Wilhelm Tell Express - Swiss panoramic route | PolishTrains

At a glance

• The Wilhelm Tell Express combines a steamboat cruise on Lake of the Four Cantons with a panoramic rail section
• The full journey from Lucerne to Bellinzona or Lugano takes approximately 5 hours
• The steamboat sails from Lucerne to Fluelen, where passengers transfer to the panoramic train
• The train passes under the St Gotthard Pass, one of the most famous Alpine passes at 2,108 metres altitude
• The route runs through the Uri region, legendary homeland of Swiss folk hero Wilhelm Tell
• The final destination is either Bellinzona or Lugano in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino

Sightseeing in Switzerland by rail

Tourists can visit different corners of Switzerland at almost any time of the year. In summer, the country offers the nicest weather for outdoor enthusiasts, while in winter, excellent snow conditions refined with true Swiss precision await white sports enthusiasts.

It is well known that Switzerland is famous for having the best railway system in the world. The traveller can choose from a number of panoramic routes to experience the charm of the country in a unique way. The routes have been chosen for those who wish to see the diversity of Switzerland's landscapes with their own eyes. Therefore, the panoramic railway takes the passenger through the most charming corners of the country, criss-crossing the length and breadth of the country.

Wilhelm Tell Express

The Wilhelm Tell Express is one of Switzerland's many panoramic routes. It's not necessarily the fastest, but certainly the best and most spectacular way to get from Lucerne to the south side of the Swiss Alps. First, passengers are treated to a cruise across the entire length of Lake of the Four Cantons, from Lucerne to Fluelen.

An authentic steamboat squeezes through constrictions around vertical rock walls. Mountain slopes and cliffs climb towards the sky almost from the water itself. The cruise ends in Fluelen at the southern end of the lake, from where goods and travellers were transported across the Alps in the past, followed by a transfer to the panoramic railway. From there, the train will take travellers under the St Gotard Pass. This is one of the most famous Alpine passes - it is located at an altitude of 2108 metres above sea level.

The train continues through the Uri region, from where the legendary Swiss hero Wilhelm Tell is said to have originated. After passing through the 15-kilometre Gotthard Tunnel running under a range of high mountains, it continues through charming, quaint villages on its way to Bellinzona or Lugano (on the Italian border), where it ends its journey.

Passengers can opt to take the route in the opposite direction. During the journey, passengers are provided with audio guides that will provide the traveller with all the information about the attractions passed along the way. This amazing journey lasts five hours.

How do I buy a ticket for the Swiss Panoramic Railway?

Ticket reservations can be made via the booking form, e-mail: kontakt@polishtrains.eu or by phone: 703 402 010 (Call cost: 2.58 PLN including VAT/min). Feel free to contact us!