Category Scenic Trains, Zermatt & Grand Tours

Switzerland · SCENIC TRAINS, ZERMATT & GRAND TOURS

The 15 Best Scenic Train Trips from Zurich

16 reviewed

Switzerland built its railways for the view, and these are the journeys that prove it — floor-to-roof windows, spiral tunnels, and the long climb toward Zermatt and the Matterhorn. Below are the rail trips worth the seat, with routes, durations, and which fold in a mountain excursion at the far end.

Lake Lucerne Panoramic Sightseeing Cruise

Lake Lucerne Panoramic Sightseeing Cruise - Deck Strategy: Main Deck vs Upper Deck Roof vs Rear Terrace

Glacier Express, Swiss Alps & Lucerne Tour | From Zurich

Glacier Express, Swiss Alps & Lucerne Tour | From Zurich - Oberalp Section and the High-Altitude Moment

2.Glacier Express, Swiss Alps & Lucerne Tour | From Zurich

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 164 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $599

Zurich to Lucerne in one day by train, with a Glacier Express ride through the Oberalp Pass and a guided walk in medieval Lucerne.

“This is a walking/train tour. We had a brilliant guide Jean who took the time to share his knowledge. Personally I would not do it again as there are too many trains.”

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Zermatt & Mt. Gornergrat Small Group Day Trip from Zürich

Zermatt & Mt. Gornergrat Small Group Day Trip from Zürich - Key highlights you’ll notice right away

3.Zermatt & Mt. Gornergrat Small Group Day Trip from Zürich

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 72 reviews · 11 to 12 hours (approx.) · from $756

Small-group rail day trip from Zürich to car-free Zermatt and Gornergrat. Matterhorn views, cogwheel trains, and guide-led timing.

“The guide, Andy, was very knowledgeable and personable. The transportation was fantastic and we were very impressed with the infrastructure at the top. The views were incredible!”

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Grand Rail Tour of Switzerland

Grand Rail Tour of Switzerland - First-class Swiss Travel Pass: what value looks like

4.Grand Rail Tour of Switzerland

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 68 reviews · from $13,253Top rated

First-class rail highlights from Lucerne to Zermatt and Jungfraujoch, guided Rigi/Pilatus and Gornergrat days, with Zurich ending.

“We loved this tour! Great choice of beautiful mountain destinations, charming hotels and restaurants that offered local cuisine. Our guides Gabriella and Leo were so personable, knowledgable, and fun to be with. They went the extra mile to Read more”

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Private Luxury Tour of Switzerland

Private Luxury Tour of Switzerland - Stop 2: Giessbach Falls and the Historic Funicular Experience

5.Private Luxury Tour of Switzerland

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 57 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $895

Private luxury Switzerland day tour from Zurich with a VIP driver-guide. See Aareschlucht Gorge, Giessbach Falls, lakeside villages and more.

“This is an opportunity that you must experience in Switzerland. We had the pleasure of having Fernando, who is the amazing CEO of this company, be our guide. He is extremely informative on a lot of the history in Switzerland. This experience will allow you to see Switzerland at your own pace. The places we stopped were absolutely beautiful. All of the landmarks that Fernando navigated for us to see were indescribable. It felt like he curated an adventure specifically for us to see all of the majestic wonders of Switzerland. I highly would recommend this tour to anyone, whether it’s your first time in Switzerland or not. When I…”

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Europe: Eurail Global Mobile Pass for 33 Countries

Europe: Eurail Global Mobile Pass for 33 Countries - Continuous vs Flexi: choosing the right validity window

Glacier Express Panoramic Train Round Trip from Zürich With Private Guide

Glacier Express Panoramic Train Round Trip from Zürich With Private Guide - Chur Sets the Tone: Old Town Walks and Cathedral Courtyards

7.Glacier Express Panoramic Train Round Trip from Zürich With Private Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 34 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $951

Private Glacier Express from Zürich with a guide, reserved seats, scenic stops, and a seat-served 3-course lunch from Chur to Brig.

“The trip itself was brilliant, and we had a fabulous day. The Glacier Express lived up to all our high expectations and the scenery was spectacular. Although our young guide was quite inexperienced it was her second tour, she did a good job getting us everywhere we needed to be and on time to make all our connections. We were picked up from our Zurich, taken by local train to the main central station to catch the regional train and then the Glacier Express. We returned to Zurich via a different rail route so in effect we circled a large part of Switzerland which was a bonus. Although we could…”

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From Zürich: Small Group Tour to Zermatt and Mt. Gornergrat

From Zürich: Small Group Tour to Zermatt and Mt. Gornergrat - Entering Zermatt: car-free village walking with real character

8.From Zürich: Small Group Tour to Zermatt and Mt. Gornergrat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 22 reviews · from $721

Small-group day trip from Zürich to Zermatt and the Gornergrat summit by cogwheel railway for Matterhorn views and a guided village walk.

“It was an amazing experience and the weather is great! We were able to see the north and west side f the Matterhorn. It’s an awesome view of the majestic glaciers of Matterhorn in Mt Gornergrat panorama views. Martin is nice and shows us the best views of Matterhorn in Zermatt and the different places old houses and interesting places in Zermatt. The cogwheel train going up to Mt Garnergrat is spectacular. An unforgettable experience of a lifetime!🤗. Thank you Martin!”

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Glacier Express, Swiss Alps & Lucerne Tour | From Lucerne

Glacier Express, Swiss Alps & Lucerne Tour | From Lucerne - Meeting at Lucerne’s Central Station: where the day actually starts

9.Glacier Express, Swiss Alps & Lucerne Tour | From Lucerne

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 21 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $598

Guided rail journey from Lucerne on the Glacier Express route to Chur, Andermatt, and Lucerne’s Old Town, with reserved seats.

“The glacier train ride was wonderful, many beautiful sites. We stopped in Andamatt. A picturesque town. Many great photo spots. The walking tour beforehand gave us a great taste of lake lurcern. The disappointment to this excursion was they changed how our day was supposed to go. Train ride first, followed by walking tour. With this change we were unable to meet up with friends as we had previously planned. Also we were told we would be picked up at our hotel and the day before told we had to meet our guide at the local train station, which I wouldn't have known if I didn't confirm details the night…”

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Zurich: Glacier Express’s Swiss Alps & Lucerne Private Tour

Zurich: Glacier Express's Swiss Alps & Lucerne Private Tour - Chur, Switzerland’s oldest city: a quick look from the rail

10.Glacier Express’s Swiss Alps & Lucerne Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 14 reviews

Private first-class Glacier Express rail day from Zurich to Lucerne with expert guides, gourmet meal options, and iconic views.

“The organizer charged us extra due to a train delay as a result of the train we planned to take was not accessible upon arrival in Lucerne so it added a half hour to the trip but within the 11 hr tour as advertised. We felt it wasn’t our fault but paid the extra 150 Swiss francs anyway. Also, the meal served was less than first class gourmet of chicken, a light lunch. The guide Gustavo was excellent, and the scenery was superb.”

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The Grand Switzerland Private Tour (5 days)

The Grand Switzerland Private Tour (5 days) - Day 1: Appenzell tea in a wooden house, mountain panorama, and a farm day

11.The Grand Switzerland Private Tour (5 days)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $7,384

Private 5-day Switzerland tour from Zurich with a local guide: Appenzell tea and farms, Ticino lakes, Zermatt raclette, Lauterbrunnen waterfalls.

“This was our first time in Switzerland, so our goal was to see as much as possible in 6 days while still maintaining an unhurried approach. I write this review in the context of our having previous extended, personalized, and private tours in ERead more”

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Exclusive Panoramic Train Journey though the Heart of Swiss

Exclusive Panoramic Train Journey though the Heart of Swiss - The panoramic train to Interlaken: where the photos keep winning

6-Day Drive 9 Swiss Passes, Glacier Express Route +Stelvio, Italy

6-Day Drive 9 Swiss Passes, Glacier Express Route +Stelvio, Italy - Zurich meet-and-greet: start smooth, not stressful

Glacier Express Panoramic Train Round Trip in one Day Private Tour from Luzern

Glacier Express Panoramic Train Round Trip in one Day Private Tour from Luzern - Chur’s old town stop and the Ruinaulta Rhine Gorge moment

Lucerne: Glacier Express’s Swiss Alps & Lucerne Private Tour

Lucerne: Glacier Express's Swiss Alps & Lucerne Private Tour - Chur: a short pass through Switzerland’s oldest preserved city

15.Glacier Express’s Swiss Alps & Lucerne Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $847

First-class Glacier Express via the Oberalp Alps, plus Lucerne sights like Chapel Bridge and Lion Monument with a private guide.

“Such a fun trip! Our tour guide Gustavo was amazing. He perfect paced the day, and took us around to amazing views, great spots to see, fun spots to get food and took great photos for us! We especially loved getting to go through a local market en route to the train and pick up snacks for the journey. The Glacier Express and the trains we took to get there were both amazing. You will be stunned by the amazing views. We're thankful to have booked here, it made it so easy and stress free to see the mountains. Thank you Gustavo and Jonas for an amazing trip!!Read more”

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