GoldenPass Express: Scenic Train from Montreux to Interlaken

The GoldenPass Express is a scenic train traveling between Interlaken to Montreux in western Switzerland. Along the way, you pass through the idyllic Swiss countryside, alpine meadows, and charming villages, framed by many mountains.

This direct train makes no stops between Montreux and Interlaken, making it a convenient option for those traveling with luggage. It runs 4 times per day and requires booking a seat reservation in advance.

Alternatively, you can travel this same scenic route on regional trains (like the Belle Epoque train), which don’t require reservations and run more frequently than the Express. But they require two transfers between Montreux and Interlaken, making them less convenient.

Below I explain these options, how to buy tickets, and give tips for enjoying your journey.

Quick info

Here are the most important points about the GoldenPass Express.

• The GoldenPass Express travels between Montreux and Interlaken
• The full one way journey is 3h15
• This train requires a seat reservation, which can be booked up to 2 months in advance
• The train ticket is free with Swiss Travel Pass, Saver Day Pass, GA, Eurail and Interrail.
• The Express train has a premium “Prestige” class with reclining seats.

➡️ Book seat reservations here.

Route for GoldenPass Express

The GoldenPass Express travels between Montreux and Interlaken, as shown with the orange line below. The other major train routes through Switzerland are shown in grey.  

If you want to include a Swiss panorama train in your trip, the GoldenPass Express is an good obvious choice if you are planning to Montreux and Bernese Oberland (Interlaken) areas.

It’s also a convenient option, since the direct connection does not require transferring trains during the journey. This is particularly helpful for families with small children, those with heavy luggage and those with reduced mobility.

Schedule for GoldenPass Express (2025)

The GoldenPass Express runs four times per day in both directions. Below are the times for 2025.

Montreux 🡺 Interlaken Ost	Interlaken Ost 🡺 Montreux
7:31 – 10:48	9:07 – 12:27
9:33 – 12:48	11:07 – 14:27
12:33 – 15:48	14:07 – 17:27
14:33 – 17:48	16:07 – 19:27

➡️ Times may change without notice. Check the current schedule.

Non-express alternatives

If the Express schedule doesn’t work for you, regional trains travel this same route, leaving Montreux and Interlaken hourly. The non-Express trains requires two transfers, at Spiez and Zweisimmen (red dots on the map).

Twice a day, you can ride pretty Belle Epoque train between on the section between Zweisimmen and Montreux. Reservations recommended, but not required.

For a faster connection, you can travel regular trains via Visp or Bern instead of the scenic route, but it’s not as pretty.

All-inclusive Rail Packages

The easiest way to book the GoldenPass Express is through the Golden Pass Tour Rail Package. The package conveniently books your train tickets, seat reservations and hotels all together.

The standard Golden Pass Tour itinerary is 4 days / 3 nights. It includes one day on the GoldenPass Express scenic train and another day on the Lucerne-Interlaken Express scenic train. Here is a sample itinerary.

• Day 1: Regular train to Montreux. Half-day activity near Montreux. We suggest Rocher de Naye mountain viewpoint or Chillon Castle. Overnight in Montreux.
• Day 2: GoldenPass Express scenic train from Montreux to Interlaken (3h). Possible half-day activity near Interlaken, we suggest Harder Kulm or Niederhorn. Overnight in Interlaken.
• Day 3: Lucerne-Interlaken scenic train (2h). You can do a half-day activity either in Interlaken before the train or in Lucerne after the train. We suggest a walking tour in Lucerne old town or cruise on Lake Lucerne.
• Day 4: Optional mountain excursion near Lucerne. We suggest Pilatus or Rigi. Then regular train to Zurich airport or another destination.

This rail journey is a good choice for those wanting to spend a few days in each of these destinations: Montreux, Interlaken and Lucerne.

Use our promo code AFFSWISSFAMILYFUN to save 5% on this GoldenPass Tour

Ticket Prices for GoldenPass Express

For the GoldenPass Express, you need a train ticket and a seat reservation.

If you book through the GoldenPass Tour rail package, it includes both. Or you can book them individually on the www.gpx.swiss website. 

Full Fare Prices (2025)

Here are the 2025 prices for a one-way ticket on the GoldenPass Express (Interlaken ⮀ Montreux):

Class	Ticket Full Fare	Seat Reservation	Total
2nd Class	CHF 56	CHF 20	CHF 76
1st Class	CHF 96	CHF 20	CHF 116
Prestige Class	CHF 96	CHF 49	CHF 145

Note: If you have a 2nd class travel pass, you can purchase a 1st Class Point-to-Point Upgrade to just for this journey. Do this on SBB.ch, SBB Mobile App or at train station machines or ticket office.

See current prices.

Discounts with Travel Passes

There are few ways to pay less for your GoldenPass Express train ticket. No discounts on seat reservations.

The train ticket is free with Swiss Travel Pass, Saver Day Pass, GA, Eurail Global Pass and other SBB day passes. However you must purchase the seat reservation as described below.

With a Swiss Half Fare Card, you get a 50% discount on the train ticket. Seat reservation cost is the same.

Children prices

For children age 6-15, the train ticket is half price. If you have a Swiss Family Card or SBB Junior Card for these children, the train ticket is free. In either case, the child needs a seat reservation, no discount on that.

If you are traveling with a child under 6, the train ticket is free. But if you want them to have a seat (not sit on your lap), you must book a seat reservation for the child. We find it best to book a seat for children over 18 months.

No discount on the train ticket for teens & students 16 or older. They pay the same as adults.

How to book seat reservations

You can book GoldenPass Express seat reservations on www.gpx.swiss up to 2 months before your journey. 

You start by choosing your starting point and destination. Most people travel the full route from “Montreux” to “Interlaken Ost” (or opposite direction). You would only choose other cities if you are were starting or stopping in the middle of the route. 

Choosing seats

During the seat reservation, you can choose your train seats on a chart like this. 

Both sides of the train are very nice, but we slightly prefer the left side of the train when traveling Interlaken-Montreux (right side if traveling Montreux-Interlaken).

In this example, we are traveling from Interlaken to Montreux. The direction of travel is shown with an arrow on the top. So in this case, I would choose seats 56 and 55.

But don’t stress if you must reserve on the other side of the train. Both sides are beautiful!

Applying discounts for train ticket

During the seat reservation booking process, you enter info for each traveler and can select any reductions.

If you plan to travel with a Swiss Travel Pass, Saver Day Pass or other ticket purchased separately, you only need to book the seat reservation. 

In that case, on the “Travelers” page under “Reductions”, select the ticket type or discount travel card/pass you are using. The form will refresh so you are only purchasing the seat reservation.

What to expect on the GoldenPass Express train

The GoldenPass Express is a premium panorama train, with comfy seats and big windows in all carriages. Here are a few differences between the classes of service.

Second Class Train Carriage

Let’s start with the Second Class carriage as a baseline, which is still very nice with big windows. Seats are grouped in sets of four, facing each other with a table in the center.

First Class

The First Class carriage has bigger seats, with only three across, while second class has four seats across.

Prestige Class

Prestige Class is the highest class of service. This small premium section has large reclining seats with footrests. The seats have a heating function, a lovely feature for cold days. These chair can be rotated by the train concierge, so you always face the direction of travel. 

Prestige Class require a First Class train ticket and a more expensive Prestige seat reservation.

Food on the GoldenPass Express

The GoldenPass Express does not have a dining car, but you can order food packages in advance to be served during the ride. 

If you are traveling in the morning, you can order a Breakfast Box, which includes croissants, jam, juice, and a hot drink.

For afternoons, you might like the Apero Box, a deli platter of cheese, meats, bread plus a glass of wine, beer, or champagne. See the full menu. 

You can also bring your own food to eat on the train.

Alternative connections on non-express trains

Instead of the GoldenPass Express, you can take the non-express route, which requires two transfers in Spiez and Zweisimmen (red dots on the map).

On the section between Zweisimmen and Montreux (blue line), you can ride either the vintage Belle Epoque train (only twice a day) or the GoldenPass Panoramic train with big windows.

The transfers make the journey slightly longer than the express – total 3h40. But this connection is more convenient than the express, because it runs once an hour from 5:30 to 20:00.

In addition, the non-express route doesn’t require seat reservations, making it more flexible and less expensive.

Note that none of the trains on the non-express route offer food or drink services. So bring your own.

GoldenPass Panoramic

The GoldenPass Panoramic train is a modern train with big windows. As mentioned above, it runs on the same route as the GoldenPass Express, but only the section from Zweisimmen to Montreux.

This train runs hourly, leaving Zweisimmen on the xx:30 (westward) or Montreux on the xx:50 (eastward). Two times per day this train is replaced by the Belle Epoque train on this same schedule. 

Here are sample connections for the Interlaken to Montreux route, including the transfers. See current schedule on SBB.ch.

• Interlaken – Spiez – Panoramic Zweisimmen – Montreux
  08:30 – 09:12 – 10:02 – 12:10
• Panoramic Montreux – Zweisimmen – Spiez – Interlaken
  8:50 – 11:02 – 12:05 – 12:26

When checking the schedule, click on a connection to see which train is servicing that route. In the example below, the GoldenPass Panoramic will be used on this connection.

Book seats for GoldenPass Panoramic on MOB.ch.

Belle Epoque

The Belle Epoque train is a charming train with vintage carriages styled from the Belle Epoque era. It only runs twice a day in both directions. So it can be crowded and awkward to fit into your schedule. We’ve ridden it a couple times, only by accident, as we were riding to and from hikes in the Gstaad area.

The Belle Epoque only runs twice a day in both directions. Here is the schedule for 2024. I’ve bolded the times where you board the Belle Epoque train.

Since there are only two trains per day, we recommend booking these trains in advance. Book seats on MOB.ch.

Tickets for non-express trains

For the non-express trains, you need a train ticket to cover the journey from Interlaken to Montreux. Seat reservations are optional.

In 2024, a one way ticket from Interlaken Ost to Montreux on the scenic GoldenPass Line costs CHF 56/adult, CHF 28/child age 6-15, under age 6 free. 

This train ticket is free with the Swiss Travel Pass or Saver Day Pass. It is discounted 50% with the Swiss Half Fare card.

If you buy a “Point-to-Point” ticket, it’s good on this route all day and you can get off and back on, as long as you keep traveling in the same direction. However seat reservations are only good on a specific train connection – no stops allowed. Same for discounted “Super Saver” tickets. 

All of these trains have 1st class carriages that are slightly more roomy than the 2 class carriages, but also much more expensive.

Seat reservations for non-express trains

Seat reservations are not required on the GoldenPass Line non-express trains. But we suggest a reservation on the Belle Epoque and Panoramic trains if you want to ensure a window seat or sit all together with your group.

For the GoldenPass Panoramic and Belle Epoque trains, a one way seat reservation costs CHF 10/person. Book those seats on Mob.ch.

Note that seat reservations are purchased separated for each train on the journey. If you book a seat for the Panoramic train, you don’t not have a seat for the other trains on the journey from Interlaken to Zweisimmen to reach the Panoramic train. You can book seats for those other trains in the journey (Interlaken-Spiez or Spiez-Zweisimmen) for CHF 5/person per train. Book these seats on SBB.ch.

Planning your trip

When to ride the GoldenPass Line trains

These trains run every day year round. We like it best in late spring and summer, between late May and August, when the alps are bright green and full of flowers.

Winter can also be a nice time, especially after a recent snowfall. For a snowy landscape, best to travel between middle of December and February. But no guarantee on the snow, as much of the trail route is at lower elevations where the snow can melt even in winter.

Suggested itinerary for the GoldenPass Line

Since the ride is over 3 hours, it will take up a good part of your day. Unless you leave very early, you are likely to arrive at your final destination around lunchtime or a bit later.

So rather than a day trip, we suggest using this train ride as a transfer day between destinations, ideally the Montreux/Lake Geneva region to the Interlaken / Jungfrau Region. If you add-on the Luzern-Interlaken Express, you could spend the whole day on the trail transferring between Montreux and Lucerne, total time 5h30.

If you want to drop your luggage at your hotel and do an activity in the afternoon, make sure to check the closing times of the mountain lifts/attractions to make sure you have enough time. Many close at 17:00 in summer.

• If I were arriving in Interlaken, I would probably visit Mürren since the cable cars there are open later.
• If I were arriving in Montreux, I would visit Chillon castle and walk along the lake shore.
• If I were arriving in Lucerne, I would stroll the old town and maybe do a short boat cruise.

Transfers to other destinations

The GoldenPass Line connects many other popular destinations. The most common connection is to the Luzern-Interlaken Express, another panorama train continuing the GoldenPass Line.

In Interlaken, you can transfer to:

• short train to Jungfrau region (25 mins to Lauterbrunnen / 35 mins to Grindelwald)
• Lucerne via Luzern-Interlaken Express (2 hour direct)
• Bern (55 mins direct)
• Zürich (2 hour direct)

In Montreux, you can transfer to:

• Lausanne (30 mins)
• Geneva (1h15)
• Bern (1h35)
• Zürich (2h40)
• Zermatt (2h35)

Day trip from Montreux or Interlaken

If you want to do the GoldenPass Line as a day trip from Montreux or Interlaken, I suggest returning to your starting point via a different route so you see something different on the way back.

The fastest route is via Visp or Bern as shown below. The travel time is about 2h10 – 2h45, depending on which connection you choose. In either case, you usually have two transfers.

Frequently asked questions

Which train is better: GoldenPass Express or Belle Epoque?

If convenience is the most important and your travel day is fixed, book the GoldenPass Express.

If you need flexibility in your schedule or lower cost option, choose the non-express option and choose whichever hourly connection best fits your travel plans.

If you want the most Instagramm-able experience, take the non-express Belle Epoque train and arrange your schedule specifically for that train (only two times per day).

Where to sit

Both sides of the train are very nice, but we slightly prefer the left side of the train when traveling Interlaken-Montreux (right side if traveling Montreux-Interlaken).

Where do I show my train tickets?

In Switzerland, you do not have to show your ticket before boarding trains or other public transport. Simply get on the train and be ready to show your valid ticket and seat reservation when asked by a ticket agent later in the journey. You cannot buy tickets on the train.

If you purchased your ticket on the SBB Mobile App or SBB.ch website or have a Swiss Travel Pass, you will need to show your QR Code, which will be scanned by the ticket agent.

Note: If you purchased an incorrect ticket, you will be fined by the ticket agent and will also need to purchase the correct ticket. Sometimes you have to pay immediately, typically CHF 100 per person. Typical mistakes includes purchasing a half-fare version instead of full fare or using a discounted “Super Saver” ticket at the wrong time.

Where can I store luggage on the GoldenPass Line?

The GoldenPass Express and GoldenPass Panoramic trains have room to store luggage under your seat and between seats. For large suitcases, some of the train carriages have extra room for luggage near the doors.

If the train is quite full, do not to take up extra seats with your luggage, as this is impolite to other travelers that may need a seat.

The Belle Epoque vintage carriages are smaller and don’t have lots of room for luggage.

Is the GoldenPass Line accessible for wheelchairs?

The GoldenPass Line is only partially accessible for wheelchair users. The following information is only for reference. For wheelchair users, I suggest contacting GoldenPass Express or MOB directly to inquire and if necessary, book boarding assistance in advance.

The GoldenPass Express has wheelchair accessible carriages with wide doorways, low floor entry and adapted toilets. Some of the train stations along the route are equipped with ramps and lifts. 

The GoldenPass Panoramic train has low-floor entrances and wheelchair-accessible toilets. The Belle Epoque train has low-floor access in the regular 2nd class carriages, not in the vintage carriages.

For more info, see SBB Travel with Reduced Mobility. 

Can dogs travel on the GoldenPass Line trains?

Yes, dogs are allowed on trains within Switzerland. However, you need a train ticket for your dog. You can either purchase a half-fare ticket for your dog or a Dog Day Pass, which in 2024 costs CHF 25. Learn more about Dogs on Swiss Trains.

Can I bring a bike on the GoldenPass Line trains?

No. Bikes are not allowed on the GoldenPass Express and also not allowed on some of the non-express trains.

If you are traveling with a bike, we suggest taking a different route with your bike (via Bern or Visp) or using the SBB bicycle shipping service. Learn more about traveling with bikes on Swiss trains.