The Golden Pass Line is a 191 km scenic rail route connecting Lucerne to Montreux via Interlaken and Gstaad. The full journey takes around 5.5 hours, crosses two language regions, and is fully covered by the Swiss Travel Pass. The best section, the GoldenPass Express between Interlaken and Montreux, runs four times daily and takes 3 hours 15 minutes.
What makes the Golden Pass Line special?
Everyone in the Swiss scenic train world talks about the Glacier Express. The Golden Pass Line sits in its shadow, overlooked, underbooked, and genuinely spectacular. Here’s what sets it apart.
It’s the most varied landscape of any Swiss scenic route. In a single journey, you travel along glittering Alpine lakes, over a mountain pass with rack railway technology, through the Bernese Oberland, past one of the world’s most exclusive ski resorts (Gstaad), across the linguistic boundary into French-speaking Switzerland, and arrive on the shores of Lake Geneva surrounded by vineyards. No other Swiss scenic train gives you this range in one day.
It’s far less crowded than the famous routes. The Glacier Express sells out weeks in advance in summer. The Golden Pass Line, while popular, rarely feels overwhelmed. Seat reservations are recommended but unlike on the Glacier Express and Bernina Express, is not compulsory (except for Prestige class). You can often board without one and still find a great seat.
It’s free with a Swiss Travel Pass. The entire route is covered, with only the optional seat reservation as an extra cost. For travellers spending several days in Switzerland, the Golden Pass makes the Swiss Travel Pass even better value.
It includes a genuine piece of rail engineering history. The GoldenPass Express, launched in December 2022, was over 100 years in the making. It’s the first train in the world to automatically change track gauge in motion — solving a century-old problem that kept the route split in two. More on that below.
How the route works: trains, sections and what to see
The Golden Pass Line runs between Lucerne and Montreux and is made up of two trains covering three distinct sections of Switzerland.
Section 1 — Lucerne to Interlaken: the Luzern-Interlaken Express (~2 hours)
The journey starts in Lucerne, home to the Chapel Bridge, Lake Lucerne, and Mount Pilatus rising behind the city. If you’re arriving from Zurich, the connection takes around 50 minutes.
The train heads south through valleys and forest before tackling the Brünig Pass at 1,008 metres. You can feel the mechanics at work as the valley floor drops away.
Two mountain lakes frame the descent: the Sarnersee and the Lungernsee, both intensely turquoise on a clear day. Sit on the right side from Lucerne for the best views of both.
The train drops into the Haslital Valley, passes through Meiringen (famous for its waterfalls and its unlikely connection to Sherlock Holmes — the Reichenbach Falls, where Holmes “died,” are nearby), and arrives at Interlaken Ost, wedged between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz with the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau forming a wall of rock and ice behind the town.
Seat reservation: optional — CHF 16 (2 May–1 November 2026) or CHF 12 (rest of year)
Section 2 — Interlaken to Montreux: the GoldenPass Express (~3h 15min)
This is the section that earns the Golden Pass its reputation and the engineering story behind it is worth knowing.
For over a century, a direct train between Interlaken and Montreux was impossible. The tracks on the Bernese Oberland side are standard gauge (1,435 mm); those on the MOB (Montreux Oberland Bernois) side are narrow gauge (1,000 mm). Passengers had to change trains at Zweisimmen, an awkward break that kept the route off most travellers’ radars.
In December 2022, engineers at MOB launched the GoldenPass Express with a world-first solution: bogies (the wheel assemblies beneath each carriage) that automatically adjust their width as the train crosses the gauge transition at Zweisimmen. The line voltage simultaneously shifts from 15,000V to 900V. As a passenger, you notice only a brief flicker of lights and then the train continues without pause.
The route runs from Interlaken along the Aare River to Spiez on Lake Thun (the pyramid-shaped Mount Niesen rises directly behind the town), climbs through the green Simmen Valley to Zweisimmen, passes through Gstaad (a brief stop in Switzerland’s most glamorous resort), crosses into French-speaking Switzerland near Château-d’Oex, the hot-air ballooning capital of Switzerland and descends through steep vineyard terraces to Montreux on Lake Geneva.
The moment the lake appears below the vines as the train descends is the best reveal on the entire route. Have your camera ready from Montbovon onward.
Daily departures from Montreux: 07:33, 09:33, 12:33, 14:33 Daily departures from Interlaken Ost: 09:08, 11:08, 14:08, 16:08 Seat reservation: CHF 20 per person (1st or 2nd class, year-round) — strongly recommended
Prefer something vintage? The GoldenPass Belle Époque runs twice daily between Montreux and Zweisimmen in restored 1930s wood-panelled carriages — a slower, more atmospheric option if your schedule allows. You’ll change trains at Zweisimmen to continue to Interlaken. Seat reservation: CHF 9.
The three travel classes (GoldenPass Express)
2nd class — large panoramic windows, seats arranged 2+2. Comfortable, great value, and perfectly suited to the full journey.
1st class — same panoramic views, seats 2+1. More space, slightly fewer passengers. Good for solo travellers or anyone wanting more room.
Prestige class — the floor of the Prestige coaches is raised 40 cm above standard level, placing you at the exact centre of the panoramic windows — the closest passenger view to a driver’s perspective on any Swiss train. Seats are wide leather recliners with heating, a footrest, and full rotation. Catering (including a champagne and Swiss caviar pairing) can be pre-ordered up to 24 hours before departure. Only 18 seats per departure. Reservation is mandatory and book as early as possible.
Prestige class: 1st class ticket + CHF 49 supplement
Tickets, prices and how to book
| 2nd class | 1st class | |
|---|---|---|
| Interlaken → Montreux (full fare) | CHF 53 | CHF 93 |
| Lucerne → Montreux (full fare) | CHF 80 | CHF 136 |
| With Swiss Travel Pass | Free | Free |
| Prestige supplement (GPX only) | — | +CHF 49 |
| Seat reservation — GoldenPass Express | CHF 20 | CHF 20 |
| Seat reservation — GoldenPass Panoramic / Belle Époque | CHF 9 | CHF 9 |
| Seat reservation — Luzern-Interlaken Express (high season) | CHF 16 | CHF 16 |
| Seat reservation — Luzern-Interlaken Express (low season) | CHF 12 | CHF 12 |
Budget tip: A Saver Day Pass starts from CHF 29 (2nd class) and is often cheaper than point-to-point tickets if booked well in advance. Also worth checking: the Berner Oberland Pass, which covers the full Lucerne–Montreux route in 2026 and is excellent value for travellers spending 3+ days in the Bernese Oberland region.
How to book
With a Swiss Travel Pass: Both the Luzern-Interlaken Express and the GoldenPass Express are fully covered. You only pay the optional seat reservation. Reservations for the GoldenPass Express are made at gpx.swiss or via the SBB app. Reservations for the Luzern-Interlaken Express must be made at a Swiss railway station or via the Zentralbahn website.
Without a Swiss Travel Pass: Book point-to-point tickets on Omio to compare prices and book connections in one place. GoldenPass Express tickets open 90 days before departure on SBB and the MOB website.
👉 Compare Golden Pass Line ticket prices on Omio — book in 2 minutes
Prefer a guided experience? GetYourGuide offers Golden Pass day trips from Geneva and Zurich, including seat reservations and a local guide — everything handled for you.
👉 Browse Golden Pass Line guided day tours on GetYourGuide — free cancellation
Which direction is best?
Both directions offer exceptional scenery. Lucerne → Montreux gives you a natural narrative arc: you start in a well-known city, climb into the Alps, and finish with Lake Geneva appearing below the vines. Montreux → Lucerne starts with morning light on the lake and builds toward the mountain sections.
For the best views on the GoldenPass Express specifically, sit on the right side when travelling from Interlaken to Montreux — best for Lake Thun and the vineyard descent.
Best time to travel
Autumn (September–October) is my top recommendation: golden light, coloured forests, far fewer crowds than summer, and the vineyard descent to Montreux at its most beautiful.
Summer (June–August) offers the most vivid colours and longest days, but trains are busiest — book seat reservations as early as possible.
Winter (December–March): Gstaad transforms into a world-class ski destination and the snow-covered Simmen Valley is genuinely stunning. Plan for fewer daylight hours.
Spring (April–May): Quiet trains, waterfall season in the valleys, snow still on the peaks. Excellent for photography.
Is the Golden Pass Line the same as the GoldenPass Express?
No. The Golden Pass Line is the full 191 km Lucerne–Montreux route. The GoldenPass Express is one specific train that covers the Interlaken–Montreux section directly without a change at Zweisimmen. The other trains on this section — the GoldenPass Panoramic and the Belle Époque — require changing at Zweisimmen.
Do I need a seat reservation?
Reservations are optional for 1st and 2nd class on all Golden Pass trains. For Prestige class on the GoldenPass Express, reservation is mandatory. In summer and on weekends, reservations are strongly recommended for the GoldenPass Express and the Belle Époque — trains can fill quickly.
Is the Golden Pass Line covered by Interrail or Eurail?
Yes. Both passes cover all trains on the Golden Pass Line. Seat reservations (CHF 9–20 depending on train and class) must be paid separately and are not included in the pass.
Can I stop along the way?
Absolutely — and this is one of the real advantages over the Glacier Express. You can hop off at any station and catch a later train. Gstaad (half-day), Château-d’Oex, Interlaken, and Montreux are all excellent stops. Interlaken in particular makes a natural overnight break if you want to add the Jungfrau region to your trip. See my guide to scenic trains around Interlaken for ideas.
What is the Belle Époque train?
The Belle Époque is a restored vintage train running between Montreux and Zweisimmen, with wood-panelled 1930s-style carriages. It runs twice daily in each direction and requires a change at Zweisimmen to reach Interlaken. Seat reservation costs CHF 9. If you love vintage train travel, it’s worth planning around — the atmosphere is unlike anything else on the Swiss network.
The Golden Pass Line is the best-value scenic train journey in Switzerland that most visitors never hear about. Less crowded than the Glacier Express, free with a Swiss Travel Pass, and arguably the most diverse landscape of any route in the country.
👉 Search Lucerne → Montreux train tickets on Omio — compare prices in seconds
👉 Browse guided Golden Pass Line tours on GetYourGuide — free cancellation up to 24h