William Tell Express

For the pure joy of travel, the William Tell Express is unsurpassed. This excursion (available from May to October) originates in Lucerne, one of the most charming cities in Switzerland. The trip ends in the stunning Southern Lake District, where you can choose between two romantic jewels as your final destination: Locarno (on Lake Maggiore) or Lugano (on Lake Lugano). The fun begins from the moment you catch your first glimpse of the delightfully old-fashioned paddle steamer at the Lucerne dock and realize it is “yours”—the ferry you will be taking for the first leg of your journey. The boat trip from Lucerne (located at the western tip of Lake Lucerne) to Flüelen (located at the opposite end of the lake) takes a leisurely three hours. Along the way you can relax in total comfort as you enjoy the enchanting scenery of one of Switzerland’s most beautiful lakes, with views of wooded hills dotted with chalets, high mountain peaks, lush green pastures, and picturesque villages tucked along the shoreline. There is a commentary on board that explains what you are seeing en route, including stories of William Tell, the Swiss hero for whom the excursion is named. When you arrive in Flüelen, your air conditioned train with panoramic windows will be waiting. Once you hop on board, the route follows along side the Reuss River as it heads south, cutting its way through the mountains. The train goes by steep cliffs and deep ravines, and then begins to climb up from the valley and plunges into the 15-kilometer-long Gotthard Tunnel. After emerging once again into sunlight, the train drops down into the Leventina Valley and continues to Bellinzona. If you are going on to Locarno, you stay on the same train. If your destination is Lugano, you need to change trains in Bellinzona.