Bernina Express: Route Map, Schedule, Seat Reservation, & Ticket Price

Accessibility & Connectivity

There are many ways in which you can include the Bernina Express into your Switzerland holiday program.

You can kick-start your Swiss itinerary by connecting directly to Chur or St Moritz upon arrival into Zurich airport. Chur is just 1.5 hours from Zurich whereas St Moritz is a roughly 3.5 hour journey.

You could also connect from Zermatt to Chur or St. Moritz via the Glacier Express, another one of Switzerland’s Panoramic trains, stay overnight in one of these towns and then start your Bernina Express journey the next day.

If your European holiday extends to Italy, then the Bernina Express journey could be your parting song.

Whatever your plan, just get in touch with one of the travel consultants at SWISStours and they will help formulate the plan and make the necessary bookings too.

Day Trip on the Bernina Express

The Bernina Express train journey is a relatively short one and therefore can easily be incorporated as a return day trip as well. The 4 to 4.5 hour journey from Chur to Tirano which is sometimes referred to as the Bernina Express long route or the shorter 2.5 hour journey from St Moritz to Tirano which is sometimes referred to as the Bernina Express short route are both comfortable day trip options.

Views

The Bernina Express is arguably one of Europe’s most spectacular train journeys. The remarkable route passes through the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Rhaetian Railways, while crossing a staggering 55 tunnels and 196 bridges!

As you comfortably glide along the 144 km track you will be mesmerized by the tapestry of passing landscapes. Passing via rustic forests, serene white-capped Alps, gorgeous alpine villages and enchanting lakes you will make your way to palm trees and warmer Mediterranean climes.

Along the way, you will encounter highlights like the Montebello curve which offers you a glimpse of the magnificent Bernina Massif, the Brusio Circular viaduct and the gorgeous lakes Lej Pitschen, Lej Nair and the Lago di Bianco.

We will discuss some of these highlights as we go along.

The Bernina Express bus, also recognized by the same scarlet color as the train, runs along the shores of Lake Como and Lake Lugano past verdant vineyards and picturesque villages.

Comfort

The train is equipped with large panoramic windows that arch up over your head and give you unobstructed views of the stunning landscape. The cabins are air conditioned, with an informative commentary and onboard catering service. So go ahead and order your favorite tipple or comfort snack and prepare to be amazed as you glide by the most jaw-dropping scenery imaginable.

Bernina Express Ticket Price

The Bernina Express may not be the most economical option but will be worth every dollar spent. The journey is also included in the Swiss Travel Pass, Eurail Pass and the Interrail pass so if you hold any of these, then you do not have to pay for the ticket.

Bernina Express Seat Reservation

However, since this is a reserved-only train, you will have to reserve your seat well in advance and depending on the season, the reservation can take you back by around 25 to 40 Swiss Francs. The extension from Tirano to Lugano by bus can cost between 14 to 16 Swiss Francs.

You can check the exact tailored cost for your required season and segment on swisstours.com.

The small investment promises to elevate your Swiss program to the next level!

Class Of Travel

The train offers first and second class cabins and you can opt for the class of reservation that matches your Swiss Travel Pass or Eurail Pass. Both classes have panoramic windows to ensure you get a seamless view of the scenery.

However, the first class cabins are fitted with fewer, larger leather-furnished seats and therefore offer more space. The 2nd class cabin has two columns with two seats on either side of the aisle whereas the first class cabin has a column with two seats and a column with one seat making it ideal for solo travelers too.

When To Book Your Bernina Express Reservation and Seat

This can be a bit tricky since the reservation and the ticket booking itself open at two different times. The reservation for the seat can be done up to 6 months in advance of the travel date whereas the ticket itself can be purchased only 60 days ahead.

If you hold the Swiss Travel Pass or the Eurail Pass, you will not need to purchase the ticket so go ahead and book your seat reservations as soon as you have decided on the segment and class of travel. In the summer, reservations can be really difficult especially over weekends and school vacation periods.

Keep in mind that if you are traveling in winter, the SBB timetable is updated every December and therefore the December reservations may not be possible far in advance.

Frequency Of Operations

The Bernina Express operates all year round but the frequency of trains differ per season and segment so this can be a bit confusing.

In a nutshell, the Chur to Tirano segment operates all year with one train in winter and two trains in summer. The St Moritz to Tirano segment operates with three trains in summer and one train in the winter but it is not a daily operation throughout the winter season.

The summer season is normally from mid-May to mid-October. The rest of the year is considered their winter season and timetable.

The Bernina Express bus between Tirano and Lugano and vice versa operates Thursday to Sunday from mid-February to March and October to November. It operates daily from March to October. There are no bus operation from November to mid- February.

Catering Service on the Bernina Express

There is no restaurant on board the Bernina Express. However, they do have a mini-cart, or what they call a roving minibar, that can serve your refreshments and beverages at your seat. The menu mainly consists of a few local Swiss delicacies and cold drinks, beers and wines which is more than enough for the 4-hour journey. However, it is not cheap and you do have the option of carrying your own food.

If you are traveling first class, you also get a free souvenir of chocolate (in a tin box shaped like the train compartment…really neat!) and herbal tea.

Left Or Right Side

Almost every traveler's question is which side of the train offers the best views. Well, both sides offer great views through the panoramic windows.

However, the right side is preferred while traveling from Switzerland to Italy and the left side, from Italy to Switzerland.

This being said, keep in mind that there is no way of knowing the directions of the cabins when you book your ticket so ensuring the preferred side of the cabin is not possible. The RhB site itself clearly mentions that there is no information on the driving direction available.

Best Time of Year To Travel

While you should definitely experience the Bernina Express journey once, it would be perfect if you could do it more than once and in different seasons.

In summer, you experience the vibrant shades of green forests and azure blues of the lakes. As the season changes, the earthy autumn colors are simply stunning and of course the frosty winter has its own charm showing off carpets of white.

Luggage

Yes, you can carry your luggage on board. However, you have to keep in mind that there are no overhead luggage racks due to the panoramic windows. Luggage can be stowed below your seats and on the luggage racks. Also, the luggage racks in the second class offer more space than those in the first class.

Geographical Highlights

Let's examine some of the reasons for the collective “Oohs” and “Ahhs” around each bend in this amazing journey.

Landwasser Viaduct

Considered one of the most recognized railway structures, this bridge resting on its five arches at 65 meters in height, spans a deep gorge and has become symbolic of the Rhaetian Railway.

Bernina Pass

Feel the dip in the temperature as the train reaches its highest elevation at 2253 meters and offers stunning views of the snow capped peaks, the Morteratsch glacier and surrounding rugged terrain.

Alp Grum

A stop at Alp Grum at 2091 meters offers the opportunity for some fantastic photographs. The station itself is built out of natural stone and has an adjoining restaurant that offers views over the Piz Palu (glacier). This glacier also lends its name to the crystalline Palu See (lake) of the region.

Brusio Spiral Viaduct

Another engineering marvel and iconic of the Rhaetian Railway, this bridge between Poschiavo and Tirano is made up of nine arches, each 10 meters in diameter. You can get amazing views of this as the train descends around a tight right-hand curve.

Lago Di Poschiavo

This picturesque natural reservoir surrounded by mountains is situated 962 meters above sea level. As the train runs parallel to its promenade you feel as though you can actually reach out and touch its gleaming azure waters. Moving southward, you can turn back to see the distant mountains from where you descended.

An Ideal Program including the Bernina Express

As we mentioned, the Bernina Express can easily be fitted into any program short or long.

Like most visitors, if Switzerland is a part of your extended European itinerary, it would be good to start of with Zurich and make your way through a few great towns like Lucerne, Interlaken and Zermatt before you make your way to Chur to experience the Bernina Express.

From Zurich you could visit the amazing Rhine Falls, visit the Lindt Home of Chocolate for a lip-smacking experience and take a city tour around Switzerland's largest city and financial hub.

In Lucerne, the “city of lights”, walk along the iconic Chapel bridge, take a lake cruise( public boats are included in the Swiss Travel Pass) and visit fascinating mountain peaks like Mount Titlis and Mount Pilatus. Make sure you have some time to unwind or have a meal at one of the restaurants along the lake promenade.

Interlaken is the adventure-sports hub of the country. Adventure enthusiasts can try their hand at skydiving, river rafting, bungee jumping and paragliding. It is also home to the amazing Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe, one of the most popular mountain excursions. The name Interlaken literally means ‘between two lakes’ so take a lake cruise which will take you to some neighboring picture-perfect towns.

The town of Zermatt lies at the base of the mighty Matterhorn - the most photographed mountain in the world!. Take an excursion to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise for some astounding views of the Matterhorn massif, visit the Matterhorn museum, walk along the Bahnhofstrasse (main road) of this quintessential Swiss town with its numerous restaurants, pubs and souvenir shops. Zermatt is also one of the most sought after winter sports destinations in Europe (if you are headed for Zermatt in the winter, make sure you have secured your hotel bookings well in advance).

From Zermatt, you can take the Glacier Express train to either Chur or St Moritz, spend a night in one of these towns before taking the Bernina Express to Tirano the next day.

Hope this blog has inspired you to include the Bernina Express with Swiss Travel Pass (and if you follow the above itinerary, the Glacier Express too) in your Switzerland holiday. Don't wait any longer - just go ahead, and reserve your seats in seconds.

Your most memorable vacation yet is just around the corner!