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Switzerland By Train
Switzerland is high on the wish list of many Eurail travelers. You can explore Switzerland by rail with a Eurail Pass and travel through the snow-capped Alps, alongside beautiful mountain lakes and across rolling green hills. Switzerland's stunning nature and charming cities make this a country you don't want to miss!
Domestic connections in Switzerland
Map with main train connections in Switzerland
Click here to download a more detailed map of the Swiss train network (2 MB)
View approximate train travel times between Switzerland's most popular cities using regional and high-speed trains:
To / From |
High-speed train | Regional train |
|---|---|---|
Basel - Bern |
57min |
1hr 40min |
Basel - Geneva |
2hr 43min |
5hr |
Basel - Interlaken |
2hr |
4hr |
Basel - Zurich |
50min |
1hr 50min |
Basel - Lucerne |
1hr |
1hr 40min |
Bern - Geneva |
1hr 40min |
2hr 30min |
Bern - Interlaken |
50min |
1hr 10min |
Geneva - Interlaken |
2hr 40min |
5hr 40min |
Geneva - Zurich |
2hr 44min |
5hr |
Zurich - Lugano |
2hr 43min |
- |
International connections to and from Switzerland
Reservations for trains in Switzerland
rail pass options for Switzerland
Train types in Switzerland
There are a number of train types in Switzerland ready to transport you across the country, and to and from other European countries by day and night. Switzerland's national railway company is the SBB (Schweizerische BundesBahn). Use the Eurail train timetable or SBB timetable to check times for trains in Switzerland.
Regional trains in Switzerland
The main rail network in Switzerland is made up of the following regional and intercity trains:
RegioExpress trains link regional destinations with larger Swiss cities.
Regio trains connect local towns.
InterCity trains link major Swiss cities like Basel and Geneva.
InterRegio trains connect Zurich and Geneva with cities across the whole of Switzerland. These trains make more stops than InterCity trains.
- S-Bahn (suburban trains) is a network of trains that operate within most big cities. Your Eurail pass is valid for the S-bahn.
Travel tip:
There's an international regional train connection between Chiasso and Milan (Italy). This connection is a great option if you want to avoid reservation fees.
On the Eurail timetable RegioExpress trains are listed as "RE", and Regio trains as "R". InterCity trains are listed as "IC", and InterRegio trains as "IR". Regional and Intercity trains do not require seat reservations. Reservations are however recommended for Intercity trains during high season (May-September) and public holidays.
High-speed trains in Switzerland
International high-speed trains in Switzerland
These high-speed trains operate to and from Switzerland:
ICE connects Switzerland to Germany and the Netherlands.
RailJet connects Zurich with Vienna (Austria).
EuroCity connects Zurich, Basel and Geneva to Milan (Italy).
TGV connects Zurich, Basel and Geneva to Paris (France).
Domestic high-speed trains in Switzerland
Swiss domestic high-speed trains are called InterCity Neigezug (ICN). ICN trains transport passengers quickly and in comfort from one side of the country to the other.
On the Eurail timetable ICE trains are shown as 'ICE', Railjet as "RJ", Eurocity as "EC" and TGV as 'TGV'. Reservations are compulsory for EuroCity and TGV. For ICE, RailJet and domestic ICN trains, reservations are optional but we recommend making reservations during weekends and busy periods.
Night trains in and between Switzerland
International night trains
The following night trains connect Switzerland with Austria, Germany, Croatia, Hungary and Serbia.
ÖBB Nightjet:
Zurich – Basel - Berlin - Hamburg
Zurich – Linz - ViennaEuroNight:
Zurich – Graz (Austria)
Zurich – Vienna (Austria) – Budapest (Hungary)D-train:
Zurich – Villach (Austria) – Ljubljana (Slovenia) – Zagreb (Croatia) – Belgrade (Serbia)
ÖBB Nightjet trains appear as "EN" on the Eurail timetable. EuroNight also appears as "EN", InterCité de Nuit as "NT" and D-trains as "D". You are required to book sleeping accommodation in advance.
Scenic train routes in Switzerland
Switzerland is famous for its beautiful scenic landscapes. The following scenic train routes offer special conditions for Eurail pass holders:
Bernina Express: Chur - Lugano via Tirano (Italy)
Chocolate train: Montreux - Broc-Chocolat
Centovalli Railway: Locarno (Switzerland) - Domodossola (Italy)
Golden Pass: Luzern - Interlaken - Montreux
Glacier Express: Davos/St. Moritz - Zermatt
Private railway companies in Switzerland
The Swiss railway network is operated not only by the SBB. There are a lot of private railway companies as well. Some of these companies are included in your Eurail pass while other companies offer discounted travel.
For more information on private railway companies:
Benefits in Switzerland
More about Switzerland
example route in Switzerland
Map with example route in Switzerland
Example route in Switzerland
Experience the best of Switzerland on a single trip with a Eurail Pass.
1. Geneva
Geneva is one of Europe's most cosmopolitan cities with a mix of French and Swiss influences.
2. Golden Pass scenic route
The Golden Pass train whisks you along the glistening waters of Lake Geneva and through picturesque mountain towns like Gstaad and Interlaken in the heart of Switzerland.
3. Interlaken
Interlaken is a mountain paradise – pay a visit to the underground waterfalls or try one of the many outdoor activities like hiking, white-water rafting or skiing.
4. Lucerne
Lucerne is surrounded by breathtaking mountain sights and filled with medieval treasures.
5. Zurich
Zurich is probably Switzerland's trendiest and most vibrant city and home to the hugely popular Street Parade.
6. Glacier Express scenic route
The Glacier Express weaves through beautiful valleys and shiny mountain lakes with stops along the way at luxurious spa towns - experience the best of Switzerland from just one train!
7. Brig
Brig is a wonderful holiday hideout - make sure to visit the beautiful Stockalper Palace and the open-air thermal baths.
Eurail Passes valid in Switzerland also include a selection of extra pass benefits, including free and discounted boat crossings and scenic train rides.
Places to visit in Switzerland
Cityscape of Bern
Beauty and history in Bern
Switzerland’s capital is filled with centuries-old tradition, and modern-day flair. From the Gothic, 15th century cathedral Münster of Bern (Berner Münster), which took more than 460 years to complete, to the high street shopping and current fashion, Bern is a traveler’s best-kept secret. Be sure to visit Historic Old Town, with the Zytglogge clock tower. The old town, built in the 15th century, is now a UNESCO Heritage Site.
From Bern’s Central Station, the Zytglogge clock tower in the Historic Old Town is about a 10-minute walk.
Lausanne Cathedral
Lausanne
Home to the International Olympic Committee since 1914, it’s easy to see why the Committee chose Lausanne, with its rolling, vineyard-covered hills and place on the edge of Lake Geneva. Don’t miss the old town and the Lausanne Cathedral – Switzerland’s finest example of Gothic architecture. There’s a wide selection of museums, including the Musée de L’Art Brut (art created by psychiatric patients & convicted criminals).
A metro will take you to the old town and cathedral.
View on the Alps, Switzerland
Natural wonders in Interlaken
Nestled deep in the Alps, Interlaken may be known for its skiing, but there’s something to do all year round in this mountain paradise. Interlaken lies at the foot of three mountains – the Eiger, the Mönch and the Jungfrau – and between two lakes. Do not miss the Trümmelbachschlucht subterranean waterfalls (yes, underground). Ride a glass-ceilinged cable car into a 500-meter gorge and see the glacial waterfalls up close.
Use your Eurail pass for a discounted journey to the top of Jungfrau – it’s the highest railway station in Europe, and the view is unlike any you’ve ever seen.
View from Salève
Real and retail paradise in Geneva
Geneva has something to offer every visitor. Boating, biking, hiking, and water recreation are just the top of the list. Geneva also offers phenomenal skiing and unforgettable shopping. The Rue de Reve and Rue de Rhone are very high-end shopping streets. The Salève is Geneva’s backyard mountain, and you can take a gondola ride to an observation point where all of Geneva is visible, surrounded by the Swiss Alps. Don’t miss it.
The shopping area is a 15-minute walk from Geneva’s Central Station.
View on Zürich, Switzerland
Zurich’s energetic excellence
Switzerland’s largest city offers excellent food, endless shopping, and a busy downtown feel. The Bahnhofstrasse has the best shopping in town. Beautiful churches, like the Fraumünster (built in 852) and the Grossmünster (built in 1100) help tell the story of Zürich’s past. After an afternoon on the Lakeside Promenade, visit the Niederdorf – unique shops and busy craftsmen by day, excellent food and exciting clubs by night.
The Bahnhofstrasse begins just outside of Zürich’s main station (Zürich HB).
Find More Swiss inspiration in our e-Magazine...
Events in Switzerland
Lucerne Festival
August 17 - September 16, 2018
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.
Find more information here
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