake. Enjoy the view as you have lunch. In the afternoon you will tour the scenic places of Lucerne including the Chapel Bridge and the Lion Monument which honors the Swiss Guards who lost their lives defending the Royal Palace in Versailles during the French Revolution. You will also find places where you can sample cheese and chocolate two foods for which Switzerland is famous. In the evening you may want to head to old town for dinner.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 5: Your First Alpine Adventure
Many people come to Switzerland for the mountains either to Ski or just to explore and admire the views. There will be many opportunities and today is the first. You start by boarding a Lake steamer for a leisurely cruise on Lake Lucerne which will terminate at the town of Alpnachstad where you board a cogwheel train that will take you up Mount Pilatus to Pilatus Kulm situated at 7,000 feet. The views will take your breath away and you have free time to walk around the summit and enjoy a lunch on the terrace. After a few hours, when you are ready to leave, you board a cable car which will bring you to the village of Fraekmuentegg where you switch to another cable car which is closer to the ground allowing close up viewing of forests and meadows. You then return to Lucerne. This evening we will make reservations at the Old Swiss House, a Swiss dining institution.
Breakfast
Day 6: Interlaken and the Bernese Oberland
Today you meet your knowledgeable guide who will take you into the scenic splendor of the Swiss countryside where you will enjoy unparalleled views of picture-perfect lakes, meadow filled valleys and snowcapped peaks. You will drive along the shore of Lake Lucerne and head into the Aare Valley and Lake Brienz and its namesake village. After a time to explore you head into the Lauterbrunnen Vally which is also known as the valley of the waterfalls of which the most famous is the Staubbach falls where water pours over a cliff face into the valley below. Your final visit will be the charming town of Interlaken where you enjoy impressive views of the Jungfrau which is referred to as the “Queen of the Alps”. Since this is your last night in Lucerne we will include dinner at the hotel since the glass-enclosed restaurant is ideal both for sunsets and the lights of an illuminate Lucerne. Breakfast and Dinner
Day 7: An Intriguing Journey to Lugano
This is the day when you travel to Ticino the Italian-speaking portion of Switzerland. To get there you enjoy a combination of stimulating modes of transport. You will be traveling on what is referred to as the Gotthard panoramic route. Your journey begins when your driver picks you up (your luggage has gone on ahead of you) and takes you to the lakeside where you board a steamboat for a leisurely cruise across Lake Lucerne. We will make reservations for you in the ship’s dining room so you can enjoy lunch along with the views. You dock in Fluelen and board the Gotthard Panorama Express which will take you through the Gotthard tunnel which was opened in 1882. At the other side you will be on the southern side of the Alps where the temperatures’ are noticeably warmer and you will, in fact, begin to see palm trees as you approach Lugano one of Switzerland’s and Europe’s most desirable cities in which to live. You are met and taken to your hotel. Enjoy dinner with an Italian flair.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 8: Lugano at Leisure
Enjoy a free day to explore the town on your own. You are within walking distance of Piazza della Reforma, the main square of the town which gives you access to Via Nassa the place to shop especially for woolens and leather. Wander the quiet streets and enjoy a leisurely lunch in a piazza. Although you will still be in Switzerland it will be like a mini-Italian holiday.
Breakfast
Day 9: The Bernina Express and St. Moritz
After breakfast, your driver will be waiting to drive you to Tirano in Italy where you board the Bernina Express headed to St. Moritz. Your journey will take you through the Poschiavo Valley through forests and then you approach the Bernina Pass where you go from palm trees to glaciers and snow as you cross to Engadine through the pass which reaches 6,800 feet. You travel through tunnels and over viaducts and through the Domleschg Valley admiring the castles along the way before arriving in St. Moritz. An incredible experience.
Breakfast
Day 10: The Glacier Express
This full day journey takes you more than halfway across the country (albeit a small country) and the panoramic views from your first class seat makes the most of the 271 bridges and 91 tunnels that you experience, not to mention the 6,700 feet Oberalp pass. There are also more pastoral scenes in between including mountain streams, mountain forests and alpine pastures. You will enjoy a three course lunch served at your table without having to give up any scenery. As you get close to Zermatt you enter a valley created by the Rhine and Rhone rivers. Zermatt does not allow cars but your bags have already been delivered to your room so you will be ready to explore.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 11: Lunch with a View
Today you take on of Switzerland’s most iconic cogwheel railways as you ascend to the Gornergrat. As your train make its way up the mountain you will never be bored as you enter tunnels, pass-through forests of pine and enjoy vistas of meadows and lakes. When you reach the top you have reservations for lunch at highest hotel in Europe. As you dine you will look out over The Matterhorn, Weisshorn and 27 other mountains, all over 12,000 feet. After lunch walk around the mountain peak enjoying the fresh Alpine air before an equally enjoyable journey back to Zermatt.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 12: Zermatt to Montreux
In the morning you are transferred to the station (your luggage having left last night) and board your 1st Class train for the trip to Montreux situated across from France on Lake Geneva (or Lac Leman as the French call it). Upon arrival you are met and delivered to your lakeside hotel where your luggage has already checked in. In the afternoon take a walking tour of the Lavaux vineyards which rise up from the lake in a large row of terraces. In addition to exploring the vines you can sample the wine as you look down to the town and lake and across to France. Returning to the lakeside take a short walk to Chateau Chillon made famous by the poem ‘The Prisoner of Chillon’ by Lord Byron. In the evening, the casino is only a five minute walk.
Breakfast
Day 13: Lausanne and Evian
Today you take an excursion to the town of Lausanne which is the Headquarters of the Olympic committee and home to the Olympic Museum. It also has a very quaint old town which you can explore. You then board a ferry to cross the lake and arrive in the town of Evian-les-Baines which is world famous for its sparkling water. It is also home to a casino. Enjoy lunch at a typical French bistro and look across the lake to Switzerland. After lunch you take the ferry back and return to Montreux. As you prepare to return home, enjoy a farewell dinner at the hotel overlooking the lake.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 14: Return Home
After breakfast, your driver will be waiting to drive you to Geneva airport where you begin your journey back to the USA.
Breakfast
This evening you board your aicraft for the overnight flight to Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city and a major financial centre.
Day 2: Welcome to Switzerland
Upon arrival in Zurich, you will be met by one of our representatives who will assist with your luggage and take you to your car which will take you into the city and your centrally located hotel. Take advantage of its location to do some exploring. In the evening dine well at the hotel.
Dinner
Day 3: Discovering Zurich
Today you will have a privately guided tour of the highlights of the city, most of which are accessible either on foot or by tram. You will get a tour of the main financial district home to the ‘gnomes of Zurich’. You will also walk down Bahnhofstrasse which is the Zurich version of Madison Avenue or the ‘Miracle Mile’. The Fraumunster dates back to medieval times but also houses stain glass windows created by Chagall. You will spend quite a bit of time in Altstadt which is the pedestrian free old town of the city with its quaint squares and medieval alleyways, home to cozy bars and traditional Swiss restaurants. It is also home to the opera house and performing arts centre. We suggest that you return here for dinner and will provide a list of restaurants that offer a quality meal at a non-expense account price. Keeping in mind that this is a Global Financial Centre.
Breakfast
Day 4: Zurich to Lucerne
After breakfast and luggage free you meet your driver who will take you to the station where you have 1st Class seats for the short ride to the charming lakeside city of Lucerne. You are met upon arrival and driven up the mountainside to your impressive hotel with service to match the view over the city and the lake. Enjoy the view as you have lunch. In the afternoon you will tour the scenic places of Lucerne including the Chapel Bridge and the Lion Monument which honors the Swiss Guards who lost their lives defending the Royal Palace in Versailles during the French Revolution. You will also find places where you can sample cheese and chocolate two foods for which Switzerland is famous. In the evening you may want to head to old town for dinner.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 5: Your First Alpine Adventure
Many people come to Switzerland for the mountains either to Ski or just to explore and admire the views. There will be many opportunities and today is the first. You start by boarding a Lake steamer for a leisurely cruise on Lake Lucerne which will terminate at the town of Alpnachstad where you board a cogwheel train that will take you up Mount Pilatus to Pilatus Kulm situated at 7,000 feet. The views will take your breath away and you have free time to walk around the summit and enjoy a lunch on the terrace. After a few hours, when you are ready to leave, you board a cable car which will bring you to the village of Fraekmuentegg where you switch to another cable car which is closer to the ground allowing close up viewing of forests and meadows. You then return to Lucerne. This evening we will make reservations at the Old Swiss House, a Swiss dining institution.
Breakfast
Day 6: Interlaken and the Bernese Oberland
Today you meet your knowledgeable guide who will take you into the scenic splendor of the Swiss countryside where you will enjoy unparalleled views of picture-perfect lakes, meadow filled valleys and snowcapped peaks. You will drive along the shore of Lake Lucerne and head into the Aare Valley and Lake Brienz and its namesake village. After a time to explore you head into the Lauterbrunnen Vally which is also known as the valley of the waterfalls of which the most famous is the Staubbach falls where water pours over a cliff face into the valley below. Your final visit will be the charming town of Interlaken where you enjoy impressive views of the Jungfrau which is referred to as the “Queen of the Alps”. Since this is your last night in Lucerne we will include dinner at the hotel since the glass-enclosed restaurant is ideal both for sunsets and the lights of an illuminate Lucerne. Breakfast and Dinner
Day 7: An Intriguing Journey to Lugano
This is the day when you travel to Ticino the Italian-speaking portion of Switzerland. To get there you enjoy a combination of stimulating modes of transport. You will be traveling on what is referred to as the Gotthard panoramic route. Your journey begins when your driver picks you up (your luggage has gone on ahead of you) and takes you to the lakeside where you board a steamboat for a leisurely cruise across Lake Lucerne. We will make reservations for you in the ship’s dining room so you can enjoy lunch along with the views. You dock in Fluelen and board the Gotthard Panorama Express which will take you through the Gotthard tunnel which was opened in 1882. At the other side you will be on the southern side of the Alps where the temperatures’ are noticeably warmer and you will, in fact, begin to see palm trees as you approach Lugano one of Switzerland’s and Europe’s most desirable cities in which to live. You are met and taken to your hotel. Enjoy dinner with an Italian flair.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 8: Lugano at Leisure
Enjoy a free day to explore the town on your own. You are within walking distance of Piazza della Reforma, the main square of the town which gives you access to Via Nassa the place to shop especially for woolens and leather. Wander the quiet streets and enjoy a leisurely lunch in a piazza. Although you will still be in Switzerland it will be like a mini-Italian holiday.
Breakfast
Day 9: The Bernina Express and St. Moritz
After breakfast, your driver will be waiting to drive you to Tirano in Italy where you board the Bernina Express headed to St. Moritz. Your journey will take you through the Poschiavo Valley through forests and then you approach the Bernina Pass where you go from palm trees to glaciers and snow as you cross to Engadine through the pass which reaches 6,800 feet. You travel through tunnels and over viaducts and through the Domleschg Valley admiring the castles along the way before arriving in St. Moritz. An incredible experience.
Breakfast
Day 10: The Glacier Express
This full day journey takes you more than halfway across the country (albeit a small country) and the panoramic views from your first class seat makes the most of the 271 bridges and 91 tunnels that you experience, not to mention the 6,700 feet Oberalp pass. There are also more pastoral scenes in between including mountain streams, mountain forests and alpine pastures. You will enjoy a three course lunch served at your table without having to give up any scenery. As you get close to Zermatt you enter a valley created by the Rhine and Rhone rivers. Zermatt does not allow cars but your bags have already been delivered to your room so you will be ready to explore.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 11: Lunch with a View
Today you take on of Switzerland’s most iconic cogwheel railways as you ascend to the Gornergrat. As your train make its way up the mountain you will never be bored as you enter tunnels, pass-through forests of pine and enjoy vistas of meadows and lakes. When you reach the top you have reservations for lunch at highest hotel in Europe. As you dine you will look out over The Matterhorn, Weisshorn and 27 other mountains, all over 12,000 feet. After lunch walk around the mountain peak enjoying the fresh Alpine air before an equally enjoyable journey back to Zermatt.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 12: Zermatt to Montreux
In the morning you are transferred to the station (your luggage having left last night) and board your 1st Class train for the trip to Montreux situated across from France on Lake Geneva (or Lac Leman as the French call it). Upon arrival you are met and delivered to your lakeside hotel where your luggage has already checked in. In the afternoon take a walking tour of the Lavaux vineyards which rise up from the lake in a large row of terraces. In addition to exploring the vines you can sample the wine as you look down to the town and lake and across to France. Returning to the lakeside take a short walk to Chateau Chillon made famous by the poem ‘The Prisoner of Chillon’ by Lord Byron. In the evening, the casino is only a five minute walk.
Breakfast
Day 13: Lausanne and Evian
Today you take an excursion to the town of Lausanne which is the Headquarters of the Olympic committee and home to the Olympic Museum. It also has a very quaint old town which you can explore. You then board a ferry to cross the lake and arrive in the town of Evian-les-Baines which is world famous for its sparkling water. It is also home to a casino. Enjoy lunch at a typical French bistro and look across the lake to Switzerland. After lunch you take the ferry back and return to Montreux. As you prepare to return home, enjoy a farewell dinner at the hotel overlooking the lake.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 14: Return Home
After breakfast, your driver will be waiting to drive you to Geneva airport where you begin your journey back to the USA.
Breakfast
