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Your journey to Switzerland

Choose your dates

01 Dec 2023 - 13 Dec 2023

Departing from

Travellers & rooms

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196 kg CO2
What's included:
  • Transport
  • Accommodation
  • Journey guide with tickets
  • Seat reservations where required or recommended
  • WhatsApp support and disruption replanning

Journey at a glance

Trip overview

  • London

  • Cologne

    1 night

  • Lucerne

    3 nights

  • Locarno

    2 nights

  • Montreux

    3 nights

  • Bern

    2 nights

  • Mainz

    1 night

  • London

Full itinerary

Journey
TRAIN
11:04 - 14:05
2hrs 1mins
Standard class

LondonBrussels

At St Pancras station to board your Eurostar train. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery as you speed to Brussels in just two hours.
Journey
TRAIN
14:25 - 16:15
1hrs 50mins
Standard class

BrusselsCologne

Board the train at Brussels-Midi to take you through Belgium and into Cologne, on the banks of the Rhine.
Stay
1 night
Cologne

Cologne

On the River Rhine and overlooked by the towers of its stunning 157m-high Gothic cathedral, Cologne (Köln) is one of Germany's largest cities. The city's unique identity is a mix of the narrow alleys of its old town, the Kölsch dialect (and Kölsch beer), and contemporary architecture down by the ultramodern Rheinauhafen riverfront complex.

Where you could stay1 night

Hotel Mondial am Dom

Just a short walk from Cologne’s main sites, this modern hotel has cosy, colourful rooms, a stylish lounge, and a friendly team.

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Recommendations

  • Admire Cologne from above on the Rhein-Seilbahn cablecar, which runs from Kölner Seilbahn right across the River Rhine.

  • Circle the outside of Kölner Dom, Cologne's famous cathedral, to admire its intricate stonework and flying buttresses. The cathedral's iconic spires dominate the city's magnificent skyline, and if you're feeling brave you can climb 533 steps to the top of the south tower.

  • Spend an evening in bustling Brüsseler Platz, where you'll be able to sample many a local beer in the bars on the square.

Journey
TRAIN
12:29 - 16:47
4hrs 42mins
Standard class

CologneBasel

Take the slow train to Basel, passing spectacular views of the Rhine Gorge as you travel south through Germany.
Journey
17:03 - 18:05
1hrs 27mins
Standard class
BaselLucerne
Stay
3 nights
Lucerne

Lucerne

Beside the lake that shares its name, Lucerne is a mix of baroque churches, frescoed facades and cobblestone squares filled with fountains and alfresco dining. The River Reuss snakes through the town to the mountain-framed lake, ideal for hardcore hikers or fairweather walkers. The mountain terrain here is varied; vast craggy outcrops bleed into wildflower meadows peppered with grazing cows and the odd lama from the nearby Hinter Musegg small-scale farm.

Where you could stay3 nights

Hotel des Balances

Byway favourite
Housed in a former Guild Hall, this hotel enjoys a picturesque location on the Reuss river in the heart of Old Lucerne. Most rooms offer views of the Chapel Bridge, the Jesuit Church, or the Weinmarkt Square. 

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Recommendations

  • Enjoy a stroll along the promenade surrounding Lake Lucerne. There are grassy areas where you can sit and savour an ice cream as you take in the stunning scenery. There are also several boat trips available, ideal for spending a couple of hours cruising the waters.

  • Mount Rigi's majestic peninsula on Lake Lucerne is the perfect setting for an authentic Swiss mountain experience with unforgettable views of over 13 lakes and the Swiss Alps. Take a cable car to the summit and enjoy the amazing scenery.

Journey
11:18 - 14:27
3hrs 19mins
Standard class
Photo by suedostbahn/CC BY 2.0/Flickr

LucerneLocarno

Take the Treno Gottardo to Locarno. You'll pass over the 120-year-old Gotthard panorama line, through the lakes and mountains of sun-kissed Switzerland.
Stay
2 nights
Locarno

Locarno

Quintessentially Swiss with a Mediterranean charm, the small resort town of Locarno sits on the banks of Lake Maggiore in the foothills of the Alps. Locarno combines a rich history with a vibrant art scene, and is home to the world-famous Locarno Film Festival. 

Where you could stay2 nights

Garni Rio

Byway favourite
Just a two-minute walk from the train station, Hotel Rio Garni offers a central stay in a beautifully renovated 19th-century villa. Rooms are bright and comfortable, and the hotel’s grand facade and large stained-glass windows overlook Lake Maggiore.

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Recommendations

  • Spend a day hiking or cycling in the beautiful landscape of the Cardada mountain, reachable by gondola.

  • Wander around Locarno's Lombard-style Piazza Grande, lined with independent shops, restaurants and bars. If you're in town on a Thursday, be sure to visit during the weekly market to wind your way through a maze of fresh produce and craft stalls.

  • Stroll through the lake-side Parco delle Camelie and its maze of botanical flowerbeds.
Journey
10:51 - 12:40
2hrs 0mins
Standard class
Photo by Ed Webster/CC BY 2.0/Flickr

LocarnoDomodossola

Take the window seat for this scenic journey along the Centovalli Railway, crossing the border from Italy to Switzerland. The train will negotiate the metre-gauge track via 83 bridges and 31 tunnels, as it traverses through the Centovalli valleys past waterfalls, chestnut forests and rural villages.
Journey
14:48 - 16:21
1hrs 30mins
Standard class

DomodossolaMontreux

Trace the tracks of the Orient Express as you dive into the Simplon tunnel, crossing the border from Italy to Switzerland.
Stay
3 nights
Montreux

Montreux

It’s not just the famous annual Jazz festival that takes place every spring that puts Montreux on the musical map; countless artists across rock, pop and folk have journeyed here to record albums. And before that, it was writers like Mary Shelley and Lord Byron who were enchanted by the crystal-clear waters of Lake Geneva and the dramatic alpine backdrop.

Where you could stay3 nights

Hotel Victoria Glion

This majestic hotel is located just above Montreux (a 30-minute walk from the station) and connected by a funicular, with an open-air swimming pool. 

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Recommendations

  • Pay a visit to Chillon Castle, situated on an island on Lake Geneva. Built in the medieval period, Chillon Castle is Switzerland's most visited historic monument.

Journey
TRAIN
09:34 - 11:29
2hrs 7mins
Standard class
Photo by kecko/CC BY 2.0/Flickr

MontreuxZweisimmen

Head along the Golden Pass route from Montreux, climbing up from the shore of Lake Geneva past hills and across several sheer-drop ridges, before pulling into Zweisimmen.
Journey
12:02 - 13:21
1hrs 20mins
Standard class
ZweisimmenBern
Stay
2 nights
Bern

Bern

On the Swiss plateau between the Jura and the Alps, Bern's easy-going pace of life makes a welcome change from most capital cities. Dip your toe into the thriving urban swim scene on the River Aare fed by Alpine meltwater, and follow its contours to uncover the UNESCO old town nestled within a big loop of the river.

Where you could stay2 nights

Hotel Bristol Bern

Byway favourite
Comfortable, modern and elegant hotel in the heart of Bern's Old Town.

Find out more

Change your room

Recommendations

  • Take a walk around Bern's Rose Garden where you will see stunning flowers in bloom. Spend a couple of hours having a leisurely walk around the gardens before enjoying a meal at the top of the hill.

  • Visit Bern's iconic Zentrum Paul Klee to uncover the work of the cubist-inspired swiss-born artist, known for his pioneering work on theories of colour.

Journey
TRAIN
11:04 - 14:24
3hrs 20mins
Standard class
BernMannheim
Journey
TRAIN
14:49 - 15:48
0hrs 52mins
Standard class
MannheimMainz
Stay
1 night
Mainz

Mainz

At the confluence of Rhine and Main rivers, Mainz is a historic university city and the official wine capital of Germany. The cobblestone Altstadt is a tangle of half-timbered buildings, overlooked by the red sandstone turrets of the city's impressive romanesque cathedral. Opposite, the Gutenberg museum (named after the inventor of the letterpress) is well worth a visit, where you'll uncover the city's rich printing history.

Where you could stay1 night

me and all hotel mainz

Byway favourite
A unique urban stay three minutes from the Mainz central station and a ten minute walk from the old town.

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Change your room

Journey
09:21 - 11:06
1hrs 40mins
Standard class
MainzCologne
Journey
TRAIN
11:42 - 13:35
1hrs 50mins
Standard class

CologneBrussels

Hop on to a fast German ICE train. You'll whizz through Belgium and in to Brussels.
Journey
TRAIN
16:09 - 17:47
2hrs 1mins
Standard class

BrusselsLondon

At Brussels Midi, board your Eurostar to London.

Before you book

Please make sure that you're happy with your trip before booking, as fees apply to changes made after booking. Check our FAQs for more information. To make changes to this trip before you book, please email hello@byway.travel

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