6 mountain trains to crown the most spectacular Switzerland

One thing unites those who walk and those who use the railway: nature. One lives it, another contemplates it. They both love her. That is why it is the protagonist of the half dozen trips that we propose.

In Swiss Hurrying is not prohibited, but almost no one resorts to it. Which is a paradox: in the nation of clocks it seems that time does not pass. Here, even the trains take it easy. That is good for you, who are a calm person, to enjoy a different trip. Without backpack, with conductor.

The iconic Bernina Express train (mountain trains in Switzerland)

To get to know the landscape you don't need long days of hiking. And neither do the Goûter route to Mont Blanc to see the Alpine mountain range. No problem. The picturesque Swiss mountain trains They allow you to explore, almost without leaving the carriage, one of the most spectacular natural settings in Europe.

Take a seat on this alternative journey between Milan and Zurich, and enjoy six rail tours to nature lovers:

1. Milan-Tirano (Italy): the train that chases the water

The city of Milan, located south of the Alps, will be the starting point. From the central station you can take a train that will take you to Tirano, in the heart of the Italian Alps, 2 hours and a little from Milan.

Almost without having time to occupy your place, you will pass by the Monza autodrome, which since 1922 has been a place of pilgrimage for motor lovers. From here you head towards Lecco. This city, surrounded by a fabled landscape, is nestled in one of the arms of Lake Como, the most famous in northern Italy.

A beautiful city on the shores of Lake Como

The train runs along the entire lake shore passing through Varenna and, further north, Colico Piano. From here, leave the lake behind and head straight into the valley of the Adda River, which borders the Orobie Bergamasche Regional Park, until you reach Tirano.

This Park stands out for its abundance of water, present in numerous lakes and waterfalls. The Serio waterfall, with its triple jump of 315 meters, is the highest in Italy and one of the highest in Europe.

In Spain, the Carranza Valley is another place where water abounds. For example, in this activity to do the route to Chorretón You will pass by 13 incredible waterfalls.

2. Tirano-Chur (Switzerland): on the edge of the gorge

From Tirano, located right on the border with Switzerland, you will continue your journey through the Alps to Chur.

You have two options to make the journey. Take the Bernina Express, one of the Switzerland's best-known panoramic trains; or take the normal train that locals use, older but also cheaper. In any case, you will live a pleasant experience during the 4 hours of this route, three-quarters of which have been declared a World Heritage Site.

Just over 50 kilometers from Tirano, the Bernina Express Tour the Brusio Viaduct, a UNESCO-awarded architectural wonder. It is then that the journey begins with a climb of more than 1,500 meters to Lake Poschiavo, during which you can be surprised by a small waterfall.

Brusio Viaduct: an architectural marvel in Switzerland (mountain trains in Switzerland)

Later, you will reach Lake Bianco and the town of St. Moritz. If you are not in a hurry (on this trip it is better not to be) and can wait for the next train, I recommend making a stop in this small lakeside town to admire the views around you.

After St. Moritz, the train begins to enter the Ela Natural Park, the largest in Switzerland. There you will see one of the key points of this journey, the Landwasser Viaduct, which rises between two tunnels over a gorge more than 230 meters high. With a little luck, as long as you have good eyesight, you may spot a golden eagle or bearded vulture as they fly over the peaks.

Bernina Express crossing the Landwasser Viaduct (mountain trains in Switzerland)

In total, upon reaching Chur, you will have crossed 55 tunnels and about 190 bridges. You will have passed landscapes as varied as green pastures and alpine mountains. In Chur, the oldest city in the Alps, it is worth exploring its narrow streets and corners, and visiting the shops that, even today, bear witness to its commercial past.

3. Chur-Visp: the special category panoramic view

If your route were made by a cyclist, in this high mountain stage he would have to climb a special category pass. The train is less tiring. From the start, just under 600 meters above sea level, the Glacier Express It will take you along the upper course of the Rhine River, where you will cross the Ruinaulta canyon. Close to the town of Disentis, this canyon is well known to rafting lovers.

Surely this exciting sport sounds familiar to you because it is also widely practiced in Spain. If you haven't tried it yet, try this one rafting activity in the Noguera Pallaresa, one of the best rivers to carry it out.

Panoramic of the Ruinaulta canyon

The train then ascends to the Oberalp Pass, at more than 2,044 meters. Boarding this train you will understand why it is referred to as the slowest express in the world.

Until the 1980s, the route surrounded the foot of the Rhône glacier and crossed the tunnel at the top of Furka: which is why it was named Glacier. This route could only be traveled during the summer months due to heavy snowfall and the risk of avalanches.

Currently, that original section of the Furka summit that connects Realp and Oberwald is traveled by a vintage steamship known as Dampfbahn Furka-Bergstrecke, the second highest train line in Europe, which offers tourists unique sensations and views in the middle of an incomparable setting.  

The modern Chur-Visp line deviates from that part of the original route and, through a tunnel of more than 15 kilometers dug at the base of the Furka, the traveler leaves the canton of Uri to re-emerge from the rocks in the canton of Valais. The journey continues through the spectacular Goms Valley framed in the Binntal Nature Park, a lush area brimming with unspoiled nature, ending in the historic town of Visp, built on the banks of the Rhône.

The Matterhorn (4,478 meters above sea level) is the fifth highest peak in the Alps (mountain trains in Switzerland)

4. Visp-Montreux: between coniferous forests and vineyards

From Visp you can take a train that will leave you in Montreux in just over an hour. The route runs almost entirely along the bed of the Rhône River, nestled in a valley created by ancient glaciers. You will pass by the capital of Valais, the beautiful city of Sion.

Shortly after leaving, the train passes through the Pfyn-Finges Nature Park, a place well known to ornithologists in the region. This Park houses one of the largest coniferous forests in Europe, the Pfynwald Reserve. The area is framed by mountain ranges with peaks over 3,000 meters high.

Sion, the capital of the canton of Valais

After the slow passage of the panoramic trains, it may be more difficult for you to take photos from this convoy, but that doesn't mean you should stop enjoying the views. In Switzerland, even getting on a regular train is a good option thanks to the landscape.

Halfway the train crosses Martigny, a city of Celtic origin that has numerous Roman ruins. In its surroundings, if you decide to go down, you can also visit natural monuments like the Trient Gorge.

Montreux, the end of the journey, is a city located in the bay of the same name next to the Lake Geneva. It is surrounded by vineyards and the visual spectacle of the snow-covered Alps. You can spend part of the day walking the trails that line the lake shore for 7 kilometers and get some good photographs of the mountains.

Lake Geneva, Montreux

5. Montreux-Lucerne: the path of the 6 lakes

In this section you will take the third panoramic train. He Golden Pass It is a special journey, because in its 5 hours of travel you will have to change trains twice.

For Agatha Christie fans, it also offers the possibility of making the trip on a Belle Epoque train, the Golden Pass Classic. It has the luxury of the Orient Express, but not its bad reputation. In other words, you won't have to sleep with one eye open. On the contrary, relax and focus on enjoying the views, because the best is not inside the car, but outside.

From Lake Geneva itself, the Lavaux vineyards climb the slopes in an area that has been declared a World Heritage Site. Then another mountain stage awaits you. Specifically, the train will make a dizzying climb full of curves until it reaches the Sonloup Pass, which it will pass through a long tunnel.

Lavaux vineyards next to Lake Geneva

Fir forests, wild torrents and the luxurious Gstaad ski resort frame this section of the trip that ends in Zweisimmen, the first stop on the tour, where you will have to change trains.

From Zweisimmen the train continues through the Simme River Valley. You will pass through the north of the Diemtigtal Nature Park, an area of beautiful alpine hamlets, and finally, you will continue along the banks of Lake Thun until you reach Interlaken. There you will make a new transfer.

Spiez, on the shores of Lake Thun

The name of the city is due to its location right between lakes Thun and Brienz. These are just the first of the 6 lakes you will see until you reach your destination in Lucerne. The Giessbachfälle waterfalls and the Brünig Pass are other places you will find along the way. Look on the horizon for a famous trio, the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau peaks, known as the Four Thousand.

6. Lucerne-Zurich: a train to climb a mountain

To finish your trip, I recommend that you visit Lucerne, a city full of great attractions and located in a privileged natural environment. It is well worth a short stay of a couple of days before traveling to Zurich and considering returning home. The first suggestion is that you have purchased the Swiss Card, since it will reduce your expenses considerably.

You cannot leave Lucerne without visiting the symbol of the region: Mount Pilatus, a 2,132-meter colossus located in the mountain range adjacent to the Swiss Alps. The transportation offer for this day trip is quite extensive. If you want to save money, take a bus to the cable car station in Kriens, near Lucerne, which will take you to the top.

You can also take a one and a half hour boat trip around the lake and then head to the train station. Alpnachstad rack railway, whose line is the steepest in the world and which will take you to the top of Pilatus. Afterwards the only option is to go down by cable car to the base and return to Lucerne.

Climbing the rack railway from Alpnachstad to Mount Pilatus (mountain trains in Switzerland)

Although the prices are somewhat high, the views from the top on a clear day are worth listing on the Nasdaq. On one side you will see the great mountain range of the Alps and their great snow-capped peaks; and on the other the Lake of the Four Cantons and a mosaic of small towns, forests and rivers that extend in all directions. So pay what they ask you.

Lake of the Four Cantons, near Lucerne

Taking a boat trip through an inland sea feels like it, right? In the Natural Park of Cazorla, Segura and las Villas you can take a solar boat ride through the Tranco reservoir.

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The traveler's program is not always based on anarchy. There are those who prefer the security that comes with stretching their legs at stops instead of in ravines. Whoever believes that transit Switzerland by train It is not an adventure, we should remind him that there is the same passion in a quiet kiss as in a crazy night.

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