In 2026, the iconic rail itinerary celebrates 10 years of connecting some of the country’s most scenic routes, cities, lakes, vineyards and Alpine landscapes. Switzerland and train travel have always made a rather good pair, but the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland takes that relationship several steps further. The idea is refreshingly simple. Instead of rushing from one attraction to another, let the train become part of the holiday. With panoramic windows, changing scenery and plenty of stops along the way, this is slow travel with one of the world’s best views!
Do you need extra reservations for scenic trains?
The tour also makes a strong case for letting the train do the driving, quite literally. There is no need to spend your holiday watching road signs or worrying about parking. You can sit back, look out of the window and watch Switzerland change from mountains and deep valleys to lakes, vineyards and city streets. If you are planning to cover several parts of Switzerland, the Swiss Travel Pass can make the trip much simpler. Instead of buying separate tickets for every train, bus and boat, one pass gives you access to much of the country’s public transport network. The reservation fee is not included in the pass, so keep this extra cost in your holiday budget. Pick the full loop, choose a few sections or build your own mix of panoramic trains and overnight stays. The best part may simply be that, in Switzerland, getting from A to B can be one of the nicest parts of the holiday.
For 2026, that makes it an especially tempting option for anyone planning to see more than one Swiss city or region.
Step-by-Step Instructions
And this is where things get interesting for travellers who like a little freedom in their plans. You do not have to commit to the entire route in one go. The full loop works beautifully for a longer Swiss holiday, but individual sections can also be combined into shorter two- or three-day trips. You could spend one part of the trip taking in Alpine scenery, another passing through the vineyards of Lavaux, and later find yourself among the palm-lined promenades of Ticino. The scenery keeps changing, which is half the fun.
