Train Geneva → Zermatt

A city with conventional wisdom and beauty to match Geneva has been a strategic mainstay in world politics. One can’t say the city’s name without thinking of historical conferences and documents. Home to the League of Nations, the scientists of CERN and a glistening lake, Geneva is at once quite serious and yet so seductive. As soon as you exit the main train station, the Gare Cornavin, you’ll be taken under its spell. There is a grand opulence to this city. High-end stores such as Harry Winston, Rolex, Louis Vuitton and others line the streets with the Swiss Alps as the backdrop. It’s easy to comprehend why Geneva is one of the most affluent cities in the world. Learn more about Geneva

What’s the matter? Zermatt, over a mile high in the sky at 5,315 feet, is the gateway to the Matter valley. In its midst, thirty eight, 4000-meter peaks – including what may be the most recognizable one in the world – the Matterhorn. Even reaching Zermatt is a peak experience. Via the private (but covered by your Swiss Travel Pass) Matterhorn – Gotthard – Bahn Railway, you'll pass through breathtaking views. It won't be the altitude that takes your breath away. Zermatt knows that their tourism livelihood depends on keeping this monumental view in tact. To prevent air pollution, which could obscure the town's choice view of the Matterhorn, all of Zermatt is a combustion-engine, car-free zone. Almost all vehicles in Zermatt are battery driven and almost completely silent (look really well before crossing the street.) The town remained a quiet village until it was "discovered" by mid-nineteenth century British mountaineers, most notably Edward Whymper. The Matterhorn was one of the last alpine mountains to be conquered in 1865, and that first expedition ended tragically, with only three of seven climbers surviving the descent. Learn more about Zermatt