GoldenPass Express Prestige Class Experience — with Kids! (Switzerland)

What is the GoldenPass Express?

The GoldenPass Express line is a panoramic train that links Montreux to Interlaken in 3 hours and 15 minutes. It is one of the most scenic ways to travel in Switzerland!

They offer 3 different classes: Prestige, First and Second Class.

Prestige Class

An exclusive, private area, heated seats and large panoramic windows. Just knowing about these three was enough to convince me! 😉

The Golden Pass Express Prestige Class section is spacious and limited to only 9 seats. The section was full during our ride from Montreux to Interlaken (with all 9 seats taken,) but we still felt like we had enough privacy to enjoy the ride on our own terms.

On the way back though was different; we had the entire Prestige Class cabin to ourselves! What a treat to enjoy extreme privacy and luxury!

The GoldenPass Express Prestige Class also offer heated seats. These were great, though we didn’t really need to turn them on much, as the cabin itself was already nice and warm, just as we like it.

…but wait, with kids?

Yes! As you guys know, I’m all about bringing the kids to see the world (well, like 90% of the time) And because my husband and I really wanted to try this experience, and they just happen to be with us on this trip (haha,) they got to experience the train ride as a bonus!

Normally, a 3 hour train ride would be boring for the kids, but of course, The GoldenPass Express was no ordinary train ride. The scenery itself was enough to keep them occupied.

The Prestige area itself is raised by 40 centimetres to allow the passengers to be fully immersed in the landscape.

We visited at the end of January and got the best of both worlds! On some areas, we saw a lot of green fields with mountain backdrops (just as how the towns look like in summer) AND on some places that we passed, such as Gstaad, we got to see snow covered towns! It was absolutely awe inspiring!

On our ride back from Interlaken to Montreux, we got the 2pm train and was able to catch the sunset. The view was spectacular!

And whenever the kids got a little restless, they took out their notebooks and sketch pads to pass the time.

We also ordered food on our first journey (Montreux to Interlaken) which kept them happy and content for the rest of the ride. And now, speaking of food…

Aperitif!

You can order food when you book your tickets or even once you board. We each got the aperitif set and Mor and I got a glass of champagne each (exclusive for Prestige class!)

The cheese plate was devoured with extreme pleasure by my little foodie, as you can see!

Overall: Is it Worth it?

When I told the kids we had about 30 minutes left, my eldest protested “What?! That went by so fast!” 😉

Getting Prestige Class at the GoldenPass Express is a splurge to be sure. But if traveling to Switzerland has always been on your bucket list, then this experience is a bucket list worthy experience to include! It is definitely at the top of OUR favorite things that we did in Switzerland.

Would 10/10 recommend if you are willing to splurge a little for a memorable experience!

PS. I had to remind the kids that this was an extra special train experience and that not all train rides are like this (or else they’ll be spoiled for life for sure! Haha!)

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Disclaimer: Golden Pass Express provided our family with roundtrip tickets for this feature. All thoughts and opinions are completely my own. 

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(NOTE: THIS POST IS ABOUT OUR EXPERIENCE LAST JANUARY 2024)