Mürren to Zermatt by Train: An Insider’s 7-Day Switzerland Rail Itinerary
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Tom Charlesworth - 28th February 2026If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to travel from a car-free cliff-top village in the Bernese Alps to the foot of the Matterhorn entirely by train, this itinerary is your answer. Over seven days in September, I travelled from Manchester to Mürren and on to Zermatt, two of Switzerland’s most iconic mountain destinations, using nothing but the Swiss Travel Pass. No transfers, no taxis, no stress. Just some of the most breathtaking rail journeys on earth.
What makes this particular route special is how different the two destinations feel. Mürren, perched at 1,638 metres above sea level with its timber chalets and uninterrupted views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, is quietly romantic and wildly dramatic. Zermatt is its grander cousin: more cosmopolitan, equally car-free, and dominated by the unmistakable pyramid of the Matterhorn. Together, they represent Switzerland at its most compelling.
Here’s everything you need to know to plan the same trip, with first-hand detail on the trains, the activities, and the places that genuinely impressed – and if you’re inspired to travel through the beautiful Swiss mountains book one of our Swiss rail holidays.
Day 1: Manchester to Mürren, Where the Journey Is Half the Adventure
The trip begins at Manchester Airport with a SWISS flight to Zurich, landing around midday and leaving a full afternoon for the scenic connections ahead. From Zurich Flughafen, the Swiss Travel Pass took care of every leg, no separate tickets, no queues.
The route to Mürren unfolds like a carefully staged reveal. A direct train carries you to Interlaken Ost, sandwiched between the turquoise waters of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, before continuing to Lauterbrunnen, a valley so dramatic it’s said to have inspired Tolkien’s Rivendell. Seventy-two waterfalls cascade from sheer cliff faces on either side of the valley floor.
From Lauterbrunnen, a Postbus rides to Stechelberg, where the Schilthornbahn cableway waits. The final ascent to Mürren is on what’s claimed to be the steepest cable car in the world, rising above the valley in a way that makes your stomach lurch in the best possible sense.
Mürren itself is immediately disarming. At 1,638 metres, it sits on a natural terrace with nothing between you and the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau but a few hundred metres of crisp mountain air. The village is entirely car-free, reached only by cable car or funicular, which keeps it wonderfully quiet and unspoiled. I stayed at the 3-star Hotel Blumental, comfortable, traditionally Swiss, and just steps from the village centre.
The evening began with a ride on the historic Allmendhubelbahn, a funicular railway dating back to 1912, up to Allmendhubel for a welcome dinner at Restaurant Allmendhubel. Drinks afterwards at the newly renovated Mürren Palace Hotel, once a favourite of British mountaineers in the early 20th century, made for a perfect first evening
Day 2: Paragliding in Mürren & the James Bond Revolving Restaurant at Schilthorn
Mürren is widely considered one of the best paragliding locations in Europe, and it’s easy to see why. On a clear September morning, our group met at Mürren station for a tandem paragliding session with Airtime Paragliding Mürren. Soaring above the Lauterbrunnen Valley with the full sweep of the Bernese Alps ahead of you is, without exaggeration, one of the most extraordinary experiences I’ve had anywhere in the world.
After lunch at Hotel Alpenruh, we took a cable car to Gimmelwald, a tiny, wonderfully unhurried hamlet that feels like Switzerland before the tourists arrived. It’s part of the UNESCO World Heritage Jungfrau-Aletsch region, and a local farm visit and rustic cheese tasting made for a genuinely memorable afternoon.
The evening was the undisputed highlight of the Mürren leg. We ascended via the Schilthornbahn to Birg for the Skyline Walk and Thrill Walk, glass-floored walkways bolted into the cliff face with nothing beneath your feet but a very long way down. Exhilarating doesn’t quite cover it.
Dinner was at Piz Gloria, the revolving restaurant at the summit of Schilthorn at 2,970 metres, also the filming location for the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The 007-themed décor is playful and the panoramic views are extraordinary, slowly rotating as the restaurant turns. As the sun dipped behind the Jungfrau, this felt like one of those evenings that travel was made for.
Day 3: Travelling from Mürren to Zermatt by Train
The journey from Mürren to Zermatt is one of those rare transit days that’s actually worth savouring. We descended by cable car to Grutschalp, then continued by train, winding through valleys, past alpine pastures and small stations with hand-painted signboards, all covered on the Swiss Travel Pass.
Zermatt is famously car-free, preserving the kind of clean mountain air and quiet streets you’d expect from a village that banned motor vehicles in 1947. Arrival by train into the compact station feels appropriately theatrical: the Matterhorn is right there, framed at the end of the main street, though on our arrival day it was stubbornly wrapped in cloud.
Zermatt Tourism met us with drinks on arrival. I checked into the 5-star Mont Cervin Palace, a landmark hotel dating back to 1851 that still operates horse-drawn carriage arrivals, a genuinely special touch. The evening was a relaxed dinner at The Dude alpine pub with the UK delegation, setting the tone for the days ahead.
Day 4: Gornergrat Railway, Switzerland’s Highest Open-Air Rail Journey
After a morning at the Matterhorn Museum, which covers everything from the dramatic first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865 to Zermatt’s evolution as an alpine resort, and a short walking tour of old Zermatt, we boarded what is arguably the best train ride in Switzerland.
The Gornergrat Bahn opened in 1898 as the first electric cogwheel railway in Switzerland. It climbs from Zermatt to 3,089 metres, one of the highest open-air railway stations in Europe, passing through pine forests, alpine meadows, and increasingly bare rocky ridges as the Matterhorn grows larger in the carriage window. The Monte Rosa massif and Gorner Glacier come into view on the ascent. It’s exceptional.
At the summit, the Zooom the Matterhorn experience is a well-executed modern multimedia installation that contextualises the mountain’s geology, climbing history, and cultural significance through immersive visuals. Snow at the summit in September added to the sense of altitude and it felt genuinely remote.
Lunch at Saycheese! offered exactly what you’d want after a mountain summit: hearty Swiss cheese dishes and a warming atmosphere. The descent was on the NostalChic Class, a beautifully restored vintage carriage that evokes golden-age rail travel with polished wood interiors and plush seating. We stopped at Alphitta mountain hut for coffee and cake with one of the finest views I’ve sat down to eat in front of.
The evening was the official opening of the Swiss Travel Mart 2025, held outdoors at the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof. A spectacular projection onto the facade of the historic Monte Rosa Hotel, where Edward Whymper stayed before his legendary 1865 ascent of the Matterhorn, showcased Swiss culture through film, music, and light. We even learned to yodel with Miss Helvita.
Day 5: Sunnegga, One of Zermatt’s Most Rewarding Mountain Viewpoints
After a full day of trade workshops, the evening took us to Sunnegga via the Sunnegga Express, an underground funicular that shoots you up through the mountain to emerge at 2,288 metres with the Matterhorn framed perfectly above the Stellisee lake. It’s one of Zermatt’s most photogenic viewpoints.
The Destination Evening was held at Buffet Bar Sunnegga: raclette, Swiss chocolate, live music, and crisp mountain air. As evenings go, it encapsulated everything that makes Swiss hospitality feel genuinely warm rather than just professionally polished.
Day 6: The Matterhorn Finally Shows Herself, and a Farewell Dinner to Match
It had been five days of glancing hopefully at a cloud-wrapped summit. On the final full day, the clouds finally parted. The Matterhorn appeared in full, bathed in late afternoon gold, impossibly sharp against a blue sky. Every camera in the group came out simultaneously. Conversations stopped.
If you’re planning a trip to Zermatt, build in enough days to give the Matterhorn the chance to show herself. Patience is rewarded.
The Closing Dinner at Mont Cervin Palace was elegant and celebratory. Afterwards, the Farewell Party at CERVO Mountain Resort, a lively, beautifully situated alpine hotel above the village, filled the evening with dancing and the kind of genuine warmth that comes after a week of shared experiences in exceptional surroundings.
Day 7: Zermatt to Zurich and Home
After breakfast, the train from Zermatt back to Zurich Flughafen ran via Visp and Bern, itself a beautiful journey, especially the stretch down the Rhône Valley. The flight home to Manchester from Zurich brought the trip to a close.
Seven days, two of Switzerland’s most iconic mountain destinations, extraordinary rail journeys at every stage, all covered by a single Swiss Travel Pass. As a way to experience the Alps, it’s hard to argue with.
Is the Swiss Travel Pass Worth It?
For a trip like this: yes, unambiguously. The Swiss Travel Pass covered the Zurich Flughafen train, all intercity trains, the Postbus to Stechelberg, the Schilthornbahn cable car (with discount), the Grutschalp-Mürren-Grütschalp narrow gauge railway, main line trains to Zermatt, and the Gornergrat Bahn (with discount). Buying each ticket individually would have cost considerably more and required significant advance planning.
The pass offers either 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 consecutive days of unlimited travel. For a 7-day trip covering two destinations with multiple mountain excursions, the 8-day pass is the natural fit. It also includes free travel on most lake steamers, free entry to 500+ museums, and half-price fares on many mountain railways not fully included.
Railtrail Tours can advise on the right pass for your specific itinerary as part of our Switzerland rail holidays; all tours are fully escorted and include the Swiss Travel Pass as standard.