The most beautiful peaks of Switzerland near the Grand Tour

If you're planning to explore Switzerland in the summer, you're in for an adventure of a lifetime. For our part, we recommend admiring it from the panoramic windows of the trains, but above all, making numerous stops. Welcome to the Grand Train Tour !

Modern railway lines run through Swiss territory, so you will have easy access to most attractions. What? 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. See also Jungfraujoch and Titlis. Find out what attracts holidaymakers to them - not only from Europe.

Pilatus – a mountain pearl near Lucerne

First, we will start with a peak that may not be as famous as the stately Matterhorn, but it is one of the most beautiful places in Switzerland. This is Pilatus (2,128 m above sea level), part of the small range of the Emmental Alps belonging to the Western Alps. The mountain is one of the biggest attractions in the central part of the country, and thanks to the railway network, getting to it is very easy: from Lucerne you can take the cable car from Kriens (from the north) or the rack and pinion railway from Alpnachstad (from the south). It's the steepest cog railway in the world, so it's especially worth a ride. Starting this year, modern carriages run to the top. If you have time and fitness, you can also climb it on foot.

It is neither the biggest nor the tallest. Tomlishorn, Pilatus' most prominent peak, is lower than over 360 other Swiss peaks. So what makes this such a special mountain? Its main advantage is its location. Pilatus is located in the northern part of the range, so tourists have a wonderful view of the remaining, much higher mountains. Moreover, the area itself is heart-warming. We are located at the junction of the Swiss Plateau and the Alps, with Lake Lucerne stretching before our eyes and a great view of Lucerne.

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

Matterhorn – a majestic mountain symbol

The next item on the list of the most magnificent mountains in Switzerland is the already mentioned Matterhorn (4,478 m above sea level). He couldn't miss it. The peak is a legend, a symbol not only of the Swiss mountains, but of mountains in general. One of the most famous peaks in the whole 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 certainly do), take the train to Zermatt. The resort is visited by crowds of winter sports enthusiasts, but there are also plenty of tourists in the warm months.

If you want to have 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 mountain pass. You can get there by cable car from Zermatt. 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. In addition, you can use the new connection to Cervinia.

Schilthorn – the most beautiful panorama of the Swiss Alps

We now head north, towards Interlaken. It is a great base for trips to several famous Swiss peaks, including Schilthorn (2,970 meters above sea level). The mountain is located in the Western Alps, in the central part of the country, near Bern. You can get there, among others: by cable car from the town of Stechelberg.

If you are planning a Grand Tour ride in these areas, be sure to visit this place! Nowhere else will you see such a spectacular panorama of the surrounding massifs. You will see three-thousanders, four-thousanders, and even the outlines of Mont Blanc in the background. You can enjoy the view of peaks such as the Eiger, Breithorn and Wetterhorn, as well as Mönch, Schreckhorn and Jungfrau. It must be emphasized that these are a small fraction of the mountains that you will see from the slope of Schilthorn. You don't have to be a fan of the 007 series, but you can follow in his footsteps. There are exhibitions devoted to the character of James Bond, including the interactive "Bond Walk 007" and "007 Walk of Fame". We also encourage you to take part in the "Thrill Walk" and "Skyline Walk". They are located at the intermediate stop Brig.

The peak's reputation owes both to the landscapes that can be admired from it and to the panoramic Piz Gloria restaurant. No one will be surprised that the prices of the dishes served there are – nomen omen – exorbitant. The landscape outside the windows fully rewards it.

Jungfraujoch – a journey on the highest cogwheel railway in Europe

Now that we're in this part of the country, our next stop will be Jungfraujoch – Top by Europe . It is a mountain pass located between the Jungfrau and Mönch peaks in the Bernese Alps. 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 a warm month. This way, we will see alpine landscapes in a slightly different version - even when we are talking about a glacier.

The most important attraction of Jungfraujoch is the highest railway station in Europe. Located at an altitude of 3,454 m above sea level, it also attracts tourists due to its location in the heart of the "Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch". This area is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

There is a rack and pinion railway running to the station itself, which has to overcome increasingly steep slopes. You can reach your destination from Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen. Along 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. After reaching the top, you can enjoy the views from the Sphinx viewing platform and the Plateau on the Aletsch Glacier. Another option is to visit the Ice Palace glacier cave.

If you start from Grindelwald, you can significantly shorten your journey time. You will take a gondola to the new Eigerwand station and then change to a train.

Titlis – the world's first rotating cableway

The next suggestion is Titlis (3,238 m above sea level), a 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. Please consider visiting this area if you plan to go to Pilatus. If you decide to deviate from the panoramic train route, it is worth climbing both peaks.

A great event is not only the stay at the peak, but also the journey to it. From Engelberg you will take the TITLIS Xpress gondola to the intermediate station and then change to the TITLIS Rotair. This name stands for the world's first rotating gondola. It takes tourists to the very top of the mountain, allowing them to admire breathtaking landscapes. It's equally beautiful at the top. There are restaurants with sunny terraces and a free glacier cave waiting for you there. Fans of extreme experiences can go for a walk on the highest suspended pedestrian bridge in Europe (Titlis Cliff Walk). Why not take advantage of this opportunity - if you have the courage, of course.

Rigi Hochflue – view of Lake Lucerne

Let's return to Lucerne, because nearby there is a quite modest, if you look at the location of the highest point (1,797 m above sea level, Rigi Kolm), but beautiful mountain. This is Rigi, also known as the Queen of the Mountains. It offers a beautiful view of Lake Lucerne. For this reason alone, it is worth climbing it. The lake delights with its beauty, and the surrounding landscapes are somewhat reminiscent of the landscape of fjords. During the holiday season, crowds of tourists come here to see the most diverse reservoir in Switzerland.

You can get to the top of Rigi Kulm by cogwheel railway. You will see hills covered with greenery and rocky peaks in the background. On one side there is a lake surface, on the other there is a panorama of the nearby Alps and parts of the Central Plateau. The horizon is decorated with four-thousand-meter peaks, even in the warm months covered with snow.

You have a lot of choice when it comes to spending your free time. First of all, Rigi tempts you to hiking. During your stay you can, among others: ride a historic steam locomotive or a horse-drawn carriage, eat a meal in a restaurant, listen to the music of alpine horns or watch cows grazing on the slopes. The brave ones can also take to the air on a paraglider.

Eggishorn – view of the glacier bend

The last place on our list is Eggishorn, a peak belonging to the main chain of the Bernese Alps (part of the Western Alps). You can also get there easily by cable car, specifically from Fiesch, with a transfer to Fiescheralp. We recommend the trip if you plan to explore the attractions of the Canton of Valais. It's worth it, especially when traveling through Switzerland on the Grand Tour route.

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

You got to know the famous mountains of Switzerland better, as well as those slightly less known, lower, but equally beautiful. We hope that we have encouraged you to take a train trip through Switzerland .

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