The most beautiful peaks of Switzerland near the Grand Tour

If you plan to get to know Switzerland in the summer version, you are in for the adventure of a lifetime. For our part, we recommend admiring it from the panoramic windows of trains, but above all, making numerous stops. Welcome to the Grand Tour!

Modern railway lines densely cross the Swiss countryside, so you will have easy access to most attractions. which ones? For example, the most magnificent mountain peaks, tourist pearls for which this country is famous. We encourage you to take a summer or autumn trip to the Matterhorn, Schilthorn or Pilatus. Also check out Jungfraujoch or Titlis. Find out what attracts holidaymakers to them - not only from Europe.

Pilatus – a mountain pearl near Lucerne

To begin with, we will start with the peak, which may not be as famous as the majestic Matterhorn, but it is one of the most beautiful places in Switzerland. This is Pilatus (2128 m), part of a small range of the Emmental Alps belonging to the Western Alps. The mountain decorates the landscape in the vicinity of Lucerne. It is one of the greatest attractions of the central part of the country, and thanks to the railway network, getting to it is very easy. It doesn't matter if you are resting in Zurich or Interlaken, or maybe you have gone even further - to Stein am Rhein or Montreux. Just pay for the journey to Lucerne and take the train. After that, it remains to go up the mountain by cable car from Kriens (from the north) or the cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad (from the south). If you have the time and fitness, you can also climb it on foot.

It is neither the biggest nor the tallest. The Tomlishorn, Pilatus' most prominent peak, is lower than more than 360 other Swiss peaks. So what makes this mountain so special? Its main advantage is the location. Pilatus is located in the northern part of the range, thanks to which tourists have a great view of the other, much higher mountains. In addition, the area itself captures the heart. We are located at the junction of the Swiss Highlands and the Alps.

The mountain impresses with its beauty and intrigues with its shroud of mystery. Rapid weather changes and frequent storms were explained in the past by the curse that weighed on it. In the 16th century, the entrance to the top was consecrated. The route became more and more popular over time, people were not even deterred by the legends about the dragons inhabiting the massif.

Matterhorn - a majestic mountain symbol

The next position on the list of the greatest mountains in Switzerland is the already mentioned Matterhorn (4478 m above sea level). He couldn't miss it. A legend peak, a symbol not so much of the Swiss mountains as of the mountains in general. One of the most famous peaks in the world. It is located in the Pennine Alps, between Switzerland and Italy, in the massif bearing the same name. If you want to see it (and you definitely do), take the train to Zermatt. The resort is visited by crowds of winter sports enthusiasts, but there are also many tourists in the warm months.

If you want to reach the peak, which appears not only on postcards, but also on boxes of chocolates, you must be in excellent condition. Such a challenge has already cost many lives. Today it is a goal for mountain climbers, possible to be achieved by well-equipped and, above all, experienced mountaineers. Which are accompanied by a qualified guide. However, if you want a great view of the mountain, you can admire it from the Klein-Matterhorn. It is separated from the Swiss star by the Theodul glacier and a pass. From Zermatt you can get there by cable car. The upper station is located at an altitude of 3,820 m above sea level, which makes it the highest cable car station in the Alps.

Schilthorn - the most beautiful panorama of the Swiss Alps

We are now heading north towards Interlaken. It is a great starting point to several famous Swiss peaks, including the Schilthorn (2970 meters above sea level). The mountain is located in the Western Alps, in the central part of the country, in the canton of Bern. You can get to it, e.g. by cable car from the town of Stechelberg.

If you are planning a Grand Tour ride in those areas, be sure to visit this place! You will not see such a spectacular panorama of the surrounding massifs anywhere else. You will see three-thousanders, four-thousanders, and in the background even the outlines of Mont Blanc. You can enjoy the view of peaks such as Eiger, Breithorn and Wetterhorn, as well as Mönch, Schreckhorn and Jungfrau. It must be emphasized that this is a small fraction of the mountains that you will see from the slope of the Schilthorn.

This peak owes its reputation both to the landscapes that can be admired from it and to the panoramic Piz Gloria restaurant. Rather, it will not surprise anyone that the prices of the dishes served there are - nomen omen - excessive. The landscape outside the windows fully rewards it.

Jungfraujoch - journey on the highest rack railway in Europe

Since we are already in this part of the country, the next stop will be Jungfraujoch. It is a pass in the Bernese Alps located between the Jungfrau and Mönch peaks. It is one of the most important points on the tourist map of Switzerland, visited at any time of the year. However, as mentioned above, we will go there in the warm month. In this way, we will see alpine landscapes in a slightly different version - even when it comes to the glacier.

The highlight of the Jungfraujoch is Europe's highest railway station. Located at an altitude of 3,454 m above sea level, it also attracts tourists with its location in the heart of the "Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch". This area is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

A rack railway runs to the station itself, which has to overcome increasingly steep climbs. You can reach your destination from Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen, which will take you about an hour. On the way, tourists have one change at Kleine Scheidegg station. In summer or autumn you will admire green meadows and other beautifully sunny areas, but ... for a short time. Most of the route runs through an underground tunnel with a stop in Eismeer. Once at the top, enjoy the views from the Sphinx viewing platform and the Plateau on the Aletsch Glacier. Another option is the Ice Palace.

Titlis - the world's first revolving cable car

The next suggestion is Titlis (3238 m), the peak of the Bernese Alps on the border of the cantons of Obwalden and Bern. The highest part of its northern and western slopes is covered by a glacier with the same name as the mountain. Consider visiting this area if you are going to Pilatus. If you decide to deviate from the panorama train route, it is worth climbing both peaks.

A great event is not only the stay at the top, but also the journey to it. You can take the TITLIS Xpress gondola to the middle station and then change to the TITLIS Rotair. Under this name hides the world's first revolving gondola. It takes tourists to the very top of the mountain, allowing them to enjoy the landscapes that will take your breath away. It's just as beautiful at the top. Restaurants with sunny terraces and Glacier Cave are waiting for you there. Enthusiasts of extreme sensations can go for a walk on the highest suspended pedestrian bridge in Europe (Titlis Cliff Walk). Why not take advantage of such an opportunity - if, of course, you have the courage.

Rigi Hochflue - view of Lake Lucerne

Let's go back to Lucerne, because in the vicinity there is a rather modest, if you look at its height (1,698 m above sea level), but beautiful mountain. This is Rigi Hochflue, from which Lake Lucerne, i.e. Vierwaldstättersee, is beautifully visible. That's why it's worth climbing. The lake impresses with its beauty, and the surrounding landscapes resemble a fjord landscape. During the holiday season, crowds of vacationers come here to see the most diverse reservoir in Switzerland.

You can try to climb up, but only if you are in good shape. The route is demanding, on some sections you will have to use ladders and chains. This is definitely not an idea for a family trip. Fortunately, there is another solution - the cable car to Rigi. It allows you to bypass a huge hill, providing easy access to the Rigi Hochflue viewpoint.

Eggishorn - view of the glacier bend

Last on our list is Eggishorn, a peak that belongs to the main chain of the Bernese Alps (part of the Western Alps). It can also be reached efficiently by cable car, specifically from Fiesch, with a change to Fiescheralp. We recommend a trip if you plan to explore the Valais canton, especially since you can easily reach your destination thanks to the Grand Tour network.

You can admire the landscapes from the Aletsch Arena viewing platform. In addition, after leaving the cable car station, you can follow the beautiful trail to the top of Eggishorn, where you will see the entire bend of the glacier. The panorama stretching from the very top is impressive, but requires a short climb and a walk on the boulders. But it's worth it, without a doubt!

You got to know the famous mountains of Switzerland, as well as those slightly less known, lower, but equally beautiful. We hope that we have encouraged you to take the trip and make numerous stops at railway stations.