Planning a Switzerland rail trip but feeling overwhelmed by routes, trains and where to actually base yourself?
This 6 day Switzerland rail itinerary combines some of the country’s most scenic train journeys with mountain villages, lakeside towns and famous viewpoints, all without needing to hire a car.
The route includes:
- the GoldenPass Express
- the GoldenPass Belle Époque
- Interlaken
- Lauterbrunnen
- Grindelwald
- Lake Brienz
- Jungfraujoch
It’s a fast-paced itinerary, but one that works really well for first-time Switzerland visitors wanting to experience a mix of scenic rail travel and the Swiss Alps in one trip.
I've personally travelled this route and designed this itinerary around train travel being part of the experience, not just the transport between destinations.
If you're still deciding where to go, my Switzerland Travel Guide brings together all of my itineraries, scenic train guides and destination advice in one place.
Some of the links in this guide are affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products, routes and services we genuinely believe are useful for planning a Switzerland trip.
Day 1: Geneva → Montreux → GoldenPass Express → Interlaken
Day 2: Interlaken, Harder Kulm & Lauterbrunnen
Day 3: Grindelwald First & Glacier Canyon
Day 4: Lake Brienz & Brienz Rothorn Railway
Day 5: Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe
Day 6: GoldenPass Belle Époque → Montreux → Geneva Airport
This itinerary uses Interlaken as a single base for 5 nights, making it easy to explore the Jungfrau region without constantly changing hotels.
From Interlaken, you can easily reach Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, Lake Brienz and Jungfraujoch by train, while still enjoying some of Switzerland's most scenic rail journeys along the way.
For a Switzerland rail itinerary, Interlaken is genuinely hard to beat.
Not only is it surrounded by incredible scenery, but it also gives you easy train access to:
- Lauterbrunnen
- Grindelwald
- Lake Brienz
- Jungfraujoch
- scenic mountain railways
- boat trips
- the GoldenPass line
This means you can experience a huge amount of Switzerland without constantly changing hotels.
For this itinerary, we’ve also included Montreux at the start and end of the route, allowing you to experience both the modern Goldenpass Express and the vintage Belle Époque train.
A few things we’d recommend knowing before booking:
You don’t need a car
Switzerland’s public transport network is incredibly easy to use and the train journeys themselves become part of the experience.
For this route, travelling by train is genuinely easier than driving.
This itinerary is quite fast-paced
You’ll see a lot in six days, but there are some busy travel days involved.
If you prefer slower travel, we’d recommend extending the trip slightly or removing one or two activities.
Scenic trains often require reservations
If you’re planning to use:
- the GoldenPass Express
- GoldenPass Belle Époque
- panoramic trains
Seat reservations may still be required even with a Swiss Travel Pass.
Our Swiss Travel Pass guide explains this in much more detail.
Start your Switzerland rail trip with lakeside views and one of Switzerland’s most scenic train routes
I’d recommend flying into Geneva for this itinerary because it gives easy rail access to Montreux and the GoldenPass line.
From Geneva Airport, trains to Montreux take around 1 hour 15 minutes.
If you're flying into Geneva, my Geneva Airport to Montreux train guide covers tickets, journey times and what to expect after landing.
Montreux feels very different to the mountain villages later in the itinerary, which is one of the reasons we really like starting the trip here.
Spend a few hours exploring:
- Lake Geneva
- the Freddie Mercury statue
- Montreux promenade
- Chillon Castle if time allows
The lakeside setting almost doesn’t feel like the Switzerland most people picture initially, which makes the transition into the Alps later in the day feel even more dramatic.
If you have longer before boarding the GoldenPass Express, my One Day in Montreux itinerary includes Chillon Castle, the lakeside promenade and other highlights.
In the afternoon, board the GoldenPass Express from Montreux to Interlaken.
This is one of the easiest scenic train journeys to include in a Switzerland itinerary and gives you huge panoramic windows overlooking lakes, vineyards and mountain scenery throughout the journey.
If you’re deciding between the GoldenPass trains, our GoldenPass Express guide and GoldenPass Belle Époque guide explain the differences in much more detail.
Spend your evening settling into Interlaken ready for the next few days exploring the Jungfrau region.
After breakfast, spend some time exploring central Interlaken.
One of the things I loved most here was simply walking through Höhematte Park watching paragliders floating down against the mountain backdrop.
Later in the morning, head up to Harder Kulm using the funicular railway from Interlaken.
The views over Lake Thun, Lake Brienz and the Jungfrau region are incredible on a clear day.
Afterwards, take the short train journey from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen.
Lauterbrunnen is one of those places that somehow looks even better in real life.
The valley is surrounded by huge cliffs and waterfalls, with tiny traditional Swiss buildings scattered throughout the village.
Need help planning the journey? I've also written a dedicated guide to travelling from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen by train, along with a full one-day itinerary for Interlaken itself.
This is somewhere we’d strongly recommend slowing down slightly rather than rushing through.
Spend the afternoon:
- walking through the valley
- photographing Staubbach Falls
- stopping for food
- simply enjoying the scenery
Return to Interlaken in the evening.
One of the most adventurous days in the itinerary
Take the train from Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald early in the morning.
If you’re visiting Grindelwald First, we’d strongly recommend arriving as early as possible because queues can become very busy later in the day.
At First, you can:
- walk the First Cliff Walk
- hike to Bachalpsee Lake
- try the First Flyer zipline
- ride mountain carts
- take the gondola back down
Even without the activities, the scenery here is incredible.
After returning to Grindelwald village, head to Glacier Canyon.
This natural gorge was formed by glacial water over thousands of years and feels completely different to the open mountain scenery elsewhere in the itinerary.
The walkways through the canyon and tunnels are surprisingly dramatic.
Return to Interlaken for the evening.
If you're deciding whether to include Grindelwald, I've also shared my one day itinerary, and whether I think Grindelwald is worth visiting, along with a dedicated train guide from Interlaken.
One of the most scenic and relaxing days of the trip
After a few busy days, this part of the itinerary feels much slower and calmer.
Start the morning with a boat trip across Lake Brienz from Interlaken.
The colour of the water here genuinely doesn’t look real sometimes.
If time allows, spend some time exploring Brienz itself, particularly Brunngasse, which is often described as one of the prettiest streets in Switzerland.
Later in the day, ride the Brienz Rothorn steam railway.
This historic mountain railway climbs slowly into the Alps with incredible views across the lake and surrounding mountains.
Compared to some of Switzerland’s larger tourist attractions, this experience feels slightly quieter and more traditional.
Return to Interlaken in the afternoon for a more relaxed evening.
Visiting the highest railway station in Europe
This is probably the biggest bucket list day of the itinerary.
The Jungfrau Railway climbs through tunnels carved directly into the mountains before arriving at Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe.
At the top, you’ll find:
- glaciers
- snow-covered peaks
- viewing platforms
- the Ice Palace
- restaurants
- snow activities during parts of the year
This is also one of the most expensive parts of the trip, so we’d strongly recommend checking the weather forecast carefully before booking.
On a clear day, the views are incredible.
In poor visibility, it can feel very different to the experience people imagine from the photos.
Allow most of the day for this excursion before returning to Interlaken for your final evening.
Finish the trip aboard one of Switzerland’s most beautiful vintage trains
For the return journey, we’d recommend travelling back via the GoldenPass Belle Époque.
This gives the itinerary a completely different feel compared to the modern panoramic GoldenPass Express at the start of the trip.
Travel from Interlaken towards Gstaad before changing onto the Belle Époque service towards Montreux.
The vintage carriages, old-world interiors and huge windows make this one of the most unique train experiences in Switzerland.
It feels far more luxurious than many people expect.
Once back in Montreux, continue onwards to Geneva Airport for your flight home.
If you’re looking for:
- scenic train journeys
- mountain villages
- lakes
- famous viewpoints
- Switzerland without driving
Then we think this route works incredibly well for a first Switzerland trip.
It combines some of the country’s most famous rail experiences with enough flexibility to adapt the pace depending on your own travel style.
One of the reasons we like using Interlaken as a base is the huge range of accommodation available, whether you're travelling solo, as a couple or with family.
For solo travellers, I'd personally recommend Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof Hostel, where I stayed during my own Switzerland trip.
It's clean, well located, within walking distance of the train station and a great base for exploring the Jungfrau region without spending a fortune on accommodation.
If you've ever wondered what it's really like staying in Swiss hostels in your 40s, I've shared my honest experience in a dedicated guide.
If you're travelling during the summer months, campsites can offer excellent value for families visiting the Jungfrau region.
Manor Farm Campsite, located on the shores of Lake Thun just outside Interlaken, can be a great option for keeping accommodation costs under control while still having easy access to Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald by public transport.
For families, having self-catering facilities and extra space can often work out significantly cheaper than booking multiple hotel rooms, particularly during the school holidays.
For couples wanting a comfortable base without luxury hotel prices, I'd look at:
Both offer good locations and easy access to Interlaken's train stations and attractions.
If you're looking for something a little more special, consider:
Grand Hotel Beau Rivage Interlaken
Royal St. Georges Hotel Interlaken – MGallery Collection
Both offer a more luxurious stay while still providing convenient access to the town and surrounding rail network.
If budget isn't a concern and you want one of the most iconic hotels in Switzerland, it's hard to look past the Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa.
With its incredible setting beneath the Jungfrau mountains, luxury spa facilities and grand historic interiors, this is the kind of hotel that becomes part of the experience itself.
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