Getting around by train German-Speaking Switzerland

After Zurich, Berne is the country's most important railway station. It handles TGV high-speed trains from many different countries. Outside normal opening hours, you can pick up your ticket at the ticket office. You'll find bike rentals and a 70-store shopping mall on site. The advantage of the station is that it's at the foot of Berne's old town. This makes it easy to visit the historic part of the city, even in transit. In addition to the station, it's also worth checking out the BernMobile Infocenter for information on the bus network and soft mobility.

You hold your breath and don't look at the cliff the funicular is about to climb! Your apprehension will soon be rewarded by the lure of the scenery. It's a quick 10-minute ascent, with a 64% gradient that takes you straight to the summit of Harder Kulm, at 1,322 m altitude. If you're a lover of beautiful alpine scenery, you'll be delighted to walk on the platform located in the void. Above the lakes and on the mountain, your eyes will be captivated by the beauty of the landscape. A restaurant welcomes you for fondues, even in summer.

Over 2,900 trains (including 900 long-distance trains) pass through Zurich station every day, making it one of the busiest railway stations in the world, built in 1847. Centrally located, it is a major rail hub for neighboring cities and countries. You can get there by S-Bahn, bus (lines 31 and 46), streetcar or bus. Good to know: a locker is open Monday to Sunday from 4.15 a.m. to 1.15 a.m. More information on the website.

The Basel SBB station is the biggest border station in Europe. The train is the ideal way to come to the city from Mulhouse, it allows you to avoid the car (the vignette and parking are quite expensive) and the stress of the city traffic (many bikes, trams and buses). Close to the old town, the station is served by tram and bus lines, which makes the visit even easier. In case of problems, many trilingual agents are at your service: here the trains come and go from Switzerland, France and Germany!

The Swiss company Rhätische Bahn (or RhB, for Rhätische Bahn in German) offers this mainly tourist-oriented line: the Bernina Express. It runs throughout the Grisons region (in south-eastern Switzerland) from mid-May to mid-October. The 4-hour journey allows you to enjoy magnificent landscapes, up to altitudes of over 2,000 m. The Bernina Express route between Thusis and Tirano is so beautiful that it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A simply breathtaking experience.