In short: at Swiss Vapeur Parc, in Le Bouveret (Valais, on the shores of Lake Geneva), you can enjoy all-you-can-eat raclette aboard a mini train. It is one of the most unusual raclette experiences in Switzerland, so check dates and prices on the official website first: the park is closed for the winter and reopens on March 19, 2027.
View this post on Instagram — video posted by @alan.discovery
Video: © Blick (YouTube channel Blick Actualité & Sport)
What is raclette on the mini train?
Swiss Vapeur Parc is a park of miniature steam trains. The raclette package turns the ride into a meal: the cheese is served during the trip, through the park’s miniature scenery inspired by famous Swiss landmarks. In other words, it combines the two most serious Swiss passions, railways and melted cheese, in a single activity. The Swiss probably call that efficiency. We call it paradise.
The whole idea is delightfully absurd, and that is its charm. Picture the scene: grown adults sitting on a knee-high train, plates balanced, waving at the miniature buildings like passengers on the Orient Express. Kids think it’s perfectly normal. Parents discover that you can be five years old and hold a slice of raclette at the same time.
Why is Valais the right place for this?
Valais is the birthplace of raclette. This is where herdsmen melted a half wheel by the fire to scrape it over potatoes, and the region is still attached to that gesture. Eating raclette in Le Bouveret, a stone’s throw from Lake Geneva, is a bit like playing at home. To recreate that taste at home, follow our traditional Swiss raclette recipe, and pick your wheel with our ranking of the best raclette cheeses.
Practical info: how do you book?
We deliberately left out prices, times and dates: these packages are often seasonal, and it would be a shame to drive all the way to Lake Geneva only to find an empty platform. Check the park’s official website before you go: it announces a winter closure and a reopening on March 19, 2027.
| Location | Swiss Vapeur Parc, rue du Port 10, 1897 Le Bouveret, Switzerland |
|---|---|
| Package | Raclette Train: raclette and wine aboard one of the park’s trains |
| Prices, dates, booking | On the official website; park closed for the winter until March 19, 2027 |
| Contact | info@swissvapeur.ch |
| Official website | swissvapeur.ch |
| On social media | Instagram · Facebook |
Our tips for the hungry traveler
- Dress in layers: you’re outdoors, and hot cheese only warms your stomach.
- Save a little room: the words “all you can eat” have defeated more than one ambitious stomach.
- Pack wipes for the little ones, who love cheese as much as the carriage railings.
- If you go in summer, our guide to summer raclette has ideas to extend the experience out on the terrace.
🧀 Our picks for a successful raclette
The Raclette Train presented by the park
On its official Facebook page, Swiss Vapeur Parc itself presents its “Raclette Train”: raclette, wine and a ride aboard the “Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn,” one of the park’s trains, with a café gourmand as an option and bookings on swissvapeur.ch. The name conjures up the great Alpine passes, but the train stays knee-high, and that’s the whole charm of it.
Video posted by Swiss Vapeur Parc (official page) on Facebook
Want to extend the adventure at home?
With no steam locomotive in the living room, you can still recreate the atmosphere with a good grill and a half wheel. And if there’s cheese left the next day, recycle it into leftover raclette croquettes: they travel very well in a lunch box, even without a train.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Swiss Vapeur Parc?
In Le Bouveret, in the canton of Valais, on the shores of Lake Geneva. The park is dedicated to miniature steam trains.
Is the mini-train raclette offered all year round?
No: the park closes in winter, and its official website announces the reopening on March 19, 2027. After that, check the Raclette Train calendar and book on the official website before you travel.
Is the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn “Raclette Train” a different experience?
No, it’s the same one: on its official Facebook page, Swiss Vapeur Parc presents its Raclette Train, with raclette and wine served aboard the “Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn,” and links to swissvapeur.ch for bookings.
Videos: © @alan.discovery (Instagram), © Blick (YouTube) and © Swiss Vapeur Parc (official Facebook page). Information checked on 11/03/2026.
