By rail · BASEL TRAIN TOURS
Every trip has one free day too few. These 4 basel train tours justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part.
Ride a 1920s motor carriage or the open-top summer carriage on a 75-minute Basel city tour. A live guide provides commentary in English or German, while the old tram’s 30 km/h pace, wooden seats, bumpy track, and period sounds make the city feel wonderfully old-fashioned.
Spend about 10 hours moving through Switzerland by rail, from Basel to Chur, aboard the Glacier Express to Andermatt, then onward to Lucerne. Guides such as Jean, Rose, Ana, and Georgina have led this route. Expect big views, several train changes, and a compact Lucerne walk.
“Train ride was fantastic. Our tour guide-Ana was extremely knowledgeable and the best. We did feel rushed at stopping points. Also the start time for our tour was delayed which was a bit confusing and resulted us seeing Lucerne in the dark which was the one key point we really looked forward to having seen in the daytime. We felt the price was a bit high for not providing a meal as well. Also get clear directions as to the meeting point and the time to meet to ensure you arrive timely. The glazer express views were incredible . Confusion as well to the premium railway pass regarding a meal.…”
Travel by Swiss trains from Basel to Zermatt, walk through the old village, visit the mountaineers’ cemetery, and ride the Gornergrat railway to 3,135 meters. Guides such as Michael, Emil, Fehsal, and Peter are praised for clear logistics and local insight. Expect an 11 to 12 hour day.
“The Matterhorn. Eddie was wonderful. He was knowledgeable, very pleasant navigated the complicated transportation connections. We highly recommend him!”
Start at Basel SBB at 8:40 am for a full day through Lucerne and Interlaken. A private local guide leads both city visits, while your reserved panoramic train seat covers the scenic route from Lucerne to Interlaken. Expect a small group of up to 15 people, free time, and a long but well-planned day.
“We had a fantastic day out exploring Lucerne and Interlaken. The scenery from the trains are beautiful (not just the panoramic train but the return journey too). The day was long, but felt effortless, all planned and ran smoothly by our warm and welcoming guide, John. We learnt a lot about the Swiss towns, had some scrumptious chocolate, and enough free time to wander. We really enjoyed our day and would highly recommend Viva tours and John. Note that if you have suitcases/luggage that you don't want to take with you, there is luggage storage in Basel train station. Very easy to use and cost us 8 chf for the…”
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