We Love —
- Discover Central Switzerland and Ticino on a combination of boat and train trip through breathtaking scenery.
- After your day of adventure, stay in selected 4* or 5* hotels in Lucerne and Lugano (with breakfast included).
- All along your trip, you will see picturesque landscapes and charming towns.
New Voyage Privé —
Carefully selected by our experts especially for you
Your Itinerary In Brief —
Travelling by train in Switzerland is a unique experience not to be missed! Discover unusual landscapes as you travel through Lucerne, Lake Lucerne, Flüelen, Gotthard, Bellinzona and Lugano.
Season: 1 May to 24 October 2021 from Tuesday to Sunday, including public holidays.
Your Itinerary In Detail —
Your Trip
The Gotthard Panorama Express connects two of Switzerland's most beautiful regions for a first-class experience. You can look forward to:
- A trip on the steamboat across Lake Lucerne from Lucerne to Flüelen
- Passing by historical sites of primeval Switzerland such as the Rütli, Tell's Chapel, Schillerstein or Treib
- Receive exciting information on the panorama train from the multilingual tour guide
- Feel the wind in your face in the photo car
- Learn more about the history of the Gotthard Railway
- Marvel at breathtaking landscapes on the panorama train and pass through various helical tunnels and bridges from Flüelen to the Mediterranean Ticino
The journey with the Gotthard Panorama Express takes you from Lucerne by boat to Flüelen and onwards by train in the 1st class panorama coach along the historic Gotthard panorama route to Lugano, the capital of Ticino.
In Lucerne, you will take a steam or motorboat across Lake Lucerne, passing picturesque bays and landscapes. You'll pass places steeped in history in primeval Switzerland - first and foremost the Rütli meadow, where Switzerland was founded in 1291, as well as the Schiller Stone or Tell's Chapel.
In Flüelen, the panorama train awaits you and takes you along the historic Gotthard route. Here you can marvel at the church of Wassen, which has gained world fame through the railway system with its many helical tunnels. Then the journey continues south through the Gotthard Tunnel between Göschenen and Airolo, which was opened in 1882. Here, the beautiful Mediterranean Ticino landscape awaits you.
Lucerne to Flüelen
Start your journey in Lucerne. Look forward to a panoramic boat trip on Lake Lucerne, which will take you to Füelen.
Lake Lucerne is surrounded by famous mountains and is the most diverse lake in the country. A boat trip here is without doubt a real experience that you will not forget. The name of the lake has its origins in the historic four "Waldstätten", the three original cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden and the canton of Lucerne, which together surround Lake Lucerne.
From Flüelen to Lugano
Then, board the panoramic train in Füelen and embark on an idyllic panoramic train journey on the Gotthard route.
Until the opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the Gotthard route was the shortest connection between the railway networks in North-Western Europe and Italy. It runs from Zurich via Basel to Locarno and offers you breathtaking panoramas thanks to large windows.
You will pass mountain lakes, waterfalls, and you can marvel at the church of Wassen, under which you will pass through the Wattinger helical tunnel. Finally, you will pass through Bellinzona, the capital of Ticino and probably the most Italian city in Switzerland. The city is both the gateway to Italy for the north and the key to the Alps for the south. Marvel at its 3 castles and the beautiful stone houses, typical of the region.
Your final stop: Lugano. Visit the picturesque old town. The Piazza della Riforma is the heart of Lugano. Treat yourself to a shopping spree and stroll through the Parco Cian, located directly on the lake shore, and don't forget to grab a delicious Italian gelato.
Your Hotels —
Just for you:
- 50% discount on additional rail tickets (such as local transport) and some mountain excursions
- 1hr Sightseeing Trip on Lake Lucerne
- Digital Swiss Coupon Pass
HAND-PICKED JUST FOR YOU
Maximum room capacity
During your trip, you will stay one night in a Standard Room with breakfast in Lucerne and one night with breakfast in Lugano in selected 4* and 5* hotels.
Your Board Basis
This offer is based on a Bed and Breakfast stay.
Your Included Excursions —
Train tickets
Enjoy a lovely train ride between Lucerne and Lugano in total comfort and admire the scenery you discover along the way.
- Full name of all passengers of booking
- Date of birth
- Full postal address
- Email address
Your Journey —
Flights:
You may choose from Economy, Premium or Business class flights on sectors that they operate, at the next stage of the booking process. The flights included are with either a scheduled or no-frills airline and are subject to live availability and prices can change. You can choose your preferred departure times during the booking process. Please select your flight options carefully as departure and arrival airports may differ.
Car Hire:
For the freedom to explore your destination at your own pace, Sixt car hire may be added at the next stage of the booking process for an additional fee (flight inclusive offers only - subject to availability and Sixt office opening times upon your arrival). Please note you cannot be guaranteed a specific make of car within a certain group. The lead name on the booking will be confirmed as the named driver. The named driver must present a credit card in their name when collecting the car (credit cards in other names will not be accepted). The named driver must also present a full valid driving licence on the collection of the vehicle and in some cases, a credit card or cash deposit will be required. Please ensure that you check your car hire documents carefully once received as this will advise if there are any taxes/charges to be paid locally as well as potential mileage restrictions. Other fees may be applicable in addition to the cost of your car rental for any additional products added to your car rental.
Your Destinations —
Your Destination
Lucerne is known for its preserved medieval architecture, which sits amid its picturesque snow capped mountains and stunning Lake Lucerne. The town is compact yet lively with lots of indoor and outdoor attractions.
Walk within its preserved city walls and admire the lake from the enchanting Chapel Bridge or the historic buildings which showcase different types of architecture. You will be delighted to see houses varying with Baroque style architecture to early Renaissance Florentine style.
There are also many museums and places to shop. On Hertensteinstrasse street, you will find the best chocolate shops, so be sure to stop by for a treat. And, if you want to dive deeper into the chocolate, visit the Swiss Chocolate Adventure. Learn how chocolate was discovered, its provenance and how it is manufactured.
Lugano
Lake Lugano is nestled between Lake Maggiore and Lake Como and lies partly in Switzerland and partly in Italy. Although the smallest of the three lakes, Lake Lugano lacks for nothing in beauty, character or charm and its Mediterranean type climate ensures it remains popular all year round with visitors from around the world. Lake Lugano is unique in the sense that when viewed from above, its shape takes on the form of a river that twists and turns its way through the landscape. With its Venetian-style villages and its rugged shoreline, it mirrors the charms of the more famous Lake Como.
Lake Lugano's waters and mountainous backdrop make the region a haven for water sports, hiking, trekking, mountain-biking, horse-riding, sailing, golfing and various other outdoor pursuits. While the towns and villages around the lake like Gandria, Morcote, Carona, Porlezza, Melide, San Mamete and Campione d'Italia offer visitors a world of history and culture with their medieval churches, art galleries, museums and sub-tropical parks and gardens.
