There are countries where the train is simply a way to get from one place to another. Switzerland is not one of them. Here, the railway is the destination in its own right, a slow-moving grandstand seat for some of the most spectacular scenery in Europe. For Hong Kong travellers used to fast, efficient rail, the Swiss network will feel instantly familiar in its punctuality and cleanliness, yet utterly different in ambition. These are trains built to help you savour the Alps rather than rush past them, threading through glacial valleys, climbing to high mountain passes, and gliding along the shores of impossibly blue lakes.

If you only have time for one indulgence on your Swiss holiday, a scenic rail journey is the one to choose. This guide walks through the headline routes, explains how booking and seat reservations work, weighs up first versus second class, and helps you decide which train suits your trip. Along the way you will see why the Swiss have turned the humble railway into an art form.

The Glacier Express: the world's slowest express train

The Glacier Express is the one most travellers have heard of, and with good reason. Running between the two great mountain resorts of Zermatt and St. Moritz, it takes roughly eight hours to cover a journey you could technically drive far more quickly. That is entirely the point. Marketed cheerfully as the slowest express train in the world, it is designed for lingering. Over the course of the day it crosses hundreds of bridges, passes through dozens of tunnels, and climbs to the Oberalp Pass at around 2,000 metres above sea level.

The modern carriages come with large panoramic windows that curve up into the roofline, so you can crane your neck to follow a peak all the way to its summit. An at-seat meal service and audio commentary add to the sense of occasion. The scenery shifts constantly: the deep Rhône valley near Zermatt, the wild Rhine Gorge sometimes called Switzerland's own Grand Canyon, and the elegant Engadine as you approach St. Moritz. For anyone building an itinerary around the Matterhorn, it pairs naturally with time in Zermatt and the Matterhorn.

The GoldenPass Line: three regions in one ribbon

Where the Glacier Express crosses the high Alps, the GoldenPass Line links the German-speaking heart of the country with the French-speaking Lake Geneva region. The classic route runs between Lucerne and Montreux, usually with a change or two along the way, and it strings together a remarkable variety of landscapes: the lakes and mountains of central Switzerland, the rolling green pastures of the Bernese Oberland around Gstaad, and finally the vineyard-covered slopes tumbling down to Lake Geneva.

The GoldenPass has become known for its clever engineering, including trains that can switch between different track systems so passengers avoid changing carriages on parts of the route. It is an ideal way to bridge two very different sides of Switzerland in a single day, and it connects beautifully with time spent in Lucerne and central Switzerland at one end and Geneva and Lake Geneva at the other. If your holiday is essentially a west-to-east crossing of the country, this is your spine.

The Bernina Express and the Gotthard Panorama

Two more routes deserve a place on any shortlist. The Bernina Express runs from Chur or St. Moritz down to Tirano in Italy, crossing the UNESCO-listed Rhaetian Railway line. It is famous for the graceful spiral of the Brusio circular viaduct and for climbing over the Bernina Pass at more than 2,000 metres before descending into the palm-fringed Italian lakes, all without a rack-and-pinion system. Because it links Switzerland and Italy so scenically, it is a favourite for travellers combining the two; there is a dedicated Bernina Express guide worth reading if this route tempts you.

The Gotthard Panorama Express offers something different again: a combined journey that pairs a paddle-steamer cruise on Lake Lucerne with a panoramic train ride over the historic Gotthard route towards Ticino and the Italian-speaking south. It is a lovely way to travel down to Lugano or Locarno, arriving in a region where the architecture, food and pace of life all lean Mediterranean.

Booking and seat reservations

Here is the crucial practical point that trips up many first-timers. The scenic panoramic trains generally require a compulsory seat reservation on top of your ticket or rail pass, and these reservations are limited and can sell out well ahead in peak periods. In practice this means you should book the reservation for trains like the Glacier Express and Bernina Express as early as you reasonably can, especially for summer, the autumn foliage season, and around the year-end holidays that are popular with Hong Kong travellers.

The good news is that most ordinary regional and InterCity trains in Switzerland need no reservation at all. You simply turn up and board. That flexibility is one of the great joys of Swiss rail travel, and it is exactly why the compulsory reservations on the flagship scenic services stand out. For current timetables, fares and reservation availability, always check the official channels rather than relying on any figures quoted here; conditions change from season to season. The SBB and the individual railway websites are the authoritative sources, and MySwitzerland.com is a useful starting point.

First class versus second class

On most Swiss trains, second class is perfectly comfortable and clean, with generous windows and plenty of legroom. On the scenic panoramic services, the difference between the classes is more noticeable. First-class carriages typically offer wider seats, a more spacious layout, and on some routes the very largest panoramic windows and premium dining options. If a scenic journey is a once-in-a-lifetime highlight of your trip, the upgrade can feel worthwhile for the extra comfort over a long day in your seat.

That said, second class on these trains still delivers the panoramic experience and the same views out of the same side of the valley. A sensible compromise many travellers make is to splurge on first class for the single marquee journey, such as the full Glacier Express, and travel second class the rest of the time. Whichever you choose, try to note which side of the train faces the most dramatic scenery for your particular route, as the highlights are often concentrated on one side.

The Swiss Travel Pass and scenic trains

Most of these scenic routes are covered by the Swiss Travel Pass, which includes travel on trains, buses and boats across a huge network, plus discounts on many mountain excursions. The important nuance is that the pass covers the transport portion, but you still need to pay and book the compulsory seat reservation separately for the panoramic trains. For anyone planning to ride two or three scenic routes and move around the country, a travel pass often makes both the budgeting and the logistics dramatically simpler. It is worth reading up on the options before you commit.

Which scenic train should you choose?

If you want the single most iconic ride and are already visiting the big mountain resorts, choose the Glacier Express. If your itinerary crosses the country from the German-speaking centre to French-speaking Lake Geneva, the GoldenPass Line is the natural thread. For the most jaw-dropping mountain-to-Mediterranean transition and a UNESCO railway, take the Bernina Express. And if you are heading south to Ticino and love the idea of combining a lake cruise with a train, the Gotthard Panorama Express is hard to beat.

Many first-time visitors from Hong Kong try to squeeze in as many as possible, but there is real value in slowing down. One well-chosen scenic journey, savoured properly with time to stop and explore at each end, will linger in the memory far longer than a rushed collection of half-experienced routes. Pair a scenic train with a couple of nights in the mountains and a lakeside town, and you will have the essence of Switzerland in a single trip.

Practical tips before you go

  • Book reservations early for the panoramic trains, particularly in summer, autumn and around the December holidays.
  • Check official sources such as SBB, the individual railway sites and MySwitzerland.com for current timetables, fares and reservation availability rather than relying on approximate figures.
  • Consider a rail pass if you plan multiple journeys, as it can simplify both budgeting and logistics across the country.
  • Travel light where you can, as you will often be moving between carriages, stations and hotels; Swiss stations are well equipped but connections can be tight.
  • Bring layers, as high passes can be cool even in summer, and the light for photography changes quickly in the mountains.

Switzerland's scenic trains are proof that how you travel can matter as much as where you go. Settle into your seat, let the conductor take care of the timetable, and watch one of the world's great landscapes unspool past the glass. For broader planning, our overview of the top destinations in Switzerland will help you decide where those trains should take you next.