GoldenPass Line

A Swiss scenic railway from Lucerne via Interlaken to Montreux, linking Lake Lucerne, the Bernese Oberland and Lake Geneva.

The GoldenPass Line consists of the Luzern–Interlaken Express from Lucerne to Interlaken, and the GoldenPass Express from Interlaken (via Zweisimmen) to Montreux. Since 2022 the latter has used variable-gauge trains that can run straight through between wide and narrow gauge track. The whole journey takes about 5–6 hours, passing from the German-speaking region into the French-speaking one. Highlights along the way: Lucerne's Chapel Bridge and Lake Lucerne, the Brünig Pass, the turquoise waters of Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, Interlaken and the Jungfrau region, the chalet villages of Gstaad, and a finale of terraced vineyards overlooking Lake Geneva and Chillon Castle. A popular plan is to make it the backbone of a Swiss independent trip: 2 nights in Lucerne (Mount Titlis or Mount Pilatus), 2–3 nights in Interlaken (Jungfrau, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen), then on to Montreux/Lausanne or Geneva, for 7–9 days in total; you can connect with the Glacier Express to form a panoramic loop. The Swiss Travel Pass is valid on the line, but Prestige first class and panoramic cars require a separate seat reservation.

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