Getting around by train 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.

Enter the wonderful world of the Kaeserberg Railway, a technical feat for a journey in miniature. The reconstruction is striking and invites you to travel through the Swiss landscape. Built on three levels, this network has 2,045 m of track, 87 trains ready to run, 120 locomotives pulling 1,250 wagons. 17 years of reflection and work of a watchmaker's meticulousness have made this childhood dream, that of Marc Antiglio, a reality. Unique!

Your immersion in the Alps by train begins at the foot of the Matterhorn. The Glacier Express holds the world record for the slowest speed, 36 km/h. In 8 hours it covers 270 km between Zermatt and St. Moritz. But this mountainous route is what makes the journey so wonderful. Spectacular, you cross the Albula line (six vertiginous viaducts and three tunnels), by the way listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, the Landwasser viaduct... All along the way, information is shared with you. You can also enjoy a meal on board.

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.

It is the largest railway station in Ticino. As a railway hub, it is the hub of many regular trains. The best-known regular lines are between Bellinzona and Lugano (in 30 minutes), and 1.5 hours from Locarno (with a change in Bellinzona). The Gotthard line provides frequent trips between Lugano and Lucerne (2 hours), Zurich (2 hours 15 minutes) and Basel (3 hours 20 minutes). From the station, you can take a funicular from Lugano to the city below in a few minutes. From Lugano you can also reach Italy.

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!

A 40-minute journey... at a price that might put some people off! And yet, at the end of a beautiful itinerary, the Train des Étoiles drops you off at Les Pléiades, 1,360 m above sea level. From here, you can overlook the whole of Lake Geneva. Les Pléiades is an ideal starting point for hikes. Among the many hiking trails. Find out more on the site, and take the Golden Pass, which gives you access to the entire network. The small resort also offers the Astropleades trail, an astronomy-themed hike.

Lausanne SBB station is a lively place where travelers can find everything they need. With over 20 shops open every day of the year, from early morning to late evening, visitors can enjoy a relaxing shopping experience in the heart of the Olympic city. The shops offer a variety of convenience goods and services. In addition, the station offers facilities such as luggage lockers and parking spaces for bicycles and cars. Travelers can also take advantage of free WiFi in the station. Lausanne station is well served by public transport and is an ideal base for exploring the surrounding area, including the charming villages of the Lavaux region and the Montreux Riviera.

Direct connections from Basel, Bern, Geneva/airport, Lausanne and Zurich/airport every 30 minutes. There are also direct connections to several German cities, as well as Brussels, Florence, Rome, Venice-Milan (Cisalpino), Paris (TGV) and Strasbourg. The bus station is just opposite the SBB station and allows you to reach many villages in the surrounding valleys. Don't forget to ask about the Swisspass. This package allows you to travel several days at competitive prices on the SBB lines, including the shipping companies.

Locarno station is a 5-minute walk from the town center. There are regular trains between Bellinzona and Locarno (30 minutes) and between Lugano and Locarno (30 minutes). From another region, you'll need to pass through Domodossola, Italy, before returning to Ticino. As there can be many changes on some sections of the route by postbus, don't forget to ask the station ticket office for the itinerary before departure. You can also take the Gotthard Panorama Express from this station.

It's a bit like the "porta del Ticino", as it's the first station when you arrive in Ticino. If you take the Gotthard Panorama Express, this station is on the line. It is a fairly important station for freight and passenger transport. The station is a 10 minute walk from the historic centre. Regular trains between Bellinzona and Locarno (20 minutes). From another region, there may be many changes, so don't forget to ask for the itinerary of your journey at the station ticket office before you leave. A different way of discovering the area!

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.

A link between the canton of Vaud and the Valais, connecting 23 communes, the TPC offers an ideal network for discovering the Chablais, this region at the end of the lake, rich in attractions. The network offers superb panoramic views of vineyards, the Rhône plain, ski resorts in the Vaud Alps and the Portes du Soleil, and hiking trails. We'll even take you to the Raclette World Championships in Morgins in October.

The TGV is the best way to get to Lausanne, as the station is located in the city center. It's easy to find your way around. However, not all stops are indicated on signs or tickets. If you have connections, ask the ticket office or ticket inspector for details. Currency exchange, luggage and luggage lockers. With an extensive rail network departing from Lausanne, the Swiss railroads offer a wide range of day and multi-day excursions throughout Switzerland and the rest of Europe.

Close to the lake, this railway station - of which there are three, the other being at the airport, the third at Eaux-Vives for the Léman Express - is a hub. It is here that visitors will find direct connections to Geneva's international airport. It is also the terminus/departure point for TGV high-speed trains to/from Paris, and the departure point for Geneva's public transport system, which serves the entire region. You can download the Ma gare app and find all the information you need to take the train at Cornavin.

From Lugano station, take a city bus to Cassarate. From there, a breathtaking climb of about 20 minutes to Monte Bré with its refreshing air awaits you, a journey of 1,599 metres and a difference in altitude of 629 metres. Since 1908, the funicular has been transporting the people of Lugano and visitors to the small village of Monte Brè. A beautiful walk that is also rewarded with an incredible panorama. On the heights, take a walk and admire the view over the valley. An experience to live!

A charming cogwheel train that takes you in less than an hour from the palaces of Montreux to the mountain scenery of Rochers-de-Naye, at 2,045 m altitude. The route passes through Glion and Caux to allow you to discover other viewpoints. Vertiginous and majestic for its life-size setting, the route can even be taken on board a Belle Époque train during the summer and on weekends in October. A breathtaking ascent and a spectacular view!

A generous ascent on a cogwheel train from Capolago on the lake shore to the summit of Monte Generoso at 1,704 m in 40 minutes. A 9-kilometre-long journey along the mountainside that began 125 years ago. From the summit, you will have a front row seat to admire the magnificent panorama of the lake, the city of Lugano, the Po Valley and the mountains, from the Apennines to the St. Gotthard massif and the Bernina chain. Approaching Monte Generoso by train is a guarantee of a sensational view.