Switzerland by Train: The Grand Train Tour on a Budget - Travel Blog

Switzerland is expensive. A Big Mac costs €12. A basic hotel room is €150+. But the train system is so efficient, so punctual, and so spectacularly scenic that it justifies every franc. The Grand Train Tour of Switzerland is 1,280 km of the most beautiful rail journeys on Earth – and with the right pass, it can actually be affordable.

Swiss Travel Pass: Worth It?

YES, if you travel for 4+ days. The Swiss Travel Pass (CHF 232 for 4 days, CHF 399 for 15 days) gives you unlimited travel on all trains, buses, and boats + free entry to 500+ museums. Without it, a single Zurich-Interlaken ticket is CHF 71. The pass pays for itself in 2-3 journeys.

The 3 Iconic Scenic Routes

1. Glacier Express (Zermatt → St. Moritz)

8 hours. 291 bridges. 91 tunnels. It’s marketed as “the slowest express train in the world” and it’s worth every minute. You pass through the Oberalp Pass at 2,033m elevation with snow-capped peaks outside the window.

• Tip: Sit on the right side for the best views (going Zermatt → St. Moritz).
• Budget: With Swiss Travel Pass, you only pay the seat reservation (CHF 49 in 2nd class). Without one, the ticket is CHF 152+.

2. Bernina Express (St. Moritz → Tirano, Italy)

A UNESCO World Heritage route. You cross the Bernina Pass at 2,253m (the highest rail crossing in the Alps without a tunnel), descend through spiral tunnels, and cross the famous Landwasser Viaduct. You end up in Italy.

• Tip: Sit on the left side for the Landwasser Viaduct photo.

3. GoldenPass Express (Montreux → Interlaken)

The newest scenic route (opened 2022). Connects the French-speaking lakeside of Montreux with the German-speaking Bernese Oberland. Vineyards, then suddenly snow-capped mountains.

The Budget 7-Day Itinerary

Days 1-2: Zurich & Lucerne

• Zurich: Walk the Old Town, take a dip in the Limmat river (locals swim in the city rivers in summer), and eat at a Migros or Coop restaurant (the cheapest hot meals in Switzerland, ~CHF 12).
• Lucerne: 45 minutes by train. Walk the Chapel Bridge. Take the boat across Lake Lucerne to Vitznau. Ride the cogwheel railway up Mount Rigi (free with Swiss Travel Pass).

Days 3-4: Interlaken & Jungfraujoch

• Interlaken: The adventure capital. Paragliding (CHF 180), canyoning, or just free hikes along the lake.
• Jungfraujoch (“Top of Europe”): The highest railway station in Europe (3,454m). Expensive (CHF 210 return, or CHF 145 with Swiss Travel Pass). But walking out onto a glacier at 3,500m is unforgettable.

Days 5-6: Zermatt & The Matterhorn

• Zermatt: A car-free village at the foot of the Matterhorn. The 5-Lake Walk is a free hike with 5 different reflections of the Matterhorn in alpine lakes.
• Gornergrat Railway: The best Matterhorn viewpoint. CHF 48 return (50% off with Swiss Travel Pass).

Day 7: Montreux & Lake Geneva

• Montreux: The “Swiss Riviera”. Walk the lakeside promenade. Visit Château de Chillon (free with STP).
• Lavaux Vineyards: UNESCO-listed terraced vineyards overlooking Lake Geneva. Walk through them for free.

Money-Saving Tips

• Eat at Coop/Migros restaurants: Self-service cafeterias in every town. Hot meals for CHF 10-15.
• Buy groceries: Cook in hostel kitchens. Aldi and Lidl are the cheapest supermarkets.
• Tap water: Every public fountain in Switzerland is drinkable (unless marked otherwise). Never buy bottled water.
• Hostels: CHF 35-50/night for a dorm. The Youth Hostel Association (YHA) hostels are excellent.
• Supersaver tickets: If not buying the STP, book individual tickets 30+ days in advance for up to 70% off on sbb.ch.

Swiss Food: What to Eat (Without Paying a Fortune)

Swiss cuisine is hearty Alpine comfort food. It’s not fancy, but it’s deeply satisfying after a day in the mountains:

• Rösti: The Swiss national dish. Crispy pan-fried grated potatoes, often served with fried egg and bacon. Found in every café and restaurant in the German-speaking regions. At Coop or Migros restaurants, a rösti plate costs CHF 12–15. At a mountain restaurant, expect CHF 22–28.
• Raclette: A wheel of raclette cheese is melted under a heat element and scraped over boiled potatoes, cornichons, and pickled onions. One of the great Alpine eating experiences. Most affordable at fondue restaurants in smaller towns (Gruyères, Appenzell) vs. Zurich or Geneva.
• Cheese fondue: The Swiss fondue is a blend of Gruyère and Emmental (or Vacherin Fribourgeois) melted in white wine with kirsch. Eaten communally with cubed bread. A proper fondue for two in a mountain restaurant: CHF 50–70, including wine. Cheaper in fondue-dedicated restaurants than general restaurants.
• Zürcher Geschnetzeltes: Zurich’s signature dish – thin strips of veal in a creamy white wine and mushroom sauce, served with rösti. Order it in Zurich Old Town for an authentic experience.
• Bündner Nusstorte: The iconic Graubünden walnut tart. Buttery pastry filled with caramelized walnut and honey filling. Buy one at a bakery in Chur or St. Moritz. Perfect train snack.

Hidden Switzerland: Beyond the Famous Routes

The Grand Train Tour hits the highlights, but Switzerland has lesser-known train lines that are equally spectacular:

• Lötschberg Railway (Bern → Brig): Climbs through the Bernese Alps past ancient villages and dramatic gorges. Far less touristed than the Glacier Express but equally beautiful. Free with Swiss Travel Pass.
• Centovalli Railway (Locarno → Domodossola, Italy): A narrow-gauge railway through the “Hundred Valleys” region on the Italian-Swiss border. Crosses 83 bridges and 31 viaducts in just 52km. Included in Swiss Travel Pass.
• Appenzell region: Switzerland’s most traditional canton, still running on a direct democracy where citizens vote by show of hands annually. The landscape is rolling green hills and tidy farmhouses. The Appenzellerbahn from St. Gallen winds through it beautifully.
• Aare Gorge (near Meiringen): A narrow gorge carved by glacial water. Walk through it (CHF 9 entry, or free with Swiss Travel Pass). The turquoise water and towering rock walls are unlike anything else in Switzerland.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Switzerland really as expensive as people say? For accommodation and restaurants – yes. But free activities abound: lakes, hiking trails, waterfalls, parks, and most city centres. With a Swiss Travel Pass, public transport is free, eliminating the biggest single daily cost. A budget traveler staying in hostels and cooking can manage on CHF 80–100/day.

When is the best time to visit by train? June–September for hiking and green landscapes. December–March for snow-covered scenery (same routes look completely different). Avoid school holiday periods (especially February half-term and late July) when Swiss families fill every train.

Do I need to book scenic train seats in advance? For the Glacier Express and Bernina Express, seat reservations are mandatory and cost CHF 33–49 (2nd class reservation fee, even with Swiss Travel Pass). Book directly at sbb.ch or rhb.ch at least 2 weeks in advance in peak season.