Switzerland is made for overland travel. The country's rail network is legendary for its punctuality and reach — it threads into mountain valleys where roads barely go, carries you through passes that would be closed to cars in winter, and connects Zurich, Geneva, Bern and Basel to hundreds of smaller towns and villages so seamlessly that a car rarely feels necessary. Travelling Switzerland slowly, by train and postbus, is one of Europe's great pleasures.
Why Switzerland suits slow travel so well
Most visitors who fly to Zurich or Geneva and rush between a handful of highlights miss the point. Switzerland's appeal is cumulative: the light on a lake in the early morning, the sight of a cog railway climbing a wall of pasture, the PostBus threading through a canyon that the map suggested was impassable. None of this is available at speed.
The Swiss Transport System — SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) for the main network, with cantonal railways, PostBus and lake steamers joining to cover almost everywhere — is designed to work as a whole. Connections are timed to the minute, and the national app shows every leg of even the most intricate multi-modal journey.
If you are coming from France, Germany, Italy or Austria, Switzerland integrates perfectly into an entirely flightless European trip. The rail links from Paris, Milan, Munich and Vienna are all excellent.
The scenic railway routes worth knowing
Switzerland has a handful of named panoramic routes that justify separate tickets or seat reservations:
- Glacier Express — St Moritz to Zermatt (or vice versa), about eight hours through the heart of the Alps. One of the most celebrated train journeys in Europe, though the "express" is ironic — it is deliberately slow. Seat reservations required; panoramic carriages have large windows.
- Bernina Express — Chur to Tirano (Italy), crossing the Bernina Pass at around 2,253 metres above sea level. This section of track is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Reservations required; the journey is around four hours.
- GoldenPass Line — Montreux to Interlaken and on to Lucerne, through the Bernese Oberland, cheese country and vine-covered hillsides above Lake Geneva. Parts now run through carriages between Montreux and Interlaken on the GoldenPass Express.
- Wilhelm Tell Express — Lucerne to Lugano, combining a lake steamer across Vierwaldstättersee with a train south through the Gotthard to Ticino. A memorable half-day that changes language (German to Italian) and climate as it goes.
For a deeper look at the rail network and how to navigate it, see our Switzerland by train guide.
Rail passes or point-to-point tickets?
This is the central question for any Swiss overland trip, and it depends on how much you plan to move and what the current pass prices are. The Swiss Travel Pass covers the main SBB network, most PostBuses, lake steamers and some mountain railways (though some cog railways and cable cars have supplements even with a pass). If you plan to cover significant ground — Zurich to Geneva, multiple mountain excursions — it can be excellent value. For a focused trip to one region, point-to-point tickets may be cheaper. The Interrail/Eurail comparison is also worth reading if you are combining Switzerland with surrounding countries.
A suggested overland route
Switzerland fits naturally into a west–east or north–south arc. One satisfying route that many travellers enjoy:
- Geneva — arrive from France (Paris is about three hours by TGV). Take the lake steamer to Lausanne or Montreux.
- Montreux and the Vaud Riviera — a day or two on the northern shore of Lake Geneva, with the GoldenPass line heading inland.
- Interlaken and the Bernese Oberland — the gateway to Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and the Jungfrau region. Base here for mountain trips by cog railway and cable car.
- Bern — the federal capital, often undervisited, with a medieval arcaded old town and a lovely setting above the Aare.
- Lucerne — the classic Swiss city on the lake, easy to reach from Bern in under an hour. The Wilhelm Tell Express south to Lugano is worth a half-day.
- Lugano and Ticino — Italian-speaking Switzerland, with a Mediterranean atmosphere at odds with the alpine landscapes. A good entry point into Italy via Bellinzona and Locarno.
- Zurich or Basel — to finish, with excellent onward rail connections to Germany, Austria and France.
The PostBus network
Where the trains don't go, the yellow PostBus does. Switzerland's PostBus network serves around 900 routes, including many that penetrate deep into mountain valleys and across passes that the railway doesn't reach. Passes and reservations work similarly to the rail system. The Julier Pass route between the Engadine valley and the Graubünden lowlands, and the roads above Grindelwald and the Sustenpass, are among the more dramatic PostBus experiences in the country.
Lake steamers
Switzerland's lakes — Geneva, Constance, Zurich, Lucerne, Thun and Brienz — all have scheduled ferry and steamer services that carry passengers between lakeside towns. These are part of the transport network (covered by the Swiss Travel Pass) rather than tourist cruises, though the experience is undeniably beautiful. The paddlesteamers on Lake Lucerne and Lake Geneva are among the oldest in continuous service in the world.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book Swiss trains in advance?
For most SBB intercity and regional trains, advance booking is not required — you can simply board. However, the named panoramic trains (Glacier Express, Bernina Express, GoldenPass Express) require seat reservations, which must be bought in advance and cost a supplement. Reserve these as early as possible, especially in summer and during peak autumn foliage season.
Is Switzerland expensive to travel by rail?
Switzerland is one of Europe's more expensive countries, and rail fares reflect that. The Swiss Travel Pass can represent excellent value for multi-day travel, particularly if you plan to use mountain railways and lake steamers. Budget for supplements on the panoramic train routes even with a pass.
Can I get to Switzerland by train from the UK?
Yes. The most comfortable route is Eurostar from London to Paris (seat reservations required), then a direct TGV or Lyria high-speed train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Geneva, Basel or Zurich — the Paris–Zurich journey takes around four hours. Total journey from London is around six to seven hours including the Paris change.
What is the best base for exploring the Alps?
Interlaken, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen are classic bases for the Bernese Oberland. Zermatt (car-free, reached by rail only) is the base for the Matterhorn and the Glacier Express. Each suits different styles of trip; the train network makes it easy to combine them without a car.
Sources and further reading:
- Swiss rail network, timetables and Swiss Travel Pass: SBB (sbb.ch).
- Panoramic rail routes: MySwitzerland (myswitzerland.com).
- Glacier Express reservations: glacierexpress.ch.
- Bernina Express reservations: rhb.ch.
- PostBus network: postauto.ch.