Train trip Switzerland from Zurich to Lugano

Route

This train journey runs from Zurich to Lugano, linking cities, lakes and Alpine landscapes along some of Switzerland’s most scenic rail routes.

Pace

You travel comfortably by train, with short travel times and ample time at each stop. Days remain easy-paced and well structured, without long journeys.

Highlights

Zurich and its historic districts, the Rhine Falls, UNESCO-listed St. Gallen, Lucerne with its wooden bridges and Lake Lugano with a more southern feel.

Accommodation

You stay in carefully selected Caractère hotels, all centrally located and matched to the character of each destination.

Profile

Ideal for travellers who want to explore Switzerland in a relaxed and efficient way, enjoy travelling by train and value a balance of nature, culture and comfort.

Day 1: Zurich

You will arrive in Zurich by train or plane and depart for your first stay, a charming boutique hotel in the middle of the city. Explore Niederdorf and Oberdorf with narrow streets, quaint stores and delicious restaurants. Thanks to the Swiss Travel Pass you receive before departure, you'll enjoy free use of public transportation and entrance to museums.

Day 2: Zurich

After a delicious breakfast at your Caractère hotel, you'll dive into the city with your guide. You'll pass iconic buildings like the Grossmünster Cathedral and the Swiss National Museum and learn more about the history of this amazing city. In the afternoon, opt for a pedalo or boat ride on Lake Zurich or kids and soccer fans can have a blast at the FIFA museum.

Day 3: Rheinfall and Sankt Gallen

From Zurich, take the train up to the Rheinfall, Europe's largest waterfall. This 150-meter-long waterfall is most powerful in spring and early summer, when the Rhine is fed by meltwater from the Alps. The waterfall, with Laufen Castle in the background, you visit on foot or view it from a short distance on the water via a boat ride. In the afternoon, take the train to Sankt Gallen, where you walk through the historic center and visit the abbey and Stifts library. This library is a Unesco World Heritage Site and one of Switzerland's most important cultural monuments. Afterwards, you will return to Zurich for your final overnight stay in the city.

Day 4: Zurich - Lucerne

Today you leave Zurich you will continue by train to Lucerne, where you will spend the night in a four-star hotel overlooking Lake Lucerne. Once you arrive, walk across the two wooden bridges that connect the two parts of the city, the Spreuerbrücke and the Kapellbrücke.

Day 5: Lucerne

After breakfast meet your guide and learn all about the medieval Musegg wall and taste local delicacies. In the afternoon, take the ferry to one of the lakeside villages or opt for a hike in the mountains.

Day 6: Lucerne - Lugano

After a delicious breakfast, pack your valise and depart by train for the last stop of this trip, Lake Lugano. Here you will arrive at a classic and luxurious five-star hotel with pool and stunning views of the lake and surrounding mountains.

Day 7: Lugano

In the morning explore the center of Lugano: visit Santa Maria degli Angioli church its beautiful frescoes by Leonardo da Vinci's student Bernardino Luini, go shopping in the Via Nassa with various luxury brands or rest on a cozy terrace. In the afternoon you can take the cable car to the top of Monte Brè, or enjoy a boat ride on the lake.

Day 8: Return home

You check-out of the hotel in Lugano and take the train towards Milan, where you fly back home by plane.

What budget should you expect?

For this itinerary, you can expect an indicative price from €4,500 per person. The final cost depends on your travel dates, hotel choices and any extras such as excursions or extensions. The Swiss Travel Pass is included.