First Class Swiss Mountains & Italian Lakes

 A scenic route filled with snow-capped mountain peaks and stunning lakes awaits as your vacation begins today in Switzerland. As your plane arrives in Zürich, make your way to the airport's rail station and use your open train ticket to travel independently to Zürich's Altstetten District, your home for the night.

Check into your four-star hotel, and then you are free to get to know Switzerland's financial center. Your hotel's location and the city's efficient public transit system put several popular areas within reach, including the city center and the Niederdorf, part of Zürich's medieval old town. You could also stay within Altstetten and relax at your hotel or get your first taste of Swiss cuisine at one of the local restaurants before settling in for the night. Overnight Zürich.

Your journey continues this morning as you make your way to the local railway station and board the First Class carriage of a train to the city center before continuing onward to Lucerne by rail. With an included luggage transfer, you can unwind and soak up the increasingly dramatic scenery en route to Lucerne.

After the train rolls into Lucerne's lakeside station, make your way to the pier, where you meet the Tour Manager and your group of fellow travelers. Together, we catch a boat to our four-star hotel in Weggis, located across the lake. With a terrace and garden on the lakefront, the hotel provides panoramic views of Lake Lucerne and the mountainous surroundings, which we can enjoy during our three-night stay.

Upon checking in, there is time at leisure to unwind or begin your explorations before dinner at our hotel this evening. Overnight Weggis.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 After breakfast, we walk to the pier and board a boat to cruise to the next town, Vitznau, enjoying views of forest-covered hills rising from the lake's edge.    

In Vitznau, we board Europe's first mountain railway for a scenic journey to the summit of Mount Rigi. This charming cogwheel railway has been operating since 1871 and offers beautiful views of Mount Pilatus. Known as the "Queen of the Mountains," Mount Rigi offers panoramic vistas of Switzerland's Alps and lakes, which we can enjoy with free time at the summit before we make our way down the mountain to Goldau. A train journey along lakes Zug and Lucerne takes us to the "City of Lights," Lucerne.    

You are at leisure here to uncover this picturesque town at your own pace, strolling the Old Town's cobbled streets to view its ornate churches and frescoed houses. One of the most striking landmarks is the 14th-century Kapellbrücke, the oldest wooden bridge in Europe.

You are free to return to Weggis on your own and can choose between dining independently in Lucerne or at our hotel. Overnight Weggis.  

• Breakfast

With your Swiss Travel Card providing 50% discounts on rail, boat and mountain railway journeys, you can discover Switzerland your own way with a free day today.    

Weggis and Lucerne are perfectly placed at the heart of the country, so you have many options. From Alpnachstad, you could board the steepest cogwheel railway in Europe to marvel at breathtaking views from Mount Pilatus. Reaching a gradient of 48%, the half-hour ascent travels past alpine meadows and rocky outcrops to a land above the clouds. You could also ascend to the summit of the Stanserhorn via a historic funicular railway or the world's only CabriO aerial cableway. Further afield, Interlaken and the spectacular Lauterbrunnen Valley can be reached by train. Your journey here crosses the dramatic Brünig Pass before arriving in Meiringen - near the Reichenbach Falls, made famous in the Sherlock Holmes stories.    

Dining independently this evening, you can savor an authentic taste of Switzerland with dishes like fondues, raclettes and röstis. Overnight Weggis.

• Breakfast

 A vacation highlight awaits after breakfast as we embark on a unique journey on the Gotthard Panorama Express, first boarding a boat to cruise to the southern tip of Lake Lucerne. En route, look for Rütli Meadow, where the Swiss Confederation was founded. As we dock in Flüelen, our train awaits immediately in front of us.  

In First Class seats with large picture windows and an onboard guide, we enjoy a panoramic journey through the Alps and a front-row seat to some of Switzerland's most spellbinding scenery. Along the route, watch for Wassen Church, which appears on different sides of the train as we weave around the village. Onboard, there are vintage carriages where you can slide down the windows for great photographs. After journeying through the historic Gotthard Crest Tunnel, we reach the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland.  

Our destination is Lugano in Switzerland's Ticino region, which, with its Mediterranean feel, is a marked contrast to the German-speaking area around Weggis. On arrival, a short journey takes us to our lakefront hotel, where we have dinner this evening. Overnight Lugano.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 Having traveled from the snow-capped Alps of central Switzerland to the palm trees of Lake Lugano yesterday, our focus turns to Italy today. 

Traveling by rail from Lugano to Locarno, we have time to explore this Italian-speaking Swiss town before we continue along the shore of Italy's longest lake. Bordered by mountains, Lake Maggiore winds past charming towns and villages that spill out of the valleys. Our destination is Stresa, a popular lakefront resort that retains its characteristic charm. 

From here, we sail to the Borromean Islands and uncover a floral haven around the Borromeo Palace on Isola Bella and a quaint fishing village on Isola dei Pescatori. Returning to Stresa by boat, there is free time this afternoon to explore at leisure. Strolling along its picturesque alleys or the elegant promenade rewards visitors with medieval buildings, opulent villas, public gardens and museums. Later, we return by coach from Stresa to Lugano, where your evening is free to dine independently. Overnight Lugano.

• Breakfast

 Exploring the southern reaches of Switzerland today, we board a train after breakfast and head to Capolago. From here, we hop on to a historic cogwheel train to ascend Monte Generoso, climbing more than 5,500 feet on the 40-minute journey.   

The striking blue and red carriages take us through verdant valleys to the top of Monte Generoso. At the summit, we are greeted by breathtaking views of Lakes Lugano and Como and the Alps, separating Switzerland from Italy. On a clear day, it is even possible to see Milan and the Matterhorn from this superb vantage point. Enjoy free time to soak up the panoramas on a walk or at the restaurant inside the "Stone Flower" designed by architect Mario Botta.    

Returning by rail to Lugano, the rest of the day is at leisure. You could stroll amid the grounds of Parco Ciani or wander the Italianate streets of Old Town. Ticinese cuisine is a blend of Italian and Swiss, and a specialty is polenta, but seafood, pasta and pizzas are readily available in many restaurants. Overnight Lugano.

• Breakfast

Traveling by coach after breakfast, we head into Italy to explore one of its most famous lakes.    

Our first destination is Villa Balbianello, a fairytale home built in the 12th century that looks out across Lake Como. On a guided tour, we explore the two residential buildings and the church, uncovering its exquisite interiors and well-kept gardens. From here, we cross the lake by boat to Bellagio, where you have time to wander its beautiful streets or unwind by the harbor, watching the bobbing boats and admiring the picture-perfect backdrops. Bellagio is one of northern Italy's most loved towns, and you can find neoclassical villas, manicured gardens and historic churches, as well as appetizing eateries and relaxing terraces.   

Continuing our waterborne exploration, we sail to Menaggio for free time to uncover this small village at leisure. You could soak up the views from the lakefront piazza or during a stroll along the promenade.

This evening, we return by coach to our hotel in Lugano, where we have dinner. Overnight Lugano.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Leaving Lugano after breakfast, we travel by First Class train to Milan, arriving before lunchtime.  

Take time to grab a bite to eat before we embark on a guided tour of this popular and fascinating city. Known as the "fashion capital of the world," Milan is a city of ornate architecture and elegant squares, with boutiques lining the streets around Via Monte Napoleone. The Piazza del Duomo has been the heartbeat of Milan since the 14th century, and we view its beautiful buildings gathered around the Gothic cathedral, one of the world's largest church buildings. We also see the famed Teatro alla Scala, a world-renowned opera house.

Following our tour, we check into our central hotel for the evening, and then we head to a local restaurant for our final dinner together. Overnight Milan.

• Breakfast, Dinner

From the majestic mountains of the Swiss Alps to the elegance of Italy's lakes, this incredible vacation has revealed the breathtaking beauty of two beloved countries. Exploring the German-speaking part of Switzerland around Lucerne, we sailed across Lake Lucerne and enjoyed panoramic views from Mount Rigi. An iconic rail journey on the Gotthard Panoramic Express took us south to Switzerland's Italian-speaking region of Ticino. Here, we savored a trip on the historic Monte Generoso Mountain Railway and uncovered the idyllic charms of Lakes Maggiore and Como before spending the night in Milan, where your journey comes to a close this morning. 

Upon having breakfast and checking out of your hotel this morning, you are free to make your way home independently or continue exploring Italy at your own pace.