SWISS ALPINE MAGIC BY RAIL

Day 1: Welcome to Switzerland!

Touch down in Zurich and kick off your Swiss adventure the way the locals do: efficiently. We’ll have your Swiss Travel Pass handy for you (you’ll be inseparable for the next two weeks) when you hop on the train, AKA the easiest way to get into town.

Your hotel for the night sits smack in the heart of Zurich’s Old Town, just a breezy five-minute stroll from the main station. Not up for the walk with your luggage? No worries – tram No 4 will whisk you there in two stops flat. Once you’ve checked in, take a moment to soak up the German-influenced charm of Zurich before meeting your new MagRail crew this evening over a welcome dinner. Let’s get this party started!

Accommodation: Hotel Alexander (or similar), Zurich
Included: Dinner

Day 2: Lake Thun

Pack your bags (but don’t worry – you’ll see them again when they magically reappear at your hotel tonight). This morning kicks off with a quick train to Interlaken, followed by another blink-and-you’ll-miss-it ride to Thun. Switzerland really is every train lover’s dream – no delays on the horizon here!

Now it’s time for the main event: a cruise on the dazzling Lake Thun. Bob along the glassy waters as steep cliffs tower above, alpine forests hug the shore and timber-roofed mountain huts dot the hillsides. It almost looks too good to be true! Lunch is served onboard, but good luck keeping your eyes on your plate when the shorelines are just screaming for your attention. With plenty more days like this ahead, you’ve got everything you need for an adventure that’s set to knock your socks off!

Accommodation: The Hey Hotel (or similar), Interlaken
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Breinzer Rothorn Steam Train & Lake Brienz

Pack light today – just the bare essentials to cover you for the night – you’re leaving your luggage behind again because tonight’s destination is off the tourist map in the best way possible. But first, it’s time to meet the little train that could: the Brienzer Rothorn. Chugging its way up these steep mountain tracks since 1892, this plucky steam train is living proof that slow and steady wins the race… especially when the surrounding scenery is this gobsmacking!

Before climbing aboard, you’ll have time to wander the heartstoppingly-scenic village of Brienz. Expect wooden chalets, flower-filled balconies and yet another lakeshore so pretty words don’t do it justice. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to drop everything and start carving cuckoo clocks for a living.

Your second epic ascent of the day comes courtesy of the Grandhotel Giessbach funicular, whisking you up to your overnight stay in style. Sat right next to cascading waterfalls, the epic Grand Giessbach is the hotel of your Swiss travel dreams!

Accommodation: Grand Hotel Giessbach (or similar), Giessbach
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: The Golden Pass Express & Montreaux

Today, you’ll swap the German-speaking Brienz for the French-speaking shores of Lake Geneva. All aboard the Golden Pass Express, where, yes, you’ll find more out-of-this-world scenery, but the real thing to get excited about is on your plate, a mountain platter piled high with local cheeses, cured meats and fresh bread. Yum! Add a drink, and suddenly, this train ride feels like a five-star experience.

Once in Montreux, you’ve got the afternoon all to yours to explore so take full advantage of this slice of lakeside living with a touch of je ne sais quoi. Stroll the promenade like you own it, sip something fancy in a tucked-away café, or let the town’s laid-back vibes wrap you up like a cashmere blanket.

And as for your suitcase? It’s back! Greet it like an old friend as you settle into your new hotel for two nights.

Accommodation: Hotel Excelsior (or similar),  Montreaux
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: UNESCO Lavaux Vineyards

Leave the lakeside behind (briefly) and dive into the rolling UNESCO-listed Lavaux Vineyards which have been working their grape-growing magic for over 800 years. With vines clinging to steep terraces that tumble dramatically down to Lake Geneva, the setting is nothing short of “wow”!

Of course, you can’t visit Lavaux without stopping off at a local winery to uncover the secrets behind the region’s crisp whites and rich reds, and why it’s been the hub of Swiss winemaking for centuries. Then, it’s the moment you’ve been waiting for… it’s wine-tasting time! Swirl, sniff, sip and repeat, all paired with platters of cold meats and cheeses. A match made in heaven, if we do say so ourselves.

Accommodation: Hotel Excelsior (or similar),  Montreaux
Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6: Zermatt, in the shade of the Matterhorn

Swap vineyards for vertigo as you head to Zermatt, the mountain town that plays host to the mighty Matterhorn, the Swiss mountain. Yep, the one you’ve seen on Toblerone packs and in your daydreams of alpine travel your whole life. As the train climbs higher, the scenery cranks up the drama with every twist and turn. Get ready to trade ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ with your fellow MagRailers as the scenery levels up with every mile.

Once in Zermatt, check in, grab lunch at your leisure, and soak up the mountain town buzz before joining your guide to get busy exploring Zermatt’s history and highlights. The fact that the entire town is car-free just adds to the blissed-out vibes.

Accommodation: Hotel Schonegg (or similar), Zermatt
Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7: Gornergrat Ridge

Let’s check out Matterhorn from up-close – at the Gornergrat ridge with views so incredible they’ll knock the breath right out of your lungs (well, the 3,089m altitude will help with that). Sure, it’s a bit touristy here, but let’s face it: sometimes the touristy stuff is touristy for a reason.

Lunch is served up top, with the views stealing the show and the food getting the job done. Between bites, soak in the endless glaciers, towering peaks and that ever-iconic Matterhorn standing proud in the distance. It’s a view you’d never get sick of!

The evening is yours to wind down however you like, so prop your feet up in front of the fire and replay today’s alpine highlights, or head out and explore Zermatt’s cosy dinner spots with your MagRail crew. You’re only halfway through the trip, and you’ve already made new friends and experienced so much!

Accommodation: Hotel Schonegg (or similar), Zermatt
Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8: St Mortiz

You’ll be bouncing out of bed this morning because the day is finally here where you climb aboard the Glacier Express, Switzerland’s most famous train! Prepare for a day that pulls out all the stops – soaring peaks, plunging valleys and villages so spotless you’d think the mountains have a full-time cleaning crew. Lunch onboard is a three-course feast because, apparently, staring at world-class views burns calories. Try not to spill your soup while gawking at the Rhone Valley – it’s harder than it sounds. 

Rolling into St Moritz, you’ll notice something different right away. Maybe it’s the crisp air, sharper than anywhere else you’ve been, or the way the light dances off the lakes like it’s putting on a show just for you. You’ve seen a lot of mountain towns so far, but there’s something about St Moritz that just hits differently. The mix of German and Italian cultures means you’ll find schnitzels and espressos in equal measure, as well as a vibe that we can only describe as “uniquely St Moritz”.

Accommodation: Hotel Corvatsch (or similar), St Moritz
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Say Hello to Italy!

Can you believe it’s Day 9 and you’re back on the rails to hop on the Bernina Express bound to… a whole new country? That’s right, why not make a quick day trip to Italy when it’s this close by? This engineering masterpiece will have you spiralling over circular viaducts, diving through tunnels carved into the Alps and passing scenes so wild and dramatic they don’t seem real. Just another regular old day on your MagRail adventure!

By late morning, you’ll roll into Tirano, Italy. Woohoo! Grab a seat at a local trattoria, order whatever catches your eye and let the flavours of northern Italy remind you why crossing borders is worth it. After lunch, hop on an express bus to Lugano, a town that feels like Switzerland took a holiday in Italy and decided to stay. For the next two nights, this will be your home, where you can expect palm trees swaying by the lake, piazzas buzzing with life, and gelato stands calling your name. 

Accommodation: Hotel Parco Paradiso (or similar), Lugano
Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10: Lugano

Lugano deserves a full day of your attention, so that’s what we’ve arranged. You’ll kick this off with a cruise on Lake Lugano, gliding past hillside villas and sun-soaked shores. Midway through, hop off for a drink at a waterfront café because, really, what’s an Italian boat ride without a glass of wine or a cheeky Aperol Spritz in hand?

The afternoon takes you into the kitchen for a cooking class where you’ll master the art of risotto under the guidance of a local chef – name a better way to honour your time in Switzerland’s Italian region! Stirring, sipping and sautéing your way to a masterpiece, it’s now time for the best part: eating it! A glass of Merlot del Ticino seems like the perfect accompaniment, too. It’s hard work, but somebody’s got to do it.

Accommodation: Hotel Parco Paradiso (or similar), Lugano
Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 11: Gotthard Panorama Express & a Cogwheel Train

All aboard the Gotthard Panorama Express, your front-row seat to Switzerland’s greatest hits.  You’d better have packed that nifty overnight bag this morning because you’re about to head way off the map in the afternoon. A cogwheel train (yes really, a cogwheel train) will carry you straight up the mountain to Hotel Rigi Kaltbad, your overnight hideaway! 

Take a deep breath – you’re surrounded by alpine life here. Not only does the nearby forest tickle the air with a freshness of pine scent, but the hotel’s mineral spa is calling your name, and ready to work their magic on you! Dinner is served at the hotel, so the only thing left to do is soak, savour and soak some more. Challenge accepted!

Accommodation: Hotel Rigi Kaltbad (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 12: Cheese, Cruising and Lovely Lucerne

Your mountain escape comes to an end as you hop back on the cogwheel train for one last wow-worthy descent to Vitznau. But don’t get too misty-eyed – there’s still plenty more adventure ahead, including a yummy encounter with cheese! From Vitznau, you’ll board yet another lake cruise across the water to Lucerne, your next stop.

On arrival, reunite with your luggage. This afternoon, you’ll trade the rails and waterways of Switzerland for some good old walking, as you explore Lucerne with a local expert. Between the crooked bridges, wonky clock towers and buildings so intricate they look hand-stitched, you’re in for a real treat!

Accommodation: Hotel Ambassador (or similar), Lucerne
Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 13: Voralpen Express and St Gallen

It’s almost time to close the chapter on this Swiss adventure, but not before squeezing every last drop out of it. Hop on the Voralpen Express this morning and glide through rolling hills and forested valleys on your way to St Gallen, a UNESCO World Heritage city with a history older than your great-great-grandparents. Once the tour wraps up, you’ll have free time to grab lunch in town before setting off back to where it all began: Zurich.

Check in, freshen up and get ready to celebrate in style. Tonight’s farewell dinner is one for the books, with plates of Swiss specialities flying out of the kitchen and an opportunity to share those even-funnier-in-hindsight stories, a whole load of belly laughs and maybe one last round of cheese. The perfect send-off!

Accommodation: Hotel Alexander (or similar), Zurich
Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 14: Farewell Friends!

Enjoy one final breakfast at the hotel before that time you’ve been dreading… it’s time to say your goodbyes. Swap contact details with your MagRail besties and relive the trip’s best bits (glacier views, clinking glasses and epic train rides that made every other commute in your life look tragic) as you say your farewells.

It’s the last call for your Swiss Travel Pass and at this point, you’re basically honorary Swiss. See you next time!

Included: Breakfast