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Switzerland is one of Europe’s most beloved destinations, with dramatic Alpine landscapes, picturesque towns, lush valleys and peaceful meadows.
Travellers can bike, hike, swim, kayak and canyon in summer, and ski, toboggan and snowboard in winter, among other things, making Switzerland a true year-round holiday spot.
But how well do you really know the country and all it offers? For a more immersive holiday, pick some of these classic journeys on your next trip to Switzerland.
Travel from Zermatt to St. Moritz on the world’s slowest express train
The Glacier Express, widely known as the slowest express train in the world, takes you on an iconic Alpine journey from St. Moritz to Zermatt. The journey lasts about eight hours and covers 400 kilometres, with a scenic route through the Swiss Alps, with stunning views of valleys, mountains and picturesque villages.
The train has three classes: second class, first class and Excellence class. Passengers can travel in style with comfortable seats, digital infotainment, pre-ordered meals and audio guides. The Excellence class offers champagne, a welcome aperitif platter, a seasonal and regional 5-course menu, lounge seating with guaranteed window seats and a concierge, among other facilities.
Some of the stops on the Glacier Express include Andermatt, the Oberalp Pass, the Rhine Gorge, the Disentis Monastery and the Landwasser Viaduct, with the journey including 291 bridges and 91 tunnels. Make sure you reserve your seats and keep in mind that the train service does not run between mid-October and early December.
Ride on the world’s first rotating cable car
The Titlis Rotair, located in the Engelberg-Titlis ski area in central Switzerland, is the world’s first rotating cable car. Offering breathtaking 360-degree panoramic views of the Alps, it transports travellers from the Stand station to the top of Mount Titlis.
The journey to the summit takes about five minutes, with visitors being treated to stunning views at over 3,000 metres above sea level at the end of it, with craggy rock faces and sparkling snow fields.
Take the train from Lucerne to reach Engelberg. From here you can take the Titlis Xpress gondola from Engelberg to Stand, from where you can ride the Titlis Rotair to the top.
Once you reach the summit, you can walk along the Titlis Cliff Walk at the top of the mountain, believed to be the highest suspension bridge in Europe, or explore the Titlis Glacier Cave.
See the longest glacier in the Alps
The Aletsch Glacier Trail allows trekkers the chance to be up close and personal with the longest glacier in the Alps. The trek is 16.4 kilometres and usually takes about five and a half to six and a half hours, but is longer with the detour to the Eggishorn summit.
A two day trek option is also available, which includes a night stay at a hub like Konkordia Hut.
The trail offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Aletsch Glacier and the surrounding mountains, with part of the trek being walking on the glacier itself, although only with a guided tour. This ensures that the glacier, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is navigated safely and with the correct equipment.
Marvel at unique ice formations, including icefalls, crevasses and meltwater pools and explore the alpine flora of the Aletsch Forest. Some viewpoints include Eggishorn, Bettmerhorn, Hohfluh and Moosfluh.
You can start this trek from either the Fiescheralp upper cable car station, reachable by cable car from Fiesch, or the Moosfluh mountain station, also accessible by cable car from Riederalp.
Get a glimpse into a lost era on a vintage steam train
The Furka Steam Railway allows travellers to indulge in a unique experience on a historic cogwheel line, with a journey through the Swiss Alps on a carefully maintained and operated vintage steam train. Some of the carriages and locomotives on this line are 100 years old.
The journey is about 18 kilometres long, lasting between two hours and two hours and 40 minutes, taking travellers from Realp, in Canton Uri, to Oberwald in Canton Valais, passing through Gletsch as well. With breathtaking mountain views and alpine pastures at over 2,000 metres, the journey includes wild gorges as well as views of the Rhone Glacier.
Other stops include Tiefenbach and the Furka Pass summit, with the route going through the Wyler Bridge, the Steffenbach folding bridge, which is dismantled in winter and the Steinstafel viaduct as well.
The Furka Steam Railway usually operates from late June to mid/end September and runs from Thursday to Sunday.
Explore Swiss medieval towns by cycle
The Aare Cycle Route allows outdoor enthusiasts a great opportunity to explore Switzerland’s diverse landscapes and towns by bike, from dramatic alpine views to charming medieval towns and peaceful lakes.
The route is 320 kilometres long, but can also be done in separate smaller segments, with cyclists able to access different starting and ending points by train or bus. It starts near the Grimsel Pass and through beautiful mountain scenery to Meringen, with the Aare Gorge, taking in Lake Brienz and Lake Thun.
It also includes Bern, with its UNESCO World Heritage Old Town and the Swiss Mittelland, which has serene farmland and gentle hills. The route ends in Koblenz, where the Aare River flows into the Rhine, including historic castles like the Habsburg and Lenzburg Castles, as well as winery regions like the Aargau region.
With dedicated bike paths and quiet, well-marked roads, this cycling route is suitable for both experienced and beginner cyclists.
Take in dramatic passes and iconic lakes by Swiss PostBus
The Palm Express, a scenic Swiss PostBus route, allows travellers to go from St. Moritz to Lugano in a 130-kilometre journey which takes about three and a half hours. It goes along the winding roads of the Maloja Pass and the wild Val Bregaglia valley, before crossing over into Italy. Then there’s a stop in the charming Italian town of Chiavenna and views of Lake Como, before finishing in Lugano.
Other highlights include Lake Silvaplana and Lake Silser, as well as villages like Sils, Gera Lario, Sorico, Gravedona, Domaso, Menaggio, Donge and Monte Brè.
With Switzerland’s PostBuses being renowned for their comfort, the journey is a unique blend of Swiss and Italian culture, contrasting stark alpine landscapes with Mediterranean warmth.
