| Is it possible to see the best of this beautiful country in | | | | with views of the Rhone Valley on the right is |
| the heart of Europe, in 4 days? If you're adventurous | | | | particularly spectacular. At Brig, following another train |
| and have a reasonable level of fitness, it can be done. | | | | change, we travel through the Simplon tunnel into Italy. |
| Read on to discover how. | | | | Leaving the train at Domodossola, the journey |
| Your time in Europe is limited and there's so much to | | | | continues on a quaint little privately owned railway to |
| see. However to miss this tiny country would be a | | | | the overnight stop at Locarno. This journey on the |
| great pity. The people are courteous and friendly, the | | | | Centovalli railway is strongly recommended because |
| lakes breathtaking and the mountain scenery the most | | | | of the spectacular gorges and ravines en route. Sit on |
| spectacular in Europe. | | | | the right side of the train for the best views. Locarno |
| The booking clerk at the Zurich Bahnhoff looked at me | | | | has a beautiful location at the top end of Lake |
| with surprise when I presented him with my 4 day | | | | Maggiore and a visit to the Madonna Del Sasso |
| Swiss Pass and told him of my travel plans. | | | | church, a short funicular journey from the heart of |
| "I hope you are fit ", he said. Fortunately Switzerland is | | | | town, will reward you with magnificent views over the |
| compact and its travel system is smooth, punctual and | | | | lake. |
| efficient. Zurich is an ideal starting point because of its | | | | DAY THREE. LOCARNO to St MORITZ. An early |
| transport access to the rest of Europe. Most | | | | morning train journey to Lugano will be necessary for |
| international airlines fly to Zurich and travelers from | | | | a connection to the Palm Express: a bus trip over the |
| London can go by Eurostar to Paris and then by | | | | Majola pass to St Moritz. These Swiss postal buses |
| express from Paris to Zurich. Lausanne, just east of | | | | negotiate terrain which is too steep for trains and the |
| the border with France, is a convenient finishing point | | | | winding journey to the top of the pass is breathtaking. |
| with its TGV high speed rail connection with Paris. I | | | | To my surprise, particularly as I was told that bookings |
| chose a Swiss pass (which must be purchased | | | | were essential, I was the only passenger. The joys of |
| before you leave) because it offers cheap unlimited | | | | off season traveling resulted in the driver stopping at |
| travel on all trains, buses and ferries and discounts on | | | | my whims. He even asked where I wanted to stop for |
| most mountain railways and cable cars. | | | | coffee! |
| DAY ONE. ZURICH TO SPIETZ. An early morning | | | | St Moritz is the starting point for two of the most |
| departure (7.30AM) from the Zurich Bahnhoff was | | | | outstanding train journeys in Europe: the Bernina |
| followed by a short ride south through undulating | | | | Express and the Glacier Express. Most overseas |
| countryside to Lucerne and the first change of trains. | | | | travelers board the Bernina Express and travel to |
| Because of the regularity of trains, it is worthwhile | | | | Tirano in Italy but as my time was short and acting on |
| taking a 2 hour stop at this beautiful little city on Lake | | | | advice from the station master at St Moritz, I left the |
| Lucerne. If you have time, four optional excursions | | | | train at Alp Grum (the top of the Bernina Pass), |
| spaced over 2 days are worthwhile. | | | | enjoyed a coffee and the spectacular Alpine views at |
| A steamer trip to the eastern end of Lake Lucerne | | | | the summit, before boarding another train an hour later |
| alighting at Fluelen is recommended. The mountain | | | | for the return trip to St Moritz. The Bernina Express |
| scenery on the south side of the lake is breathtaking. | | | | journey is on the highest non cog railway in Europe |
| A quick train journey back to Lucerne completes this | | | | and the high alpine glaciers and snow-capped peaks |
| half-day excursion. Two mountain trips are within easy | | | | viewed on both sides of the train completed a |
| reach of Lucerne. The closest is Mt Pilatus, and my | | | | memorable day. |
| suggestion is to take the cog railway up the south | | | | DAY FOUR. St MORITZ to LAUSANNE. The final day |
| face and return on the cable car as you descend the | | | | of my Swiss pass took me on a 7 hour journey |
| north face. The views north to Lucerne are some of | | | | through some of the most breathtaking scenery in |
| the finest in Europe. Further afield is Mt Titlis. This | | | | Europe. The Glacier Express journey from St Moritz to |
| requires a bus journey to Engelburg, then a series of | | | | Zermatt is one of the most popular in Europe and is |
| cable car rides to the summit with its permanent snow | | | | almost always fully booked. For the first time, I did not |
| cover. Spectacular views of the main mountain peaks | | | | have to change trains, enabling me to sit back and |
| in Switzerland await you. The fourth major attraction in | | | | enjoy the high alpine scenery of rural Switzerland with |
| Lucerne is the transport museum: reputed to be the | | | | its meadows, tiny villages, the sound of cowbells, the |
| finest in Europe. | | | | distant sound of church bells and the brilliant clear |
| The next part of the journey is over the top of the | | | | bracing mountain air. Every bend and every tunnel exit |
| Brunig pass. A cog railway is necessary because of | | | | presented different vistas, but probably the most |
| the steep gradients ascending and descending these | | | | spectacular was the descent from Oberalp Pass to |
| mountain passes. It is worth taking an hour's stop at | | | | Andermatt. The views were unforgettable. The Glacier |
| the pretty village of Brienz on the north shore of Lake | | | | Express arrived in Zermatt in the late afternoon and |
| Brienz, before continuing on to Interlaken and the next | | | | unfortunately the Matterhorn was covered in cloud. I |
| change of trains. Interlaken is an ideal base to explore | | | | reluctantly had to cancel a cog railway ascent to |
| the magnificent mountain scenery of the Bernese | | | | Gornergrat, a high plateau just below the summit of |
| Oberland including Jungfrau, one of the highest peaks in | | | | this spectacular mountain. It was here that I wished I |
| Switzerland. A rapid train journey to Thun is followed | | | | had more time. The mountain walks around Zermatt |
| by a walk down to the harbour to join the ferry for a | | | | are some of the finest in Europe. Another day |
| 1-hour voyage to Spietz, the overnight stop. I would | | | | perhaps! |
| strongly recommend this late afternoon ferry journey | | | | So it was down the mountain to Visp to join a mainline |
| on one of the prettiest lakes in Europe. | | | | express through the Rhone Valley for an overnight |
| DAY TWO. BRIENZ to LOCARNO. This spectacular | | | | stop at Lausanne. Sadly most of this journey was at |
| journey includes 2 of Europe's major tunnels: | | | | night. It did however give me peace of mind knowing |
| Lotschberg and Simplon and travels south through high | | | | that I would not miss my early morning TGV |
| alpine scenery to Ticino, the southernmost and | | | | connection from Lausanne to Paris. Maybe next time, I'll |
| warmest canton in Switzerland. The descent to Brig | | | | take the 8-day pass! |