Swiss Peaks by Rail: An 8 Day Luxury Rail Journey across Switzerland

Your adventure begins in Geneva, a city that combines lakeside calm with cosmopolitan style. After you arrive, take time simply to breathe and settle in. Wander down to the shores of Lake Geneva, where sailboats drift across the water and the famous Jet d’Eau sends a plume of spray into the clear air. The Old Town invites you to explore its cobbled streets, shaded squares and small independent boutiques. It feels compact and welcoming, perfect for a gentle first afternoon in Switzerland. As evening falls, find a restaurant that overlooks the lake, perhaps with floor‑to‑ceiling windows, and enjoy your first plate of Swiss cuisine as the lights of the city shimmer on the water.

On your second day you leave Geneva behind and step on board the first of your great rail journeys: the GoldenPass route towards Montreux. Settling into a first‑class seat, you watch as the train glides along the northern shore of the lake, past terraced vineyards and pretty villages that seem to tumble towards the water. The scenery unfolds like a series of postcards: church spires, small harbours, sun‑warmed stone houses and long lines of vines catching the morning light. When you arrive in Montreux, the atmosphere is instantly more Riviera than city. The lakeside promenade is lined with flowers and palm trees, backed by snow‑dusted peaks. It is an easy and beautiful walk along the shore to Château de Chillon, a medieval castle perched on a rocky outcrop above the lake, its reflection mirrored in the clear water. If you enjoy wine, the nearby Lavaux vineyards are a temptation that is hard to resist: a maze of terraced vines, winding lanes and tiny wine cellars that look out over the lake towards the French Alps. It is the perfect place to taste local wines and soak up the views before returning to Montreux for a relaxed evening on a terrace by the water.

The following day, your journey turns away from the lake and into the high mountains as you travel from Montreux to Zermatt. The train runs first to Visp, then you change to the narrow‑gauge mountain railway that zigzags up the valley. With every kilometre the landscape grows more dramatic. Vineyards give way to steep gorges, tumbling rivers and ever‑higher peaks. When you step off the train in Zermatt, you enter a different world. The village is car‑free, its streets lined with traditional wooden chalets and smart hotels, with the jagged silhouette of the Matterhorn dominating the skyline. Zermatt invites you to slow down again: perhaps you take the cogwheel Gornergrat railway for sweeping views of glaciers and 4,000‑metre peaks, or a cable car to one of the viewing platforms above the valley. Even a simple walk through the village can be magical, especially if you end at a sunny terrace with the Matterhorn rising above you. In the evening, Zermatt’s restaurants come into their own. You might choose a classic Swiss fondue in a rustic setting or opt for contemporary alpine fine dining with paired wines.

Day four brings the journey many travellers dream of: a full day on board the Glacier Express. Often described as the slowest express train in the world, it is slow in the best possible way, allowing you to savour every minute. Boarding in Zermatt, you settle into a spacious seat in first class or, for the ultimate treat, Excellence Class, where every detail is designed to make the experience feel special. Panoramic windows stretch up into the ceiling, so the mountains fill your field of vision. As the train glides out of the station, you can feel yourself surrendering to the rhythm of the rails. Valleys open up, small villages appear and disappear, and soon you are climbing towards the Oberalp Pass, the highest point on the route. Snowfields, rocky slopes, forests and rivers stream past your window. A multi‑course lunch is served at your seat, so there is no need to miss a single view. By late afternoon you roll into St Moritz, one of the world’s most famous alpine resorts, with its shimmering lake, designer shops and long history of winter glamour. It makes a wonderful contrast to the raw nature you have just passed through. Check into a hotel where the spa beckons you to relax aching muscles in warm water while you look out at the mountains beyond.

The next day, the red carriages of the Bernina Express await you on the platform. While the Glacier Express shows you the heart of the Swiss Alps, the Bernina line carries you from glaciers to palm trees in a single day, and it is every bit as spectacular. Leaving St Moritz behind, the train twists its way across the stone arches of the Landwasser Viaduct and begins its ascent to the Bernina Pass. At this height, the landscape feels almost lunar: glaciers and bare rock, turquoise mountain lakes and swirling mists. The engineering of the line is extraordinary, with spiral tunnels and sweeping curves that allow the train to gain height slowly, so you can continue to enjoy the views. As you cross the pass and begin to descend, the change is striking. Forests grow denser, the air seems softer, and, as you cross into Italy and reach Tirano, palm trees, tiled roofs and church bells announce that you are truly in another country.

From Tirano you continue by regional train towards the Italian lakes. Many travellers choose to pause on the shores of Lake Como, and it is easy to see why. The mountains now form a protective ring of green hills, and elegant villas hide among cypress trees and bougainvillaea. Small ferries shuttle between villages that cling to the shore, each with its own piazza, church and waterside promenade. An overnight stay here is a heavenly way to ease the transition from Switzerland to Italy. Perhaps you take a private boat ride at sunset to glide past grand villas and tiny hamlets, or simply find a table on the water’s edge where you can watch the last light sink behind the mountains with a glass of wine in hand.

On day six you leave the lake and head to Milan. The rail journey is relatively short, but the change in atmosphere is instant. Milan is energy, style and history all at once. Once you have checked into your hotel, you might start at the Duomo, its white marble façade rising like a stone forest of spires above the busy square. Climbing to the rooftop terraces gives you a completely different perspective on the city. Just a few steps away lies the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a soaring 19th‑century arcade of glass and iron, lined with some of Italy’s most famous fashion houses and grand cafes. It is wonderful simply to stroll, admiring both the architecture and the window displays. As evening falls, Milan comes into its own. Neighbourhoods like Brera and Navigli fill with locals meeting friends, and you can enjoy an aperitivo at a bar, followed by dinner at a tucked‑away trattoria. If you want something truly special, a rooftop restaurant with views over the city is a memorable way to celebrate the end of your Alpine rail adventure.

Your seventh day in Milan invites you to dive a little deeper. Art lovers might make a pilgrimage to Santa Maria delle Grazie to see Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper”, which is as moving in person as you might imagine and requires advance reservations. You can wander through Brera’s cobbled streets, visiting galleries and artisan shops, or head to the modern district of Porta Nuova with its striking skyscrapers and landscaped squares. Milan is also a wonderful place to indulge in a little curated shopping or a food tour that takes you behind the scenes of the city’s culinary life, from historic pastry shops to local markets. It is a city that rewards slow exploration and rewards curiosity at every turn.

Finally, day eight arrives, and with it the end of your journey. Perhaps you have a leisurely breakfast in the hotel before making your way to the station or airport. You might find yourself replaying favourite moments in your mind: the stillness of Lake Geneva at dusk, the thrill of glimpsing the Matterhorn from Zermatt, the silence of the snowfields outside the Glacier Express windows, the dizzying sweep of the Bernina Viaduct, the sparkle of Lake Como in the evening light and the hum of conversation under Milan’s café awnings. In just over a week, you will have travelled through three distinct worlds: the lakes and cities of western Switzerland, the high drama of the Alpine heartlands, and the warm elegance of northern Italy.

What makes this itinerary so special is the way it combines comfort with discovery. Travelling mostly by rail means no stressful driving and no rushing from airport to airport. Instead, the journey is as much a part of the experience as the destinations themselves. With thoughtful planning, you can upgrade to the most comfortable classes on each train, choose hotels that match your style, and layer in private transfers, guided excursions and memorable dining experiences. The result is a seamless adventure that feels both relaxing and enriching.