Discover Switzerland in all seasons
Switzerland may be best known for snow-capped peaks, pristine glacial lakes and classic winter scenery, but every season in this beautiful country has its unique charms. Whether you visit in spring, summer, autumn or winter, you can count on stunning panoramas, exhilarating mountaintop views, and epic rail journeys on Europe’s most iconic trains.
Unforgettable summer moments
Spring brings wildflowers and alpine blossoms, while in summer things can really warm up, snow melts away and frozen winter wonderlands are transformed into scenes from the Sound of Music - picture pretty wooden chalets, distant cowbells and kid goats, grazing in green pastures. Clear turquoise lakes contrast with perfect blue skies, while frosted mountain peaks and shimmering glaciers remain unchanged all year round. When Swiss temperatures rise, it’s easy to cool down beside a lake or in a high-altitude meadow - savour the warm rays of sunshine on an alfresco picnic, feel elated by fabulous views and fresh air, without the need to wrap up warm.
Our holidays feature free days when you can make the most of nearby summer activities. You could visit Montreux, for example, with its world-acclaimed summer jazz festival. The city is set on Lake Geneva and its beautiful flower-filled promenades take you to the fairytale Château de Chillon – a fabulously romantic building with turrets and towers, and fantastic views - or the neighbouring resort of Vevey, where you might like to treat yourself to high tea in a grand hotel. Lausanne is another vibrant lakeside city, which offers many free summer festivals and events.
Favourite ways to experience a spectacular country
This First Class Glacier Express, Zermatt and Matterhorn holiday is based in two superb settings: the chic lakeside resort of St Moritz and peaceful Zermatt. Enjoy stupendous vistas as we travel on iconic trains, the Bernina Express and the Glacier Express. Take the highest open-air cogwheel railway in Europe, six miles up the Gornergrat mountain, for jaw-dropping views of 29 mountains, including the pyramid peak of the Matterhorn.
A wonderful holiday in every season, this tour also includes a magical trip to Europe’s highest cable car station into a surreal landscape, deep inside the glacier, surrounded by perpetual ice and fantastical sculptures.
First-Class Glacier Express, Zermatt and Matterhorn | Great Rail Journeys
Our Wengen and the Jungfrau Express tour is based in the idyllic car-free mountain village of Wengen, a dreamy location that can only be reached by train, surrounded by the fantastic Jungfrau massif. Enjoy this atmospheric destination in summer or winter, when its relaxed ambience is favoured by skiers.
A visit to the Trummelbach Falls, nestled deep in a canyon, is another memorable feature of this holiday. An awe-inspiring site, where ten waterfalls have carved a path through the hillside, making them Europe’s largest subterranean waterfalls.
Wengen and the Jungfrau Express Tour | Great Rail Journeys
Or experience sensational heights and sights on our ultimate Swiss escape – the luxurious Jungfrau Express Five-Star All Inclusive - staying in the enchanting village of Grindelwald, in a verdant valley at the foot of the Eiger north face, with a backdrop of towering Swiss mountains, glistening glaciers, and pristine alpine lakes.
From our wonderful base, we experience all the Alps has to offer, including a trip to the 'Top of Europe' on the Jungfrau Express. At the peak we reach the stunning Aletsch Glacier, stretching as far as the eye can see, enjoy endless views across snow-capped peaks, before entering the magical Ice Palace, carved inside the glacier, on a private tour of the Ice Bar - an unforgettable Swiss adventure!
Jungfrau Express Five-Star All Inclusive | Great Rail Journeys
On our Jungfrau Express tours we travel up to the Schynige Platte, which not only has the best possible views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains from the railway but is also the site of the fantastic Schynige Platte Botanical Alpine Garden, which has an abundance of alpine flora and a delightful walk (of around a kilometre) where you can see Switzerland’s beloved Edelweiss, black lobelia and the paradise lily, along with hundreds of other species.
Another eternal summer pastime that can be enjoyed in Switzerland is to sip wine in a lovely setting. On Lakes and Mountains of Switzerland and Italy, you can do exactly that beside glorious Lake Lucerne, on a holiday which includes wine, cheese and chocolate tastings and unforgettable scenic journeys on the GoldenPass train and the Bernina Express.
Lakes and Mountains of Switzerland and Italy Rail Tour | Great Rail Journeys
Savour Switzerland’s autumn colours and seasonal produce
In September, many Swiss mountain villages experience the annual parade of dairy cows returning from their summer alpine pastures. This is the season of stunning autumn colours, traditional dishes such as chestnuts, red cabbage and truffles. Grape harvests are celebrated in the southern regions of Valais, Neuchâtel and Geneva, while cheese festivals take place in many towns including Wengen and Lucerne, which hosts Central Switzerland’s largest cheese market in mid-October.
Best-selling tours for all seasons
We offer several Glacier Express holidays which include journeys on both of Switzerland’s world-renowned railways, the Bernina Express and Glacier Express. The Classic Glacier Express tour is a two-centre holiday based in the charming, historic towns of Chur and Brig. The route of the Glacier Express is legendary for its beauty, and on this stunning journey we enjoy lunch onboard as we look out at unforgettable scenery from panoramic windows, including the spectacular Oberalp Pass.
Classic Glacier Express Tour | Great Rail Journeys
Meanwhile, on our Traditional Glacier Express holiday you’ll stay in both delightful Chur, Switzerland’s oldest settlement, and in the unspoilt gem of Kandersteg, in a historic hotel surrounded by beautiful mountain peaks and verdant meadows.
Traditional Glacier Express Tour | Great Rail Journeys
Winter holidays to warm your heart and lift your spirits
Winter in Switzerland is guaranteed to be magical… snow crunching underfoot, dazzling white landscapes, and snowflakes settling softly on your face. This is a time of peaceful moments in silent, snow-blanketed forests, to enjoy sublime views across endless glaciers, and to take part in seasonal festivities in traditional villages. Winter also provides the perfect excuse to spend an afternoon in an inviting village café next to a log fire, with a hot chocolate, or a slice of delicious cake.
Join our Traditional Glacier Express in Winter Tour and enjoy fabulous journeys on the Glacier Express and Bernina Express, where panoramic windows create the perfect picture frame for Christmas card scenes.
Traditional Glacier Express in Winter Tour | Great Rail Journeys
Or explore the beauty of the Bernese Oberland in winter, from picturesque Interlaken, set between two shimmering lakes and surrounded by dazzling snow-capped peaks. This tour includes breathtaking journeys to the snowy summits of the Jungfrau and Schilthorn mountains.
Interlaken and the Jungfrau Express in Winter | GreatRail.com
Christmas brings the ever-present scent of fresh pine and tempting aromas of roasting chestnuts and spiced wine. Besides a spectacular railway journey on the Jungfrau Express to the continent’s highest rail station, the Top of Europe, our Interlaken and the Jungfrau Express at Christmas holiday is one of the most enchanting experiences we know!
Interlaken has a delightful Christmas market of pretty wooden chalets where you can sample local treats, wine and cheeses – or warm up with a mug of steaming glühwein - with a magical backdrop of snow-capped mountains and glacial lakes. Further afield are Christmas markets in Lucerne, Chur and Montreux on Lake Geneva, while lakeside Lausanne is known for its glorious annual Festival of Lights.
Interlaken and the Jungfrau Express at Christmas | GreatRail.com
