How to Ride GoldenPass Belle Epoque Vintage Train in Switzerland
The GoldenPass Belle Epoque train is a beautiful vintage train in Switzerland that runs between Montreux and Zweisimmen. I had see photos and videos of it pop up on my feed for years, and I was so excited to finally experience it during my first trip to Switzerland.
But once I actually started researching, I was quite confused. What is the difference between the GoldenPass Express or Panoramic train and the GoldenPass Belle Epoque train? Are the elegant turquoise seats available in both first and second class, or only in first class? And If you hold a Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Half Fare Card in 2nd class, is this train included?
In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know about booking the Belle Époque scenic train and ways in include it in your Switzerland itinerary. I had high hopes for this journey, and it truly exceeded my expectations.
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What Is the GoldenPass Belle Époque Train?
The GoldenPass Belle Époque is a part of the larger GoldenPass Line, a scenic route that connects Montreux and Interlaken. Montreux is a charming town on the shores of Lake Geneva (Lac Leman) and Interlaken is located in the Bernese Oberland.
GoldenPass Belle Epoque carriages are known for their vintage 1930s inspired interiors, with plush turquoise armchairs, wooden paneling, brass details and large panoramic windows. This romantic and elegant train ride transports you to the past, and is a unique journey you can experience in Switzerland.
GoldenPass Belle Epoque vs GoldenPass Express and Panoramic
Like mentioned above, the GoldenPass Belle Époque is part of the scenic GoldenPass Line, a train route operated by MOB (Monteux-Oberland Bernois Railway) that connects Montreux and Interlaken. For the GoldenPass line, the major stops between are Gstaad and Zweisimmen. So the order is Montreux – Gstaad – Zweisimmen – Interlaken. The entire journey takes about 3 hours and 15 minutes.
GoldenPass Express
GoldenPass Express train is a modern panoramic train that runs the entire length from Montreux to Interlaken without any transfers. In addition to 2nd class and 1st class, these trains have the GoldenPass Express Prestige class which offer ultimate comfort and luxury train experiences.
GoldenPass Panoramic
GoldenPass Panoramic train only runs the segment between Montreux and Zweisimmen.
GoldenPass Belle Epoque
GoldenPass Belle Epoque trains also only operate the segment between Montreux and Zweisimmen.
The segment between Montreux an Zweisimmen that the GoldenPass Panoramic and Belle Epoque operate takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes.
The GoldenPass Express typically runs 4 times a day, whereas the Belle Epoque runs twice a day in each direction, and the GoldenPass Panoramic runs more frequently at about 9 times a day.
GoldenPass Belle Epoque Schedule
The GoldenPass Belle Epoque runs every day:
From Montreux: 09:43 and 14:43
From Zweisimmen: 12:02 and 17:02
There are some dates of exception, so make sure to look up the specific train schedule for your travel date ahead of time.
GoldenPass Belle Epoque Train Seats
Let me show you what the inside of the GoldenPass Belle Epoque train looks like.
Isn’t it gorgeous?
All of the Belle Époque carriages have large windows for viewing the picturesque Swiss landscapes.
The 1st class seats will have turquoise seats, wooden panels, and brass details. The seat configuration is 1:2, with one side having single armchair seats and the other side of the aisle having 2 seats.
There are 2 different 2nd class carriages. One has the same turquoise seats as the 1st class, but in a 2:2 configuration. The other carriage had wooden benches with cushion seats and backing.
So in the end, we didn’t really have to book 1st class to get the turquoise seats, but I didn’t know this ahead of time so I did upgrade to 1st class to secure the seats I had dreamt of. My upgrade cost was only CHF 5.40 (From Montbovon to Montreux) and I found it quite nice with more room and less passengers. Definitely felt like I had VIP seats!
GoldenPass Belle Epoque Prices
The cost of your train ticket will depend on which class you’re in and how far you travel. For example, the full route Zweisimmen to Montreux will cost more than what I paid for, which was a shorter segment between Montbovon and Montreux. Again if you hold the Swiss Travel Pass, your entire journey on the Belle Epoque will be covered. If you have the Swiss Half Fare Card, you will pay half but price will vary and you can check the current prices and purchase tickets here on the SBB site.
Full fare from Montreux – Zweisimmen:
- 2nd class: CHF 34 Adult Full Fare, CHF 17 Half Fare Card
- 1st class: CHF 58 Adult Full Fare, CHF 29 Half Fare Card
Children aged 6 to 15 pay half fare. If you have a Swiss Family Card or a Junior TravelCard, travel on public transport is free of charge for children aged 6 to 15 when accompanied by a parent that has a valid ticket.
You can get a 10% discount on the Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Half Fare Card using my code MINYWANDER on Klook.
Seat Reservations and Tickets
A valid ticket for the GoldenPass Line is required.
You can purchase this ticket via SBB.ch, the SBB mobile app, or at a ticket office or a ticket machine at Swiss train stations. I prefer using the SBB mobile app.
This train is free if you have any of the following passes:
- Swiss Travel Pass
- SBB GA Travelcard
- Eurail or Interrail Passes
- Saver Day Pass
- 1-day Pass for Half Fare Card
Swiss Half Fare Card gets you 50% off the train ticket.
In addition to having a ticket for the train, you can reserve seats ahead of time. Seat reservations are optional, but recommended during busy times like summer and weekends. You can reserve seats up to 2 months in advance.
None of the above passes include seat reservations so if you hold the pass, you’ll still need to pay for the seat reservations.
You can make reservations on the MOB website here.
- Reservation costs: CHF 10 per seat
- Class options: 1st and 2nd class are both available
Not all of the seats on the train are sold in advance. This means that even if you don’t get a seat reservation, some of the carriages are available as first-come first-serve. We didn’t book seats for our journey, and almost the entire 1st class carriage we were in was empty.
How to Book GoldenPass Belle Epoque:
I recommend using SBB.ch or SBB mobile app to book your tickets instead of the MOB website.
SBB Mobile app:
- Enter in your journey information including the departure station and arrival station. For example below I’ve selected Zwisimmen to Montreux.
- Then select the train that corresponds to Belle Epoque. It will be labeled as PE 30. You can make sure by clicking on the train, and it will show GoldenPass Belle Epoque. If it says GoldenPass Panoramic or Express, this is NOT the train you want to book.
- Click on the red “Tickets from CHF” button on the bottom and select the pass you have. In my case I had the Swiss Half Fare Card. The SBB app defaults to showing Half Fare Card prices. If you don’t have the card and you want full fare prices, you’ll have to edit passenger info and indicate you don’t have any passes.
- Select Regular offer and purchase.
How to upgrade to 1st Class:
If you want to upgrade to 1st class from 2nd class, here’s how.
I purchased my ticket in 2nd class since my Half Fare Card includes 2nd class trains only. To upgrade to 1st class for the 1:2 configuration seats, follow these instructions.
SBB Mobile app:
Follow the same instructions as above but at the last step, instead of regular offer, select “Point-to-Point Class Upgrade” or “Mobilis Class Upgrade” and pay the fee.
You cannot buy the upgrade after boarding the train, so make sure to do this before boarding if you want to upgrade.
How to Add Belle Epoque Train to Your Switzerland Itinerary
This train fits seamlessly into many classic Switzerland itineraries. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
1. Montreux ←→Interlaken
Montreux is a city located along Lake Geneva (or Lac Leman) and Interlaken is a gateway to all the Bernese Alps villages like Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen. You can take the Belle Epoque train from Montreux to Zweisimmen, and then transfer to one of the regular trains to continue on to Interlaken to explore the Alps (or in reverse order).
2. Day trip from Montreux to Gstaad or Zweisimmen
If you’re staying in Montreux and you plan on doing a day trip to Gstaad, which is an upscale resort town in the Bernese Alps, the Belle Epoque would be a great train to take. Zweisimmen is a smaller village that is known to be the gateway to Gstaad. After visiting these areas, you could take the Belle Epoque back, or the GoldenPass Panoramic back to Montreux.
3. Day trip from Montreux to Gruyères
You don’t have to take the entire segment from Montreux to Gstaad or Zweisimmen. Rather, you can take a shorter segment of the train and this is actually what I did.
While staying in Montreux, I wanted to visit Gruyères, the cute town known for its Gruyères cheese. To get from Montreux to Gruyères, you take the GoldenPass line to Montbovon and switch to one of the regional trains to get to Gruyères. I took the GoldenPass Panaramic to Montbovon to transfer to Gruyères, then on the way back to Montreux I took the GoldenPass Belle Epoque from Montbovon to Montreux.
This segment was only 54 minutes long, but plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful vintage train.
Final Thoughts
My 54 minute panoramic journey on the GoldenPass Belle Epoque made me feel like I’ve stepped back in time, and it was such a unique experience.
If you love scenic trains, vintage design, or slow travel, this train ride deserves a spot on your Swiss itinerary.
Remember that Switzerland has many other scenic trains. Some ideas are Brienz Rothorn Bahn, Glacier Express, or Bernina Express.
FAQ
Does the GoldenPass Belle Epoque train allow dogs?
Yes! We rode with Mochi, our dog, on this beautiful train. Dogs are allowed on both 2nd and 1st class carriages.
Is there any food or dining on the GoldenPass Belle Epoque train?
From MOB’s website:
“From May to September, snacks and beverages will be proposed onboard without prior booking and subject to availability (on the train departing from Montreux at 9:43 am and from Zweisimmen at 12:02 pm).”
We took the later train and didn’t see any food on board, but it looks like the earlier trains do have some food offering! Of course, you can always bring your own food too.
Is the GoldenPass Belle Epoque free for Swiss Travel Pass and Swiss Half Fare Card?
The GoldenPass Belle Epoque is free if you hold the Swiss Travel Pass, but seat reservations are not included.
For Half Fare Card, it is 50% off. Again, seat reservations are not included and there is no discount on seat reservations.
Is the GoldenPass Belle Epoque train worth it?
Yes! And it actually costs the same as other trains (except for the seat reservation) so definitely worth it!
Your Switzerland Trip Essentials
- Swiss Travel Pass – unlimited travel in Switzerland by train, bus, boat, and public transportation. Discounts of up to 50% on many excursions, as well as free entrance to over 500 museums.
- Swiss Half Fare Card – 50% off most public transportation (trains, boats, and buses) in Switzerland for 1 month
- Berner Oberland Pass – covers transportation in the Bernese Oberland region including the Brienz Rothorn train
- E-sim for Switzerland
- Golden Round Trip from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus
- Silver Round Trip from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus
- Golden Round Trip – Guided Group Tour
- See my 7 day Switzerland Itinerary
See My Other Switzerland Guides
- 7 Day Switzerland Itinerary: Perfect One Week in Switzerland
- One Day in Lucerne: The Perfect Itinerary to See Lucerne in One Day
- Switzerland Mountain Villages: 5 Beautiful Villages in the Bernese Oberland
- How to Get from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus – The Golden Round Trip
- Brienz Rothorn Train: Most Scenic Steam Railway in Switzerland
