This full-day pre-tour takes participants to Lucerne, one of Switzerland’s most iconic lakeside cities. The programme combines a scenic journey on Lake Lucerne with a visit to the Swiss Museum of Transport, Switzerland’s most visited museum.

Depending on the 2027 timetable, the lake journey is planned on one of Lake Lucerne’s historic paddle steamers or scheduled passenger boats. The cruise itself becomes part of the Swiss mobility experience, with beautiful views of Lucerne, the lake and the surrounding mountains.

At the Swiss Museum of Transport, participants will discover interactive exhibitions covering rail, road, water, air, space, energy and media. It is one of the best places in Switzerland to experience the country’s long-standing connection with mobility, innovation and public transport.

This full-day pre-tour leads participants to the medieval town of Gruyères, where Swiss heritage, culture and imagination meet.

The visit includes Gruyères Castle, a historic landmark overlooking the region and offering a journey through centuries of art, history and legends. Participants will also have time to experience the unique atmosphere of the old town of Gruyères, with its picture-perfect setting and strong connection to Swiss tradition.

The tour continues with a visit to the HR Giger Museum, dedicated to the Swiss artist whose visionary work became internationally famous through Alien. The museum presents Giger’s distinctive biomechanical universe and offers a striking contrast to the medieval charm of Gruyères.

This pre-tour brings together two very different sides of Switzerland: historic beauty and tradition on the one hand — and dark, surreal science fiction art on the other.

This pre-tour takes participants from Bern into the Bernese Oberland for a mountain experience on the Stockhorn, one of the region’s most scenic viewpoints.

The journey leads to Erlenbach im Simmental, at the beginning of the Simmental valley, where the Stockhorn cableway takes visitors up into the alpine landscape. From Bern, Erlenbach im Simmental can be reached by train in around 1 hour 4 minutes, and the valley station of the Stockhornbahn is about a 10-minute walk from the station.

At the top, participants can enjoy wide views over the Bernese Oberland, the surrounding peaks and, on clear days, far beyond. The panoramic viewing platform in the north face of the Stockhorn offers a 240-degree view, with a glass floor section adding a small thrill to the experience.

The Stockhorn is a perfect place to pause, look further and take in the scale and beauty of the Swiss landscape — before returning to Bern for the start of the official World4Meeting programme.