Swiss Christmas Markets by Train
- Belinda Brooke
- 2 days ago
- 12 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
FBI Travel Advisor Belinda Brooke, an accredited Swiss Travel System Excellence Expert, embarked on a winter wonderland adventure through Switzerland’s enchanting Christmas Markets, courtesy of Switzerland Tourism - all experienced seamlessly via Switzerland’s world-renowned public transport system.
Day 1: Zurich
I was so excited about this trip! It was my first time to Europe during the winter and I couldn’t wait to experience
the magical Christmas markets and hopefully a sprinkle of snow! With a 1st class Swiss Travel Pass in hand - which provides unlimited travel on trains, buses and boats across the country – I was ready to explore Switzerland via its famous public transport system.
On arrival into Zurich, I took the train into Zurich HB (Main) Train Station, I made my way to the hotel which was within easy walking distance to the station.
After check-in, we met Barbara, our tour guide for the afternoon who took us to our first Christmas market, the Europaallee. The main market is in the train station with a huge Lindt Christmas tree where we were given Lindt balls. The market specialises in food, Christmas baubles and mulled wine. Across from the market, there was a lovely light show projected onto the buildings.
We then caught a tram to another market which was just fantastic – I could’ve spent hours there. It was time to warm up so we walked across the river to Munsterhof for a steaming mug of delicious mulled wine before heading to a French and Mediterranean Riviera inspired dinner at the Globus Roof Garden. Surrounded by city views and Christmas lights, it was the perfect end to the day.
Day 2: Zurich
After a yummy buffet breakfast at the hotel, we grabbed our swimming gear and walked to the bus station to catch a public bus to Hurlimannbad & Spa.
The thermal baths are located in a converted former brewery. The highlight was the infinity pool on the roof that looks out over the Zurich skyline – getting from the inside to the outside is also awesome. I tried all the thermal pools and they were beautiful. I’d highly recommend coming here after an active day of adventure skiing or hiking. It’s also family-friendly so it’s a great option for all travellers.
We then took an e-tuk tuk tour to see the more modern side of Zurich including street art and learned more about the city’s impressive sustainability initiatives. Fun fact: you can do the same tour with a cheese fondue IN the e-tuk tuk!
From here, we went for a wander around the old town which included a visit to the Kunsthaus Museum. We saw the A Future for the Past - The Buhrle Collection: art, context, war and conflict an interesting and controversial exhibition, which finishes in November 2025.
We wrapped up another fantastic day with a Hike with Flaming Torches. This is a wintery stroll up a forested hill with torch in hand to enjoy the panoramic nighttime views of Zurich. This was followed by mulled wine around the open fire pits and a fondue dinner. There’s also a curling area at the restaurant! It was very Christmassy and I enjoyed this experience.
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Zurich: Where to stay
We stayed at the 25hours Hotel Langstrasse which is a very funky, very cool hotel right near the red light district. The staff were really quirky. The hotel provides a recycled rubber tote bag to use whilst staying there and many of the rooms also come with a personal Schindelhauer bike to get around on.
My room was lovely. It was very modern and well-designed with everything I needed. It had a great view of the street. Breakfast was buffet style and delicious. The hotel has three restaurants, a sauna, gym, kiosk and even a pawn shop where pawned goods can be used to pay for the room!
Day 3: Montreux
Today we made good use of our Swiss Travel Pass, taking a scenic train journey from Zurich to Montreux with a quick and easy platform change in Lausanne. The journey took 2 hours and 40 minutes.
After checking into our hotel and enjoying a fondue lunch, we headed back to the station to take the cogwheel train to visit the Santa Clause House in Rochers-de-Naye. The train climbs to an altitude of around 2000m and had spectacular views over Lake Geneva and the surrounding mountains.
Santa himself is there from late November through to Christmas Eve. Kids can meet Santa, share their Christmas wishes and receive a free gift. The train runs all year round and during the summer, there are wonderful hiking and climbing opportunities and free admission to the La Rambertia alpine garden.
We took the train back to Montreux and headed to Market Square to explore the Christmas market. This covered market was really lovely and we enjoyed wandering around with a mulled wine in hand. There is a Flying Santa Claus show and a Ferris Wheel with beautiful views of the lake and mountains. We took a walk down to Chillon Castle, beautifully lit against the water, and then headed to Chalet Heidi in the heart of the market, for a fondue dinner.
Montreux: Where to stay:
We stayed at the Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic which is a one-minute walk from the train station and in a great location. It’s smack bang in the middle of the city and has lovely views of the mountains and Lake Geneva. The rooms are on the small side but had everything I needed. I also used the fully equipped gym. Breakfast was buffet style with a great selection.
Day 4: Interlaken
I was really excited about today’s train journey as were experiencing the GoldenPass Express to Interlaken. This is an absolute must do if travelling in Switzerland. We travelled in the Prestige class, the best way to experience this spectacular route. The Swiss Travel Pass includes the GoldenPass Express but seat reservations are mandatory for Prestige class and strongly recommended for 1st and 2nd class – just note that these reservations do come at an additional cost.
The heated leather seats are quite luxurious and all face the front of the train but can be rotated if you ask the friendly staff. The Prestige class seats are also elevated by 40cm and with panoramic windows, we were able to fully appreciate the spectacular scenery. The journey takes just over 3 hours and a light snack can be pre-ordered, including champagne and caviar.
We basically ate our way around Interlaken! We started at Restaurant 3A which is a cool backpacker traveller style lunch venue, near the train station. It serves a basic buffet of rice and pasta dishes with salad – perfect for a quick and casual lunch.
From here, we enjoyed a very unique Swiss experience – a Chocolate Fondue Float (similar to a dinghy or Zodiac) on the lake! This was a much more fun way to enjoy Swiss chocolate than simply visiting one of the chocolate factories. Our guide did all the steering while we enjoyed dunking marshmallows, pretzels, biscuits and fruit into the chocolate.
After we checked into the hotel, we enjoyed a walk through the beautifully lit old town of Interlaken before dinner at Restaurant Stadthaus. The restaurant served classic dishes and I enjoyed a Wienerschnitzel and apple fritters for dessert.
Day 5: Interlaken
Utilising our Swiss Travel Pass again, we walked to the train station to catch the train to Grindelwald Terminal and then a gondola to Jungfraujoch, the Top of Europe. This was a well-organised and beautiful experience. We walked to the viewing platforms to see the Aletsch Glacier and the towering Jungfrau peak. It really is a must-see.
There’s plenty to explore with an Ice Palace filled with ice sculptures an ice bar and distillery. If you’re in need of sustenance, there’s a fine dining restaurant with stunning views.
In summer, you can hike the Eiger Trail which I think would be incredible.
Hot tip:Â book in advance and go up in the morning for the clearest skies and smaller crowds. I also recommend the express booking option to speed things up.
We then took the train back down, which is part of the Swiss Travel Pass. It’s one of the most beautiful trains with a short but stunning journey from Wengen to Lauterbrunnen with views over the valleys, mountains and what I’d best describe as storybook scenery.
We stopped in Kleine Scheidegg, which is located at the foot of the Eiger North face for lunch and a wander about on the snow. It was vibrant and busy as it was the official opening day of the ski season.
On arrival back in Interlaken, we went to the new Christmas market, Winterheart-Interlaken, which is accessed via a 10 metre long lit tunnel. Once through the tunnel, there is a beautiful 8m tall Christmas tree.
We enjoyed looking around the market before entering a ‘bauble’ for a cheese and bread fondue in the middle of the market. It was awesome.
Interlaken: Where to stay
We stayed at the Hey Hotel which once again was in a great location with easy access to everything, including being only 400m from the train station. It was a good, moderate 3.5 to 4 star hotel with bright, modern rooms.
Day 6: Lucerne
After breakfast, we walked to the station for the train to Interlaken Ost and then transferred to the Interlaken Express, which is part of the GoldenPass Line and covered in the Swiss Travel Pass. It’s a panoramic train with more spectacular scenery of clear mountain lakes, and surrounding mountains. The journey to Lucerne takes just under 2 hours and we enjoyed lunch in the train’s bistro.
Lucerne is my favourite city in Switzerland. It’s stunning in both summer and winter.
As it’s winter, we transferred by bus and cable car from Kriens to Mt Pilatus. On a clear day, the views over Lucerne are spectacular. There are different viewpoints and you could easily spend an hour or two walking between them and enjoying the views. Some of the walking is through the mountain face which is really interesting and spectacular viewing. There’s also a church built on the cliff!
We had lunch at the historic mountain hotel Pilatus-Kulm. I enjoyed sausages and rosti with a lovely glass of red. The views are incredible and we watched paragliders soaring past. The 3-4 star hotel is quite small with just 30 rooms but it would be lovely to stay here and have the mountain to yourself. Dinner is served in a grand ballroom, and you’d be in for the most incredible sunrise and sunset.
On arriving back in Lucerne, we explored the old town. We saw the Lion Monument, which commemorates the bravery of the Swiss Guard who died protecting King Louis XVI of France from revolutionaries, and the world-famous timber Chapel Bridge. We enjoyed a gluhwein in the Christmas markets before a delicious fondue. The market has an ice-skating rink and is very family-friendly, closing just after dinner. It’s right near the station and overlooks the lake. It’s one of the largest Christmas markets and was really busy, enjoyable and had a fabulous vibe. Lots of places to eat fondue and enjoy a drink. The old town was beautifully lit up, peaceful, lots of Christmas decorations and we enjoyed a peaceful walk after dinner.
For those travelling in the summer, the journey up to Mt Pilatus is a little different. The Golden Round Trip would see you take a boat ride across Lake Lucerne and then the cogwheel railway up to Mt Pilatus. To come back down again, there’s a Panorama gondola and a spectacular aerial cable car which is known as the Dragon Ride because it feels like you are flying. There are stops on the way down where the kids can enjoy a ropes course (and there is a more advanced one for adults) along with the longest toboggan run in Switzerland. The journey ends in Kriens where it’s very easy to catch a bus back to Lucerne.
Alternatively, you could take a challenging 4-5 hour hike up to Mt Pilatus and reward yourself with taking the cable car down!
Lucerne: Where to stay
We stayed at the Hotel Waldstatterhof Luzern which was again, very close to the station and central to everything. It’s a very comfortable 4 star hotel with a buffet breakfast and a restaurant serving Lucerne and Swiss specialties. The moderate hotels are all around the train station but if you’re looking for 5-star luxury, I’d recommend the Mandarin Oriental Palace Lucerne, which is located on the shore of Lake Lucerne.
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Day 7: Andermatt
In the morning, we explored Lucerne and I spent some time souvenir shopping, including a visit to my favourite hiking store, Mammut. I always find something to buy here and came away with a chalk bag for bouldering for my son and a couple of tops for myself.
We then took the very scenic train to Andermatt via Arth-Goldau and Goschenen, along the Gotthard Pass. Andermatt is an up-and-coming ski village located in the Canton of Uri in Central Switzerland, with amazing skiing, including plenty of off-piste skiing. We picked up some snowshoeing gear and headed out to give it a go! It’s such a fun activity for all the family as you can experience the beauty of the snow-covered landscape at your own pace.
Once we’d finished snowshoeing, we took a short and scenic train ride from Andermatt up to the Bergrestaurant Natschen Arena and enjoyed a delicious wiener schnitzel lunch. Oddly, the restaurant was playing Australian music! We took the train back down and walked back to the hotel where we had some time to settle into our lovely rooms which were very modern and functional.
For our final night, we had a very special degustation dinner with paired wines at The Chedi Andermatt that went late into the evening. It was a fantastic night and a wonderful way to finish the trip.
The next morning, I awoke to the gentle sight of snow falling outside the window! Just what I had wished for! We headed to the train station to take the train back to Zurich International Airport for the journey back to Australia, using the Swiss Rail app.
Andermatt: Where to stay
We stayed at the Radisson Blu which is just 500m from the train station and within walking distance to the old city centre. It is a really lovely 4 star hotel with a great buffet breakfast, restaurant, bar and gym. With hotel rooms and apartments on offer, the hotel caters for large families and groups. While it is close to the ski fields, it is not a ski in/ski out hotel. The hotel is also home to the new Andermatt Concert Hall, which is one of the highest in the world and features top acoustics and ultra-modern equipment. The acoustics and theatre design were created by the same teams behind the Philharmonie de Paris.
If you’re after a 5-star experience, The Chedi Andermatt is a great choice. The hotel is very centrally located and if you’re a skier, the Chedi’s ski butlers will look after your equipment hire and give you the best tips on where to ski, snowboard and cross-country ski. The hotel is part of Leading Hotels of the World and received top ratings from Forbes Travel Guide. The rooms are stunning and there are several restaurants including The Japanese, which has been awarded 2 Michelin stars. Â
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Practical information:
Swiss Travel Pass & travelling by train
The Swiss Travel Pass has been designed for tourists and there are various passes available for single travellers, travellers under 25 and families. The Pass gives tourists unlimited travel by train, bus and boat including premium panorama trains – although seat reservation fess do apply for the panorama trains.
You can purchase a 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 consecutive days Pass or a Swiss Travel Pass Flex where you can choose which days within a one month period you want to use the Pass for. The Pass also includes free admission to over 500 museums and discounts on mountain excursions and other travel offers.
The train system is unparalleled. It’s efficient and so easy – even changing trains. The signage in the stations is clear and makes the journey so much easier. The app is fantastic. I do recommend purchasing the Swiss Travel Pass as it’s the most cost-effective option if you plan on taking public transport a fair bit.
If you are keen to explore Switzerland by public transport but not keen on lugging your luggage on and off trains and buses, you can consider booking the express luggage transport service. Simply book the service up to 12pm the day before you need it and hand over your luggage to your hotel on the morning of your departure. Your luggage will be transported and waiting at your next hotel that evening. This service is currently provided at 20 tourism hotspots and depending on where you’re going, can also include your skiing equipment.
How to get there:
I flew with Emirates via Dubai to Zurich. On the way to Switzerland, I flew Premium Economy and I recommend this as a good alternative to Business Class as it’s quiet and at the front of the plane. It was very comfortable with excellent food and service, and there was plenty of room with a dedicated bathroom area. The other bonuses were extra luggage allowances and priority check-in.
On the way home, I flew Business Class which was spectacular and I highly recommend it. The experience was incredible with amazing food and unbelievable service. The Emirates Lounge in Dubai has lots of different areas to eat and runs the length of the terminal so you don’t need to go out into the main terminal area – unless you want to do some duty-free shopping. Another perk is that a limo comes to pick you up!
Our airfares team also recommend Swiss International Air Lines. While they don’t fly directly into Australia, you can easily connect through their codeshare partners and enjoy a stopover in Asia. For example, you can fly to Zurich via Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific, via Tokyo with Qantas or All Nippon Airways, via Singapore with Singapore Airlines or even via Delhi with Air India.
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Best time to go:
Switzerland is an all-year destination with spectacular scenery, shifting glaciers, lakes and rivers reflecting the changing seasons and majestic mountains at every turn.
I found travelling pre-Christmas to be absolutely magical - even for those who don't celebrate Christmas - it’s just a lovely time to be there with such a vibrant and colourful atmosphere.
For the skiers and snowboarders, I’d recommend heading to Switzerland after Christmas and if you’re into hiking, the best time is mid-June to early September.
If a European Christmas Markets trip or a visit to Switzerland at any time of year is on your wish list, please contact Belinda or your preferred FBI Travel Advisor.
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All images by Belinda Brooke.
Belinda travelled courtesy of Switzerland Tourism.