Lavaux Express, the little vineyard train from Lutry or Cully

What it is

The Lavaux Express is a little wheeled tourist train that climbs the narrow vineyard roads from the lakeshore. It has been run since 2009 by a local association and makes two circular routes of 1 h 15, one from Lutry and one from Cully. You sit in the open air between stone walls and terraces, with Lake Geneva below: it is a way to see Lavaux without walking, and the one that works best with small children or anyone who cannot manage the slopes.

The two routes

• Boucle de Lutry: Lutry – Aran – Grandvaux – Lutry. It leaves from the Lutry landing stage, at Quai Gustave Doret 1.
• Boucle de Cully: Cully – Riex – Epesses – Dézaley – Cully. It leaves from the Cully landing stage, at Place d'Armes 16, and goes into the heart of the vineyards, beneath the Dézaley terraces.

Halfway round, the train stops for 15 minutes in the vines. In good weather you can buy a glass of Lavaux wine; on the Lutry route you can only pay in cash or with Twint. At the train's counter they also sell bottles and souvenir glasses. You cannot board midway: only in Lutry or Cully.

Days and times

According to the 2026 calendar, the season runs from 1 April to 1 November:

• From Lutry: Wednesdays at 13:30, 15:00 and 16:30; Sundays at 10:30, 13:30, 15:00 and 16:30; and from June to the end of September, also Fridays at 13:30, 15:00 and 16:30.
• From Cully: Saturdays at 10:30, 13:30, 15:00 and 16:30; Tuesdays at 13:30, 15:00 and 16:30 from May; and from June to the end of September, also Thursdays at the same times.

There are exceptional departures that change the starting point on some days: check the website before you go. The 2026 season has already ended; the 2027 one starts on 3 April.

Prices and booking

Adults, CHF 17; pensioners and people with disabilities, CHF 14; ages 14 to 18 and students, CHF 14; ages 6 to 13, CHF 6; under-6s, free. Booking on the website is recommended to be sure of a seat, and you pay there and then, in cash (francs or euros) or by card. Groups of up to 18 people can book on regular departures. If it rains, the train has rain and wind protection; the driver only cancels the departure if there is a storm.

Getting there

To Lutry: by S1 or S3 train from Lausanne, about 5 minutes, then a 10-minute walk to the landing stage; or by bus 9 from Place Saint-François in Lausanne, about 20 minutes, to the Voisinand stop. By car, the Possession car park has 200 spaces and the Combe one about 100.

To Cully: by S1 or S3 train from Lausanne, about 10 minutes, then a 5-minute walk. By car, the Fortunades car park on the Route de la Corniche, and those at the quay and the station, have 50 to 60 spaces each.

The CGN boat also reaches both, stopping at their landing stages.

With children, with a dog, and accessibility

With small children it is the most comfortable plan in Lavaux: short, seated and with a stop midway. There are no toilets on the route; the public ones are at the departure points, so go beforehand. Small dogs travel free on your lap or under the seat; large ones are not allowed. Wheelchairs cannot be taken aboard, because the benches are fixed, although they can be left at the counter. The association does not recommend it for pregnant women, because there are bumpy stretches.

There is no live commentary: download the izi.TRAVEL app, with commentary in French, German and English, or ask for the "Mini guide" leaflet at the counter.

More trains

In summer, the same train runs sunset departures with a tasting stop at a winegrowers' cellar: this is the caveau train.