Interlaken & the Jungfrau Express in Winter

Your wintertime rail vacation begins today as you arrive in Switzerland's financial center, Zürich. Here, you can use your included open train ticket to board the train to Interlaken at your leisure. Since you are unescorted today, you are free to follow your own timeline, perhaps taking some time to sightsee in Zürich before taking your seat on the Swiss rail network and soaking in your first looks at the mountains and valleys shrouded in winter white. Your destination is Interlaken, a stunning resort town in the Bernese Oberland.

This pristine resort town is nestled between Lakes Thun and Brienz, watched over by the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau Mountains. As you arrive in this picturesque setting, make your way to our modern hotel to check in for a five-night stay. Take a moment to find your room and freshen up before joining the group for our first dinner together in the hotel's restaurant. Overnight Interlaken.

• Dinner

Today, a spellbinding train journey to Lucerne awaits aboard the Luzern-Interlaken Express, one of Switzerland's best panoramic train routes. Entering fantastic alpine scenery, we travel along the banks of Lake Brienz to Meiringen in the shadow of the famous Reichenbach Falls. From here, we climb the Brünig Pass through winter wonderland scenery to an elevation of 3,287 feet and then descend past lakes to Lucerne.  

  With free time to wander the old town of Lucerne, known as the "City of Lights," you can discover cobbled streets lined with well-preserved medieval architecture. There are plenty of interesting attractions, from ornate churches and frescoed historic houses to the 14th-century covered Kapellbrücke. Set on the crystal-clear lake, Lucerne is a great place to explore and has plenty of cozy cafés and restaurants to warm up in afterward. This evening, we retrace our journey to our hotel in Interlaken, arriving in time for dinner. Overnight Interlaken. 

• Breakfast, Dinner

With a free day, you have a chance to explore Interlaken or venture further afield. Locally, you could take a boat ride across one of the lakes before warming up at a cozy café. Alternatively, wrap up warmly and head out on one of the many nature trails that start in the town.

Interlaken's history can be traced back to a monastery built here in the 12th century, and the surrounding landscapes provide a scenic gateway to the Bernese Oberland. This pictorial region is home to over 45 scenic mountain railways and aerial gondolas you can discover using your Swiss Half Fare Card for 50% off fares.   

This evening, you are free to dine independently, and Interlaken's restaurants offer a variety of cuisine, from hearty Swiss dishes to a range of international fare. Overnight Interlaken.

• Breakfast

Another charming destination lies ahead as we make our way by rail to the character-filled alpine village of Grindelwald, blanketed in snow and nestled at the foot of the imposing north face of the Eiger. Enjoy some free time to soak up the scenery of attractive wooden chalets and quaint town squares with its backdrop of dramatic mountains. You could also find lunch locally, enjoying Switzerland's flavors or a familiar favorite.

  Afterward, we take a cable car journey to the summit of the Grindelwald First Mountain. Appreciate grand panoramas of the valley below as you climb and look across at the mighty Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau Mountains. As we descend, we return to Interlaken, where, following a free afternoon to relax or continue soaking in the winter scenery, we sit down to dinner at our hotel. Overnight Interlaken.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 The highlight of our vacation awaits today: a journey on the Jungfrau Railway. First, we join the Bernese Oberland Railway to Lauterbrunnen, where the Wengernalp Railway takes us to Kleine Scheidegg. Due to the steep route, the views are outstanding, with sights including the White Lütschine River Valley and Staubbach Falls, often frozen in winter.    

The Jungfrau Railway itself begins at Kleine Scheidegg and runs the remaining six miles to just below the summit of the Jungfrau Mountain. After a viewing stop along the way, making the most of the fantastic panoramas, we emerge from the tunnel at Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe. With plenty of free time here, you can admire the endless expanse of the Aletsch Glacier from the Sphinx Observatory or maybe head to the Lindt store for an insight into the history and making of Swiss chocolate. After this glorious winter experience, we head back to our hotel for the final dinner of our tour. Overnight Interlaken.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This sensational winter journey has taken us into quintessential alpine scenery on renowned Swiss railways, including the Jungfrau Railway to the "Top of Europe." We have explored the unique village of Grindelwald and charming lakeside Lucerne, the "City of Lights," from our base in the cosmopolitan town of Interlaken.    

Our tour of the spectacular Bernese Oberland draws to a close after breakfast this morning. With an open rail ticket, you can transfer independently by rail to Zürich, where you are free to continue your journey home.   

• Breakfast