Specialty Trains of Switzerland

Welcome to Switzerland! Upon arrival at the Geneva airport, you’ll collect your luggage and make your way to the arrivals area where you’ll meet your transfer driver to take you to your city center hotel.  After checking in, you’ll have the afternoon free to discover Geneva at your leisure. 

We recommend visiting the National History Museum or Geneva Art Museum. We recommend the Botanical Gardens of Geneva or Eaux-Vives Beach if you want to stay outdoors.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before heading to the rail station where you’ll board a direct interregional late-morning train to Montreux. Enjoy an hour-long journey along Lake Lucerne; before you know it, you’ll be in Montreux!

Upon arrival, you’ll have a private transfer from the rail station to your hotel where you can leave your luggage if your room is not ready. When ready, Chillon Castle is a short journey (20 min max by local rail) from downtown Montreux. We recommend 2 hours for a self-guided visit. Your entry tickets are included in your Swiss Pass. 

After your tour, you can take the short train back to town or you can choose to return to the Montreux waterfront for a walk on the fairytale Chemin Fleuri (Floral Path) – a silky smooth promenade framed by flowerbeds positively tropical in color and vivacity. This snakes dreamily along the lake for roughly 2.5 miles from the magnificent stone hulk of lakeside Chillon Castle back to Montreux.

After breakfast, return to the same nearby rail station and hop aboard the train to Gstaad. Your Swiss Pass includes your tickets; the train runs every 30 minutes.

Gstaad is an exclusive community home to A-listers such as Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews, who was made an honorary citizen of Gstaad-Saanen in 2014. Mountain railways and roadways provide access to popular Gstaad, in the German-speaking southwest region of the Swiss Alps. Apart from fine dining, Gstaad is also known for its three ski areas, winter sports schools and over 30 miles of cross-country skiing trails. A promenade lined with luxury boutiques runs through the town center. Activities are also plentiful in summer, from tennis and golf to hiking and mountaineering.

A sweet day awaits you! You cannot visit Switzerland without sampling their most famous specialty – Swiss chocolate. 

You’ll spend a delightful day traveling on the vintage 1915 Belle Époque carriages with the Swiss Chocolate Train from Montreux to Montbovon. You’ll be traveling in First Class! Coffee and croissants will be served, along with chocolate and cheese, so feel free to indulge as you pass through the vineyards along Lake Geneva. 

Your Swiss Chocolate Train tour also includes travel to Gruyère and Broc by luxury shuttle bus and includes the Maison Cailler – the famous chocolatier. Here, you’ll learn about the production process on a tour of the factory and sample mouth-watering Swiss chocolate. In Gruyère, you’ll visit the cheese dairy producing the famous Gruyère cheese. You’ll see the traditional cheese-making and get the opportunity to sample different varieties. This also includes free admission to the show dairy “La Maison du Gruyère.” A shuttle bus will bring you to Gruyère itself where you’ll have time to explore the picturesque village or the castle (entree fee included in your Swiss Pass) before you journey back to Montreux via chocolate bus.

After breakfast in your hotel, you’ll meet your private transfer to the rail station where you’ll travel to Zermatt, located at the foot of the Matterhorn – considered by many to be the world’s most famous mountain. 

Upon arrival, you’ll make your way to the hotel (a 10-minute walk or 1-minute taxi – but this will depend on your routing, as cars are typically not allowed).  The rest of your day is free to enjoy at your leisure. 

Today, you’ll indulge (again) in a fresh panoramic journey! Travel in style aboard the Glacier Express in Excellence Class from Zermatt to St. Moritz. (Please see inclusions below for all Excellence Class services). Along your journey, take in the impressive feats of railway engineering while traveling in luxury through unique landscapes and across 291 bridges. 

Upon arrival in St. Moritz, head to your hotel on foot (under 15 minutes), by taxi or by complimentary shuttle. Check in, leave your bags, and enjoy this unique town. Highlights include the leaning tower, a remnant of the Mauritius Church from around 1500 and the Segantini Museum. The Via Serlas offers great lux shopping in a small space, and we recommend seeking out local specialties like the famous Engadine nut tart. 

After breakfast, you’ll depart St. Moritz for Lugano – a journey by both rail and bus along the Bernina Express routes which takes you through the breathtaking landscapes of Upper Engadin’s lake district and onto the Italian Alps. 

This is an all-day panoramic journey with the Bernina Express. You’ll marvel at Lake Bianco, Poshiavo and the Brusio spiral viaduct. From Tirano, the Bernina Express Bus will take you through the Italian Alps back into Switzerland to Lugano. 

Upon arrival in Lugano, take a taxi (not included) from the rail station to your hotel. For a superb view of the town, ride the funicular to the top of Monte Brè. Once at the top, you can dine, hike, bike or soak up the view. Osteria Funicoloare is a recommended restaurant. Depending on your time and interest, you can also step on board at Lugano Centrale Lago and enjoy a 30-minute cruise to Gandria (included). 

Check out of your hotel after breakfast and make your way to the rail station for your final journey to Zurich. Today you’ll enjoy a journey of captivating contrasts along some of the famous Gotthard panorama routes too!

Upon arrival, you can either grab a taxi or walk (many streets are pedestrian-only) to your hotel. This afternoon, you’ll have time to discover Zurich, Switzerland’s business and cultural hub at your own pace. Take an entertaining stroll and admire the Old Town as you wander. A sweet finish to the day includes a visit to the famous Lindt Home of Chocolate. 

All good things must come to an end, and this Switzerland trip is sadly one of them. Check out of your hotel after breakfast and take your private transfer to the Zurich Airport and your departure terminal.