8 Swiss trains and cable cars you won’t want to miss

BEST BITS

• The world's first fully electric cog railway
• See the Matterhorn reflected in Riffelsee lake

This train has been making trips up the Gornergrat mountain from Zermatt for over a century now, and these days, it’s got a pretty nifty way of being eco-friendly – it stores up energy on the downward journey and then uses it to go back up again.

And the scenery’s pretty spectacular too. The Matterhorn’s in sight the whole journey up to the peak, and if you get off at the second-to-last station you can take a short stroll to see one of Switzerland’s best views – the tip of the famous mountain reflected in the lake. Then hop back on board to the final stop up at 3,089m and take in the views from the terrace of the Hotel Kulm, the highest hotel in the Swiss Alps.

BEST BITS

• A border-crossing journey that’s been picked out by UNESCO
• Step off to see the snowy cap of the Palü glacier

This railway’s an engineering work of art – it’s one of the highest in Europe, with mountain-burrowing tunnels and almost 200 viaducts, including one that spirals 360 degrees. Set off from St Moritz or hop aboard at Pontresina and wind your way up to the topmost station, Ospizio Bernina, where you take a shoreside stroll by the turquoise Lake Blanco.

This railway route’ll whisk you from one showstopper spot to the next, with a photo opp stop at Alp Grüm so you can see the Palü glacier in all its glory. For the final stretch, you’ll weave through little villages and across the Italian border to Tirano, where you can wander around Renaissance churches and relax in the piazza with a gelato.

BEST BITS

• Head up to Europe's highest cable car station
• See if you can count 14 glaciers and 38 peaks over 4,000m tall

BEST BITS

• Stand on the Top of Europe
• Zip-line over the longest glacier in the Alps

Did you know you can visit the Top of Europe? It’s 3,454m up on Switzerland’s Jungfraujoch mountain – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and taking the Jungfrau Railway up to it is one of the best things to do in Interlaken or Grindelwald. Get snap-happy as you look out over the Great Aletsch glacier, with views all the way to Italy, France and Germany. And you can even get a birds’-eye view of it by zip-lining across. Or stay on the ground and see the frozen sculptures of eagles, penguins and polar bears in the Snow Park’s Ice Palace.

BEST BITS:

• See Lake Thun, Lake Brienz and the big three peaks – Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau
• Listen to traditional alphorn players at the top

From Interlaken, hop aboard the Schynige Platte mountain train, which was built in 1894 and still has original features, like the sign on the coal car with the builder’s name. You’ll chug through alpine pastures with a view of Switzerland’s most famous mountains, and if you fancy it, you can even book to help drive the train.

When you reach the peak, wander along the Nature’s Cinema walking route and snap pics through the wooden frames that highlight the best views. Or sit on the Berghotel’s sun terrace and listen to alphorn music, an instrument traditionally used to call the cows in at milking time. 

BEST BITS:

• Look out over lakes Thun and Brienz from the viewpoint
• Head up at dusk and watch the sunset over dinner

Take the Harderbahn funicular up to Interlaken’s highest point and step onto the viewing platform – it juts over the edge of the mountain and is smack-bang in the middle of lakes Thun and Brienz. From there, ramble along the 2.7km Elfenweg trail which leads through the forest. And after working up an appetite, stop by the Harder Kulm Panorama Restaurant. They serve up Swiss specialities named after the local area, like Eigernordwand (meaning Eiger north face), a gooey cheese fondue.

For something extra special, book a Harder Kulm by Night ticket to watch the sunset up at the restaurant, aperitif in hand and a tasty Swiss dish included.

BEST BITS:

• Experience a ride on the world’s steepest cable car
• Dine in the rotating mountaintop restaurant from a James Bond film

A journey which feels truly adventurous, you’ll ride three linked cable cars up to the 2,793m high Schilthorn summit – including the steepest cable car in the world, which ascends at a spine-tingling 159-degree gradient.

Once you reach the top, stare out at over 200 alpine peaks on the dramatic Skyline viewing deck, which lies just below the revolving – yes, revolving – Piz Gloria restaurant. This mountaintop marvel does a full 360 every 45 minutes, and famously starred as the villain’s lair in the James Bond flick On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Espionage fan? Don’t miss following up lunch in Blofeld’s hideout with a visit to the interactive Spy World exhibit, where you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at a Bond film set in the Swiss Alps.

BEST BITS:

•   Ride Europe’s first mountain railway, first opened in 1871.
•   Have scenic soak in the mountaintop Rigi Kaltbad spa.

Hop aboard and head to the heights by planning a holiday to Switzerland or find out more about railway holidays in Europe's lakes and mountains.

Author: Katie Gregory

Last updated: 14/04/2025