Discover Switzerland according to the official route by rail! The Grand Train Tour features not just some but all scenic train rides of Switzerland. Go on an adventure and collect a stamp after every leg of the journey in your official Grand Train Tour guidebook. 

At Happyrail we make sure that this tour features not just the best scenic trains. We'll book tickets to Switzerland from any major station or airport in Europe and make sure you stay in authentic, family-owned hotels in Switzerland that we know from experience train travellers enjoy. With our daily guides and live support along the way, accessible alongside your tickets in the Happyrail app, you can go on a once in a lifetime trip through Switzerland without any worries.

Day 1 - to Switzerland

Starting at your preferred station or airport in Europe, travel by comfortable high-speed and intercity trains to Lausanne on Lake Geneva. Accommodation in a modern hotel in the city center close to the lake. 

Day 2 - day trip to Schaffhausen falls
On your first proper day in Switzerland, you travel to Schaffhausen to see the breahtaking Rhine Falls, Europe's largest. You head back with a detour using the Voralpen Express, a relaxing and beautiful train ride along the pitturesque hills and villages in the foothills of the Alps. 

Day 3 - GoldenPass & Lake Geneva
The Luzern-Interlaken Express travels through the forest-covered Brünig Pass to Interlaken. Here you board one of the highlights of the whole trip: the GoldenPass Express takes you through the Bernese Oberland mountains to Montreux. You travel in prestige class with catering at your seat as standard. Stay the night in a historic hotel overlooking lake Geneva.

Day 4 - Zermatt
You travel by train through the Rhone-valley to the famous Alpine resort of Zermatt, where you'll stay in a family-owned hotel in the historic city centre.

• Book an extra night in Zermatt and the optional day trip by Gornergrat railway to see the world-famous Matterhorn mountains. 

Day 5 - Glacier Express to St. Moritz
Time for one of Europe's most special train rides: The Glacier Express, the world’s slowest Express train, takes you through the Rhine Gorge and over the Oberalp Pass to St Moritz. Enjoy a three-course meal served at your seat. Overnight stay in the spa town of St. Moritz.

Day 6 - Bernina Express to Lugano
The famous Bernina Express takes you over the Bernina Pass to Italy. Enjoy the spectacular UNESCO-listed scenery through full-length panoramic windows. Enjoy an Italian lunch before departing by Bernina Express Bus through the Italian lake district to Lugano, where you stay in an Italian-style hotel between the railway station and the lake.

Day 7 - Gotthard Pass & Rigi Mountain railway
The spectacular Gotthard Panorama Express takes you over the famous Gotthard Pass back to lake Lucerne, for a relaxing paddle-steamer boat trip with spectacular mountain scenery. The Rigi Railway takes you up the Rigi mountain, where you stay in Rigi Kaltbad, with some of the most breathtaking views anywhere in Switzerland.

Day 8 - return trip
The Rigi Cog Railway takes you back down to Vitznau, where you reboard the paddle-steamer for a last trip back to Lucerne. From there, high-speed trains take you to the station or airport of your choice. A post-trip night in Basel or Zurich can be booked if necessary; please contact our travel agents.

Other Swiss Rail Tours
The Grand Train Tour follows the official route and includes at least one scenic train of Switzerland every day. For shorter or more relxed itineraries please look at our other Swiss Rail Tours:

• For a tour with our own selection of Switzerland's scenic trains most worth travelling to, with a bit more free time, see our Swiss Panorama Tour.
• For a shorter railtour with only the Bernina Express, GLacier Express and Gornergrat trains, see our Glacier and Bernina Express railtour.