GoldenPass Train Ride

The biggest reason we stayed in Montreux was to be able to ride the GoldenPass train over to Interlaken. Switzerland has a great passenger train network, which many people use to commute. They also have special tourist trains that operate on particularly scenic routes. The two most popular are the GoldenPass from Montreux to Interlaken and the Glacier Express from  Zermatt to St. Moritz. The GoldenPass is the shorter of the two tourist trains and took us into the Bernese Oberland, which was on my must see list. I cannot recommend the GoldenPass train enough. It is fully covered by a Swiss Saver Pass (8-10 day, all-inclusive train ticket) and has panoramic cars for better views. We splurged for first class seats (an extra $45 for all three of us!) and reserved spots right in front. By right in front, I mean right in front.

We rode in the first row with the same view as the train operator. The train operator sits up top.

First class was predominately old people. I think our fellow passengers were a little worried about Inga, but she did great! 

 The GoldenPass line between Montreux and Zweissimmen is a narrow gauge rail line. It was built specifically for sightseeing.

Leaving Montreux station

The first 30 minutes are climbing out of Montreux with breathtaking views of Lake Geneva. This is the most dramatic part of the train ride.

Grapevines and chateaus

 Inga got her own seat for the train ride. She felt like such a big girl, which is probably why she kept wanting to take pictures with "Mama picture"(camera). The train goes through many tunnels, which Inga always announced for the fellow passengers in case they didn't see the tunnel ahead. She also made sure to say bye to the tunnels when we left them.

Inga in choo-choo heaven.

You go through a pass above Montreux and enter the Fribourg canton, which is French-speaking and known for its cheese (think Gruyere). You stop in Montbovon where you can change trains to go to Gruyere, which Sam has done on a previous trip to Switzerland. The French-speaking countryside is very neat and tidy. All the hay fields were freshly mown and raked. All the gardens carefully weeded. All the geraniums perfectly planted. 

Montbovon train station

You travel through this nice valley with lots of cows and hay fields. Eventually you cross another pass (well, tunnel through it) and come out in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. It definitely has a different look from the French part. The houses are a little bigger with the classic carved-wood balconies covered in geraniums. You stop in Gstaad, which looked beautiful, but expensive. I think I would stay in the next town over. The valley with Gstaad was the prettiest on the trip.

Gstaad train station

Homes outside Gstaad

Heading down to Zweissimmen

At Zweissimmen, you change trains to a standard gauge rail line. We were back in second class in a regular window train car. It was about lunch time by now and Inga was starting to fade. The trip to Interlaken is still pretty, but the train follows a river and doesn't have the same views. The area was more industrial with several lumber mills. I wish my daughter would take naps on a train, but she just never did. It was a fussy ride to Interlaken, but what else is new when traveling with a toddler.

Inga was not happy about being back in 2nd class.

The GoldenPass line is a must-see if traveling in Switzerland. I recommend riding a panoramic car and reserving first class seats ahead of time.