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Switzerland by train

Switzerland: Montreux, Glacier 3000 & the Bernese Oberland: 7 Days

Lake Geneva, three castles and the GoldenPass Express to Interlaken, all by rail pass, with a 4-star lake hotel in Montreux, a 3-star hotel in Interlaken and Glacier 3000 as an optional add-on.

  • 7 days / 6 nights
  • Starts at Geneva, ends at Zurich Airport
  • Swiss Travel Pass, no driving
  • 4-star and 3-star hotels
Oberhofen Castle on the turquoise water of Lake Thun

Attractions

What you will see as you travel the route, day by day, and how to make the most of each stop.

9sights on the route
4castles
1panoramic train ride
8day Swiss Travel Pass
GenevaMontreuxGruyèresLake ThunLauterbrunnenZurich
1Day 1

Welcome to Montreux

Settle in by Lake Geneva.

Montreux lakeside promenade

Why it is worth itA flower-lined promenade along Lake Geneva, with views across the water to the French Alps. A statue of Freddie Mercury stands by the lake.

Insider tipThe flat lakeside path is easy to walk in either direction from your hotel.

2Day 2

Chillon and a lake cruise

A lakeside castle and a steamer past the vineyards.

Château de Chillon

Why it is worth itA medieval castle on a rocky island on the shore of Lake Geneva, near Montreux. You explore its towers, courtyards and the dungeon made famous by Lord Byron.

Insider tipAllow a couple of hours. The castle is bigger inside than it looks from the shore.

Lavaux vineyards

Why it is worth itTerraced vineyards that climb steeply above Lake Geneva, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The views over the lake to the Alps are spectacular.

Insider tipFrom the lake, the terraces look like a giant staircase of vines climbing the hillside.

Optional add-on

Private Lavaux Wine Tour for 2

A private half-day tour of the Lavaux vineyard terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with a tasting at a family winery. For 2 travelers.

$970 per booking

Optional. Not included in the trip price.

3Day 3

A free day, or Glacier 3000

Up to the glacier.

Optional add-on

Glacier 3000 Cable Car

The cable car up to Glacier 3000 above Les Diablerets, with the Peak Walk suspension bridge between two summits.

Comfort Plus only

$95 per person

Optional. Not included in the trip price.

4Day 4

Gruyeres and the GoldenPass Express

Cheese country, then the panoramic train.

Gruyères Castle

Why it is worth itA hilltop medieval town with a castle overlooking the green hills of Fribourg. At La Maison du Gruyère you learn how the famous cheese is made.

Insider tipTry the cheese in the town where it is made, and the local double cream with meringues.

GoldenPass Express

Why it is worth itA panoramic train from Montreux to Interlaken, across the mountains of the Swiss Pre-Alps. Large windows show you lakes, valleys and Alpine villages.

Insider tipKeep your camera handy. The big panoramic windows are made for the mountain views.

5Day 5

Lake Thun and its castles

Two castles on Lake Thun.

Oberhofen Castle

Why it is worth itA castle on the shore of Lake Thun, with a small tower standing in the water and gardens along the lake. Inside, rooms show how its owners lived over the centuries.

Insider tipLeave time for the lakeside gardens.

Thun Castle

Why it is worth itA castle with four corner turrets on a hill above the old town of Thun. Its museum and tower look out over the town, the lake and the Alps.

Insider tipThe walk up from the old town is short but steep.

6Day 6

Lauterbrunnen and Muerren

Waterfalls and a car-free mountain village.

Lauterbrunnen Valley

Why it is worth itA deep glacial valley with sheer rock walls and 72 waterfalls, including Staubbach Falls near the village. It is one of the most famous views in the Swiss Alps.

Insider tipStaubbach Falls is an easy walk from the village.

Mürren

Why it is worth itA car-free mountain village perched on a cliff above the Lauterbrunnen Valley. It looks across to the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.

Insider tipPick a clear day if you can. The views across to the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau depend on the clouds.

The order of stops can shift with the weather, and access to some sites can change with the season or local conditions. See Day by day for the full plan.

Why this trip

Lakes, a glacier and three castles, all by train. A Swiss Travel Pass covers every train, lake steamer and bus, so there is nothing to drive and few tickets to buy. Three nights on the lake in Montreux, three in Interlaken between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, and everything is booked for you.

  • Glacier 3000, if you likeTrain and PostBus to the Col du Pillon, then add the cable car to the glacier and the Peak Walk (optional add-on).
  • Three castlesChillon on Lake Geneva, Gruyeres with its cheese dairy, and Oberhofen and Thun by lake steamer (tickets booked).
  • The GoldenPass ExpressMontreux to Interlaken over the Alps, with your seat reserved (booked).

Trip at a glance

Length
7 days / 6 nights
Starts / ends
Geneva Airport (GVA) to Zurich Airport (ZRH)
Getting around
Second-class Swiss Travel Pass for trains, lake steamers, PostBus and mountain lifts
Pace
Relaxed: 2 hotels, 3 nights each
Best time to go
Mid May to early October. June and September for clear mountain days and fewer crowds
Great for
Couples, friends and families who are happy with trains and a little walking
Accommodations
Comfort Plus (4-star and 3-star hotels)
Flights
Not included. You book; timing tips in your pre-trip guide
Travel style
Culture, Relaxing, Nature

Day by day

Day 1 and day 7 are travel days. The order of the days in between can shift with the mountain weather.

Day 1Welcome to Montreux
The direct train from Geneva Airport along Lake Geneva to Montreux, about 1 hour 15 minutes (covered by your pass), then a short walk to your hotel. An easy evening on the lakeside promenade.
Stay: Hotel Eden Palace au Lac (4-star), on the lake in Montreux, breakfast included (night 1 of 6).
Day 2Chillon and a lake cruise
Walk the lakeside path to the Chateau de Chillon (tickets booked), then a Lake Geneva steamer past the Lavaux vineyard terraces (covered by your pass). Free evening in Montreux.
Stay: Hotel Eden Palace au Lac (4-star), on the lake in Montreux, breakfast included (night 2 of 6).
Day 3A free day, or Glacier 3000
A free day around Montreux: the lakeside promenade, the old town or a steamer on the lake. Or take the train to Aigle, the mountain railway and PostBus to the Col du Pillon, and add the cable car up to Glacier 3000 and the Peak Walk, the suspension bridge between two summits (optional add-on).
Stay: Hotel Eden Palace au Lac (4-star), on the lake in Montreux, breakfast included (night 3 of 6).
Day 4Gruyeres and the GoldenPass Express
A morning train to Gruyeres for the castle and La Maison du Gruyere cheese dairy (tickets booked), then the GoldenPass Express over the mountains to Interlaken (seat booked).
Stay: Hotel Bernerhof (3-star), central Interlaken by the station, breakfast included (night 4 of 6).
Day 5Lake Thun and its castles
A lake steamer from Interlaken to Oberhofen Castle and its gardens, then on to Thun and its hilltop castle (tickets booked; boats covered by your pass).
Stay: Hotel Bernerhof (3-star), central Interlaken by the station, breakfast included (night 5 of 6).
Day 6Lauterbrunnen and Muerren
Train and cable car into the Lauterbrunnen valley of 72 waterfalls and up to the car-free village of Muerren, with the Eiger, Moench and Jungfrau across the valley (covered by your pass).
Stay: Hotel Bernerhof (3-star), central Interlaken by the station, breakfast included (night 6 of 6).
Day 7Home
The train from Interlaken to Zurich Airport, about 2 hours 20 minutes, timed to your flight (covered by your pass).

Map

Your route at a glance.

Expand map
By roadTrain / Boat
  1. 1Geneva Airport
  2. 2Montreux
  3. 3Château de Chillon
  4. 4Lavaux
  5. 5Glacier 3000
  6. 6Gruyères
  7. 7Interlaken
  8. 8Oberhofen Castle
  9. 9Thun
  10. 10Lauterbrunnen
  11. 11Mürren
  12. 12Zurich Airport

What’s included

Included

  • 6 nights in 2 hotels: Hotel Eden Palace au Lac in Montreux (4-star) and Hotel Bernerhof in Interlaken (3-star), with breakfast and taxes
  • An 8-day second-class Swiss Travel Pass for trains, lake steamers, PostBus and the Muerren lifts, including the airport trains
  • A reserved seat on the GoldenPass Express
  • Tickets for Chillon, Gruyeres, Oberhofen and Thun castles, and La Maison du Gruyere
  • A day-by-day plan with every connection listed, and one point of contact from booking to landing

Not included

  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Lunches and dinners
  • Drinks
  • Tips
  • Personal spending

Optional add-ons: Glacier 3000 Cable Car ($95 per person), Private Lavaux Wine Tour for 2 ($970 per booking). Add them in the booking box or in Attractions.

Getting around: no driving. Your Swiss Travel Pass covers the trains, lake steamers, PostBus and the Muerren lifts, from Geneva Airport on day 1 to Zurich Airport on day 7. Swiss trains run to the minute, and your plan lists every connection.

Which accommodations? Comfort Plus hotels are 3-star or better: nice, clean and comfortable. Superior hotels are 4-star and 5-star, or the finest in the area, and a few days change (see Day by day). See the difference

Choose your accommodations

The same trip at two accommodation levels. Superior adds better hotels and a few special days; the price changes with it.

AccommodationsComfort PlusFrom$4,779per person, 2 sharingSuperiorFrom$14,819per person, 2 sharing
Where you stay3-star or better: nice, clean and comfortable4-star and 5-star, or the finest in the area
Hotels6 nights in 2 hotels: Hotel Eden Palace au Lac in Montreux (4-star) and Hotel Bernerhof in Interlaken (3-star), with breakfast and taxes6 nights in 2 five-star hotels: 3 at the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace with breakfast and 3 at BEATUS on Lake Thun with gourmet half board, with taxes
Getting aroundSecond-class Swiss Travel Pass for trains, lake steamers, PostBus and mountain liftsFirst-class Swiss Travel Pass for trains, lake steamers and mountain lifts, plus private cars for the airports and Glacier 3000
HighlightsThree castles; The GoldenPass Express; Glacier 3000 as an add-onGlacier 3000 by private car; Three castles; The GoldenPass Express
PaceRelaxed: 2 hotels, 3 nights eachRelaxed: 2 hotels, 3 nights each, no packing in between
Choose Comfort PlusChoose Superior

Questions

What’s the difference between Comfort Plus and Superior?
Where you stay, and a few days of the trip. Comfort Plus hotels are 3-star or better: nice, clean and comfortable, but not luxury. Superior hotels are always 4-star or 5-star, or the finest in the area. Superior also changes a few days: a first-class Swiss Travel Pass, a private car up to Glacier 3000 and to the airports, and three nights on Lake Thun at BEATUS instead of Interlaken. Choose either one under Accommodations in the booking box; the price, the day-by-day plan and the inclusions update right away.
What if I need to cancel?
Plans change. If you need to cancel, you'll receive trip credit toward another itsTripEasy trip: within 24 hours of payment, 100% trip credit, so you can swap to a different destination; 90 or more days before your trip start date, 100% trip credit; less than 90 days before, no trip credit, unless you added Flexible Cancellation: with it, you get 100% trip credit if you cancel at least 10 days before your trip start date, for a trip you take within 12 months. Other trip credits never expire. To cancel or change your dates, use the cancellation request form. For a date change, choose the reason "I'd like to change my dates".
How many people can share a room?
Rooms on this trip hold 1 to 3 people (the third in a triple room or an extra bed). The booking box offers own room, 2 per room or 3 per room. A group of 4 is booked into 2 shared rooms, all on one booking. The booking box shows the price per person for your group. For a larger group, use Plan My Trip.
Is Glacier 3000 open in summer?
Yes. The cable car runs year round except a short autumn service break, usually from late October to early November. In summer the snow and ice stay on the glacier, and the Peak Walk is open in good weather; on a stormy day the plan swaps days so you can go up when it clears.
Are the trains easy with luggage?
Yes. Swiss trains have luggage racks, and both hotels are a short walk or taxi from the station. You change hotels only once, on day 4.
Do I need a car?
No. The Swiss Travel Pass covers every train, steamer and bus on the trip.
Are flights included?
Flights are up to you, and your pre-trip guide includes timing tips. You land in Geneva on day 1 and fly home from Zurich on day 7; a flight after 12 PM on day 7 works best.
Can the trip be customized?
Yes, right in the booking box: add up to 3 extra nights at the start or end of your trip, pick your hotels (Comfort Plus or Superior), and choose how many travelers share each room.

Good to know

  • Weather and nature. Weather, rail, mountain and natural conditions are outside anyone’s control and can change quickly. They may change the plan, close roads, delay or cancel ferries, or delay, shorten or cancel tours and activities, and the order of days may shift.
  • Your choices. You are responsible for your own decisions, safety and choices while traveling, including which activities you take part in, and following local guidance, posted warnings and your guides’ instructions.
  • Photos. Photos on this page are for inspiration. They may not show the exact location, hotel, season or conditions of your trip.
  • Not included. Flights aren’t included; you book those yourself.
$9,558
2 travelers · 7 days / 6 nights
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