Interlaken

Interlaken actually means ‘between lakes’ and it really is situated between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. The town is a famous winter sports destination, with amazing slopes and hiking tracks. The scenery is sure to amaze you as well, as you will be surrounded by three impressive mountains: Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.

Another way to admire the scenery is by taking a cruise on the historic paddle steamers down Lake Thun or Lake Brienz. There are also many funiculars, one of them taking you up to the Panorama Restaurant, where you can experience the feeling of having the whole world at your feet.

Geneva

This is one of the most famous cities of Switzerland and could easily be perceived as the capital city due to its notoriety. The cosmopolitan city is well known for its hotels, luxurious sites and lots of shops. But there’s something for the free-spirited as well, as the city is made mostly of parks and can easily be visited by bike for example.

It is also hosts the headquarters to important international organizations, such as the United Nations or the European Organization for Nuclear Research. You can even visit the latter, and learn more about how the protons accelerator works.

Zermatt

Zermatt is a great destination for those of you who love winter sports. You do not even have to worry about getting your Interrail or Eurail Switzerland Pass during the winter, as skiing and snowboarding are possible all year round due to the high altitude.

Even the journey to Zermatt is amazing, as the train ride is a marvellous experience itself. You will be finding your way through the Alps and merry meadows just as mentioned in the stories with Heidi. One of the most photographed mountains can be seen from Zermatt, as it also represents the icon of the Swiss Alps. It is the Matterhorn, of course, as seen on that delicious package of chocolate.

Zurich

The capital city sure is a sophisticated one from culture to nightlife and local-branded products. Lake Zurich is also famous for its scenery, pedal boats and diversity of restaurants and cafés just waiting for you to discover.

The old town is divided in two main parts by the river and offer a wonderful view. The Bahnhofstrasse holds a great variety of stores and is the perfect place to pick a souvenir for your loved ones. A day trip to the magnificent Rhine Falls will sure awe you – it has a width of 150 meters (492 feet) and has a height of 23 meters (75.5 feet).

Brig

Brig has a little bit of everything. It is a good destination if you are into winter sports, such as skiing or snowboarding and for the ones who wish to relax, there are some marvellous thermal baths. You can enjoy yourself in warm water while gazing at the sky and at the Alps.

For the history lovers, there’s the Stockalper Palace, one of the most famous ones in Switzerland. It was built in the 17^th century and still attracts thousands of visitors with its gardens of roses, the monastery and church.

Interrail and Eurail Switzerland Map and Planner

Your next trip might reveal itself to you in the spur of the moment or you can sit down and plan it thoroughly. No matter how you like to handle things, below is a map showing you the vast railway network.

Creating an itinerary is always a great way to make the most of a journey. As sometimes it can become difficult to do so due to lack of time or useful information, you can use interplanner.com. This useful tool will create an itinerary for you based on your preferences and your destination.

Interrail Switzerland – best places to stay

You’ll need to have somewhere to stay when you’re on your Interrail or Eurail Switzerland trip. Here’s some places where you can do just that, brought to you by our readers, as well as our partners at Booking.com.

Reader Recommendations

We want to hear about the best places you stayed while you were on your Interrail Switzerland trip – bonus points if they’re a little off the beaten track! Share the love and give us a recommendation – get in touch or add yours in the comments section (coming soon)!

[your recommendations here!]

Recommended Interrail Switzerland Route

Travelling through Switzerland is a marvellous way to reconnect with the nature and also witness the history in the making. We have set up an itinerary for you to follow as is or improve as you desire.

Route: Geneva > Golden Pass scenic route > Interlaken > Lucerne > Zurich > Glacier Express scenic route > Brig

• Geneva: Visit the United Nations headquarters or simply engage in conversations with lots of foreigners. Book your hotel or your hostel.
• Golden Pass scenic route: Take the train route from Lucerne to Montreux and admire the impressive scenery. Book your hotel or your hostel.
• Interlaken: Practise your skiing and hiking skills in one of the most famous winter sports destinations. Book your hotel or your hostel.
• Lucerne: Take a trip to one of the most visited cities in Switzerland, where culture, history and breath-taking scenery all come together. Book your hotel or your hostel.
• Zurich: Visit the charming Old Town or just shop ‘til you drop in the famous shops. Book your hotel or your hostel.
• Glacier Express scenic route: Take a rail trip through the majestic Alps, beautiful valleys and stunning lakes.
• Brig: Explore the ski slopes or simply relax at the thermal baths. Book your hotel or your hostel.

The Interrail Switzerland Pass is only available to you if you are a European resident and citizen. If that’s you, we recommend the Interrail Switzerland Pass allowing 6 days of travel within 1 month.

Price: from €189

Which Eurail Switzerland Pass Will I Need?

If you are from outside Europe and wish to visit Switzerland, then you can purchase the Eurail Global Pass and travel across the country and also visit the rest of the participating countries.

Interrail Switzerland, Eurail Switzerland Photo Gallery

Here are some of the best photographs people have been kind enough to share from their previous Interrail Switzerland trips.

If you have photos to share, we’re open to considering them for display on this page – just email us to start a conversation!

Conversely, if you see your photo here and want it taken down, just let us know.

Interrail Switzerland FAQ

Whichever Interrail or Eurail Switzerland guide you read, there will always be unanswered questions. If you feel that there is anything missing from this guide or the FAQ below, let us know in the comments or send an email!

Interrail and Eurail Switzerland – get your Pass today!

Starting your Eurail or Interrail Switzerland journey could be your dream come true, whether you feel like running on the meadows like Heidi or you wish to see where history is made.

The second option can be easily arranged by visiting the United Nations headquarters or any other international organization’s headquarters – there are so many of them! Don’t forget to eat some chocolate on your way to the Matterhorn so you can take the perfect picture.

Ciao, Bella! Bon voyage and auf Wiedersehen!