6 underrated places to visit in Switzerland by train

In many ways, the secret to experiencing truly Swiss bliss is to slow right down and turn the clock off for a while. Walk away from the bucket list and just dive into a cupful of chocolatey, cheesy and yes, utterly charming Swissness. All by choo-choo, no less. That’s a lot of CHs, we know, but hey, it’s the abbreviation for Switzerland, so we’re running with it. Yes, there are panoramic trains that blow your mind. Yes, there are cable cars that transport to Alpine landscapes on steroids. But there are also plenty of underrated places to visit in Switzerland by train, with towns and villages that are gateways to Alpine adventures. Here are some of our favourite quiet places to visit in Switzerland. But CHssssss, don’t tell too many people.  

Off the beaten path Switzerland

© BLS, 2015

One of the best ways to explore off the beaten path Switzerland is to travel out of peak season. While making the most of Swiss train trips without reservations. But in a country with a lot of peaks, and four fine seasons, when is off-peak? The best time to go to Switzerland, to avoid day-trippers, skiers and festival goers is between September and December. This really is when you get that Swiss bliss feeling in your bones. Check out our list of some of the best small towns in Switzerland, national park nirvanas as well as the best Swiss rail detours to discover the country, and its wide range of cantons, without the crowds.  

Zernez, Canton of Graubünden 

Only 25 mins by train from the crowds of Klosters, Zernez (1,471m) is the gateway town to the Swiss National Park which, given that it’s the only park in the country, was an easy name choice. The national park has over 80km of Alpine trails running through its pine forests and flower-filled meadows. You do have to skip a bit like the chamois or red deer that inhabit it, however, as it’s another quick shuttle bus from the train station into the heart of the park. Although there are a couple of trailheads within a quick walk from the station. But as the national park’s visitor centre is in Vernez, you can take time there while you wait for the hourly bus service. Or just chill, have a coffee and watch the world of wanderlust unfold, as like-minded nature lovers start their journey from this small village on the River Inn, into the Alpine trails that envelop it. The park’s hiking routes are closed from mid-November to mid-May.  

Getting there: Zernez is just 25 mins by train from Klosters and from 02 hrs 30 mins from Zürich by train.  

Noiraigue, Canton of Neuchâtel 

Noiraigue is one of the best small towns in Switzerland for exploring a colossal natural heritage site: Creux du Van. Located at the eastern end of the Val de Travers, this valley is also served by a train that connects Noiraigue with the more well-known lakeside town of Neuchâtel in the east, just 23 mins away. However, the Creux du Van is the star of the show locally, even though it does require a strenuous 14km circuit, called the Sentier du Creux du Van, to get there. The reward is a huge natural limestone amphitheatre, with 160m cliffs. As well as the most joyous of Jura views. In July and August, there are plenty of other fellow hikers gasping at the gorgeousness of it all but, in autumn, when the trail’s forests are an uplifting collection of yellows, oranges, and reds, it’s a very different picture.  

Getting there: Noiraigue is just 23 mins by train from Neuchâtel.  

Kandersteg, Canton of Bern  

© BLS, 2021, photographer: Jeroen Seyffer

Kandersteg is the shy sibling of the great Grindelwald, but sometimes it’s the quiet ones you need to watch, and not in a bad way. Kandersteg is much quieter than Grindelwald, the latter being part of the famous Jungfrau Railway route. The high-altitude village of Kandersteg, in the Bernese Oberland region, may not be as starry, but it’s still one of the prettiest and most peaceful destinations in Switzerland. And, although this is just a small mountain village, albeit with a mammoth backdrop, it still has a train station, like so many in Switzerland. Located on the Kander River, which gave the village its name, you can take on some short local trails from the station, past traditional wooden chalets and through Alpine meadows. The highlight for many, however, is taking the gondola up to Lake Oeschinen, one of the region’s most photogenic and mesmeric natural wonders.  

Getting there: Kandersteg is around 01 hr 10 mins from Interlaken by train, or 01 hr from Bern.  

La Tour-de-Peilz, Canton of Vaud 

La Tour-de-Peilz is one of the best small towns in Switzerland if you want to immerse yourself in the waters of Lake Geneva, without being ‘drowned’ by daytrippers. La Tour-de-Peilz is not as jazzy as Montreux, but only 07 mins by train. It’s not part of the Mont Blanc scene of Martigny, but it’s only 40 mins by train from there too. Just a heartbeat from the mass tourism hubs, however, La Tour-de-Peilz has a lake swimming beach, Bains des Dames, a 13th-century lakefront castle, and of course, no shortage of mountainscapes, including the Dents du Midi range in the Valais. The lakeshores are peppered with vineyards and so, not surprisingly, there’s no shortage of lakefront bars to sample the local goodies.  

Getting there: Travel to La Tour-de-Peilz by train from Montreux in 07 mins and from Martigny in 40 mins.  

Romont, Canton of Fribourg 

Romont is one of the best small towns in Switzerland for combining art with ancient history, hiking with spiritual reflection. It’s also a place that provides a colourful lens into history, literally, as it's home to the famous Vitromusée, a centre for stained glass art, contemporary and ancient. And if that isn’t enough beauty, the museum is located within the town’s castle, which is perfectly poised on top of a hill. In fact, the name Romont is derived from ancient French, meaning ‘round hill’. Part of Romont’s ancient heritage means that it’s also part of the Via Jacobi, Jacobsweg or Way of Saint James, and a stop off point for pilgrims heading across Europe to Santiago de Compostelo. Today, people walk the section between Romont and Geneva which, if you don’t want to walk it, is actually just 01 hr 15 mins away by train.  

Getting there: Travel to Romont from Geneva by train in just 01 hr 15 mins. 

Appenzell, Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden 

© Appenzellerland Tourismus AR, 2022, photographer: Rene Niederer

Appenzell is in the smallest canton of Switzerland, right up in the north-east, just 15km from the Austrian border. It still has big landscapes though, located at the foot of the Alpstein Mountains, with peaks as high as 2,500m around it. Which isn’t as high as some in Switzerland, but it’s all relative. This is still a world of calming and colossal views, trails and Switzerland at its most soulful. And because the mountains aren’t quite as high, you can get straight out into nature from Appenzell train station on trails that are open into October. You can also travel one more station to Wasserauen, and take the cable car from there up to the heart of the mountains, to explore the likes of the prehistoric Wildkirchli caves, and also a former hermit’s dwelling built into the rockface, which is now Berggasthaus Aescher inn.  

Getting there: Appenzell is just under 02 hrs from Zürich by train. 

Where to book these scenic train rides in Switzerland 

You may be keen to find underrated places to visit in Switzerland, but Rail Europe is far from underrated as a train booking platform, especially when you’re trying to book from an English-speaking country. They have a simple and straightforward booking system that also allows you to pay in a variety of currencies. Just enter all your travel information into their search facility, and it will come up with an array of travel options, including point-to-point travel and the popular (and oh-so extensive) Swiss Travel Pass.

Powered by Froala Editor