Trains to Swiss mountain tops to avoid cable cars
Sharon, a traveler, is planning a two-week trip to Switzerland and wants to know about mountain summits accessible by train, avoiding gondolas due to a fear of heights. After visiting Jungfrau and finding it overly commercialized, she seeks more peaceful options for enjoying the stunning mountain views around Lucerne and Interlaken.
- Consider visiting Pilatus and Rigi, both accessible by train, for great views without the crowds.
- Gornergrat in Zermatt offers iconic views of the Matterhorn, accessible by train as well.
- Check out Rochers de Naye for a leisurely train ride and beautiful Lake Geneva views.
- Use the Swiss Travel Pass for discounts on summits; it can lower the fare significantly.
- Always verify opening and closing dates for mountain attractions, especially in off-seasons.
AI-generated summary-
Good afternoon
I would like to know apart from Jungfrau can any other mountain summits be reached purely by train. I did Jungfrau this year but did not really get a lot out of it as I found once at the top it was way too busy and commercialised although the trip up was stunning. I would prefer a less “themed” summit where I can walk round and possibly sit in a viewing lounge and admire the surroundings. The trouble is I have a fear of heights and cannot face a gondola or cable car I plan to be in the country for 2 weeks on my next visit and will probably base myself in Lucerne or Interlaken area on first week and not sure yet for the second week. Possibly base the decision on anything you suggest.
Thanks in advance
Sharon
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Hi Sharon,
Yes, there are two popular mountains near Lucerne that are accessible by train: Pilatus and Rigi. Both can also be accessed by cable car as well. You can read about route details to those two mountains here:
Another option is Stoos village which, offers the worlds steepest funicular (though at least you are on the ground). Read about my trip to Stoos here: http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/day-trip-to-stoos-worlds-steepest-funicular
If you want to look through the main mountain attractions in Switzerland here: http://www.myswissalps.com/ac tivities/naturalsites/ mountains you can see how one gets to each mountaintop on the route tab (it explains the method of transport as well).
Be sure to note opening/closing dates for each mountain as well (on the route tab) in case you are traveling on the off-season (spring and autumn generally).
Hi Sharon,
You’ll find them via Lucas’s last link, but just to be sure:
Harderkulm is reached by funicular from Interlaken.
There is a train to Gornergrat (to view the Matterhorn ) from Zermatt.
Maggie
I am glad someone found out what I warn people about – ie the over commercialisation of Jungfraujoch. I personally don’t like it at all any more.
I have always promoted Zermatt – Gornergrat as a much better experience. Most of the journey Zermatt – Gornergrat is in the open not stuck inside a mountain, and the views of the Matterhorn are iconic. Gornergrat summit is a simple hotel and viewing areas.
Unlike Jungfrau, you potentially get to see numerous peaks over 4000 metres (Zermatt is famous as the ‘land of the 4000-ers’ – because 38 of the 54 Swiss peaks over 4000m high are located around Zermatt. )
At Gornergrat you can stand by a simple wall looking across to Switzerland highest mountain
Attached two pics I took on a skiing trip a few years ago
A classic example of what you want is Rochers de Naye. It is rarely asked about on this forum which is an indication of how underrated it is and how overrated Jungfraujoch (Jungfraujoch appears on more than one web site in a list of overrated European tourist traps!)
Rochers de Naye is a leisurely train ride and gives great views over the eastern lake Geneva area
In the same are there is Les Pleiades above Vevey
In the Valais there is Villars – Col de Bretaye
Brienz – Rothorn is fun as it still has steam trains
There is also Niesen near Spiez
Hello 1960man and others following this thread,
I have been studying the two photos you attached to your penultimate post, P1020531 and P1020503, and the first one in particular. I am wondering if this photo was taken just above the Riffelalp stop ? I like it because I find it provides the best view of the Matterhorn, even better than what one sees from the end of the line at the Gornergrat station. May I assume that the second photo was taken further up the line towards the Gornergrat station ? I like P1020531 because the Matterhorn is right in your face.
What you say about the highest peaks in Switzerland is so true. I was looking at a list a while ago and saw that of the 36 highest mountains, 33 are exclusively in the Valais (or on the border with Italy, not sure about France), and three are on the border between the Valais and Berne (Finsteraarhorn at 18, Jungfrau at 30, and Mönch at 34). The Matterhorn (Cervin en français) comes in at a very respectable position of 10th highest (at 4478 metres) and of course it is on the Swiss/Italian border (hence its other name Cervino), and it isn’t that far behind the highest Swiss mountain, the Dufourspitze, at 4634 metres. The highest Swiss mountain that is not in the Valais is the Schreckhorn, canton Berne, at 4078 metres (still quite acceptible !).
Hello again to those following this string,
<< Rochers de Naye is a leisurely train ride and gives great views over the eastern lake Geneva area >> I couldn’t agree more. The top station at the Rochers-de-Naye is at 1967 metres and is nestled in a bowl facing to the north-east, and so to get the unrestricted view of Lake Geneva, one has to climb up 75 metres to the summit at 2042 metres. What a change in view ! The entire lake is spread out below, with the Dents du Midi almost due south, and on a clear day one can see over to Évian-les-Bains and Yvoire on the French shore, and the Jura mountains beyond Nyon. It’s a super trip to take when in the Montreux area. The train runs up from Montreux and there are great glimpses of the lake as one rises up to Glion (one of my favourite towns) and Caux. I just checked the fares and they are not cheap (CHF 70 full fare round trip for adults), so I am thankful I took my group of 21 students up there when such things were much cheaper (we also did the Jungfraujoch).
It’s pricey indeed, like many other peaks, but luckily there are good discounts. The price drops to CHF 26.40 with a Swiss Travel Pass, and it’s free with a Saver Day Pass: http://www.myswissalps.com/ro chersdenaye/tickets
Hello Arno,
I was just wondering, is there a map that shows what kinds of discounts and passes are available for the various regions of Switzerland ? It would probably be complicated and so perhaps could be complimented by some sort of table. As I dig around the internet I am constantly learning new things about this, but I’m just not sure about the best and most easily understandable way to present this to visitors to Switzerland. By way of example, I have mentioned the “Onde Verte” in the canton of Neuchâtel, but have learned about deals for navigating on the Rhine and the Bodensee, the transportation system in the north-east, the card for the Léman area, etc., and the list goes on. Just the other day I was reading about a special card for the Thunersee area. I also have learned that sometimes a Swiss Travel Pass is better than what is offered, but there are those who come to visit Switzerland who don’t have a STP.
Hello 1960man
Thank you for taking the time to reply. Re Jungfrau I really do not see why they have done what they have on Jungfrau the Alps are a stunning natural phenomenon and to me should be left as such. Hey ho. Have had quite a few replies on this and Gornergrat is highly recommended so will research that. Thank you also for the stunning photos. Pity I am not younger and fitter and do not ski but that is what the trains are for. The photos have generated an interesting comment from Peterli which is also helpful and interesting.
Best wishes
Sharon
Hi Lucas
Thank you for this informative helpful reply. I will study your links which will be a huge help to making plans. I notice the word kulm in the train destination names. Am I correct in thinking this does mean peak?
Thanks again
Thank you Arno these links are perfect the help of you and the team is invaluable
I will definitely check these out. I was sorry to have missed taking the Rothorn train in June this year as we were staying in Brienz but time ran out and we could not fit it in. Plan to do so on the next stay as we will be there longer.
Good question. I intend probably to purchase the swiss half fare card as we will have our car as we are coming overland from one of the French ports. We will therefore be combining driving with trains/buses/boats. We found it ideal on our last visit but as we stayed in the Bernese Oberland area not sure if it covers the whole of Switzerland. I will do some checking (do not want to seem too lazy) but advice from knowledgeable people such as on here is probably more accurate.
Please check out the Swiss Half Fare Card page here for more details: http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isshalffarecard – click on the where it’s valid tab to see the areas it covers (basically the entire country).
Hi Arno
Thanks, glad to hear it is not just restricted to the Oberland because as you may have gathered we plan to visit more areas next visit. Think we will base ourselves in Brienz again as we did like it and know the area for finding an apartment and it is a good central base to travel from.
Thanks
Sharon
Sorry Lucas, wrong name ooops
No worries!
If you are looking for an apartment rental have a look here as well to help your search: http://www.myswissalps.com/re ntals
Definitely loads on there got some bookmarked already. Also I am speaking to the tourism office in Brienz as they may know of some that are not on the main sites. I did see some when I was in Brienz in June but cannot find them so these people may know.
Hi Peterli,
I certainly get your point. There’s just too many passes, cards and tickets to explain about in a clear matter. We’ve decided to explain about the popular ones in detail, and then some more. I don’t know of one map showing all different options. It would indeed be very complicated to create, and keep updated. And then people have to understand what they’re looking at. We now have coverage maps per pass, plus a list of the discounts on main attractions, like here: http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/validity. And then there’s also a list of discounts per pass for each attraction, like here: http://www.myswissalps.com/pi latus/tickets.
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