For the typical train enthusiast or one who enjoys breathtaking views of prestigious mountaintop terrain, the Bernina Express in Switzerland is the must experience scenic train ride of a lifetime. Nestled in the heart of the Alps, the Bernina Express from Chur / St. Moritz – Valposchiavo – Tirano is the highest railway in the infamous mountain region and is one of the best international train rides one can participate in. The railway famous for many things such as the Landwasser Viaduct, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site but more importantly, is a cherished asset of Switzerland.
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Bernina Express in Switzerland - Quick info
| Glacier Express – Short Info | |
| Route | Chur / St. Moritz (Switzerland) – Tirano (Italy) |
| Ticket Price | CHF 64 (adult, 2nd class), plus seat reservation |
| Time Table | up to 5 trips per day and direction |
| Special features |
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The Bernina Express like many regional trains in Switzerland rides along the Bernina Railway and is built to blend into the terrain of the Alps. The Bernina Express train is among the greatest scenic train rides, only behind the Glacier Express, and is the preferred train journey to Italy. Your journey can be purchased through either a 1st class or 2nd class ticket, but your experience won’t be muted in any way if you choose the cheaper 2nd class ticket.
How Much It Costs to Ride Bernina Express
Traveling within Switzerland with the Bernina Express is simple. Holders of the Half fare card only pay half the fare to travel on the Bernina express. There is a Swiss Travel Pass, too, which allows holders to travel for free on the Bernina express train. A seat reservation is mandatory. Want to learn more about train travels in Europe? Here you go: How to rail Europe?
The Bernina Express like many regional trains in Switzerland rides along the Bernina Railway and is built to blend into the terrain of the Alps. The Bernina Express train is among the greatest scenic train rides, only behind the Glacier Express, and is the preferred train journey to Italy. Your journey can be purchased through either a 1st class or 2nd class ticket, but your experience won’t be muted in any way if you choose the cheaper 2nd class ticket.
The Bernina express starts at around 63 CHF for the 2nd class for a full ride from Chur to Italy and will add an additional 10 CHF for a seat reservation. While the 1st class experience is not necessary for an amazing journey, you can purchase a ticket for around 111 CHF. Some of the added benefits include more space, and the opportunity to sit at a table for lunch.
The great thing about the Bernina Express is that you do not need to purchase a separate ticket if you have a Swiss pass or a Eurail ticket. However, you will need to make a reservation to guarantee a spot on your journey which does require the additional 10 CHF fee. Most people that are on vacation for multiple weeks tend to purchase either a Swiss pass or an Eurail ticket, so it is highly encouraged to pursue one of these passes if you intend to do significant train travel other than the Bernina Express.
So do not waste any time. Book your excursion on the Bernina Express today, and discover the truly breathtaking views that the best of Europe has to offer. It is the best few hours your vacation deserves.
If you wanna know the pricing details, here you go:
| From – to | Fare 2nd class | Fare 1st class |
|---|---|---|
| Chur – Tirano | CHF 63 CHF | CHF 111 |
| St. Moritz – Tirano | CHF 32 | CHF 56 |
| Chur – Poschiavo | CHF 56 | CHF 98 |
Is the Bernina Express free when using the Swiss Travel Pass?
A Swiss travel pass allows a passenger to travel in Switzerland for a period of time, usually 3,4,8 and 15 days. You need to make your travel plan well and decide whether getting a pass is the best idea for you. You can get the Swiss travel pass from the SBB website and check prices relating to the Swiss pass. Calculate your daily travel costs comparing with Switzerland passes and make a financially sane decision. The Swiss travel pass can be used also on scenic trains like Bernina Express or Glacier Express rain for the period stated in the past. It saves cost, and you can use the extra cash on something else.
But be aware! Seat reservations are needed on the Bernina Express. If you want a seat reservation, you will need to arrange for a seat reservation online since seat reservations are not included in the swiss travel pass or rail pass.
Seat Reservations for Bernina Express
Find the prices for the seat reservation for the Bernina Express, which have to be booked prior to your journey, as the trains are fully booked most of the time!
| Seat Reservation Bernina Express | Price |
|---|---|
| Winter | CHF 20 |
| Spring & Autum | CHF 24 |
| Summer | CHF 26 |
The Bernina Express Route
The Bernina Express technically operates along two distinct railways, the Albula Line and the Bernina Railway Line. Both these routes were built in the early 1900s and are operated by the Rhaetian Railway. These two routes were jointly declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. The Albula Line that goes from Chur to St. Moritz is approximately 62 Kilometers, while the Bernina Railway is approximately 60 Kilometers, and goes from St. Moritz all the way down to Tirano, Italy.
In the summertime, the Bernina Express train will traverse from Chur to Pontresina and will change locomotives to complete the journey to Tirano. The rest of the year, the service is part of a regional train system that operates three main operations: Chur to Samedan, Samedan to Pontresina, and Pontresina to Tirano. While some cars are reserved for tourists looking to traverse the entire Bernina Express, there will be reserved cars for regional commuters. The timetable online shows the entire journey from start to end depending on the time of year takes about a little over four hours to complete.
To give you an idea of your itinerary, you can expect to leave Chur around mid-morning heading South on the Albula Line. The train will begin to make its way to Thusis and Filisur, before stopping in Samedan. Before hitting Filisur, you will pass over the Landwasser Viaduct, a beautiful single track six arch structure that leads into the Landwasser Tunnel. The Landwasser Viaduct is considered one of the best rail bridges in the entire world.
After leaving Samedan, the train will make its way to Pontresina at approximately 5 kilometers, meeting up with the Bernina railway that originates in St. Moritz. Alternatively, you could get off at Samedan, and take a quick 5-kilometer train ride to St Moritz. A very popular resort town in eastern Switzerland, where you can also meet up with the Glacier Express.
From either St Moritz or Samedan, you can make it to Pontresina and then continue your onward journey to Torino. From here you will ascend to the highest elevations along with the Bernina Express, landing in the village of Ospizio Bernina, at an altitude of over 2200 meters. From there, you will then begin to descend, landing in Alp Grum about 5 kilometers away, and continuing to Poschiavo another 16 kilometers away as you approach a more standard elevation. Poschiavo is the last major stop along the route before you eventually hit the Switzerland / Italy country border, with the Tirano railway station not even 2 kilometers past the border.
If you do plan to traverse all the way to Tirano you will need to have your passport as you will be required to go through customs as part of entering another country. Even if you plan to do the Bernina Express as a round trip on the same day, the railway won’t allow you to go to Tirano if you do not provide evidence prior to boarding. A return trip will leave around early to mid-afternoon, giving you a couple of hours in Torino to quickly grab a bite or take some pictures if you wish.
Bernina Express Bus to Lugano
The Bernina Express Bus has been in service since 2010, and the journey from Tirano to Lugano is approximately 123 kilometers going in a western direction. most of the journey travels through the northernmost region of Italy, hitting the villages of Sondrio, Morbegno, and Domaso. You can travel either direction, but most tourists choose to travel towards Torino on the Bernina Express and then continue westward to Lugano. By default, you will pay a 2nd class fare for using the system.
If you travel westward from Tirano, be sure to sit on the right side of the bus to capture views of the Alps from the Southern approach. You can also sit on the left side if you wish to view the Lago di Como and Lago di Lugano that covers most of the second half of your westward journey to Lugano. Once you pass over the Switzerland / Italy border, it is no more than a few kilometers back to the Lugano train station. the journey itself is about three hours.
Once you hit Lugano, you have several options. You could spend a few nights in this beautiful village and enjoy more breathtaking views of the Alps. Second, if you wish to see more of Italy, there is a direct train connection to Milan through the Swiss Federal Railways. From Milan, you can utilize the Italian national railroad to hit any major city including but not limited to Rome, Florence, Venice, or Naples.
8 Travel Tips for Bernina Express
- The Bernina Express only operates one train a day between Chur and Tirano, so it’s important to not miss your train, or you will have to take either another regional train. Alternatively, you could spend time overnight in Tirano and catch a return train back the next day. When in Tirano you could also utilize the Bernina Express Bus, which can help extend your journey from Tirano back into Switzerland to the village of Lugano. Again you will need to have your passport to get back into Switzerland.
- Alternatively, you might find you want to just do a return trip back to Chur or wherever your journey began. However, you may want to utilize an overnight in Torino, as it’s a tight connection to use the Bernina Express Bus as well the Bernina Express on the same day.
- Finally, you could choose to utilize either the railway or bus system to complete your route along the Western passage of the Alps. You could utilize the nation’s high-speed rail to ride up to Arth-Goldau. From there you could continue onward to Zurich, a popular location tourists base their stay out of, or you could backtrack to a regional train that takes you to Andermatt.
- From here you could catch the Glacier Express, and either proceed westward to the Glacier Express terminus of Zermatt, or go eastward to the terminus of St Moritz, in which you could meet back up with the Bernina Express back to Chur, or visit other villages along the Rhaetian Railway utilizing regional trains. The glacier express from Zermatt to St. Moritz is a 290 Kilometer journey that takes a total of 7.5 hours. From Andermatt, you could decide to only choose one half of this journey in which case you get to experience most of the greatness of the glacier express for half the time and the price. While the Bernina Express is one of the top train trips in the country, The glacier express is considered the premier itinerary and is highly recommended for a first time visitor to this area of Europe.
- All services mentioned require a seat reservation and can be booked at the time of purchase. Bernina Express and Bernina Express bus tickets can be purchased on the Rhaetian Railway website. The website will show a daily timetable and what seats are available on the day you wish to pursue your train journey. The seat reservation system might surge prices depending on demand for some trips or based on location along the train. Many tourists who pursue the Bernina Express have an idea in mind of which side they like to sit on and often you will see on the seat reservation system that one side is more sold than another.
- For most people who ride the Bernina Express, they would rather get a better view of the Alps to the west rather than the countryside of the east. This means that when the Bernina Express is traveling south from Chur to Tirano, you will want to sit on the right side for your train journey to see the alps. Because you will find that most people who do a one-way loop around the alps go clockwise, you may find the trip more exciting by going counterclockwise. If you start in Tirano or Lugano and work your way towards Chur and St. Moritz, you will find the trains less crowded and easier to choose your preferred seat reservation. Just keep an eye on the timetable of the Bernina Express and make proper determinations of where you can break up your trip.
- Alternatively, if you have an interest in visiting some of these smaller villages along the Rhaetian Railway, you could forgo the Bernina Express train and utilize regional trains along the Bernina Express passage. As mentioned St. Moritz is a great place to stop and either go skiing or pick up the Glacier Express. Alternatively, you can visit the actual district of Bernina and visit either Poschiavo or Brusio. Bernina is a favorite locale to stop along with the Bernina Express, as Brusio is an elongated village nestled in a valley between two large mountaintops just North of the Switzerland / Italian border. It’s a true representation of rural swiss culture.
- If you find yourself wanting to visit Switzerland, it is imperative that you take the Bernina Express one of the top things to do for your travel itinerary. When a scenic train achieves UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is not by accident and it is worth the expense and time to make the trip. The Rhaetian Railway has a fantastic reputation for providing a comfortable ride and is the number one choice of travel to the village of St. Moritz, which is the most popular tourist stop in the southeast part of the country.
Glacier Express - the other Swiss scenic train
The 7hour Glacier Express route is a really amazing experience as you get to see the Swiss mountains, and the scene is just amazing. In addition, the train has food and wine that a passenger can enjoy as they make the trip. Their wine taste is highly regarded. A good glass of wine, a nice meal, and an amazing view of the beauty outside is one way to make a satisfactory trip with the Glacier Express.
The Glacier express trains are owned by two Switzerland Railway companies, including the Matterhorn Gotthard Bohn. The Glacier express train covers the route from Zermatt to St Moritz. The Glacier Express moves at an average speed of about 24 km/hr, giving passengers ample time to experience the eye-catching view that the journey offers. The Glacier Express offers the ultimate tourist satisfaction allowing you to have a scenic journey full of enthusiasm and beauty.
FAQ Bernina Express
For the typical train enthusiast or one who enjoys breathtaking views of prestigious mountaintop terrain, the Bernina Express in Switzerland is the must experience scenic train ride of a lifetime. The railway famous for many things such as the Landwasser Viaduct, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site but more importantly, is a cherished asset of Switzerland.
Nestled in the heart of the Alps, the Bernina Express from Chur / St. Moritz – Valposchiavo – Tirano is the highest railway in the infamous mountain region and is one of the best international train rides one can participate in.
The journey takes about 4 hours to complete, depending on the route and any stops along the way.
The railway famous for many things such as the Landwasser Viaduct, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site but more importantly, is a cherished asset of Switzerland.
The Bernina Express offers two classes of service: First and Second. First-class passengers have larger seats and more legroom, as well as access to a welcome drink and a three-course meal served at their seat. Second-class passengers have comfortable seats and access to a bistro car for food and drinks.
The fare for the Beernina Express varies depending on the class of service, time of year, and other factors. As of 2023, the one-way fare for second class starts at CHF 64. There are also discounted fares available for children, groups, and seniors.
Yes, it is highly recommended to make reservations for the Bernina Express in advance, as the train can be fully booked during peak season. Reservations can be made online or through a travel agent.
The Bernina Express operates year-round, but the scenery can vary depending on the season. Spring and autumn offer mild weather and fewer crowds, while winter offers a snowy wonderland. Summer is the most popular time to visit, but also the busiest. But as the Bernina Express ends in Italy with palms and a warm welcome, you can go there at any time of the year.
Top10 Highlights while travelling on the Bernina Express
The Bernina Express is one of Switzerland’s most iconic train journeys. The train route takes you from Chur, Switzerland, to Tirano, Italy, passing through some of the country’s most stunning Alpine landscapes. Here are ten highlights of the Bernina Express journey:
Landscapes: The Bernina Express route takes you through breathtaking landscapes that include mountain passes, glaciers, lakes, and forests.
Bernina Pass: The train journey takes you across the Bernina Pass, which is the highest point on the route, reaching an altitude of 2,253 meters.
Brusio Circular Viaduct: This unique structure is a circular viaduct that spirals around itself, allowing the train to gain altitude while maintaining a reasonable gradient.
Alp Grüm: The Alp Grüm station offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and is an excellent place to stop for a bite to eat.
Morteratsch Glacier: The Bernina Express passes by the Morteratsch Glacier, one of the largest glaciers in the Eastern Alps.
Lago Bianco: The Lago Bianco is a stunning glacial lake that sits at an altitude of 2,253 meters.
Lej Nair: Lej Nair is a small lake that is located near the Bernina Pass and is surrounded by snow-capped mountains.
Tirano: Tirano is a charming Italian town that is the terminus of the Bernina Express. The town is known for its historic architecture and delicious food.
Val Poschiavo: The Val Poschiavo is a picturesque valley that the train passes through on its way to Tirano.
Swiss Chocolate: While on the train, be sure to try some Swiss chocolate. It is a local specialty and one of the best things to enjoy while taking in the stunning scenery.
These are just a few of the many highlights of the Bernina Express journey. It is truly an unforgettable experience that should be on every traveler’s bucket list.