5 Dreamy Days in Switzerland by Train
- 4 hours ago
- 5 min read
There's a particular kind of magic in watching Switzerland from a train window, turquoise lakes, green valleys and the Alps rising up just when you think the view can't get any better. We spent five days exploring some of Switzerland's most beautiful trains and stops along the way, by following 3 of the routes featured in the Grand Train tour of Switzerland.
This journey will take you on a route, including scenic trains, a vintage steam boat, five beautiful cities and some of the best hotels in each city. Zurich to St Gallen to Lucerne to Lugano entirely by rail. It remains one of the most romantic trips we've ever taken together.
If you're searching for a unique Swiss itinerary that mixes city charm, scenery and quiet luxury, this is the one to save.
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Table of Contents
Day 1: Zurich to St Gallen with beautiful stops
Where we stayed in Switzerland
Day 1: Zurich to St. Gallen, via Rhine Falls & Stein am Rhein
We woke up in Zurich and boarded a train to Rhine Falls, Europe's largest waterfall and a genuinely impressive first stop.
From there, we wandered into charming Stein am Rhein for lunch, a town so perfectly preserved it feels like walking through a painted backdrop.
By evening we arrived in St. Gallen and checked into the Einstein Hotel, one of the best hotels in the city, with a Michelin-starred restaurant, spa and stylish rooms overlooking the city. A hotel made for the kind of soft landing every exploration day deserves.
We had dinner at Bäumli, a beautiful traditional restaurant and wine bar which we obviously had to try. The place has been run by women for more than 100 years and is located in an old charming half timbered house more than 500 years old, the perfect first taste of Switzerland.
Day 2: St. Gallen to Lucerne, on the Voralpen Express Train
We spent the morning exploring more of St. Gallen, especially its Abbey Library, one of the oldest and most important libraries in the world and reason enough on its own to visit. Truly felt like stepping into another world.
By early afternoon we boarded the Voralpen Express toward Lucerne, a scenic ride where we spent the entire journey watching lakes and lush green landscapes pass by with the Alps as an everlasting backdrop.
Lucerne welcomed us with golden light by the time we checked into the Waldstätterhof, a historic, sustainable and top rated hotel with a great restaurant right by the train station. We loved it, highly recommend!
In the evening we walked the city's old fortified wall, which offers some of the most magnificent views over the rooftops and lake.
Day 3: A Slow Day in Lucerne
Not every day on a train voyage needs to involve a train. We spent this one slowly, wandering past the Jesuit Church, crossing the famous bridges, and lingering over lunch and dinner by the lake. Lucerne is the kind of place that rewards unhurried mornings and long lakeside dinners, and we didn't fight it.
Day 4: Lucerne to Lugano on the Gotthard Panorama Express
This was, without question, the most unforgettable day of the trip. We began with a steamboat ride across Lake Lucerne, followed by a three-course lunch in a beautiful vintage restaurant carriage while the mountains and castles slowly passing.
From there, we changed onto the Gotthard Panorama train along the historic Gotthard route, climbing through the mountains while enjoying drinks, before descending into Italian-speaking Switzerland, Ticino, and arriving in Lugano.
In Lugano we checked into Hotel International au Lac, a historic property right on the lake with its own spa, just steps from the old town.
Dinner was at Osteria Trani, a romantic little restaurant tucked into a quiet alley. The perfect day to end this unforgettable day in a charming Mediterranean city. If you've only got one day in Switzerland, following this day is the one I would recommend!
Day 5: A Last Slow Day in Lugano
Our last day, we spent the way we started it in Lucerne, slowly. Breakfast with lake view and a few hours spent by the pool. A walk through the lakeside park, a wander through Lugano's old town, gelato breaks and a stop into the church on the hill. It was the perfect, gentle way to let the trip settle in before heading on.
Where we stayed in Switzerland
St Gallen - Hotel Einstein St Gallen. A two star Michelin restaurant, spa and stylish rooms. Book it here.
Lucerne - Waldstätterhof. Sustainable hotel and Swiss top quality hotel. Great restaurant, location and stylish rooms
Lugano - International du Lac, historic hotel with spa right by the lake.
How to get around
Trains of course! My recommendation regarding tickets, to make it easy and convenient, is to buy the Swiss travel pass, which gives you unlimited travel on boats, trains and buses in Switzerland. In addition to a discount on lots of excursions and free entrance to more than +500 museums.
For this journey you would need a 3 or 4 day pass. We actually travelled with a 6 day first class pass, because we went back to Switzerland after a short trip to Lake Como to explore Bernina Express, St Moritz, Gourmino express, Interlaken and Brienz. Stay tuned for this next part of our journey!
The passes can be bought for 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 days and are available in both first and second class.
Is first class worth it? Well depends on your needs, but there is usually more space for luggage and some trains only offer panoramic carriages in first class. On some trains you also get food, drinks or snacks included in the first class ticket.
A final tip is to buy the flexi pass instead of the continue pass, as you can then activate each day when you travel, great if you want a "rest day" from travelling around to explore a city.
A Bonus Tip - Lake Como is just a train away..
If you have an extra day to spare, Lake Como is only a short train ride from Lugano and pairs beautifully with this itinerary, easily one of the best add-ons for anyone craving a little more Italian lakeside romance before the trip ends.
Final Thoughts
Switzerland by train is its own kind of love language, long lake views, mountain passes, and just enough slow city days to make it feel like a real getaway rather than a checklist. If this kind of unhurried, scenic travel speaks to you and you're going to Italy after Switzerland, you'll love our Italy Slow Travel Guide for planning your next dreamy rail adventure. The Switzerland travel guide will also come later this year.
And if you're looking for more daily dreamy travel inspiration, welcome to @therailvoyage on instagram, tiktok and youtube, a slow travel community with more than 330, 000 followers.
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