Any panorama train ride from Interlaken to Italy?
A traveler is looking for train options for a family trip from Interlaken, Switzerland, towards Italy. They want to know about direct Panorama Train routes without overnight stays. They are interested in the Swiss Travel Pass for their journey and seek clear information on the ride duration and stops.
- You can use the Swiss Travel Pass for most trains in Switzerland, which covers scenic routes but may require seat reservations.
- Consider taking the route from Interlaken to Spiez, then via Kandersteg and Brig, followed by the Centovalli train to Italy for beautiful views.
- The Golden Pass route through Luzern and Wilhelm Tell Express is also scenic, but includes a lake boat segment that is slower.
- Always check the timetable to avoid default faster routes that may miss scenic views, especially through tunnels.
AI-generated summary-
Hello all. Well, I’m now considering the Swiss Pass after all for my family of 6. However, wondering if there is a Panorama Train ride that starts around Interlaken and heads south towards Italy – as Rome will be our next destination…. Looking at options!
As a side note. I did try to look into the rides but never seemed to get good clear information as to how long the train ride is, etc. Everything I saw seemed to offer over night stays along the journey. I’m looking for a direct ride – a little longer is ok but no overnight layovers….
Thanks
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Hi tmclaire,
All scenic trains can be done on your own; no need to book packages with overnight stays, unless you want to. Please find the most famous trains here.
I assume you will have a Swiss Travel Pass, not a Swiss Pass (as that’s for Swiss citizens only). A Swiss Travel Pass covers all trains in Switzerland. Some scenic trains require a seat reservation or surcharge. You’ll find details through the first link I gave you.
Two options:
- Interlaken to Spiez, local train via Kandersteg to Brig, train to Domodossola, Centovalli train to Locarno, train to Bellinzona and on to Italy.
- Interlaken to Luzern via the Golden Pass line, then the Wilhelm Tell Express route and on to Italy.
All the schedules are in the timetable.
I am staying in Spiez and intending to do the trip via Kandersteg to Brig but to then jump on the Glacier Express route to Filisur (South of Chur)
If you have time you could do this then stay over before getting the Bernina express route to Tirano where the Italian routes start
Thanks for jumping in; that’s a very good suggestion. And if there’s no time for an overnight stay tmclaire can get off the Glacier Express (or local train on the same route) in Andermatt, take a train down to Göschenen, and from there to Italy. All the way to Filisur or St. Moritz is much better though.
Hi TMClaire –
Adding to the other comments –
To get the scenic route from Interlaken Ost via Spiez to Brig, make sure that you do as others have noted. Route through Kandersteg on the local train named “Lötschberger.”. Use “Kandersteg” in the “via” box in the timetable. Otherwise you will see the faster , lower, new route through the new Lötschberg “basis” tunnel. The timetable defaults to the fastest route. As far as I know, there is no interesting scenery inside the tunnel.
As you go from Brig to Italy, the scenic Centovalli line from Domodossola to Locarno is a very nice ride.
However, you can also continue from Domodossola southward along the western side of the lakes, to MIlano, and thence to Rome. Faster, and that is what the timetable shows as a default. Less scenic.
The route via Luzern and the Wilhelm Tell excursion is scenic all the way. However, it does include a lake boat segment from Luzern to Flüelen. Great ride, not fast. A much less scenic option for that segment is to ride the train all the way from Luzern. You still get the Gotthard Pass transit which is spectacular.
You can consider these options by playing with the time table linked above by Arno.
Once you have selected a specific journey in the timetable, and expanded it by clicking on the “+”” sign beside it, you will find the option in the footnotes to display a map of the route.
Or, you may wish to use:
Enjoy the ride!
Slowpoke
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