Take the train to Switzerland

Rail travel at its most enjoyable

The Swiss rail network is renowned for its efficiency, the mountain views are dramatic, and many destinations are accessible in a day’s travel from London ... there are many reasons why you should travel to Switzerland by rail.

The Bernese Oberland

To reach the Bernese Oberland from Paris, our recommended route is via Basel. It takes just over ten hours from London, including connection times, meaning that, by setting off from London at 8am, you can arrive in Kandersteg just in time for dinner. An evening of traditional Swiss specialities and a good night’s sleep will set you up perfectly for the next day, be that enjoying the magical atmosphere in winter or, in summer, embarking on your walking holiday in the Bernese Oberland, or traversing more high passes from the Bernese Oberland into the Valais towards the foot of the Matterhorn. 

Similarly, for our High Route holiday, after leaving London at 8am, you can be in Wengen before 7pm, enjoying views of the Jungfrau from the hotel garden.

Lake Lucerne

You can depart London St Pancras at the civilised time of 9.20am and still be on the shores of Lake Lucerne by 8pm, having changed in Paris and Basel. 

Chur & the Engadine Valley

It takes approximately 10 hours from London to reach Chur, Switzerland’s oldest city and the first stop on our Glacier Express itinerary, a truly iconic journey through winter landscapes.

Chur is also one of the gateways to the idyllic Engadine Valley. Despite the remote location in easternmost Switzerland, you can still reach the Engadine valley in a day from London, though it takes 12 hours and typically involves three changes after leaving Paris.
 
Bearing this in mind, we recommend that you break your journey with a night in Zürich’s characterful old town. This makes for a more comfortable journey and also means you can appreciate the mountain scenery of the final part of the journey in daylight.

Refreshed from an overnight stay in Zürich, choose a seat on the left-hand side of the train for fine views along the shores of two lakes, Zürichsee and Wallensee. Lake views give way to mountains as you change to narrow gauge railways to climb through magnificent scenery towards the Engadine Valley for winter breaks at the Hotel Meisser, and the Pensione Privata, and our Engadine Valley summer walking holiday.