With its jagged, skyscraping mountains and milelong glaciers, Switzerland’s landscape might seem beautiful yet inaccessible – but it’s not.
In fact, Switzerland has one of the most efficient railway networks in Europe, linking remote Alpine villages with cosmopolitan cities like Geneva and Zürich, as well as neighboring countries like Italy, Austria, and Germany.
To maximize your time and avoid wasting it in train ticket queues, purchase a Eurail Global Pass through Trainline. This ticket allows you to travel through Switzerland as well as to the other 32 Eurail countries.
Image Credit: Getty Images, KvdB50. Image Location: Switzerland
See Switzerland by train with a Eurail Pass
Everything you need to know about a Eurail Pass for Switzerland before you start your adventure across the country.
Does Eurail pass work in Switzerland?
Yes! While there isn’t a Eurail One Country Pass for Switzerland, a Eurail Global Pass works all over Switzerland, including on high-speed, night, and scenic trains like the Glacier Express from St. Moritz to Zermatt.
Ready to explore? Grab your backpack and set off on this Swiss railway adventure.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Xantana. Image Location: Lucerne, Switzerland
Best train travel itinerary around Switzerland with Eurail Pass
Zürich to Lucerne: for medieval charm
Start your journey in Zürich, Switzerland’s largest city. From here, you’ll set off for Lucerne, a lakeside medieval town, just a 41-minute train ride from Zürich. Grab a window seat and watch Lake Zürich and Lake Zug whiz past, backed by the snow-encrusted Swiss Alps.
On arrival in Lucerne, head for the Old Town with its 700-year-old covered wooden bridge, Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), and maze-like cobblestone streets. Make sure you stop by St. Magdalena, the oldest bar in Lucerne. Unusually, the specialty here is carajillos, Spanish espresso spiked with a shot of schnapps.
Lucerne to Zermatt: for alpine views
From Lucerne, the scenery gets increasingly more mountainous as you head deeper into the Alps.
Zermatt is one of the most famous ski resorts in the world, home to around 124 miles of freshly groomed slopes, hemmed in by peaks over 13,000 feet. Among these is the famous pyramid-shaped Matterhorn. Follow the Glacier Trail hike for postcard-worthy views of the mountain itself.
Back in town, the Matterhorn Museum is well worth a visit to learn about the notorious peak’s storied past. Beyond, the streets are lined with designer shops, upscale restaurants, and five-star hotels, if you fancy spending the night.
Image Credit: Getty Images, bennymarty. Image Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Zermatt to Geneva: for lakeside meandering
From Zermatt, it’s a scenic train ride through the vineyard-speckled valley of Valais to Geneva.
Dozens of international organizations are based here, like the United Nations and Red Cross, giving the city a multinational feel. Admire the grand Italianate mansions that overlook glistening Lake Geneva. Stop by Auer, Geneva’s renowned chocolate shop, where they serve miniature nutty cakes called pignon alongside your café au lait.
From here, hop on a Genèveroule city bike and pedal along the shoreline of the lake. During the summer, the small sandy beaches are peppered with families picnicking and swimming in the crystalline water.
Geneva to Basel: for culture vultures
Leave behind French-speaking Geneva and head to Basel in the German area of Switzerland. Climb aboard a traditional wooden Weidling boat for a first-class overview of the city from the Rhine River.
Back on dry land, you’ll find a brightly colored Old Town, dotted with over 40 museums. Visit the Kunstmuseum, the oldest public collection of art in the world. Today, it houses masterpieces by Vincent van Gogh and Pablo Picasso, among others.
Refuel at Markthalle where there are dozens of global street food stalls, serving everything from fresh sushi to Vietnamese Phở soup.
Image Credit: Getty Images, alxpin. Image Location: Zürich, Switzerland
Basel to Zürich: for history and art
Finally, it’s a short train ride back to Zürich. Got time before you leave? Wander down Niederdorf where the old winding streets offer a mishmash of traditional fondue restaurants, hole-in-the-wall bars, and offbeat boutique shops.
Climb the tower of the Grossmünster, an 11th-century church that was a key part in the Swiss Reformation, followed by a Calanda Bräu beer inside the Cabaret Voltaire cultural center, where the Dada art movement began.
Download the Trainline app to purchase your Eurail Pass. Then simply hop onboard to your exciting Swiss escape! Need more Eurail info? Check out our comprehensive guide to all things Eurail.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Comezora. Image Location: Switzerland