Switzerland by Train

Rotenboden

We have just completed our trip to Switzerland. 

Switzerland has one of the best train systems in the world. We bought a 15 days First Class Swiss Travel Pass which entitled us to unlimited travel on the trains, trams, buses and boats. It also entitled us to discounts on mountain trains, cable cars and funicular trains and free entry to many museums. 

Travelling by trains is convenient and dependable and the stations are well connected. We managed to change to connecting trains with our luggage with less than 10 minutes in between without any issues.

We have travelled on three scenic trains which are included in the Swiss Travel Pass. All we needed to do was to pay the reservation fees for seats.

a) Gotthard Panoramic Express

    Lucerne to Fluelen by cruise and Fluelen to Lugano by train

b) Bernina Express

    Lugano to Tirano by coach and Tirano to Chur by train

c) Glacier Express

    Chur to Zermatt by train

Our itinerary was as follows 

Day 1 

Arrived in ZURICH 0815

Old Town

St Peters Kirche

Fraumunster

Grossmunster

BERN

Old Town

Berner Munster

Bear pit

Baren Park

Back to Zurich

Dinner at Federal Brasserie

Central Plaza Hotel Zurich

Day 2

Mt Titlis

LUCERNE

Lunch at Baccio della Mamma

Rosengart Collection

Jesuit Church

Spreuerbrucke

Peterskapelle

Chapel Bridge

Back to Zurich

Dinner at Federal Brasserie

Central Plaza Hotel, Zurich

Day 3

GOTTHARD PANORAMA EXPRESS

Cruise on Lake Lucerne to Fluelen then to LUGANO by train

Piazza alla Riforma 

Lake Lugano

Chiesa Santa Maria degli Angioli

Chiesa di San Carlo Borromeo

Chiesa Sant Antonio

Dinner at Argentino Bistrot & Pizza

Luganodante Hotel, Lugano

Day 4

Cathedral di San Lorenzo

Monte San Salvatore

Chiesa Monte San Salvatore

LOCARNO

Lunch at Ristorante Oldrati

Santuario Madonna del Sasso

Boat ride to ASCONA

Tea at Al Porto

Back to Lugano

Dinner at Flamel

Luganodante Hotel, Lugano

Day 5 

BERNINA EXPRESS

Coach to TIRANO then to CHUR by train

Lunch at Vittoria Tirano

Dinner at Ratushof

ABC Hotel, Chur

Day 6

St Martin's Church

Chur Cathedral

Fontana Park

Shopping in Manor

GLACIER EXPRESS to ZERMATT

Lunch on the train

Hinterdorf

Kirchbrucke

View Point at Chalet Hotel Schonegg

Dinner at Derby

Ambassador Hotel, Zermatt

Day 7

View Point at Chalet Hotel Schonegg again

Pfarrkirche St Mauritius

Mountaineers' Cemetery

Lunch at Pinte

GORNEGRAT

Rotenboden

Findelbach

Dinner at McDonald

Ambassador Hotel, Zermatt

Day 8

Kirchbrucke again

INTERLAKEN

GRINDELWALD

Lunch at Central Hotel Wolter

Grindelwald First

Harder Kulm

Dinner at Restaurant Des Alpes Interlaken

Carlton-Europe Hotel, Interlaken

Day 9

Jungfraujoch

Eiger Express cable car up from Grindelwald to Eigergletscher

Cogwheel train from Eigergletscher to the Jongfraujoch and back

Tea at Restaurant Eigergletscher

Train down from Kleine Scheidegg to Grindelwald

To Zurich

Dinner at Alexis Restauarant & Wine Bar

Central Plaza Hotel, Zurich

Day 10

ST GALLEN

Abbey of St Gallen

The Cathedral

The Library

Vaulted Cellar

St Laurenzenkirche

Lunch at News Cafe Musikbar

Shopping in Manor

APPENZELL

Village centre

Parish Church of St Mautritius

Tea at Conditorei Cafe

Back to Zurich

Dinner at Osteria Borgo

Central Plaza Hotel, Zurich

Day 11

Flight home at 1145