Which Scenic Trains in Switzerland Should You Experience?

Alpine Slowcoach

The legendary Glacier Express is often dubbed the world’s slowest express, yet it is one of the scenic trains in Switzerland. This 8-hour (291 km) ride links Zermatt and St. Moritz via the Oberalp Pass. It crosses 291 bridges and 91 tunnels, including the dramatic Landwasser Viaduct, so passengers have plenty of time to soak in glacier views and jagged peaks through expansive panoramic windows. Many sections of this route are part of the Rhaetian Railway’s UNESCO World Heritage landscape. In short, the Glacier Express’s leisurely pace and double-decker coaches make it a bucket-list must for Glacier Express Switzerland enthusiasts and first-timers alike.

From Glacier to Palm

The Bernina Express truly delivers on the panorama. This panoramic train in Switzerland climbs from the snowy peaks of Graubünden down to the palms of Ticino. Running from Chur or St. Moritz to Tirano, it navigates 55 tunnels and 196 bridges. En route, you’ll roll over the spiraling Brusio Viaduct and the famous Landwasser Viaduct, pass the Morteratsch Glacier, and cross three mountain lakes. The Albula–Bernina line is UNESCO-listed, and riders often quip that the journey is better than any movie, passing by glaciers on the way down to palm trees. All this unfolds in about 4½ hours, making the Bernina Express a top choice for dramatic Alpine vistas.

Golden Alpine Panorama

The Golden Pass in Switzerland (sometimes called GoldenPass Line) is the classic lakes-and-Alps route from Montreux to Lucerne (via Zweisimmen). Onboard the GoldenPass Panoramic or nostalgic Belle Epoque coaches, one of the scenic trains in Switzerland first descends from Gstaad into rolling Pre-Alpine meadows and quaint chalets. As it nears Montreux, a glittering view of Lake Geneva unfolds outside your window. In all, the Montreux–Zweisimmen leg takes just over 2 hours. It’s famed for its mix of Alpine and lakeside scenery, earning it the nickname Golden Pass train in Switzerland route, and riders marvel at the contrast of snow-capped peaks and sunlit Riviera vineyards.

Lake and Tunnel Journey

The Gotthard Panorama Express is unique in that it combines train and steamboat. Start in Lugano/Bellinzona (Ticino) and ride the historic Gotthard mountain railway north through the Alps. The twisting route (opened 1882) lets you view the tiny church at Wassen from three angles as this scenic train in Switzerland loops overhead. At Flüelen, you hop aboard a vintage steamer (or modern vessel) to cross Lake Lucerne. In about 5½ hours, you’ll arrive in Lucerne by the famous Chapel Bridge, having experienced Mediterranean flair, alpine tunnels, historic sights, and a lake cruise all in one seamless journey.

Rolling Hills Express

The Voralpen-Express delivers the gentler side of Switzerland. This hourly train links St. Gallen (with its UNESCO-listed abbey) to Lucerne in roughly 2¼ hours (125 km). It traverses the soaring 99 m Sitter Viaduct near Wattwil and crosses wooded hill country. Along the way, you skirt the back side of Lake Zurich by Rapperswil and pass moorlands in the “Toggenburg”. Instead of towering peaks, this route offers pastoral charm, orchards, villages, and gentle meadow views. No surprise it’s a popular tourist train in Switzerland for those who enjoy countryside panoramas.

Alpine Heritage Route

Combine the Albula and Bernina lines, and you have one of the world’s great mountain railways. The Rhaetian Railway’s Albula/Bernina line (aka RhB) is a UNESCO World Heritage route. Dating back over a century, it threads through the Albula Valley and over the Bernina Pass with bold engineering, tight loops, towering viaducts, and 1810 m of vertical climb without cogwheels. The Landwasser Viaduct at Filisur and the high spiral tunnels are highlights. Onboard vintage cars, you relax as the world’s wildest mountain scenery unfolds, golden larch forests in autumn, icy crevasses and peaks in winter, all blending seamlessly with stone villages below.

Cogwheel Lakes Tour

For a quick dose of Swiss scenery, the Lucerne–Interlaken Express is hard to beat. This short 74 km run (about 1h50) hugs five Alpine lakes at the foot of towering peaks. After leaving Lake Lucerne behind, this scenic train in Switzerland engages cogwheel gears to scale the Brünig Pass at 1006 m. Passengers watch cliff waterfalls give way to snowfields as they rise. It’s an easy 2-hour ride yet offers postcard-perfect views of lakes, waterfalls, and mountains. That’s why many call it a top tourist train in Switzerland for visitors who want spectacular scenery on a shorter trip.

Glacier Plateau Shuttle

The Aletsch Express isn’t a train but an electric mountain shuttle linking Bettmeralp and Riederalp on the Aletsch Arena sun plateau. In this car-free zone above Fiesch, you can hop on the eco-friendly bus every half hour (summer only) and cruise up toward the Great Aletsch Glacier. Although short, this ride rewards with sweeping views of the Alps’ largest glacier and the UNESCO World Heritage peaks that surround it. It’s a convenient, scenic lift for hikers and sightseers who want to explore the glacier plateaus without driving.

Steam to the Summits

The Schynige Platte Railway is pure Swiss nostalgia. This steam (now electric) cog railway climbs from Wilderswil (near Interlaken) up to the Schynige Platte alpine ridge (1,967 m) in about 50 minutes. At the summit, you step onto a historic botanical garden and one of Switzerland’s most famous panoramas. The Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau fill the horizon in front of you. On clear days, 360° views stretch across the Bernese Oberland. It’s a favorite ride for families and train buffs alike: vintage coaches chug through forests and meadows, then stop beneath the mountain peaks as if right on stage.

Staying Connected on the Rails

Scenic trains let you relax, but don’t count on flawless onboard Wi-Fi. Tracks tunnel under mountains and cross remote passes, making train Wi-Fi slow or spotty. Instead, savvy travelers use a global eSIM plan. An eSIM Switzerland lets your smartphone automatically latch onto the strongest local network as you travel. You can buy an eSIM online from trusted providers like Airhub before you go and install it instantly, no fumbling for a local SIM card. That way, even when a train barrels through a tunnel or high in the Valais peaks, your Switzerland train network map, messages, and social media keep streaming. Airhub makes this simple: choose a plan on their site, install the profile, and you’ll stay connected from the first station to the last without a hitch.

Hop on to an Unforgettable Train Ride

Switzerland’s scenic trains are the best seats to the Alpine show. Every line, from the legendary Glacier Express to the quaint cog railway up Schynige Platte, has its own charm. The GoldenPass Switzerland corridor blends lakeside comfort with mountain thrills, and the Bernina/Gotthard routes pack dramatic landscapes into a single trip. These trains make sightseeing as smooth as the railbed itself. Plan by securing a Swiss Travel Pass and reserving seats on panoramic services, and equip your phone with a travel-ready eSIM Europe. With a little prep (and an Airhub eSIM), you can simply sit back and soak up every snowy peak and sunlit valley on your journey.

Ready to explore? Stay online with Airhub’s easy prepaid eSIM plans. With a few taps, you can activate service on your phone and ensure you’re connected through the tunnels and passes of Switzerland’s railways. Enjoy the views worry-free. Airhub has your connectivity covered.

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