Swiss Scenic Trains: Glacier & Bernina Express — 8 Nights
Switzerland by its famous panoramic railways — the Glacier Express from Zermatt to St Moritz, the Bernina Express over the pass, and the Gotthard route to Lucerne — with the Matterhorn and Lake Lugano in between.
Journey overview
The moments that make this journey unforgettable — the signature experiences we have woven through every day, so the best of the destination is never left to chance.
Switzerland by its famous panoramic railways — the Glacier Express from Zermatt to St Moritz, the Bernina Express over the pass, and the Gotthard route to Lucerne — with the Matterhorn and Lake Lugano in between.
Journey snapshot
The shape of this journey at a glance — where it starts, where it ends and everything it passes through.
Duration
- 8 Nights / 9 Days
Starts
- Zurich
Ends
- Zurich
Route
- Zurich → Zermatt → St Moritz → Lugano → Lucerne → Zurich
Travel style
- Cultural · Honeymoon · Luxury
Journey highlights
The moments that make this journey unforgettable — the signature experiences we have woven through every day, so the best of the destination is never left to chance.
- The Glacier Express, eight hours from Zermatt to St Moritz through 91 tunnels and over the Landwasser viaduct, in a panoramic car with a reserved seat
- The Bernina Express over the 2,253-metre Bernina Pass, the highest railway crossing of the Alps
- Two nights in car-free Zermatt with the Gornergrat railway and the Matterhorn
- Two nights in St Moritz in the Engadine, with the lakes and the Muottas Muragl funicular
- Lugano for two nights — the Swiss lake with an Italian accent — and Swissminiatur
- The Gotthard route north to Lucerne, by boat and train in season
- A Swiss Travel Pass covering the regular network, with seat reservations on every panoramic service
- Hand-picked hotels and private transfers throughout
Day-by-day itinerary
Met at the airport and driven into the city, with the old town on both banks of the Limmat and the lakefront for the evening. Overnight in Zurich. · Zurich · Private airport transfer
South through the Lötschberg tunnel to Visp and up the Matter valley on the narrow-gauge line to car-free Zermatt, with the Matterhorn at the head of the valley. Overnight in Zermatt. · Zermatt · Train via Visp
The Gornergrat railway to 3,089 metres with the Matterhorn across the valley and the glaciers below; a walk down one stage to the Riffelsee for the reflection, and the village in the afternoon. Overnight in Zermatt. · Zermatt · Cogwheel railway
The day the journey is named for: eight hours in a panoramic car from Zermatt down the Rhône valley, up over the Oberalp Pass, along the Rhine gorge and over the Landwasser viaduct into the Engadine, with lunch served at your seat. Overnight in St Moritz. · St Moritz · Glacier Express
The Muottas Muragl funicular for the view down the chain of Engadine lakes, and a slow afternoon by the lake or at the Segantini museum. Overnight in St Moritz. · St Moritz · Funicular
Over the Bernina Pass past the Morteratsch glacier and the Lago Bianco, down the spiral viaduct at Brusio to Tirano in Italy, and on by the Bernina Express bus along Lake Como to Lugano — or by train in winter. Overnight in Lugano. · Lugano · Bernina Express & bus
The lake by boat to Gandria, the Monte San Salvatore funicular for the view, and the miniature Switzerland at Swissminiatur for families. A Ticino evening on the piazza. Overnight in Lugano. · Lugano · Boat & funicular
North by the Gotthard Panorama Express in season — a boat across Lake Lucerne joined to the train over the old Gotthard mountain line — or through the base tunnel in winter. The Chapel Bridge and the lakefront for the last evening. Overnight in Lucerne. · Lucerne · Boat & train
An hour by train to Zurich and the private transfer to the airport for your flight home. · Zurich · Train & private transfer
Accommodation, meals & transport
What the journey covers day to day, taken from this package's own inclusions.
🏨 Accommodation
- Comfort standard
- 8 nights in hand-picked hotels chosen to your budget and style — Zurich (1), Zermatt (2), St Moritz (2), Lugano (2), Lucerne (1)
🍽 Meals
- Daily breakfast at the hotel
🚆 Transport
- Swiss Travel Pass (2nd class) covering trains, boats and public transport for your days in Switzerland
- Glacier Express panoramic car from Zermatt to St Moritz with seat reservation
- Bernina Express panoramic car from St Moritz to Tirano with seat reservation, and the onward connection to Lugano
- Gotthard route from Lugano to Lucerne, by the Gotthard Panorama Express boat-and-train in season or the Gotthard base tunnel service in winter
- Private airport transfers on arrival and departure at Zurich, and electric taxi transfers in Zermatt
- Private airport transfer
- Train via Visp
- Cogwheel railway
- Glacier Express
- Funicular
- Bernina Express & bus
- Boat & funicular
- Boat & train
- Train & private transfer
Flights, visa & practical
Arranged separately from the journey itself — listed here so there are no surprises.
✈ Flights
- International flights to Zurich and back — we can quote and book these for you
🛂 Visa & insurance
- Schengen visa fees and travel insurance — we guide you through the application and documents, but both are arranged and paid separately
What's included & excluded
Exactly what your journey covers — set out clearly, with no surprises, so you know precisely what to expect.
Included
- 8 nights in hand-picked hotels chosen to your budget and style — Zurich (1), Zermatt (2), St Moritz (2), Lugano (2), Lucerne (1)
- Daily breakfast at the hotel
- Swiss Travel Pass (2nd class) covering trains, boats and public transport for your days in Switzerland
- Glacier Express panoramic car from Zermatt to St Moritz with seat reservation
- Bernina Express panoramic car from St Moritz to Tirano with seat reservation, and the onward connection to Lugano
- Gornergrat railway excursion from Zermatt
- Gotthard route from Lugano to Lucerne, by the Gotthard Panorama Express boat-and-train in season or the Gotthard base tunnel service in winter
- Private airport transfers on arrival and departure at Zurich, and electric taxi transfers in Zermatt
- 24/7 on-trip support from Live Traveller, with a named specialist before you travel
Excluded
- International flights to Zurich and back — we can quote and book these for you
- Schengen visa fees and travel insurance — we guide you through the application and documents, but both are arranged and paid separately
- Lunches and dinners unless stated in the itinerary
- Optional excursions, city taxes paid locally at the hotel, tips and personal expenses
- Anything not listed under inclusions
Frequently asked
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