Switzerland's Crown Jewels: A 7-Day Rail Journey

Your Swiss adventure begins the moment you touch down. Landing in Zurich in the morning half, you'll step straight into the rhythm of Swiss travel , efficient, scenic, and effortless. A 3 hour train journey carries you through the Bernese countryside and via Interlaken, with two comfortable changes along the way, delivering you into the heart of the Alps.

By late afternoon, you'll check into the Hotel in Grindelwald (4★), a classic alpine retreat set beneath the towering north face of the Eiger, one of the most storied mountain faces in climbing history. There's no need to rush this first evening. Let the altitude and the alpine air set the pace: wander Grindelwald's main street, browse a few local shops, and settle in at a café terrace with a warm drink in hand, the Eiger looming quietly overhead. It's the perfect, unhurried welcome to Switzerland

Today is the highlight many travelers cross Switzerland off their list for: a journey to Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe at 3,454 metres. After breakfast, board the connecting mountain trains for the roughly 1 hour ascent , a slow, deliberate climb that winds through tunnels carved directly into the mountain rock, building anticipation with every metre gained.

At the summit, you'll have approximately three hours to explore at your own pace. Step onto the observation terrace at the Sphinx Observatory for uninterrupted views across the Aletsch Glacier , the largest ice stream in the Alps, then wander through the sculpted chambers of the Ice Palace, carved entirely into glacial ice. Whether you're chasing panoramic photography, snow activities, or simply the thrill of standing above the clouds, this is Switzerland at its most dramatic.

Back down in Grindelwald by early evening, energetic travelers can extend the day with the First Cliff Walk, a striking suspension bridge and viewing platform suspended above the valley floor. Otherwise, ease into the evening back in the village, letting the day's altitude and adventure settle in.

After breakfast, check out and board the train back through Interlaken to Lucerne, a smooth and scenic 2 journey. Check in to the elegant Centrally located Hotel in Lucerne (4★), ideally positioned to explore the city at leisure.

Lucerne rewards slow exploration. Make your way to the iconic Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke) , a beautifully preserved 14th-century wooden bridge that has become one of Switzerland's most photographed landmarks , and cross into the labyrinth of cobbled lanes that make up the Old Town. Later, take a quiet walk to the Lion Monument, a poignant rock carving set within a peaceful garden, commemorating the Swiss Guards who lost their lives in 1792. Compact and endlessly photogenic, Lucerne's highlights unfold comfortably within a relaxed afternoon

This morning, check out and board the train toward Zermatt , a roughly 3 hour journey with two changes, including a switch at Visp onto the smaller mountain railway that serves this famously car-free village. As the valley narrows and the peaks close in, you'll feel Switzerland's high-alpine character take over.

Check in to the 4★ Hotel in Zermatt, then head straight up the Gornergrat Railway , a cogwheel mountain train delivering what many consider the finest close range view of the Matterhorn anywhere in the world. The round trip, including time to soak in the viewpoints at the summit, takes roughly half a day.

In the evening, wander Zermatt's intimate, traffic-free streets and settle into one of its cozy alpine cafés. An early night is well earned , tomorrow brings one of the most celebrated train journeys on Earth.

Rise early for what is, quite simply, one of the great railway journeys of the world. The Glacier Express takes approximately eight hours to cross from Zermatt to St. Moritz, climbing over the Oberalp Pass at more than 2,000 metres above sea level. This is not a train built for speed , it's built for the view. Wide panoramic windows frame glaciers, plunging gorges, and impossibly picturesque alpine villages the entire way.

Settle in, pack a few snacks, or treat yourself to the onboard dining service as the Swiss Alps unfold before you in slow, cinematic detail.

By evening, you'll arrive in St. Moritz, the legendary alpine resort town. A short five-minute bus transfer brings you to the Centrally located Hotel in St. Moritz (4★), where you can check in and unwind after a full day of extraordinary scenery

After the immersive scenery of the day before, today opens at a relaxed pace. Following breakfast, take a leisurely stroll along the St. Moritz lake promenade, this polished, sun-drenched resort town has a character all its own, equal parts glamour and alpine tranquility.

In the afternoon, board the train toward Zurich, a comfortable journey of around 3.5 hours with one change. Arriving in the city, check in to the 4★ Centrally located Hotel in Zurich, perfectly placed for your final evening in Switzerland

Your final morning in Switzerland is yours to savour, unhurried. Wander once more through Zurich's Old Town, let Bahnhofstrasse tempt you with one last souvenir, or pause beneath the twin towers of the Grossmünster for a final, quiet look at the skyline that has watched over this city for centuries.

As you make your way to Zurich Airport, timed comfortably ahead of your evening departure, take a moment to look back, not just at the week behind you, but at everything it held. The silence atop Jungfraujoch. The Matterhorn catching first light over Zermatt. The slow, golden hours aboard the Glacier Express, watching glaciers give way to valleys give way to home.

Switzerland has a way of staying with you long after you've left it.

So this isn't quite goodbye, just auf Wiedersehen, until the mountains call again. Jetalps looks forward to welcoming you back for our Great Alpine Journey, a summer escape through sun-drenched valleys, high passes, and the Switzerland that only reveals itself when the snow melts and the alpine meadows bloom.

Until then ,  safe travels, and thank you for journeying with us.