Interlaken and the Jungfrau Express at Christmas

From London St Pancras, we travel on the Eurostar to Brussels. Here, we change trains and continue to Cologne for the night.

*For departure 21/12/2025 we will overnight at the Hilton Garden Inn Mannheim, in Mannheim.

• Dinner

We journey into Switzerland after breakfast at our hotel, passing through the Rhine-side city of Mannheim and Freiburg in the Black Forest on our way to Basel. Here, we change for a beautifully scenic journey past sparkling lakes and snowy peaks to Interlaken in the heart of the Bernese Oberland - one of the most gorgeous regions in the Swiss Alps. This remarkable town is uniquely nestled between Lakes Thun and Brienz, sitting peacefully in a picturesque valley that's watched over by the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains. On arrival, we check into our hotel for five nights.

• Breakfast, Dinner

The highlight of our holiday, a journey along the Jungfrau Railway, is enjoyed today as we start by joining the Bernese Oberland Railway to Lauterbrunnen. On arrival, the Wengernalp Railway takes us to Kleine Scheidegg. Due to the steep area through which it runs, the views are outstanding, with highlights including the White Lütschine River Valley and Staubbach Falls, often frozen in winter. The Jungfrau Railway itself begins at Kleine Scheidegg and runs the remaining six miles to just below the summit of the Jungfrau Mountain. With a viewing stop along the way to maximise the fantastic panoramas, we emerge from the tunnel at Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe.

With plenty of free time here, you may wish to sample the food in the restaurant or visit the Ice Palace, which has stood on this site since the 1930s and boasts a labyrinth of ice caves with hand-carved sculptures featured inside. You could also admire the enchanting Aletsch Glacier from one of the viewing platforms.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A spellbinding train journey awaits today as we fully embrace the Christmas spirit by travelling by rail to Lucerne, appropriately known as the 'City of Lights'. Riding along the banks of beautiful Lake Brienz, we travel to Meiringen, in the shadow of the famous Reichenbach Falls. From here, we climb the Brünig Pass through a winter wonderland of snowbound scenery to an elevation of 3,287 feet. On the descent, we pass shimmering lakes before arriving in charming Lucerne. With free time to wander its pretty old town, you can discover plenty of interesting attractions, from ornate churches to frescoed historic houses, while its cobbled streets embody tradition and culture with their well-preserved medieval architecture. Set on the crystal-clear lake, vibrant Lucerne is a great place to explore and find somewhere to eat at one of the many cosy cafés and restaurants. This evening, we retrace our gorgeous journey back to our hotel in Interlaken, where we enjoy a delicious Christmas Eve feast.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We make our way by rail to the snow-covered alpine village of Grindelwald, a delightful town nestled at the foot of the imposing north face of the Eiger. We enjoy an incredible cable car journey to the summit of the Grindelwald First mountain for breathtaking panoramas of the twinkling valley below - and the mighty Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau opposite. Returning to Grindelwald, there is free time to admire this fairytale setting of wooden Swiss chalets and colourful town squares with a stunning backdrop of the dramatic mountains. Back at our hotel, we sit down to a traditional Christmas dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Boxing Day is free for you to explore Interlaken. You could take a boat ride across one of the lakes, including the glistening turquoise Lake Thun, before warming up at one of the cosy cafés or perhaps wrap up and head out on one of the many nature trails that start in the town. Interlaken's history can be traced back to a monastery built here in the 12th century, while the surrounding landscapes provide a gateway to the Bernese Oberland, a region home to over 45 mountain railways and aerial gondolas that you can discover using your Swiss Travel Card.

• Breakfast

As our wonderful festive holiday draws to a close, we leave delightful Interlaken on a train bound for Basel, before transferring to the onward service to Paris. After boarding the Eurostar to London St Pancras we can take time to recall the spectacular snowy mountains and ethereal lakes that have provided such breathtaking views and unforgettable memories on this incredible trip to the winter wonderland that is Switzerland.

• Breakfast