
Best Holiday Destinations for 2026
29/12/2025 · By Ian Holt
To inspire your travels for 2026, Great Rail Journeys reveals our Top 10 best holiday destinations and expert tips, from bucket list sights to hidden gems.
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Would you prefer the tranquil crystal lakes and waterfalls of the Austrian Tyrol or the glittering cities of Salzburg and Vienna? View Switzerland's dramatic peaks along the Oberalp Pass from the comfort of the legendary Glacier Express or by visiting the invigorating Swiss resorts of picture perfect Kandersteg or fashionable Montreux.
All of Great Rail Journeys alpine tours include a range of excursions to satisfy even the most thirsty of cultural appetites. Should you decide to venture off and explore on your own the tour manager will be able to advise you on a number of issues. Once you have decided to view cultural, historical or natural sights your tour manager can recommend a variety of points of interest, will be able to assist you in matters of alpine safety and find the best places to stop for lunch. We also have a number of independent tours available for you to enjoy.
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Experience epic mountain landscapes and shimmering alpine lakes on this fantastic holiday to Switzerland. Discover the Swiss Alps on the world-acclaimed Bernina Express and Glacier Express from our popular bases in Chur and Brig, traditional towns surrounded by snow-capped peaks. Enjoy a private aperitif on the terrace of the 10th-century ...





Enjoy Switzerland's warm hospitality and astounding landscapes from traditional hotels in historic Chur and idyllic Täsch, soaking up dramatic scenes of soaring mountains and glaciers aboard two iconic trains. Cross the Alps on the Bernina Express, admiring glacier views enroute to Poschiavo. The show continues as you bask in the alpine ...





Explore the beautiful towns and landscapes of the Austrian Alps based in an all-inclusive hotel in the charming town of St Johann, with drinks included with dinner each evening. Marvel at views of Austria's tallest mountain on a journey across the Hochtor Pass on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, viewing glaciers and gold-mining towns,...





Staggering mountain peaks and serene alpine lakes provide the extraordinary setting for this holiday as we travel in First Class all the way, including on the iconic Bernina Express and Glacier Express. Staying in the Engadine Valley and the popular mountain resort of Zermatt provides idyllic bases from which to explore the Swiss Alps by rail...





Snow-bound views and enchanting seasonal scenery have made the Glacier Express famous at this time of year as the glistening peaks and sugar-frosted forests of the Swiss Alps provides picture-postcard backdrops. On this memorable holiday, pass icy lakes and the ethereal Palü Glacier on the UNESCO-listed route of the Bernina Express. Later, ...





Experience the stunning Swiss Alps on a Great Rail Journeys' all-inclusive holiday, spending six nights in a beautiful Belle Époque hotel in Interlaken, an idyllic town renowned as the gateway to the Swiss Alps. From this refined base, explore the highlights of the beloved Bernese Oberland, including the Schynige Platte Botanical Alpine ...





Experience Switzerland's most spectacular train journeys from a family-run hotel in the heart of the forested Albula Valley, including drinks with dinner each evening. Travel across the Swiss Alps and past enchanting glaciers to Italy on an UNESCO-listed line aboard the Bernina Express, before viewing the 'Swiss Grand Canyon' and incredible...





On this sensational holiday, travel from Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva to the mountainous surroundings of the Jungfrau Massif. Explore Château de Chillon, sail on Lake Geneva and cross the Alps to the French mountain town of Chamonix on the Mont Blanc Express. Boarding the GoldenPass Express, admire views of the Bernese Alps...





Become part of the sensational Rhine in Flames spectacle during this luxury seven-night river cruise, from Strasbourg to Cologne. Explore charming Rüdesheim before enjoying the stunning firework display illuminating the beautiful Rhine Valley and its fairytale castles. Our ship, the luxurious Amadeus Cara, is decorated to be a part of the...





Uncover the region's culture and history from a base in Kirchberg, a charming Tyrolean town of part-timbered chalets nestled amid gentle mountains and extensive alpine pastures. Experience amazing alpine views while travelling aboard the Achensee Railway to the 'Tyrolean Sea', followed by a short boat ride and a visit to the idyllic Gramai...





Explore picture-book mountain towns bursting with traditional Swiss and French charm from a base in an idyllic village of Champéry, located in the Chablais Alps overlooking the Dents du Midi. Climb past snow-capped peaks on the elegant Mont Blanc Express to the historic resort of Chamonix, nestled beneath western Europe's highest mountain.





An alpine paradise awaits on this holiday in to the heart of the Swiss Alps, staying in the picturesque village of Meiringen, filled with traditional chalets and impressive vistas. Soak up spectacular Bernese Oberland scenery from Brienz Rothorn Mountain Railway, and climb to the 'Top of Europe' aboard the Jungfrau Railway to savour...
Discover the fantastic railways of Austria & Switzerland. It should come as no surprise that we love railways and we know many of you do too! That's why our tours feature some of the most iconic railways and trains on the continent.