Rick Steves Says Switzerland's Top 3 Trains Are The Most Scenic Rides In Europe

Switzerland is one of those countries that immediately produces an image in your mind. Enormous mountains like the scenic Matterhorn, sparkling lakes, snow-covered villages, and delectable gastronomic pleasures await visitors. And no matter how much time you have, it may not feel like enough. In fact, travel pro Rick Steves says on his website, "Americans get the shortest vacations in the industrial world. With so little time, the pressure is on to make all the right choices when planning a trip." To that end, Steves lists what he refers to as the "top three" trains in Switzerland, calling them "Europe's most scenic train rides." They are the GoldenPass, the Bernina Express, and the Glacier Express. These trains take you to some of Switzerland's top attractions, so you're not flying or driving between cities.

Trains allow you to move quickly between tourist destinations, so you can see more of the country you flew so far to visit. Plus, you can enjoy the countryside, good meals, and simply relax. Knowing you don't have to drive or worry about getting to your next stop on time allows you to focus on the beauty around you instead of road conditions and traffic rules. Here's why these three train rides are ranked so highly.

The first train on the list is the GoldenPass. Steves says, "While most train rides in Switzerland are photogenic, four are aggressively marketed as the most spectacular. Of those rail journeys, my pick is the Golden Pass." You can take the GoldenPass Belle Époque between Montreux and Zweisimmen. Beginning in Montreux, it runs along Lake Geneva through the Gruyère district, then to Pays-d'Enhaut, Gstaad, and then to Zweisimmen. Surprisingly, you don't need a reservation, though they are recommended. The journey takes a little over two hours, and the train has a stunning interior that might make you feel like you're in a classic film. Both first and second class are available.

The GoldenPass Panoramic takes the same route, but has panoramic windows for a more dramatic view. The GoldenPass Express runs from Montreux to Interlaken Ost. Since Interlaken is one of the must-see destinations for first-time visitors to Switzerland, this may be your route of choice. This trip takes around 3 hours and 15 minutes. In addition to first and second class, there is also a Prestige Class, which has heated, rotating leather seats, and the entire class group is physically elevated from the others, so passengers here have a better view. These seats require reservations. It passes through Interlaken, Gstaad, Château-d'Oex, Montbovon, and Montreux, and you can enjoy a delightful meal if you preorder (Prestige and first class offer passengers champagne and caviar).

The GoldenPass trains are also part of the Swiss Travel Pass, which Steves says is a good value in another website post. The travel pass offers unlimited travel for a set number of days, and you can ride on participating trains, boats, and buses, as well as get free admission to some museums and discounts on mountain railway tickets. 

The next train that Steves recommends is the Bernina Express, one of the most scenic train rides in the world, which runs from Chur, Switzerland, to Tirano, Italy, over the Alps. Not only do you get to see sights like the Alp Grüm, the Brusio Circular Viaduct, the Landwasser Viaduct, and the UNESCO World Heritage site along the Rhaetian Railway, but you also pass through 55 tunnels and across more than 196 bridges. This train has a minibar with snacks and drinks, though it doesn't have a dining car. Passengers can choose between first- and second-class seats. First class features a single seat on each side and catering at your seat. Second class has double seats. 

The Bernina Express train takes you between the countries in around four hours, though you can also take it from St. Moritz to Tirano in two hours and 15 minutes. The train is covered by the Swiss Travel Pass, but note that there is often a fee for reservations. 

One reviewer on Tripadvisor (where the train has a 4.6 rating across more than 5,000 reviews) who rode from St. Moritz to Tirano in first class wrote of the journey, "This ride was one of the highlights of our trip, it was a beauty overload." They also mention the ability to take pictures of "glaciers, snow capped mountains, waterfalls, and hillside villages." You can bring your dog with you (with the correct documents so they can cross between Switzerland and Italy). Larger dogs need a dog ticket. 

If you love winter sports, the Glacier Express may be for you (though it's lovely all year). This train takes you over 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels. It runs from the ski resort towns of Zermatt and St. Moritz, stopping at Brig, Andermatt, Chur, and Filisur in between, and takes roughly eight hours. There are panoramic windows, and food is delivered to your seat. You'll pass sights like the famous Matterhorn, the Bis Glacier, the Kipfen Gorge, the 17th-century Stockalper Palace, the Disentis Monastery, founded in the 8th century, and the Solis and Landwasser viaducts. Steves recommends taking the Glacier Express in his Switzerland itinerary, though he says that you may not want to go to Zermatt if the weather isn't good. This train is also included in the Swiss Travel Pass, though, like the others, you pay extra for seat reservations.

The train began running between Zermatt and St. Moritz in 1930, and beyond the scenic route, it's known for something you may not expect. In the 1980s, the train introduced a tilted glass cup to drink from. "The cult glass was invented to counteract the slope and prevent the drink from spilling," according to the Glacier Express website, and you would be told when to turn the glass during inclines or tunnels (you can also purchase them as souvenirs to take back to the U.S.).

First- and second-class seats are available, but if you want to splurge, the Glacier Express offers Excellence Class, which comes with a guaranteed window seat that reclines, headphones, and a tablet so you can learn about what you're seeing, and the exclusive Glacier Bar with cocktails. There is also a five-course menu, luggage transport to and from the platform, and a concierge. You'll need a mandatory seat reservation. Finally, to help you plan, here is the only map of Switzerland you'll ever need for your trip.