Is the Gotthard Panorama Express worth it? The ultimate guide

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If you’re planning a trip to Switzerland and want to know if the Gotthard Panorama Express is worth squeezing into your itinerary, you’ve come to the right place 🚞

The Gotthard Panorama Express is the only Swiss panoramic journey that whisks you through the mountains and across the water, with reflection-free photo opportunities, a stress-free luggage service and the chance to tuck into a delicious hot meal while you’re cruising past the cutest lakefront villages you’ll ever see.

Running between Lucerne and Lugano (in either direction) over about 5h 30m, the trip combines a scenic cruise across Lake Lucerne with a 1st class-only panoramic train that winds through the Alps on the historic Gotthard Railway, before dropping you in the Italian-speaking Ticino region.

As a frequent Switzerland train traveller who’s completed all eight segments of the Grand Train Tour (across multiple trips but it still counts okay!), I’m here to help you figure out whether the GPE is the right fit for your trip, your priorities and your travel pass situation.

Below you’ll find everything you need to make the call to add the Gotthard Panorama Express to your Switzerland itinerary (or drop it for something else), including what to expect on board, every ticket option to get the best price with or without a travel pass, how the GPE stacks up against the better-known Bernina Express and Glacier Express, plus where to stay on either end of the trip.

💰 P.S. Want to save some money on your Switzerland trip? I’ve got a 10% off promocode for Klook that works on loads of Switzerland experiences and travel passes, including the Swiss Half Fare Card, mountain day trips, paragliding and more! Use the code FINDINGALEXXKLOOK at checkout to lock in your savings 🥰

Quick summary: Is the Gotthard Panorama Express worth it?

For most travellers, yes, the Gotthard Panorama Express is worth it, but how much you’ll love it depends on what you’re expecting and what travel pass you’ve got (because that’ll determine how much you pay for the trip).

For me personally, as a self-confessed Switzerland train nerd, the Gotthard Panorama Express gets a podium spot for sure.

The train views aren’t as striking as the Bernina or Glacier Express trains and the onboard experience isn’t as fancy as Prestige Class on the GoldenPass, but the boat + train combo, variety of landscapes, brilliant onboard guides and the dedicated photo coach make it a no-brainer if you’ve got a valid travel pass (and maybe worth the splurge if you don’t).

The Gotthard Panorama Express is probably worth it for you if:

But the Gotthard Panorama Express might not be worth it for you if:

Gotthard Panorama Express at a glance

• Route: Lucerne ↔ Lugano with two segments:
  • Lucerne ↔ Flüelen by boat across the lake
  • Flüelen ↔ Lugano by panoramic train
• Duration: About 5h 30m
• Distance: 182km
• Season: 18 April to 18 October 2026
• Ticket price: 164CHF from Lucerne to Lugano without a travel pass
• Seat reservation: 24CHF mandatory supplement for all passengers
• Ways to save $$$: A 1st class Swiss Travel Pass or day pass covers the whole trip except for the 24CHF, 2nd class Swiss Travel Pass requires an additional class upgrade for the train (31.50CHF), Interrail/Eurail Passes offer discounts too but detailed info below

Quick links: Tickets, travel passes & where to stay

🎟️ Tickets & reservations

• Book tickets and reservations on the Gotthard Panorama Express official website

🚞 Travel pass discounts

• Check if a travel pass will save you money for your whole trip with my free Switzerland travel pass calculator
• Buy a Swiss Travel Pass on Klook or on GetYourGuide
• Buy your Swiss Half Fare Card on Klook (save 10% with promocode FINDINGALEXXKLOOK)
• Buy your Eurail Pass on Klook (best free cancellation policy + best exchange rate)
• Check out my full travel pass guides (with example itineraries + price breakdowns): Swiss Travel Pass Guide & Swiss Half Fare Card Guide, or a comparison of both

💤 Where to stay before & after the Gotthard Panorama Express

• Lugano: I adore B5 Boutique Hotel, it’s just minutes away from Lugano train station with stylishly minimalistic rooms, ultra-comfy beds and a divine breakfast spread of locally-made treats
• Lucerne: The Lubo smart-hotel is fab for an easy and efficient stay in the historic centre, Hotel Rebstock is packed with character, Capsule Lucerne Old Town is a more affordable option with cosy capsule beds, and Hotel Villa Honegg is at the very top of my bucket list ✨

What is the Gotthard Panorama Express?

The Gotthard Panorama Express is one of Switzerland’s premium panoramic train experiences, connecting Lucerne in German-speaking central Switzerland with Lugano in Italian-speaking Ticino in about 5h 30m, and it does it in the most scenic way possible!

Instead of a simple ride from A to B, it combines two modes of transport with very different but equally beautiful views along the way: a Lake Lucerne cruise and a train that winds through the mountains.

From Lugano you jump on a 1st class train and set off on the historic Gotthard Railway route, with curved windows for optimum sightseeing and a dedicated photography carriage with opening windows for reflection-free shots.

A little over two hours later you’ll arrive in Flüelen where you’ll disembark the train and switch to a boat for the 2h 45m cruise to Lucerne, with spectacular views of lakeside villages and magical reflections on a calm day.

Logistics-wise, the GPE* slots naturally into any itinerary that includes both Lucerne and Lugano, or it works perfectly as a scenic transfer if you’re visiting both Switzerland and Northern Italy.

*I don’t think the train is commonly referred to as the GPE but I truly cannot be bothered typing the full name out a hundred times in this post, so that’s what we’re going with!

If you’re already set on doing the Bernina Express there’s even a bus that links Tirano and Lugano so you can do a multi-day ultra-scenic adventure, or go all out with the Grand Train Tour which includes the Gotthard Panorama, Bernina, Glacier Express and five other segments.

If you’re in a rush then there are muchhh faster trains between Lucerne and Lugano (like 1h 40m for the speediest ones), but they take the Gotthard Base Tunnel which cuts through the mountains and misses all the best views, no thanks 🙅🏼‍♀️

Gotthard Panorama Express route: Lugano to Lucerne (or vice versa)

The Gotthard Panorama Express has two distinct segments with an easy changeover in the middle, here’s what to expect from each one.

Quick note: You can do the trip in either direction but I started in Lugano and travelled north so that’s how I’ll talk about it in this review. No difference except the timetable and what’s on your right and what’s on your left!

Part 1: The panoramic train from Lugano to Flüelen

This leg takes about 2h 20m all up and follows one of the most historically significant railway routes in Switzerland, the Gotthard Railway, which has been carrying passengers over the Alps since 1882.

The landscape is super varied, from misty vineyards and medieval castles to giant motorway viaducts, stone churches and alpine villages.

It might not be as eye-popping as the glacial lakes and snow-capped summits you can see on the Bernina Express or Glacier Express, but it would be a mistake to write this lesser-known panoramic trip off as anything less than remarkable. I was snapping photos pretty much the entire time!

The main highlights to watch out for:

• Bellinzona’s three UNESCO-listed medieval castles
• The Romanesque churches of San Michele and San Nicolao in Giornico, they’re right next to the train track
• Multi-tier waterfalls that tumble down the Leventina hillsides
• Biaschina Viaduct which looks like it’s just been plonked into the valley like a Lego piece haha

• Faido’s little white church of San Bernardino
• The 15km Gotthard Tunnel, an engineering marvel in its day and now a special section of the route where the train slows down for light projections along the tunnel walls that tell the story of its construction
• The famous hilltop Wassen Church (the train does a couple of loops here so you’ve got a few chances to spot it/take photos from different angles)
• The iconic Swiss flag wavers that live right next to the track above Wassen. These legends bring their giant flags out into the backyard and wave them every single time the GPE goes past if they’re home 🥺 and if they’re going away they’ll let the team know in advance so the guides don’t tell the passengers only for them to be disappointed. Isn’t that the cutest thing ever?! The exact location is here, pin it on your map so you’re ready to take photos.

• The entire stretch of valley along the Reuss river from Göschenen to Flüelen
• This bridge over the Reuss where you can see two roads emerging from the mountain
• Amsteg and its historic SBB hydroelectric power station, built in 1922 to electrify the Gotthard Railway

By the time you roll into Flüelen you’ll feel like you’ve already had your money’s worth, but you’re only halfway there!

Part 2: The boat across Lake Lucerne from Flüelen to Lucerne

Once you get off the train at Flüelen the changeover is super simple, the boat pier is literally 50 metres from the train platform.

There’s a short window for photos in Flüelen, 25 minutes if you’re going train > boat and 14 minutes from boat > train. Don’t wander too far though, you don’t want to miss the next segment.

If you’ve used the free luggage service (which I highly recommend, more on that later) then you don’t need to worry about transferring your bags, they’ll be waiting for you at Lucerne station at the end of the cruise. If not then don’t stress, it’s not a long way to roll your suitcase.

The boat ride from Flüelen to Lucerne takes about 2h 45m in total, zigzagging between lakefront villages and commuter towns with non-stop views from start to finish.

Unlike the train which is a dedicated Gotthard Panorama Express service, this is just a regular Lake Lucerne cruise running on a typical timetable with passengers hopping on and off along the way. Less of a curated tourist experience, more of a chilled out sightseeing situation.

The exact boat layout depends on the vessel, but the motor vessels and steamships that service this route generally have a similar layout with the 2nd class indoor/outdoor/dining areas on the lower deck, and exclusive spaces for 1st class passengers on the upper deck.

I’m not exaggerating when I say that the entire journey is photo-worthy, but some stand out spots are:

• Looking back towards Flüelen with Pfarrkirche Herz Jesu (Sacred Heart Parish Church) towering over the water
• The precarious-looking Postautostrecke Isenthal switchbacks on the west side of the lake
• Axenstrasse, a road carved directly into the cliff face on the eastern shore
• Tellskapelle, an 1880 lakeside chapel built in honour of Swiss folk hero William Tell who (allegedly) escaped his captors in this exact spot in the 14th century

• The traditional wooden Rütli boat station and Rütli meadow above it, which looks like any other field in the mountains but is actually the place where Switzerland was founded in 1291
• The Schillerstein, a natural rock obelisk rising from the lake dedicated to Friedrich Schiller, the author of William Tell. Fun fact: He was German and never even visited Switzerland, despite writing what’s considered their national play!
• The palatial Park Hotel Vitznau

• On the day I did the Gotthard Panorama Express there were low-lying clouds that cut off the mountains, but I’ve done the same boat trip a few times and on a clear day you can get insaaane views of Mount Rigi and Mount Pilatus
• And finally, the arrival into Lucerne with the grand old lakeside hotels and the iconic cityscape slowly coming into view

You’ll dock at Pier 1, right opposite Lucerne’s train station and a short walk from the old town. What an adventure!

Gotthard Panorama Express timetable 2026

📆 Timetable valid from 18 April to 18 October 2026

The Gotthard Panorama Express runs daily from 18 April to 18 October in 2026 (it used to be Tuesday-Sunday but Monday departures were added for the 2026 season).

There’s only one daily departure in each direction and train seats can sell out, so make sure you plan ahead to avoid missing out.

Lugano → Lucerne

• Train departs Lugano at 9.18am
• Train arrives in Flüelen at 11.35am
• 25 minute transfer
• Boat departs Flüelen at 12pm
• Boat arrives in Lucerne at 2.47pm

Lucerne → Lugano

• Boat departs Lucerne at 11.12am
• Boat arrives in Flüelen at 1.55pm
• 14 minute transfer
• Train departs Flüelen at 2.09pm
• Train arrives in Lugano at 4.41pm

The total journey time is 5h 30m if everything runs to schedule (which it almost always does in Switzerland ⌚).

Always double check the official timetable when you book your seat just in case schedules shift due to closures or maintenance.

Gotthard Panorama Express prices in 2026

Pricing for the GPE is a bit confusing at first glance because it depends on what Switzerland travel pass you have (if any), what class of pass, and what boat class you want to travel in.

The 24CHF supplement

First things first: every single passenger pays a mandatory 24CHF supplement no matter what pass you have or what discount you’re entitled to.

Even if you’ve got a 1st class Swiss Travel Pass that covers the whole ticket cost, you still pay the 24CHF on top to lock in your seat.

Their official website calls this a “compulsory supplement (including seat reservation)” which makes it sound like the seat reservation plus another fee or fees, but in reality you’re just paying 24CHF for the seat reservation. It’s one single fee, there’s no way to split it or only pay part of it or avoid it.

Full fare point-to-point ticket prices

If you’re not using any kind of travel pass, you’ll pay 164CHF for the whole journey in 1st class.

🎟️ 164CHF
💺 24CHF
= 188CHF total full price

With a Swiss Half Fare Card

The Swiss Half Fare Card gets you 50% off the base fare, plus loads of other trains, boats and mountain excursions around the country for a month.

🎟️ 82CHF
💺 24CHF
= 106CHF total

🥇 The Half Fare Card actually comes out as the best value pass for most Switzerland itineraries, especially if you’re doing multiple mountain excursions like Pilatus or Titlis from Lucerne. You can save 10% on your HFC when you book through Klook with the promocode FINDINGALEXXKLOOK.

With a 1st class Swiss Travel Pass

If you’ve got a 1st class Swiss Travel Pass, the base fare for 1st class travel the whole way is fully covered so you’ll only pay 24CHF.

🎟️ 0CHF
💺 24CHF
= 24CHF total

🥇 The Swiss Travel Pass can save loads on panoramic trains (the GPE included) but often gives the same discount as the HFC on most mountain excursions, so can lose a bit of value there. I’ve broken down some example itineraries in my Swiss Travel Pass vs. Half Fare Card comparison guide to show you come scenarios where one or the other comes out on top.

With a 2nd class Swiss Travel Pass

Here’s where it gets tricky because if you have a 2nd class Swiss Travel Pass you’ve got two options, either upgrading to 1st class for the whole journey or saving some money by just buying the train class upgrade but sticking with 2nd class on the boat.

Option 1: Treat yourself to 1st class on both

🎟️ 31.50CHF (this is the price of the 1st class upgrade the whole way if you’ve got an STP)
💺 24CHF
= 55.50CHF total

Option 2: Save a little bit of $$

🎟️ 17CHF (this is the 1st class upgrade on the train segment only with an STP, the 2nd class boat is already free with your STP)
💺 24CHF
= 41CHF total

Honestly the 1st class boat upgrade is worth the extra 14.50CHF, the upper decks always have way fewer people which means more space to wander and take photos or enjoy the view without other travellers getting in your way.

With a Saver Day Pass

A Saver Day Pass is like a one-day Swiss Travel Pass (it fully covers the Gotthard Panorama Express train + boat combo), and they can be fantastic value if you book them early for an otherwise-expensive travel day, like this one!

They also last the whole day (technically until 5am the next morning) so if you’re travelling from Lucerne onwards to Zurich or elsewhere after the GPE, that’s covered too.

The catch is that they’re priced dynamically and technically can sell out so they get pricier as more people snap them up for that day.

1st class Saver Day Pass (SDP) prices start from 49CHF if you have a Half Fare Card or 88CHF if you don’t, but as demand goes up they can more than double in price so you definitely need to get in early.

The good news is that the GPE website actually brings up the 1st class Saver Day Pass as an option if it’s available for your travel date and auto-selects it if it’s cheaper than the point-to-point ticket, so you won’t accidentally pay more than you need to. How nice of them!

One option the website won’t show you though is the comparison between:

• A 1st class SDP (covers you the whole way)
• And a 2nd class SDP with the class upgrade for the train only (so you go 2nd class in the boat), which often ends up being the best deal if you don’t have a full Swiss Travel Pass

2nd class Saver Day Passes start from 29CHF with a Half Fare Card or 52CHF without one, then the train class upgrade (to let you use your 2nd class pass on the 1st class train) costs 17CHF.

Confused? Me too 🫠 so let me break it down for you in a table.

If you book super early with a Half Fare Card, your options could be:

But here’s what it’d look like if I was booking in just a few days’ time where SDP passes are high:

If you don’t have a Half Fare Card then you pay full price for the Saver Day Pass, let’s see what that’d look like booking well in advance:

You can check the Saver Day Pass prices for your travel date on the SBB website.

With a Eurail or Interrail Pass

Eurail and Interrail Passes are valid on the Gotthard Panorama Express train but are not valid on the Lake Lucerne boat, so you have to buy a separate boat ticket and you get a 50% discount (you can do this on the boat itself, no need to pre-book).

If you’ve got a 1st class Eurail/Interrail Pass:

🚞 0CHF (fully covered)
🛥️ 50% off so 26.50CHF for 2nd class or 41CHF for the 1st class deck
💺 24CHF
= 50.50CHF or 65CHF total

If you’ve got a 2nd class Eurail/Interrail Pass:

🚞 34CHF train upgrade to 1st class (Eurail/Interrail holders pay the full class upgrade rate, not the STP-discounted 17CHF)
🛥️ Same as above, 50% off either class
💺 24CHF
= 84.50CHF or 99CHF total

How to book Gotthard Panorama Express tickets & seat reservations

If your brain is melting after reading that breakdown of all the different prices then don’t stress, booking the GPE is actually pretty straightforward!

There are two ways to do it: on the official GPE website and through SBB. I’ll walk you through both.

Booking on the official Gotthard Panorama Express website

Use this (whether you’ve got a travel pass or not) if:

• You want to go 1st class the whole way
• You want a one-step super simple booking process
• You just want a seat reservation (because you’ve already got a valid pass or ticket for that route)

Here’s exactly what to do, with screenshots:

1️⃣ Go to the official Gotthard Panorama Express website and put in your direction of travel + travel date

2️⃣ It’ll show you the availability for your travel date and three days after, select the one you want

3️⃣ Select your seat from the seat map

4️⃣ Add your details to the passengers tab and select your travel pass (if you have one) from the ‘Discounts’ dropdown so the system shows you the correct price.

If you’ve got a Eurail or Interrail Pass, select ‘Only reservation’ to lock in your train seat, then you can pay for the boat at the discounted price when you board it. No need to pre-book the boat, it can’t sell out and there’s no penalty for paying on board.

5️⃣ Add the passenger details for everyone you’re travelling with and hit ‘Ticket option’

6️⃣ This page will show you the options based on your travel pass (if any) for 1st class travel on both the train and the boat. If you don’t have a travel pass but there’s a 1st class Saver Day Pass available for your date, it’ll show you that as well.

7️⃣ Select the cheapest ticket, add your billing details and check out, you’ll get confirmation of your ticket/seat reservation in your email.

Booking on the SBB website

Use this if:

• You’re happy to go with the 2nd class boat ride
• You want to get the absolute best value for money and don’t mind spending a bit of extra time on planning
• You have a Half Fare Card or no travel pass at all

1️⃣ Head to the SBB website or app and put in your start and end point plus the travel date.

⚠️ Important: In the ‘Price display’ dropdown it defaults to the ‘Half fare’ price, if you don’t have a Half Fare Card you need to switch this to ‘Full fare’ to get the correct pricing.

2️⃣ Find the Gotthard Panorama Express in the connections that come up below.

If you’re travelling Lucerne to Lugano (boat first) it’ll show up as a boat, if you’re travelling Lugano to Lucerne (train first) it’ll show ‘PE’ for Panorama Express.

3️⃣ From here you can figure out what it’d cost you with a 2nd class Saver Day Pass plus the class upgrade/s, and see how much that’d save vs. going 1st class the whole way.

Keep in mind that this price does not include the mandatory supplement/seat reservation of 24CHF, which you have to buy through the GPE website separately.

I’ll use a real life example to show you what I mean:

This search above shows that a 2nd class Saver Day Pass would be 70CHF.

🎟️ 70CHF for 2nd class the whole way
🚞 17CHF for a class upgrade on the train (mandatory)
🛥️ 14.50CHF for a class upgrade on the boat (optional)
💺 24CHF supplement
= 111CHF total for 1st class train and 2nd class boat, 125.50CHF total for 1st class the whole way

In comparison, a 1st class Saver Day Pass (which is what the GPE website would’ve shown us) would be 119CHF.

🎟️ 119CHF for 1st class the whole way
💺 24CHF supplement
= 143CHF total for 1st class the whole way

So in this instance you’d save 32CHF by using a 2nd class Saver Day Pass and only upgrading the train segment, or you’d save 17.50CHF for the exact same trip (1st class the whole way) by doing the 2nd class SDP and then paying for class upgrades. That’s like half a pot of fondue 🫕

The downside of this strategy is that it takes time and requires a few different bookings/payments:

• Booking your Saver Day Pass via SBB
• Paying for the mandatory supplement on the GPE website
• Paying for the class upgrade/s for that day (which you can do on the SBB app or at any ticket office in Switzerland)

If you want to keep it simple then stick with the GPE website and 1st class the whole way, if you don’t mind extra logistics to save money then this can help maximise your travel budget.

Booking the Gotthard Panorama Express if you have a Eurail or Interrail Pass

If you’ve got a Eurail or Interrail Pass, the train and boat segments are two separate things for you to sort out.

• For the train, simply go to the GPE website, follow the steps above and select ‘Only reservation’ from the discounts dropdown. You’ll pay the 24CHF supplement to confirm your train seat.
• On the day of travel, make sure you’ve added the Lugano to Flüelen (or vice versa) train trip to your Rail Planner app and activate the travel day before you board the train so it’s valid.
• If you have a 2nd class Eurail or Interrail Pass, you’ll need to pay the class upgrade for the train portion since it’s a 1st class-only train. The GPE website says you can do that through them online but I couldn’t find that option anywhere, so best to do it at a ticket counter. This doesn’t need to be done in advance.
• When you get on the boat, go to the ticket counter and show them your valid Eurail/Interrail Pass to get the 50% discount. You can choose the 2nd class or 1st class boat deck no matter what class of pass you have, and this doesn’t have to be done in advance either (these boats can’t sell out).

If you want to book the train segment only

If you’ve already done a Lake Lucerne cruise, if you’re short on time or if you’ve got a Eurail/Interrail Pass and want the Gotthard Panorama Express train experience without having to go over-budget for the boat, you can actually stay on the GPE a little longer and easily connect it with Lucerne with one simple change.

From Lugano heading north, after dropping most passengers off in Flüelen for the cruise connection, the train continues another 25 minutes to its last stop at Arth-Goldau. From here it’s just 25-35 minutes to get to Lucerne and the trains run a few times per hour, no reservations required.

For travellers heading south from Lucerne to Lugano you can just grab a local train to Arth-Goldau and make sure you’ve got enough time before the GPE departs there at 1.35pm. You could even spend the morning visiting Mount Rigi which is easily accessible from Arth-Goldau and fully covered by the Swiss Travel Pass.

The 24CHF supplement is exactly the same and you can put Arth-Goldau as your starting point/end point when you book on the GPE website, it’s 14CHF more than getting on/off in Flüelen for the full fare (but cheaper than catching the boat).

If you’ve got a valid Swiss Travel Pass, Saver Day Pass or Eurail/Interrail then the whole journey to Lucerne is covered (no extra ticket required), if you’ve got a Half Fare Card or no travel pass then you’ll need to buy a ticket the Arth-Goldau ↔ Lucerne local train on the SBB website or app before you board.

What is the Gotthard Panorama Express like?

All of Switzerland’s famous railway trips are up there with the best tourist trains in the world, and the Gotthard Panorama Express is no exception.

Here’s what to expect when you get onboard.

The panoramic train

When you step onto the GPE the first thing you’ll notice is the massive windows that curve up the top, giving you a totally unobstructed outlook of all the magic that you’re about to zoom past.

The seat layout is the typical 2-1 you’ll find in most 1st class Swiss trains, two seats on one side of the aisle and a single one on the other, so couples/duos can book two seats facing each other and solo travellers can book their own window seat without having to sit next to a stranger.

Unlike some of its panoramic siblings with bespoke interiors that add to the experience, I’d say the Gotthard Panorama Express feels more like a commuter train with a spacious layout and big windows… and that’s because it basically is haha.

These carriages are actually an iconic type of SBB coach launched in the 1990s called the ‘Panoramawagen’, they’re still used on a couple of normal (as in non-panoramic) train routes like the less-known Transalpin Eurocity from Zurich to Graz in Austria, and they don’t have the fancy finishes like plush seats and leather trim that you’ll find in the upper classes of the Glacier Express or GoldenPass Express.

Butttt for a 2.5h journey where you’ll be absorbed in the scenery the entire time, the seats are sufficiently comfortable and there’s more than enough space to enjoy the ride!

The photo coach

If you’re a keen photographer hoping to get epic shots from the comfort of your 1st class Gotthard Panorama Express seat, I’ve got some bad news and some good news is.

The bad news is that the coveted panoramic windows that demand such a premium are truly terrible for photos in harsh lighting, because the curved glass catches reflections of everything inside the carriage.

The good news is that the GPE has a dedicated photo coach with fully openable windows along both sides, so you can park up there for the most beautiful segments of the trip and snap away without glare sneaking in.

It’s just an old 2nd class SBB carriage and nothing fancy inside, but it’s better than most panoramic trains which only have tiny open-able windows in the vestibule (which is what the end of the carriage is called, fun fact).

I spent about 60% of the trip in the photo coach and for half of that I had it all to myself, except for this wooden guy with a fantastic beard. His name is Alfred Escher, he was a 19th century entrepreneur and politician who spearheaded the Gotthard Railway project and wider modernisation of the transport network. Cheers, Alfred!

Train guides

One thing the Gotthard does brilliantly is the personal service from as soon as you arrive on the platform to when you disembark.

Guides greet passengers and direct them to the right carriage, then once you’re rolling they roam the aisles to share info about the places you’re passing, answer any questions you have and just make everyone feel at home.

Helen and Reinhart were the guides on my trip and they were both born for that job, so friendly and knowledgeable, and they always let me know when I should head down to the photo coach!

Food on the train

The GPE timetable is scheduled to make sure both directions can have lunch on the boat, so the train doesn’t have a full hot meal service, but there is a menu with local picky bits platters, snacks and drinks which get delivered to your seat or you can bring your own food to eat on board.

The Lake Lucerne cruise

The boat segment of the Gotthard Panorama Express is run by the Lake Lucerne Navigation Company, and as I mentioned earlier it’s just a normal Lucerne ↔ Flüelen sailing with other passengers rather than being an exclusive service for GPE guests.

They have both motor vessels and iconic paddle steamers servicing this route and you can’t guarantee what you get, but they do have the typical boat type listed on their published timetables:

• In the summer timetable (25 May to 6 September 2026), the boats that link to the GPE train in both directions are ‘normally steamboats’ as per their official schedule
• In the spring timetable (18 April to 22 May 2026) and autumn timetable (7 September to 18 October 2026) the Lucerne to Flüelen is ‘normally a steamboat’ but the Flüelen to Lucerne sailing is operated by a steamboat on Sundays, public holidays and during restricted traffic periods, but by a motor vessel other times

Basically, if you reeeally want to try and get the vintage steamboat experience, you should try and time your trip with one of the following:

• Summer travel in either direction on any day
• Spring/autumn travel from Lucerne to Lugano any day
• Spring/autumn travel from Lugano to Lucerne on Sundays or public holidays

It’s always subject to change though, and maintenance or special events might mean a paddle steamer gets swapped out at the last minute, so don’t get too invested in it.

Both the steamboats and motor vessels typically used for the GPE sailing have similar layouts with indoor seating, outdoor decks and food and drink options for both classes, with some areas reserved for 1st class passengers only, but exact facilities could differ by boat so don’t take anything I say here as absolute gospel.

I cruised on Motor Vessel Flüelen which had a sit-down restaurant and indoor/outdoor seating downstairs for 2nd class passengers, then an upstairs restaurant, outdoor deck and comfier lounge area exclusively for 1st class.

If you’ve got a 1st class pass or ticket for the whole journey then this gets you into the upstairs bit, which is mainly beneficial because there’s way fewer people, a higher chance of being able to nab a window seat, and I love getting photos from an elevated angle with the back of the boat and Swiss flag waving in the wind.

If you’ve decided to use the 2nd class boat trick I mentioned earlier to save a bit of precious spending money then no stress, downstairs is comfortable and the views are still spectacular.

Food on the boat

The Lake Lucerne Navigation Company takes cuisine very seriously, and tucking in to some hearty central Switzerland specialities as you glide past the mountains is a key part of the Gotthard Panorama Express experience.

The menu changes seasonally with a focus on locally-sourced ingredients, and there’s a decent range of dishes depending on how hungry you are and how much you’re willing to splash out.

If you just want something small you can grab light bites like soups, salads and sandwiches from around 8-20CHF, or if you want to go all out then the mains tend to sit in the 27-40CHF range, with options like Swiss macaroni, meatballs, burgers, ravioli, curry and more.

There’s also a kids menu if you’ve got little ones (or a little wallet like me 🙃 9.50CHF fries were what I could stretch to) and sweet treats like seasonal cakes and ice cream.

On my trip it was easy to get a window table in the 1st class restaurant, but the GPE website does recommend reserving a table in advance which you can do here.

Luggage service

A handy extra that comes with your Gotthard Panorama Express ticket is a free luggage transfer service between Lucerne and Lugano, which means you can hand over your bags before you start the trip and pick them up when you arrive at your final destination, rather than having to deal with the transfer from train to boat or vice versa.

The luggage counters are right outside the train in Lugano and outside Pier 1 in Lucerne, and you have to be there at least 10 minutes before departure.

As a chronic overpacker who travels full-time I was excited to not have to deal with my painfully heavy suitcase while switching travel modes, but I did find the pick up in Lucerne was a bit of a faff.

I assumed that pick up would be right by the pier (where drop off is) because the website doesn’t specify otherwise, but it was actually at an SBB office inside Lucerne’s main station and there were a fair few people ahead of me by the time I found it, so I had to wait 15 minutes for my bag. Not a big deal, but personally I would’ve rather just had my luggage with me to be able to head to my hotel straight away on arrival.

In the other direction you can grab your luggage from the train platform in Lugano which would be more convenient for sure.

Something for your train nerd bucket list: A cab-view ride!

If you’re a genuine trainiac and you have a spare 760CHF lying around (not a typo 🤯), you can actually do the entire Gotthard Panorama Express train journey between Lugano and Arth-Goldau from the best seat in the house, right next to the driver!

The cab-view ride is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the iconic Gotthard Railway from the driver’s cab of the locomotive that pulls the train, with an expert guide alongside you to talk you through the technology, the history and the scenery along the way.

Just a few things to know before you max out your credit card:

• There’s only space for one person in the cab, no plus-ones allowed
• You have to be able to climb in yourself without help
• You can’t access the toilet the whole trip so plan accordingly

The eye-watering price does actually include a normal 1st class ticket for a travel buddy to sit in the panoramic carriages while you’re up the front, but you can’t swap along the way.

You can find out more info about the cab ride here and if you end up doing it, please come back here and let us know in the comments if it was worth it!

Gotthard Panorama Express alternatives

If the GPE isn’t quite right for your trip because of budget, season or priorities, there are a few other options worth considering.

Gotthard Panorama Express vs Treno Gottardo

If it’s the price tag or seasonal restrictions putting you off, the Treno Gottardo is a year-round alternative that covers the same scenic Gotthard mountain route for way less money.

It’s a regular InterRegio train that runs throughout the day, no reservations needed, you can just jump on and off as you please (which gives you the chance to tack on some side quests along the way).

Some key things to know about the route though:

• The Treno Gottardo’s full route is longer than the GPE but it traces the exact same section from Arth-Goldau/Flüelen to Bellinzona every hour
• At the northern end the Treno Gottardo starts in Basel or Zurich, alternating every hour. The Basel departure links up with Lucerne so you can catch the same train direct from the city instead of having to take the boat across the lake or switch trains at Arth-Goldau.
• From Lucerne/Arth-Goldau/Flüelen it follows the GPE’s path past the Wassen church, through the Gotthard Tunnel, around the loops and over viaducts in the Leventina, until you get to Bellinzona
• From Bellinzona the Treno Gottardo veers west to end in Locarno, instead of continuing south to Lugano like the GPE. If you need to get to Lugano it’s super easy, hop off at Bellinzona and there are frequent connections from there which take 15-20 minutes.

And if you’re still keen to do the cruise, you can take any boat from Lucerne to Flüelen (limited schedule in winter but more frequent in spring/summer/autumn) and then jump on any of the hourly Treno Gottardos that leave Flüelen heading south (or vice versa).

Pros of taking the Treno Gottardo over the Gotthard Panorama Express:

• Cheaper if you’re buying full fare tickets last minute
• Fully covered by the Swiss Travel Pass and Eurail/Interrail Passes
• No mandatory supplement and no need to reserve seats (though it’s possible to reserve a seat if you want to guarantee a window seat or make sure your family can sit together, it’s 5CHF per seat res. and you have to do it on the train operator’s website because SBB doesn’t let you choose from the seat map)
• Stops at more towns along the way if you want to get off and explore or have some food, and if you have a travel pass or point-to-point ticket (not tied to a specific departure) then you can just hop back on the next available train to continue your trip
• Runs year-round so you can take it outside of the GPE’s mid-April to mid-October season
• It departs from Lucerne, Basel or Zurich so you can get on/off right in the city
• If you’ve got a 2nd class pass or ticket there’s no need to pay for a class upgrade
• If you’ve got a 1st class pass or ticket you still get access to the 1st class coaches with more space

What you miss out on compared to the Gotthard Panorama Express:

• The curved panoramic windows! The Treno Gottardo’s website actually says it has ‘panoramic windows’ but this is a lie haha they just have large flat single windows, not curved (like the GPE or the Bernina) and no extra angled window at the top like the Glacier Express or GoldenPass Express. Bit sneaky of them!
• The dedicated photo coach with openable windows for reflection-free shots
• Onboard guides to point out highlights and answer your Gotthard Railway questions
• The light show inside the Gotthard Tunnel
• Snacks and drinks delivered to your seat (extra cost on the GPE, the Treno Gottardo has vending machines instead)
• The curated tourist experience that makes you feel a little fancy
• The luggage service from Lucerne to Lugano

Gotthard Panorama Express vs Bernina Express

The Bernina Express is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed train journey connecting Chur or St Moritz in Switzerland with Tirano in Italy, cutting through the Alps via 55 tunnels and 196 bridges with alpine lakes, spiral viaducts and mammoth peaks to see through the panoramic windows. I’ve done it twice and both times it was pure magic ✨

The two trains don’t overlap geographically at all so your itinerary might determine whether you can do one or the other (or link them both), but if you’re planning your route around a panoramic journey or if you’re looking for a scenic way to connect Switzerland and Northern Italy, both are worth considering.

Why you might choose the Bernina Express:

• Next-level scenery from start to finish, including the Brusio Spiral, Lago Bianco, Lago Palü and the dramatic Bernina Pass itself, more intense than the landscapes the GPE rolls through and more mountain-y 🏔️
• Year-round service, including a winter wonderland season where everything’s blanketed in snow
• Both 1st and 2nd class carriages, no need to pay for a class upgrade if you’ve got a 2nd class travel pass
• Short enough to do a return trip both directions in a day if you want to go there and back, options depend on season though so read my Bernina Express guide’s day trip section for full info
• UNESCO-listed if that matters to you!
• Actually cheaper than the GPE if you were paying full price (106-110CHF for the full route in 2nd class or 153-157CHF for 1st class including the seat reservation, vs. 188CHF for the GPE with the supplement)
• It runs from Chur or St Moritz which are easily accessible from Zurich, you don’t have to detour to Lucerne
• Italy’s Valtellina region (where Tirano is) isn’t that popular for tourists and has quite a unique culture, history and cuisine, if you like exploring lesser-known places then I’d recommend spending a night or two here for sure

Why the GPE might suit you better:

• It’s a multi-transport-mode journey with two experiences wrapped up into one
• The openable-window photo coach is ideal for photographers, the Bernina has small windows you can open in the vestibule but not many so you might lose your spot if you move
• The Lucerne to Lugano connection is ideal if you’re planning to spend time in Ticino (the Italian-speaking region Lugano is in) or continuing across the border to Lake Como (about 40 mins by train)
• Cheaper supplement/seat reservation than the Bernina Express if you’ve got a travel pass, 24CHF vs. 32-44CHF for the Bernina
• The GPE feels more personal and intimate thanks to the legendary onboard guides

🤷🏼‍♀️ ¿Por qué no los dos? If you’re keen to do both the Bernina Express and the Gotthard Panorama Express, there’s a super simple way to connect them! The Bernina Express bus lines up with Bernina arrivals into Tirano and whisks you past vineyards and along Lake Como before crossing the border and dropping you in Lugano, where you can jump on the GPE the following morning.

Gotthard Panorama Express vs Glacier Express

If you’re planning a train travel Switzerland itinerary then chances are you already know about the iconic Glacier Express, but on the off chance that you don’t, it’s an 8-hour slow-travel train adventure connecting Zermatt (home of the Matterhorn) and St Moritz (fancy alpine resort town) with superb views along the way.

Again it covers a completely different route to the GPE so the best pick for you might be determined by what you’ve already got planned, but if both could slot into your itinerary then there are some key differences which might push you one way or the other.

The Glacier Express was actually the first Switzerland panoramic train I ever did, and in the following three years I completed the other seven segments of the Grand Train Tour, finishing up with the Gotthard Panorama Express, so writing this feels very full circle!

I know they say not to compare your first-born with your last-born but trains don’t have feelings so I’m going to ignore that rule 🙃

Why you might choose the Glacier Express:

• A full day experience where you just sit back, relax and soak up the scenery
• Three class options: 2nd class, 1st class and a top-tier Excellence Class with lots of ultra-luxe inclusions
• Fancier onboard experience with hot meals delivered to your seat and an impressive wine list (additional cost for 1st and 2nd class, five-course meal included with Excellence Class)
• Bigger in-seat tables than the GPE (and the Bernina too) so it’s more laptop-friendly if you’re hoping to get some work done between photo ops
• Runs most of the year (just a maintenance break from mid-October until the start of the winter season in early December)
• Links up with the Bernina Express in Chur or St Moritz, so you can easily combine the two trains on back-to-back days without an extra connection

Why the GPE might suit you better:

• Muchhhh kinder on your wallet whether you have a travel pass or not! The Glacier Express seat reservation is 54CHF for both 1st and 2nd class so even passholders are splashing out, and if you’re buying a ticket outright you’re looking at 159CHF for 2nd and 272CHF for 1st before the seat reservation 🤯
• The GPE is shorter at 5h 30m with the change between boat/train halfway through, so you’re not stuck in the same seat for eight hours
• Nicely fits into any trip that includes Milan with Zurich, Lucerne, Basel or even further afield like Paris or Munich, whereas Zermatt is a bit out-of-the-way and requires at least one additional change from any of those cities
• Not as famous as the Glacier Express so less likely to totally sell out months in advance

Where to stay before and after the Gotthard Panorama Express (Lugano & Lucerne)

The Gotthard Panorama Express runs between two of Switzerland’s most beautiful cities, so you’ll probably want to spend at least a night on either end of the trip.

Here are my top picks for both cities.

Where to stay in Lugano

My favourite place to stay in Lugano is B5 Boutique Hotel, a design-led and sustainability-focused hotel just a 200m walk from the train station. That’s as convenient as it gets for the GPE!

The rooms are minimalist-chic with lush beds and a proper desk for catching up on trip admin, there’s a small terrace out the back where you can sit with a book on a warm summer day, and the breakfast is diviiiine with locally-sourced cured meats, cheeses, jams and spreads as well as fresh pastries and seasonal fruit. I’d happily park up here for a week.

It’s got 9.1/10 on booking.com from 500+ reviews too so it’s not just me who loves it.

Bonus tip: Casa Libanese Resto is next door to B5 and omg you MUST go, it’s outstanding.

If B5 Hotel isn’t your vibe or is sold out for your dates, here are some other top-rated options:

Budget

• Hotel&Hostel Montarina (classic backpacker hostel close to the train station, 8.4/10 on booking.com from 3000+ reviews)
• Acquarello Swiss Quality Hotel (best value affordable hotel near the station, 8.3/10 on booking.com from 2000+ reviews)

Mid-range

• LUGANODANTE Boutique Hotel, I got a fantastic deal on a last minute booking and loved my stay here, but it’s definitely on the upper end of the mid-range. It’s just down the funicular from the station, stylish rooms, brilliant buffet breakfast! (9.3/10 on booking.com from 2000+ reviews)

Luxury

• Hotel Splendide Royal (9.1/10 on booking.com from 1100+ reviews)
• Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola (9.4/10 on booking.com from 750+ reviews)

Where to stay in Lucerne

I’ve been to Lucerne multiple times now and have stayed in a handful of hostels and hotels, so here are some personal recommendations and top-rated options for different price brackets.

Budget

• Capsule Hotel Lucerne Old Town is my go-to for privacy on a budget (by Swiss standards anyway). It’s a Japanese-style capsule hotel in an ideal location, short walk or shorter bus from the main station, big supermarket downstairs, work-friendly area and a microwave/fridge/kettle but no full kitchen. (8.8/10 on booking.com from 2900+ reviews)

• Backpackers Luzern (clean and comfortable social hostel with a full kitchen, 8.9/10 on booking.com from 2500+ reviews)
• Hotel Beau Séjour Lucerne (probably the cheapest decent hotel in the city, 8.7/10 on booking.com from 900+ reviews)

Mid-range

• The Lubo is my choice if you want to balance comfort, convenience and value. It’s a fully-automated smarthotel in the middle of the historic centre with modern interiors, access to laundry facilities and it’s a 10 minute walk to Pier 1 for the GPE. (8.2/10 on booking.com from 2100+ reviews)

• Hotel des Balances (elegant 4* hotel on the water between Chapel Bridge and Spreuerbrücke, 9.1/10 on booking.com from 1200+ reviews)
• Hotel Rebstock (quirky 3* hotel with great value rooms across the river from the station and pier, 8.5/10 on booking.com from 2500+ reviews)

Luxury

• Hotel Villa Honegg (it is my dream to stay here 😍 ultra-fancy up in the mountains with an infinity pool overlooking the lake, 9.2/10 on booking.com from 350+ reviews)
• Mandarin Oriental Palace (super stylish 5* hotel with exceptional service, worth splurging for a lakeview room if you can stretch your budget, 9.4/10 from 300+ reviews)
• Lucerne Lake View Apartments (fully-equipped apartments just across the bridge from the station and boats, 9.5/10 on booking.com from 180+ reviews)

Gotthard Panorama Express FAQs

The final verdict: Is the Gotthard Panorama Express worth it?

If you’ve got a 1st class Swiss Travel Pass or can nab a 1st class Saver Day Pass for a decent price by booking well in advance, the Gotthard Panorama Express is an easy yes from me. You’ll only pay 24CHF for the mandatory supplement for a 5h 30m journey of world-class scenery through the mountains and on the water while travelling in style, and that’s a bargain in Swiss travel terms!

For 2nd class pass holders, Eurail/Interrailers or full-fare bookers there are extra costs to factor in, so the maths is a little more complicated and subjective. If you’re wincing at the price of the supplement + class upgrades + anything outside of your pass, the cheaper Treno Gottardo gives you the same views without fancy windows, a photo coach or onboard guides, but it’s year-round, runs hourly and doesn’t require a supplement.

It’s not the most dramatic of the Swiss panoramic journeys, but it’s the only multi-modal and it’s absolutely the most beautiful way to connect Lucerne and Ticino before (or after) visiting Northern Italy.

The Gotthard Panorama Express was the final segment of my personal Grand Train Tour of Switzerland and I couldn’t have picked a better way to close out that bucket list.

Ready to plan the rest of your Switzerland adventure?

I’ve got loads more resources to help you build the perfect trip without the headache.

• Need a plug-and-play route? Check out my 5 day Switzerland itinerary, 10 day Switzerland itinerary or my combined Northern Italy & Switzerland itinerary
• Confused about travel passes and which one is best? Use my free Switzerland travel pass calculator to figure out the best value one for your route!
• You can also read my travel pass deep dives on the Eurail Global Pass, Swiss Travel Pass and the Swiss Half Fare Card, then check out my Swiss Travel Pass vs. Half Fare Card comparison for a side-by-side breakdown
• Want to extend your scenic train adventure? Read my complete guides to the Bernina Express and the Glacier Express

MY GO-TO TRAVEL PLANNING RESOURCES

Flights ✈️ I use Skyscanner to find the best flights for my trip and then I’ll always book direct with the airline to protect myself from having to deal with dodgy third parties if anything goes wrong.

Trains 🚂 If I’m travelling through Europe, I try to travel by train wherever possible! For an extended trip (2+ weeks) I’ll calculate if a Eurail Pass is worth it, or I’ll book point-to-point tickets through RailEurope or the local train operator.

Accommodation 🛎️ I book almost all of my accommodation through booking.com, they have a user-friendly website + app and many of their options are free cancellation, easily cancelled with a simple click of a button.

Activities 🗽I use GetYourGuide, Klook and Viator to look for activities in the places I visit, or I just Google ‘things to do in [city]’! P.S. If you book anything on Klook you can use the promocode FINDINGALEXXKLOOK to get 10% off

Travel cards 💳 I’m a Wise gal through and through, they’ve been my chosen travel card for more than five years now. You can easily top up your card from your bank account or through Apple Pay, convert your money to local currency, and spend money with minimal fees and the best exchange rates around.

Travel insurance 🩺 I use Cover-More NZ travel insurance for my own trips, I have a comprehensive policy and I’ve only had good experiences with them. Cover-More also has an Australian company, but if you’re from elsewhere then two popular insurance options for global travellers are SafetyWing (cheaper policy, lower coverage) and World Nomads (more expensive but significantly better coverage).

Luggage 💼 I travel with Samsonite Cosmolite suitcases, one 75cm check in bag and a 55cm carry on bag, and I absolutely adore them and will never travel with anything else! They are SUPER lightweight (2.8kg and 1.9kg respectively) so I have much more space for my actual stuff.

Camera gear 📸 I use a iPhone 15 Pro Max for phone photos/videos, and my camera kit includes a Lumix S9 (incredible lightweight full-frame camera, a game changer for travel creators!) with a 20-60mm lens, a Lumix G9 with an 8-18mm and 12-60mm lens, a DJI Mini 3 Pro drone and a GoPro Hero 10. I do all my writing and editing on my ASUS Zenbook 14, it’s lightweight but powerful enough for photo editing and intense blogging sessions.