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Switzerland by Train: Lucerne to Zurich

with Lugano extension

Duration: 12 or 14 days
Group size: 15-30

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Experience rich culture against a backdrop of soaring Alpine peaks.

Whether it’s the mountainous landscapes or lakeside vineyards, impressive views are around every corner in Switzerland. You’ll soak in the scenery aboard trains that will take you from the city to the countryside and back again. See the iconic Matterhorn from Zermatt, pass snow-capped peaks while riding the famed Bernina Express, and cap off your tour in Zurich where you’ll wind your way through the city’s charming streets.

Your tour package includes

10 nights in handpicked hotels
10 breakfasts
1 lunch
4 dinners with beer or wine
1 wine tasting

Included highlights

GoldenPass Railway ride
Lavaux Vineyards wine tasting
Chillon Castle
The Matterhorn
Glacier Express train ride

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Day-by-day itinerary

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Overnight flight1 night

Day 1: Travel day

Board your overnight flight to Zurich today.

Lucerne Region2 nights

Day 2: Arrival in Zurich & transfer to Lucerne Region

Included meal: Welcome dinner

Welcome to Switzerland! Transfer to your hotel in the Lucerne region. Then, gather with your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.

Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Lucerne

Included meal: Breakfast

A local guide introduces you to the charming lakeside city of Lucerne.

Explore Lucerne’s Old Town
View the sandstone lion statue commemorating the Swiss Guards
Stroll over Chapel Bridge, a 17th-century covered footbridge, for views of Lake Lucerne and the Alps

Enjoy a free afternoon in Lucerne or add an excursion.

Mount Pilatus

Excursion (additional cost)

Interlaken2 nights

Day 4: Train to Interlaken

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Take your seat aboard the GoldenPass Railway and pass spectacular Alpine scenery. Peer out the panoramic window to spot Mount Pilatus, Lake Lucerne, Lake Sarnersee, Lake Lungernsee, and more en route to Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland region.

Enjoy a free afternoon in Interlaken or add an excursion. Later, sit down to an included dinner this evening.

Lake Cruise & Swiss Farm Visit

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 5: Free day in Interlaken

Included meal: Breakfast

Spend a free day in Interlaken or add an excursion.

Jungfraujoch: The Top of Europe

Excursion (additional cost)

Montreux1 night

Day 6: Montreux via Bern & Lavaux Vineyards

Included meals: Breakfast, Wine tasting

Set out for Montreux today, stopping to visit the Swiss capital of Bern and Lavaux Vineyards on the way.

Cross the Aare River and head to the iconic Bern Bear Park, home to a community of brown bears
Stroll through the UNESCO-recognized Old Town, making your way past the Cathedral of Bern
Head to the Lavaux wine region, located on the terraced shores of Lake Geneva
Walk through the UNESCO-protected Lavaux Vineyards
Step inside the wine cellar to enjoy a wine tasting paired with cheese and sausage

Continue on to Montreux, a town on the shores of Lake Geneva that’s known for hosting a jazz festival every summer.

Zermatt2 nights

Day 7: Chillon Castle & train to Zermatt

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Visit Chillon Castle on the shores of Lake Geneva this morning. Then, pass through the scenic foothills of the Alps to Visp, where you’ll board a train to the car-free mountain town of Zermatt. Upon arrival, follow your Tour Director on a short orientation tour and take in views of the iconic Matterhorn.

Later, sit down to an included dinner with your group.

Day 8: Free day in Zermatt

Included meal: Breakfast

Enjoy a free day in Zermatt or add an excursion.

Gornergrat Railway & Matterhorn Museum

Excursion (additional cost)

St. Moritz2 nights

Day 9: Glacier Express train ride

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Board the Glacier Express, a famed train with cars specially designed for scenic viewing. You'll make your way through a picturesque portion of the Alps including the Albula Line, Rhine Gorge, and Oberalp Pass.

Enjoy an included lunch during the ride before arriving in St. Moritz, a prestigious Swiss resort town and hub of wintertime sports.

Day 10: Bernina Express train ride

Included meal: Breakfast

Board the Bernina Express and enjoy a scenic ride on the highest railway across the Alps. You'll wind through bridges and tunnels along the stunning, UNESCO-recognized landscapes en route to Tirano, Italy. Enjoy free time in Tirano before traveling back to St. Moritz.

Zurich1 night

Day 11: Transfer to Zurich & sightseeing tour

Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner

Travel to Zurich and set off on a sightseeing tour to get to know Switzerland’s largest city with your Tour Director.

Walk through Altstadt, the Old Town, and soak in views of Lindenhof park
Pass by St. Peter Church and the town hall
Walk over the Münsterbrücke

Celebrate your trip at a farewell dinner this evening.

Day 12: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to Zurich Airport for your flight home or continue on to Lugano.

Extension to Lugano

Spend a few more days alongside your Tour Director as you explore Lugano, a prominent Swiss city.

Lugano2 nights

Day 12: Train to Lugano & sightseeing tour

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Board the EuroCity train and pass through the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the longest tunnel in the world, en route to Southern Switzerland's Italian-speaking region of Ticino.

Then, arrive in lakeside Lugano. Explore the city near the Italian border on a scenic walking tour.

View the botanical gardens of Ciani Park
See the church of Santa Maria degli Angioli, home to the largest Renaissance fresco in Switzerland
Stroll past the Church of San Rocco, Piazza della Riforma, and the Via Nassa shopping center

Day 13: Free day in Lugano

Included meal: Breakfast

Spend a free day in Lugano or add an excursion.

Raise a glass and toast to your trip with a farewell drink this evening.

Lake Maggiore & Grotto Lunch

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 14: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer across the border into Italy to Milan-Malpensa Airport for your flight home.

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Hotels, flights & FAQ

Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.

Hotels

We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.

Flights

Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.

Add our airfare package and you'll get:

Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes

Find out more about flights

Local weather

Montreux, Switzerland

Weather averages

Today
High 62°F Low 38°F

Visp, Switzerland

Weather averages

Today
High 44°F Low 20°F

Lugano, Switzerland

Weather averages

Today
High 66°F Low 38°F

Zurich, Switzerland

Weather averages

Today
High 73°F Low 45°F

Zermatt, Switzerland

Weather averages

Today
High 33°F Low 19°F

Interlaken, Switzerland

Weather averages

Today
High 54°F Low 36°F

Lucerne, Switzerland

Weather averages

Today
High 69°F Low 39°F

FAQ

Print FAQ

Passport & visa requirements

In order to enter Switzerland and Italy, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
There is no visa required for U.S. or Canadian citizens.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.

Tour pace

You will walk for at least 2 hours daily across moderately uneven terrain, including paved roads and cobblestone streets, and will reach high elevations on select portions of this tour.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times, as well as getting in and out of trains.
Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.

Transportation & arrival information

Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Zurich and depart from Zurich (or Milan on the tour extension). A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
Train rides from Lucerne to Interlaken, Visp to Zermatt, Zermatt to St. Moritz, and St. Moritz to Tirano are included in the price of your tour. The tour extension also includes a train ride from Zurich to Lugano.
All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.

Baggage allowance

Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.

Clothing & packing tips

We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).

Health

There are no major health risks associated with traveling to any of the countries on this tour.
At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team

Cuisine

Swiss food is varied and sophisticated, and some popular dishes include sausages, breaded veal fillets, freshwater fish, and cheese dishes such as fondue and raclette. Be sure to try Swiss chocolate, which is among the world’s finest.
Northern Italy is known for flavorful meats and pastries.

Electricity & air conditioning

Switzerland operates on the European standard 220-240 volts and uses Types C or J plugs with two round pins or three round pins, respectively.
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
Your hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.

Connectivity

Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

Time zones

All destinations on this tour are one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which is six hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
When it’s noon in New York, it’s 6pm on tour.

Currency

You will use the Swiss franc in Switzerland and the euro in Italy.
Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.

Tipping

At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $7USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
Tips can only be paid in cash.

Purchasing excursions on tour

Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour.
Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for excursions.
Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information.

Dates & prices

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20202021

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2020