Glacier Express + Bernina Express

These two unique railway lines blend harmoniously into the landscape with spectacular feats of engineering including structures, tunnels and spiral viaducts.

The highest point of the journey.

The «Swiss Grand Canyon» enchants visitors with its diverse and striking landscapes. Stretching over 14 kilometres between Ilanz and Reichenau, the Rhine River flows through its natural course flanked by white cliffs that soar to 350 metres in height, creating an astonoishing natural panorama.

The Landwasser Viaduct is one of the most iconic landmarks in Graubünden. This 142-metre-long, 65-metre-high bridge carries the railway in a sharp curve over the rugged Landwasser Valley, leading directly into a tunnel at the other end.

At 2'253 m, the highest train station of the Rhaetian Railway.

An engineering marvel on the Bernina Railway, designed to overcome steep gradients by allowing trains to gain elevation in a circular loop. This unique stone structure, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, features nine arches and is a key highlight of the Bernina Express journey. Its dramatic spiral design not only showcases ingenious railway construction but also offers passengers a moving 360 degree view of the surrounding landscape.

The world-famous car-free mountain resort, at the foot of the Matterhorn.

The birthplace of the alpine winter holidays, impresses with style, elegance and class.

The charming paradise on Lake Lugano.

The main difference between the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express lies in the route, the journey time and the type of landscape. The Glacier Express connects Zermatt and St. Moritz via the Oberalp Pass, the Rhine Gorge and the Albula Valley, taking a total of around eight hours, whilst the Bernina Express runs from Chur or St. Moritz to Tirano and offers significantly shorter journeys of around four hours. In terms of scenery, the Glacier Express mainly showcases high-alpine regions and vast mountain pass landscapes, whilst the Bernina Express offers striking contrasts between the high Alps, lakes, glaciers and the southern valley region around Poschiavo and Tirano.

The best time to take a trip on the Glacier Express depends on a combination of the season, daylight, weather and passenger numbers. Daylight is the key factor, as the journey lasts several hours and only when there is sufficient light can the most striking sections, such as the Rhine Gorge or the Oberalp Pass, be fully appreciated. The season and weather also influence the impact of the landscape and the atmosphere of the journey.

The most scenic route is considered to be the continuous journey along the Bernina Line, where the high Alps and the southern valleys lie directly opposite one another. The section between Pontresina and Ospizio Bernina is particularly striking, with its glaciers, lakes and open alpine landscape. Further south, the transition into the Val Poschiavo accentuates the contrast in the landscape all the way to the lower-lying areas near Tirano.

The journey on the Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano takes around four to four and a half hours and is usually made without changing trains. The journey covers the entire route along the Albula Line, over the main Alpine ridge at Ospizio Bernina, and the subsequent descent into the Val Poschiavo to Tirano. With alternative regional train services, changes may be necessary, which could extend the total journey time.