Introduction
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Welcome aboard the GoldenPass panoramic train, one of Switzerland's classic scenic railway journeys. Over the next three hours and fifteen minutes, you will travel from the sophisticated lakeside elegance of Montreux on Lake Geneva, through the pastoral highlands of the Pays-d'Enhaut and the fashionable resort of Gstaad, over the hills into the Simmental valley, and along the shores of Lake Thun to arrive at Interlaken, the gateway to the Jungfrau region and the Bernese Oberland.
This journey connects two of Switzerland's most celebrated landscapes: the sun-drenched shores of Lake Geneva and the dramatic Alpine world of the Bernese Oberland. Between them lies a succession of valleys, passes, and small towns that represent some of the most beautiful and culturally diverse territory in the country.
The GoldenPass line is not merely a transport connection; it is a carefully designed scenic experience. The panoramic carriages, with their oversized windows extending into the roof, frame the passing landscape like a continuously unfolding painting. The route was engineered with scenic impact in mind, and the train moves at a pace that allows genuine contemplation of the views.
Settle into your seat and prepare for a journey from the Mediterranean-influenced shores of Lake Geneva to the heart of the Alpine world.
Chapter 1: Montreux -- Departure from the Swiss Riviera
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GPS Waypoint: Montreux Station -- 46.4312, 6.9110
The train departs from Montreux, the jewel of the Swiss Riviera and one of the most beautifully situated towns in Europe. As you pull out of the station, look back toward the lake. Montreux sits on a crescent of shoreline backed by steep, vine-clad hillsides, with the expanse of Lake Geneva spreading before it and the French Alps visible on the far shore.
Montreux has been attracting visitors since the eighteenth century, when the English began arriving in pursuit of the mild climate, the clean air, and the scenic grandeur that the Romantic poets had made fashionable. Lord Byron, Percy Shelley, Mary Shelley, and their circle spent time here, and Byron's poem about the nearby Chateau de Chillon helped make the region internationally famous.
In the twentieth century, Montreux became known for music. The Montreux Jazz Festival, founded in 1967, is one of the world's premier music events, and the town's association with musicians extends far beyond jazz. Freddie Mercury of Queen spent his final years in Montreux, and his statue on the lakefront promenade has become one of the town's most visited landmarks.
As the train climbs away from the lake, the vineyards of the Lavaux appear to your left. These terraced vineyards, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, have been cultivated since at least the twelfth century. The steep terraces, built of stone and clinging to the hillside above the lake, produce some of the finest white wines in Switzerland.
Chapter 2: The Climb from Lake Geneva
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GPS Waypoint: Les Avants -- 46.4520, 6.9325
The train climbs steeply from the lake shore, using a rack-and-pinion section to gain altitude quickly. The views behind you are magnificent as the panorama of Lake Geneva expands with every metre of ascent. On clear days, the entire sweep of the lake is visible, from Lausanne to the west to the Rhone delta at the eastern end.
At Les Avants, you reach a small plateau that marks the transition from the Lake Geneva basin to the Alpine hinterland. Les Avants is famous for its narcissus fields, which bloom spectacularly in May and June, covering the meadows in a white carpet that is one of the great spring sights of western Switzerland.
The landscape here is already noticeably different from the Mediterranean-influenced shores below. The climate is cooler, the vegetation more Alpine, and the architecture shifts from the stone-built villas and hotels of the Riviera to the wooden chalets and farmhouses of the pre-Alps. This transition, accomplished in just a few kilometres of altitude gain, is one of the most remarkable aspects of Swiss geography.
Chapter 3: The Pays-d'Enhaut -- Highland Pastures
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GPS Waypoint: Chateau-d'Oex -- 46.4730, 7.1352
The train enters the Pays-d'Enhaut, literally the "land on high," a broad valley of Alpine pastures and traditional villages that lies between the Lake Geneva basin and the Saanenland. This is one of the most charming and least spoiled rural regions in French-speaking Switzerland.
Chateau-d'Oex, the main village of the Pays-d'Enhaut, is a pleasant place of painted wooden chalets, a handsome church, and several good restaurants. It is best known internationally as a centre for hot-air ballooning; the annual International Balloon Festival, held each January, fills the sky above the village with dozens of colourful balloons floating against the snow-covered mountains.
The Pays-d'Enhaut is also a significant dairy region, and the cheese produced here, L'Etivaz AOP, is one of Switzerland's finest. L'Etivaz is made exclusively from the milk of cows grazing on the high pastures above the valley, and it is produced in small, traditional Alpine dairies using methods that have changed little in centuries. The cheese has a complex, nutty flavour that reflects the diversity of Alpine grasses and herbs in the cows' diet.
As the train passes through the valley, notice the traditional farmhouses with their broad, overhanging roofs and decorated timber facades. The architecture of the Pays-d'Enhaut bridges the French-speaking and German-speaking traditions, combining elements of both in a distinctive regional style.
Chapter 4: Rougemont and the Linguistic Border
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GPS Waypoint: Rougemont Station -- 46.4880, 7.2090
At Rougemont, the train pauses at a village that marks one of the most interesting linguistic boundaries in Switzerland. East of Rougemont, the language changes from French to German. The village itself is French-speaking, but its neighbour, Saanen, is German-speaking. This transition, accomplished within the space of a few kilometres, illustrates the remarkable linguistic diversity of Switzerland.
Rougemont is a village of considerable charm, with a Romanesque church dating to the eleventh century that is one of the finest in the region. The castle that gives the village its name, a medieval fortification now in private hands, stands above the village, a reminder of the strategic importance of this valley in centuries past.
The linguistic border here has existed for centuries and reflects ancient patterns of settlement and migration. The French-speaking communities of the Pays-d'Enhaut were historically oriented toward Fribourg and the Romandie, while the German-speaking communities of the Saanenland looked toward Bern and the Bernese Oberland. The GoldenPass line crosses this boundary seamlessly, but the cultural transition is real and perceptible in the architecture, the signage, and the language you hear at the stations.
Chapter 5: Gstaad -- Alpine Elegance
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GPS Waypoint: Gstaad Station -- 46.4748, 7.2858
The train arrives at Gstaad, one of the most famous resort names in the world. Gstaad's reputation for exclusivity and glamour, cultivated over more than a century, has made it a byword for Alpine luxury. The resort has attracted royalty, film stars, and the international jet set since the 1960s, and its real estate is among the most expensive in Switzerland.
Yet Gstaad retains a charm that transcends its reputation. The village centre, with its traditional wooden chalets, flower-lined main street, and views of the surrounding mountains, is genuinely attractive. The buildings, governed by strict architectural codes, must be built in the traditional Saanenland chalet style, and the result is a visual coherence that many purpose-built resorts lack.
The Saanenland, the valley in which Gstaad sits, is a region of extraordinary natural beauty. The rolling Alpine pastures, backed by rugged limestone peaks, create a landscape that is both grand and intimate. In summer, the meadows are rich with wildflowers and the sound of cowbells. In winter, the snow transforms the landscape into one of Switzerland's premier ski areas, with over two hundred kilometres of slopes linked by a single lift pass.
Gstaad is also home to the Menuhin Festival, founded by the legendary violinist Yehudi Menuhin, who made his home here. The festival, held each summer, brings world-class classical musicians to perform in the village church and other intimate venues.
Chapter 6: Zweisimmen -- The Crossroads
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GPS Waypoint: Zweisimmen Station -- 46.5528, 7.3733
At Zweisimmen, the train reaches an important junction. Until the completion of the GoldenPass Express in 2022, passengers had to change trains here because the line between Montreux and Zweisimmen uses metre gauge while the line onward to Interlaken uses standard gauge. The GoldenPass Express solved this problem with an innovative gauge-changing technology that allows the train to transition between the two gauges without passengers needing to disembark.
Zweisimmen is a pleasant market town at the confluence of the Grosse and Kleine Simme rivers. The town has been a transport hub for centuries, sitting at the meeting point of routes from the Saanenland, the Simmental, and the passes leading south toward the Valais.
As the train departs Zweisimmen heading northeast, the character of the journey changes. You are now in the Simmental, one of the great valleys of the Bernese Oberland and the home territory of the Simmental cattle breed, one of the oldest and most important dairy breeds in the world. The Simmental cow, with its distinctive red-and-white colouring and gentle temperament, has been exported to every continent and is one of the most numerous cattle breeds on earth.
Chapter 7: The Simmental -- A Great Swiss Valley
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GPS Waypoint: Simmental Valley -- 46.6100, 7.5200
The Simmental stretches northeast from Zweisimmen toward Spiez and Lake Thun, and the railway follows its course through a landscape of remarkable pastoral beauty. The valley floor is broad and green, flanked by forested hillsides and backed by the snow-capped peaks of the Bernese Alps.
The farmhouses of the Simmental are among the finest examples of Bernese rural architecture. Like their counterparts in the Emmental to the north, they are large timber structures with sweeping roofs and decorated facades, but the Simmental examples have their own regional character, with distinctive carved and painted details that reflect the valley's strong craft traditions.
The Simme river accompanies the train throughout this section, its clear waters flowing over a bed of rounded grey stones. In summer, the river is a popular destination for fishing, kayaking, and swimming. The valley's side streams, tumbling down from the high pastures in cascades of white water, add to the scenic variety.
Look up at the peaks flanking the valley. To the south, the Stockhorn and Niesen, two of the most prominent summits of the Bernese pre-Alps, rise above the tree line. Both are accessible by cable car and offer panoramic views that encompass the entire Bernese Oberland.
Chapter 8: Lake Thun -- The First Glimpse
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GPS Waypoint: Spiez -- 46.6863, 7.6850
As the train approaches Spiez, Lake Thun appears before you, and the panorama that unfolds is one of the finest on the entire journey. The lake spreads across the valley floor, its deep blue waters reflecting the surrounding mountains. Directly ahead, the great peaks of the Bernese Oberland form a wall of rock and ice along the southern horizon: the Eiger, the Moench, and the Jungfrau, the most famous mountain trio in the Alps.
Spiez itself occupies one of the most beautiful positions of any town in Switzerland. Its medieval castle, perched on a promontory jutting into the lake, is one of the most photographed buildings in the Bernese Oberland. The castle, with its Romanesque church and terraced gardens, dates to the twelfth century and is open to visitors.
The train follows the southern shore of Lake Thun, and for the next thirty minutes, you have a continuously changing panorama of lake, mountains, and lakeside towns. The clarity of the water, the intensity of its colour, and the drama of the mountain backdrop combine to create a scene of almost overwhelming beauty.
Chapter 9: Along the Lakeshore to Interlaken
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GPS Waypoint: Lakeside Route -- 46.6800, 7.7500
The final section of the journey follows the shore of Lake Thun toward Interlaken. The villages along this shore, Faulensee, Leissigen, and Därligen, are quiet, attractive places that benefit from the mild microclimate of the lakeside and the spectacular views across the water to the Bernese Alps.
Notice the paddle steamers and motor vessels that ply the lake. Lake Thun's fleet includes several historic paddle steamers dating to the early twentieth century, meticulously maintained and still in regular service. A cruise on Lake Thun is one of the classic Swiss travel experiences, and the views from the water are even more spectacular than those from the shore.
As the train approaches Interlaken, the valley narrows between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. Interlaken sits on the flat alluvial plain between these two lakes, a geographic position that gives it its name: inter lacus, between the lakes. The town has been one of Switzerland's premier tourist destinations since the early nineteenth century, when English travellers first came to marvel at the Jungfrau, visible from the Hoheweg promenade in the centre of town.
Chapter 10: Arrival at Interlaken -- Gateway to the Alps
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GPS Waypoint: Interlaken Ost -- 46.6863, 7.8632
The train pulls into Interlaken Ost station, and the journey is complete. From here, the Alpine world opens before you. The Jungfrau Railway, climbing to the highest railway station in Europe at 3,454 metres, departs from this station. The Schynige Platte, the Harder Kulm, the Brienzer Rothorn, and dozens of other mountain excursions are all accessible from this point.
Interlaken itself is a lively, cosmopolitan town that has been welcoming tourists for nearly two hundred years. The grand hotels along the Hoheweg, the main promenade, date from the golden age of Swiss tourism in the late nineteenth century and retain their Belle Epoque elegance. The view from the Hoheweg, looking south toward the Jungfrau massif, is one of the iconic views of Switzerland.
Your journey on the GoldenPass line has taken you from the French-speaking shores of Lake Geneva to the German-speaking heart of the Bernese Oberland, from the Mediterranean-influenced climate of Montreux to the high Alpine environment of the Jungfrau region. You have crossed a linguistic border, passed through some of the most beautiful pastoral landscapes in Switzerland, and arrived at the gateway to one of the greatest mountain regions on earth.
Practical Tips
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A few practical notes for the GoldenPass journey.
The GoldenPass Express, operating the through service from Montreux to Interlaken without a change at Zweisimmen, uses gauge-changing technology and runs several times daily. Seat reservations are compulsory for the GoldenPass Express and should be booked in advance.
The right side of the train, facing forward from Montreux, generally offers the best views of Lake Geneva during the initial ascent and of Lake Thun during the final approach to Interlaken. However, both sides offer excellent views at different points along the route.
The journey takes approximately three hours and fifteen minutes. Swiss Travel Pass holders travel free but must purchase a seat reservation for the GoldenPass Express service.
For dining, the panoramic carriages have a service trolley offering drinks, snacks, and light meals. For a more substantial meal, consider stopping in Gstaad or Zweisimmen, where several good restaurants are within easy walking distance of the stations.
The route is scenic year-round, but spring and autumn are particularly beautiful: spring for the wildflowers and narcissus blooms, autumn for the golden colours of the forests and the clarity of the mountain views.
Conclusion
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The GoldenPass panoramic line is a journey through the very essence of Swiss diversity. In three hours, you pass from the French-speaking lakeside to the German-speaking highlands, from vineyards to Alpine pastures, from a cosmopolitan resort town to a traditional mountain community. The landscape changes constantly, but the beauty remains constant throughout.
This is Switzerland in miniature: diverse, beautiful, carefully maintained, and surprisingly compact. The distances are short, but the variety is immense. In the time it takes to watch a long film, you have crossed cultural boundaries, climbed over mountain passes, and traversed some of the most stunning scenery in Europe.
Thank you for travelling with us on the GoldenPass line. We hope the panoramic windows have framed memories that will last as long as the mountains you have seen.