Grand Train Tour

To me, it is a lot of time on trains. Especially the Glacier Express, that one is a slog. I find it better suited for the summer, so that you do not spend all daylight hours stuck on trains.
But for a first timer, it feels better to me to identify a few areas to visit, and string them together with scenic rail routes, rather than try to fit the whole "figure 8" route of the Grand Tour in whatever time you have. Now, if you have 3 weeks, then you can comfortably travel the whole route.

I think this is a new marketing ploy by Switzerland. I’ve only recently heard about this “grand train tour”. This is what I’m seeing: https://switzerlandtravelcentre.com/en/che/offer/grand-train-tour-switzerland-winter-magic-tour

There are several scenic train rides. Many of which happen to take you to very beautiful parts of Switzerland. But for a first time visitor, I think this is too much moving around. Weather can be unpredictable, any time of year. If you happen to get bad weather in the very short period of time you will be at (or riding past) the places listed on the itinerary, you will miss the great views.

For a first timer, I would base in the Berner Oberland area (specifically Wengen) for 5 nights or more. This gives you time to visit the surrounding villages, Lake Brienz, take some scenic train rides, etc. And you can go where the weather is best. We had some rain for 5 of 6 days in June. If we had been stuck with a strict pre-planned schedule, we would have been very disappointed. Instead, we looked at the weather every morning and chose our daily activities accordingly.

Trains are a wonderful way to see Switzerland but may be best designing your own itinerary.

A few years ago I did something similar to the tour you are referring to but on my own.

My travels were:

Lucerne to Berner Oberland (3 nights)

Berner Oberland to Zermatt (3 nights)

Zermatt to Chur (Glacier Express) (1 night)

Chur to Tirano (Bernina Express)

It was a very beautiful trip, I went in Spring so there was still plenty of snow but not enough to hinder travel. I felt it was just enough time at each location.

Of course, how many nights you spend at each location, or the locations themselves, are individual choices.

@travel4fun, thank you for these insights. I have been back and forth with my itinerary and everytime I think I have it pat down, I change my mind! Haha!

I

@FrankII

Thanks!

I have this sort of itinerary sorted out:

flying in and out of geneva..head straight to Montreux.

Montreux 2 nights
BO region 5 nights
Geneva 1 night - only because we fly out early in the morning...

I am really interested at doing the Bermina Express... I just don't know how to fit it into this itinerary..Is it possible to just take a part of the journey, not the whole journey itself...?

@balso
There are just too many beautiful places to see and things to do, it's getting me overwhelmed!