POV: You’ve got your headphones on, Mariah Carey queued on Spotify and your head resting against the window. Snow-capped mountains and fir trees whiz past – it’s giving Y2K music video, and it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… Hello, flight-free trips to Switzerland.
It’s all about those cosy lake and mountain scenes. Think festive Christmas markets, boujie ski resorts and plenty of choccy and cheese. Switzerland is the ultimate winter wonderland, and travelling there by train means you see even more for your money. You’ll start in the UK and then go through France, Italy and other Swiss towns, so you can make the most of multiple stops.
If this sounds like your kinda festive fun, here are our top trips to see Switzerland by train, in partnership with Byway…
St Moritz glamour – 10 days
This 10-day trip is all about the glam ski resort of St Moritz. Start in London – or wherever you are in the UK – and hop on the Eurostar to Pairs, then the TGV to Zurich. En route, you’ll soak up scenes of the French countryside and Alpine foothills. You get two nights in Zurich, so check out the up-and-coming old town, Altstadt – a post-industrial district full of cool bars and fashion start-ups – grab a hot choc at the famous Café & Conditorei 1842 and see an opera or ballet in the Opernhaus.
Next up, is Chur for the epic UNESCO World Heritage Albula railway, where you pass over the stunning six-arched Landwasser Viaduct. This journey is worth it alone for the views, but it’s also your route to St Moritz. Whether you ski or not, there’s plenty to do here. Hire an e-bike to explore the surrounding mountain paths, see the sun rise and set over the snow, and try the Japanese art of Shinrin-Yoku, or ‘forest bathing’. It’s all about taking in the forest through your senses.
Back on the Albula railway, you cross the viaduct and transfer through Chur again, but this time to head to Bern. This city sits between the Jura and the Alps and has a thriving urban swim scene in the River Mare. It’s super pretty and you get two nights to enjoy it all before your final night’s stop – Basel. This Swiss city hosts the country’s most famous Christmas markets, so what better way to end your tour? You can hop between the stalls at Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz to finish off your festive shopping, just in time for the Eurostar home.
Rhaetian Railway: The Bernina route – 9 days
If you’ve never travelled by train before, what a way to start… This trip takes you on one of the most amazing railway journeys in the world – the Rhaetian Railway from Italy to Switzerland. Make your way to Chambery via Paris for your first night. This place is known for its cheese, so get ready to steal your family’s thunder by bringing back a serious post-dinner spread. The next day, you get a coach to Turin and country number two, as you start your journey through Italy.
One night in Turin is for strolling through the cobbled squares, a spa treatment at QC Termetorino and a visit to Giardino Reale, designed by the same guy as the Palace of Versailles. You’ll then make your way to Lecco on the eastern branch of Lake Como via Milan for two nights. It’s definitely a chill side to lake life here, with stunning scenery and much more affordable restaurants. In winter, you can go sledding and snowshoeing just a bus ride away at the Piani d’Erna resort.
Travelling from Lecco to Tirano by bus, you’ll then board the big one – the Rhaetian Railway – to pass 196 bridges, through 55 tunnels and over the Bernina Pass, 2,253 metres above sea level. And, as one epic journey ends, another begins, changing to a different UNESCO-listed train, the Albula railway, from St Moritz to Chur. Chur is Switzerland’s oldest city and is surrounded by Alpine mountains – you have a night here to learn all about its history. Finally, Bern is the last stop for a couple more sleeps and a chance to swim in the River Mare or stroll around the open-air markets.
Classic Switzerland – 13 days
This trip is a German and Swiss combo of classic stops. Thanks to the Eurostar and a quick change in Brussels, you can be in the heart of Cologne in less than four hours from St Pancras. Spend your first night here, visit the city’s famous cathedral and check out the Christmas markets. Then, take the slow train to Basel, passing the Rhine Gorge, and carry on to Lucerne for your next three nights.
Lucerne is all baroque churches, cobblestone squares and of course, lakeside scenes. It’s ideal for hikers who want to tackle the surrounding mountains, or the lake and River Reuss also have some easier trails. You can even take a cable car to the must-see summit of Mount Rigi – the view captures 13 lakes and the Swiss Alps. From Lucerne to Locarno, this town has a bit of a Mediterranean charm, sitting on Lake Maggiore. The hiking adventure continues here on the Cardada mountain and, if you’re here on a Thursday, the weekly market is a cute morning activity.
Cameras at the ready… After two nights in Locarno, bag yourself a window seat on the Centovalli Railway to head for the Italian border. You’ll pass through the Centovalli valleys, past waterfalls, chestnut forests and rural villages. Then, changing in Domodossola, trace the tracks of the Orient Express and arrive in Montreux. Writers such as Mary Shelley and Lord Byron loved it here – you’ve got the waters of Lake Geneva against a dramatic alpine backdrop. Chill here for three nights, and maybe visit a spa and Chillon Castle.
Head along the Golden Pass route next, back through Switzerland on your way to Bern for a couple of days, and then you get a final night in Mainz to break up the journey home. It’s the official wine capital of Germany, so it’s last but by no means least.
Alpine Switzerland by rail – 9 days
Tick off Germany, Switzerland and Belgium on this extended week away. London to Cologne is a super easy journey with a change in Brussels and then, it’s all about the sweet stuff. The chocolate museum here is a dessert lover’s dream – and if you visit at Christmas, ‘tis the season to treat yourself. There’s plenty of history to indulge in, too, and you’ve got two nights here. Appenzell’s up next, which is a cute, car-free town, surrounded by meadows and pine trees. Settle in for three nights here and seriously relax – it’s got a real nostalgic, old-town vibe.
Board your next few trains to Mainz – a historic university city and more importantly, Germany’s wine capital. The architecture is gorg and the Gutenberg Museum is well worth a visit to learn about the city’s rich printing history. Travel from Mainz to Cologne and then hop on the fast German ICE train to whiz right through to Brussels. You stay the night here this time, making it the final stop on this trip but it’s probably the most festive yet. By day, there are loads of museums, galleries and city parks. Then, by night, see how the place lights up and the Christmas markets come alive.
Mountain lakes – 9 days
This one’s all about the lakes, and Switzerland and Italy have plenty of them. Your first stop’s Basel, a city that boasts one of the highest quality lifestyles in Europe. It’s set on the River Rhine, with over 40 museums and galleries, as well as hiking routes for that balance of urban life and nature. The old port is now a hotspot for an evening drink, so head here to see what the nightlife’s saying.
From Basel, you head to Locarno on the Treno Gottardo, passing over the 120-year-old Gotthard panorama line, where the lake and mountain views are something else. Locarno itself is Swiss with a Mediterranean feel and plays host to the world-famous Locarno Film Festival every August. In summer, Lake Maggiore is made for swimming and in winter, it’s still one of the mildest spots in Switzerland. You can head to the top of its snow-topped mountain to Cardada-Cimetta for 360° views or take in the crisp air around the lake.
Next stop, Lugano. It’s only half an hour away but feels even more Italian in the foothills of the Alps. You can wander its Olive Tree Grove Trail, take a boat trip out on Lake Lugano and get the funicular up to Monte Bré – home to plenty of hiking trails. Travelling through Monza, you finally arrive in Italy with a stay in Lecco on Lake Como. Even though this famous lake has seen some famous faces, like George Clooney and Richard Branson, this part doesn’t have the price tag to match. It’s a much more chill vibe here, so the cost of an Aperol should be a nice surprise. Before heading home, there’s a night in Zurich, too. It’s a much bigger city than the rest, so you can get your shopping fix and discover the local, urban labels in Zurich-West.
Mini-break to Geneva – 6 days
For something a bit shorter, this itinerary keeps things locked down to six days and three sweet stops – Zurich, Geneva and Paris. Despite being the economic hub of Switzerland and Europe, Zurich isn’t your classic finance bro. Altstadt is the old town and to the west, there are some more up-and-coming bars and fashion start-ups. Football fans will love the FIFA World Football Museum, and everyone loves the wild WOW Museum of immersive optical illusions, which isn’t just for kids…
Head straight to Geneva after one night and then you can settle here for three. The scenery in this city is matched with elegant chocolate shops, boujie boutiques and Michelin-starred restaurants. Geneva also has the largest botanical garden in Switzerland and the lake is lined with loads of sports, beaches, proms and places to set sail on a boat trip.
Your final night is only in the city of love and lights. Paris never gets old, no matter how many times you’ve been before. Whether it’s your first or fifth time, the boulangeries and world-renowned art galleries are always a winner. Check out the Jardin du Luxembourg, shop at Galeries Lafayette and call yourself Emily…
Sold on the idea of going flight free? See where else you can travel to, in partnership with Byway, or what other Switzerland holidays we offer.
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Author: Lily Owen
Last updated: 18/11/2024
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