Destination Guides
Switzerland by rail: the only Swiss Travel Pass guide you need
Glacier Express, Jungfraujoch and Gornergrat — how the pass works and the route we recommend for first-timers.
Switzerland is a country best seen from a train window. The trains are punctual to the minute, the panoramic carriages have floor-to-ceiling glass, and the Swiss Travel Pass turns the whole network — trains, buses, lake boats and city trams — into one ticket.
How the pass works: choose consecutive days (3, 4, 6, 8 or 15) and travel as much as you like. It also gives free entry to 500+ museums and 50% off most mountain excursions, including Mt. Titlis, Gornergrat and the Jungfrau railway. For an eight-day trip like our Swiss Alpine Panorama, it typically saves around CHF 600 per person.
Our recommended loop for first-timers: Zurich airport to Lucerne (two nights) for the Chapel Bridge and Mt. Titlis; the Luzern–Interlaken Express over the Brünig Pass to Interlaken (three nights) for the Jungfraujoch, Grindelwald First and Lauterbrunnen valley; then on to car-free Zermatt (two nights) for the Matterhorn and Gornergrat.
The Glacier Express needs a seat reservation on top of the pass, and summer seats sell out months ahead — book as soon as your visa is approved. Jungfraujoch is best visited early on a clear day; check the webcam the night before and keep your schedule flexible.
Luggage tip: Swiss Railways' 'luggage forwarding' service sends your suitcases between hotels while you travel light. With an Indian family's typical luggage, it's the best CHF 12 you'll spend.
Planning a trip like this?
Sameer and the team can turn this guide into an itinerary for your dates.
