Switzerland
From Alpine air to Swiss cheese. It's time to recharge your batteries!
Unbelievable mountain scenery, charming medieval cities and bright blue lakes - no wonder Switzerland is one of the most popular countries to explore by train. If you like to drift around, let the cities of Bern, Zürich, Lucerne and Geneva enchant you. If you're more of a thrill-seeker, nothing beats camping, skiing or hiking in the breathtaking Swiss countryside.
Trains in Switzerland
Find out all you need to know about Switzerland’s rail network, different train types and reservation requirements.
More about trains in Switzerland
Interrail passes for Switzerland
Interrail Switzerland Pass
The Interrail Switzerland Pass is the ultimate train ticket to scenic train rides and gorgeous towns.
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Interrail Global Pass
The Interrail Global Pass is the flexible and budget-friendly way to get around up to 33 countries in Europe. Travel by train from one cool destination to the next. One day you're on a pub crawl through Amsterdam and the next you're white-water rafting in Interlaken, Switzerland.
Pass benefits in Switzerland
Make sure you enjoy discounted boat trips, a reduction on the private railways and much more.
Places to visit
Swiss Alps
Adrenaline overload
Not only is Switzerland a top ski and snowboard destination – think St. Moritz, Verbier and Zermatt – but it’s also a great place to enjoy many other outdoor activities within stunning surroundings. If you’re seeking adrenaline-fuelled madness go zorbing in Interlaken – climb the hill, step inside a man-made beach ball and roll on down! Or, try Switzerland’s longest Flying Fox at Monte Tamaro in the south. You’ll be tied to a harness and pulley and then sent careering at 60km/h along a 440-metre wire – only for the daring!
Interlaken has 2 main train stations: Interlaken Ost (nearest to the city centre) and Interlaken West. A number of companies offer zorbing around Interlaken. To reach Monte Tamaro take an aerial cable car from Alpe Foppa.
Clock Tower, Bern
Bern: Charming little capital
Bern, not a typical capital city in terms of size and decibel levels, instead oozes provincial charm and calm. Pass by Einstein House (Einsteinhaus), once home to the father of modern physics, Albert Einstein, between 1903 and 1905. There’s also an interesting biography of the German-born mastermind and a presentation of his life’s work. Take some time to wander around the medieval centre of this UNESCO World Heritage Site and marvel at the 15th century architecture. The Clock Tower (Zytglogge) with its quirky puppet show popping out each hour, stands proudly among medieval terraced-buildings.
The Einstein House is a 15-minute walk from Bern’s main train station and the Clock Tower is just 10 minutes from there.
Augusta Raurica, Basel
For the culturally curious
Visit Switzerland’s culture capital: Basel, with its wealth of cultural, historical and art attractions, plus a pleasant vibe. The city lies in the heart of Europe on both banks of the Rhine and is an important transport hub with good connections to the whole of Europe from its 3 train stations. Just 20 kilometres east of Basel in Augst, is Augusta Raurica – an ancient Roman archaeological site, containing an impressive Roman theatre and house, as well as a museum explaining the history of this Swiss gem.
Augusta Raurica is a 15-minute walk from the Kaiseraugst train station.
Old town of Zurich
Paint the town red
Zürich has some of the most lively night spots in the country, with a great selection in the Old Town. Check out Kaufleuten – a buzzing bar and club – and choose from four bars, each with an individual style, and during warmer months the terrace is a great hang out. Also make sure you pass by Langstrasse – Zürich's very own red light district, though keep your wits about you as crime levels are higher in this area. Lausanne is another city with a vibrant night scene and a varied selection of bars and clubs to keep you going into the early hours.
Kaufleuten is a 5-minute walk from Sihlstrasse tram stop (tram 2,5, 9 or 13).
Lake Geneva, Montreux
Spoilt for choice
Majestically sparkling in the west, is Lake Geneva – Europe’s largest alpine lake. Wonderful places to experience Switzerland’s largest lake are from the cosmopolitan city of Geneva and on the opposite side of the lake in Montreux. Visit the spectacular Château de Chillon in Montreux, a well-preserved medieval castle elegantly perched on the edge of Lake Geneva. Another picture-perfect lake can be discovered in Lucerne. Take a boat trip around the crystal waters and admire the surrounding wooded slopes and soak up the Swiss serenity.
Château de Chillon is a 10-minute walk from Veytaux-Chillon train station. From Lucerne’s main train station it is a 10-minute walk to the quay where you can pick up a boat.
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Top Attractions in Switzerland
Events
Lucerne Festival
14 August - 13 September, 2020
Famous orchestras, legendary conductors, and virtuoso soloists join together three times a year on the idyllic location of Lake Lucerne to celebrate the joy of music. In the concert hall designed by Jean Nouvel, which is renowned for its phenomenal acoustics and its exquisite architecture alike, they encounter an audience that is no less international and sophisticated. Some 110,000 visitors annually make the trip to Lucerne to experience one of the most exquisite and storied music festivals and to hear the international stars of classical music right in the heart of Switzerland.
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