The 7hour Glacial 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.
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Glacier Express in Switzerland - Quick info
| Glacier Express – Short Info | |
| Route | St. Moritz – Brig – Andermatt – Disentis – Chur – Filisur – Zermatt |
| Ticket Price | CHF 153 (adult, 2nd class, St. Moritz – Zermatt), plus seat reservation |
| Time Table | 2 trips per day and direction |
| Special features |
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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.
How Much It Costs to Ride Glacier Express in Switzerland
Traveling within Switzerland with the Glacier Express is simple. Holders of the Half fare card only pay half the fare to travel on the Glacier express. There is the Swiss Travel Pass which is accepted on the Glacier train, including GA travel card and the Eurail pass are now allowed on the Glacier express train. A seat reservation is mandatory. Want to learn more about train travels in Europe? Here you go: How to rail Europe?
Children
Kids under the age of 6 travel for free on the train, and those above that age up to the age of 16 travel at a half discount. However, the train service office, the Junior Card, allows children above the age of 6 to about six years old to travel at no cost. Seat reservations are mandatory on the train, and all passengers are required to have one.
Regular Fee
Travel within Switzerland is easy and simple. The trains offer a regular fee that is the same for all Switzerland train stations. The regular fee does not expire up until the time of travel. Also, the fee is applicable to all trains, and you may switch trains if you so wish to do so since the fee is common fr all trains. The train service goes on to add a flexibility angle whereby you may make as many stops through your journey provided you do so on the same day of travel.
Like other forms of transport, the Express ticket is subject to change with time. Fluctuations rise as the date of travel arrives. It is always advisable to book as early as possible and pan yourself adequately to avoid any inconveniences. You can book online and get the ticket from the station at any time. There are special bookings that involve vacation reserves. Such bookings are made through the rail bookers, and you get your vacation schedule fully planned and well taken care of. The Glacier Express and the Bernina Express offer these services. Plan well and take a look at the train timetable.
There are several sites through which you can get your glacier Express train ticket and seat reservation. Tickets can be accessed from www.glacierexpress.ch. Oder, use www.sbb.ch and www.thetrainline.com, to mention but a few sites.
The Zermatt train fare is around 135 pounds for 2nd class and 237 pounds (268CHF) for 1st class tickets to St Moritz.
If you wanna know the pricing details, here you go:
| From – to | Fare 2nd class | Fare 1st class |
|---|---|---|
| St. Moritz – Zermatt | 152.00 CHF | 268.00 CHF |
| St. Moritz – Brig | 114.00 CHF | 201.00 CHF |
| St. Moritz – Andermatt | 84.00 CHF | 147.80 CHF |
| Davos – Zermatt | 145.00 CHF | 255.00 CHF |
| Davos – Brig | 107.00 CHF | 188.00 CHF |
| Davos – Andermatt | 77.00 CHF | 134.80 CHF |
| Chur – Zermatt | 119.00 CHF | 210.00 CHF |
| Chur – Brig | 81.00 CHF | 143.00 CHF |
| Andermatt – Zermatt | 73.00 CHF | 129.00 CHF |
What is the Excellence Class in Glacier Express trains?
The Excellence Class is a premium train car on the Glacier Express, one of Switzerland’s most iconic train journeys. It is designed to offer passengers a luxurious and exclusive travel experience, with exceptional service, gourmet cuisine, and stunning views of the Swiss Alps.
The Excellence Class features spacious and comfortable seating, with plush leather chairs that can be adjusted to suit individual preferences. Each seat has a large window, providing panoramic views of the beautiful scenery along the route. Passengers can also enjoy a range of amenities, including complimentary drinks and snacks, a personal tablet with access to entertainment and information, and a dedicated steward who is on hand to attend to their every need.
One of the highlights of the Excellence Class experience is the gourmet cuisine, which is prepared on board by a team of expert chefs. Passengers can enjoy a multi-course meal that showcases the best of Swiss cuisine, with fresh and locally sourced ingredients. The meals are served with a selection of fine wines, carefully chosen to complement the flavors of each dish.
Overall, the Excellence Class offers a truly exceptional travel experience, with the perfect combination of comfort, luxury, and breathtaking views. It is the ideal choice for anyone looking to explore the stunning Swiss Alps in style and comfort.
The price for the Excellence Class on the Glacier Express can vary depending on a number of factors, including the time of year, the length of the journey, and the specific train car selected. However, in general, the Excellence Class is considerably more expensive than standard class tickets on the Glacier Express.
The cost of a one-way ticket in the Excellence Class on the Glacier Express starts at around CHF 410 (Swiss francs), which is approximately equivalent to USD 445 or EUR 375. However, this price could be higher during peak travel season or for longer journeys.
It’s worth noting that while the Excellence Class is more expensive than standard class, it offers a significantly more luxurious and exclusive travel experience, with gourmet meals, attentive service, and breathtaking views. So for many travelers, the additional cost is worth it for the extra comfort and indulgence.
Is the Glacier 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 on the 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 Glacier 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 Glacier Express
Find the prices for the seat reservation for the Glacier Express, which have to be booked prior to your journey, as the trains are fully booked most of the time!
| Seat Reservation Glacier Express | Price |
|---|---|
| Long Distance (Zermatt – St. Moritz) | CHF 39 (Winter), CHF 49 (Summer) |
| Short distance | CHF 29 (Winter), CHF 39 (Summer) |
| Excellence Class | CHF 420 |
The cost on the Zermatt - St Moritz route on the Express train
Seat reservations along this route to St Moritz for 2nd class cost around CHF 29, and tickets go for 153CHF. For the Swiss Pass and the Eurail to St. Moritz, the prices are already included within, and the Half Fare card costs half the fare shown on the train’s fare and timetable, which can be accessed from the train website. The St. Moritz route is amazing, with views of the Alps. Costs can be found on the timetable on the train’s website.
From Chur to Zermatt
The route to Zermatt includes the use of a Eurail, a Swiss pass, and individual tickets. The Zermatt Eurail prices are included upon purchase, and the Swiss half fare ticket warrants a passenger to pay half fare. The trains allow travel to Matterhorn with Eurail passes. Passengers require to have a seat reservation from Chur to Zermatt to enjoy this advantage. In addition, the 1st class ticket allows you to travel to the Excellence class. An Excellence class seat reservation fee is mandatory on the train.
The Glacier Express Route
The Glacier express route goes through Valais, Uri, and Graubunden in Switzerland. Along this famed route is St Moritz and Zermatt ski resorts, which are very much frequented by tourists and locals alike who want to have the ultimate ski experience especially in St Moritz. The route has several stops, including Zermatt, Brig, Chur, Andermatt, St. Moritz, and Samedan, to mention but a few. Taking the route from Zermatt to the rest of the stops gives you an amazing experience. There is a lot to the trip, including a fabulous view of nature. There is abundance in rocky mountains, alps, and vineyard backyards towards St.Moritz that present eye-catching beauty.
The full route from Andermatt to St. Moritz takes about nine and a half hours on the train. This is well worth your while. You could choose to alight at different stops along the route to St. Moritz. The stretch has a view of the beautiful and peaceful Switzerland towns that have a good sense of calm. The trains to St. Moritz have large and clear windows to allow a clear view of the outside beauty by passengers.
Zermatt to Brig
Zermatt has amazing views from rocky mountains to an Alps valley. Zermatt has an amazing view of Matterhorn.
Brig to Andermatt
The route involves crossing river Rhone and heading into a 15km tunnel with scenic views to Andermatt.
Where to take the Glacier Express train
There are several locations from which you can board the train. You can take a train to Chur that goes to Brig. You may choose to use the Andermatt route, which takes about eight hours, while the former takes about nine hours. You can also board a train from Zurich to Chur and then proceed to Brig. The route is about 9 hours long, while the Andermatt route takes 6 hours. Also, you can take a train to Brig from Interlaken where you can get a Glacier express which proceeds to Chur. The trip from the start and back to Interlaken costs about 9 hours.
On Board
The trains are well maintained and have top-notch seats to ensure comfortability is attained. The trains have both first and second cases in them. The classes have no much difference. The trains allow passengers to book meals prior to boarding. They also offer food in both classes. In addition, the train widows are specially designed and allow for a great view of the scenes that you are bound to see throughout this journey. The train has well-trained personnel that offers quality services to passengers. Also, the train allows passengers to carry their own food and or beer and other beverages of choice.
Some of these trains have an excellent class that requires passengers to pay a reservation fee of about CHF400. The Excellence class is amazing, and every passenger has a window through which they can see the beauty outside. There are good food and wine, including snacks, in this class. There is also a one by one seat arrangement that makes the class quite spacious and efficient to travel on. The services offered in this class are excellent. Passengers have exclusive access to a bar in this class.
Bernina Express - the other Swiss scenic train
This Bernina Express train offers excellent scenic views in all the routes it covers, including the St Moritz route. A particular scenic ride is the Zurich, Milan route. The that the Bernina Express cover include London to Paris to Zurich to Florence to Rome. There are numerous scenic views to be seen through this route. From Chur to Zurich, there is the Walensee. There are numerous mountain views along with different locations on the Bernina Express route. You can see the timetable for these trains from their site. There are trains that cover the Chur – St Moritz route and the Zermatt – St. Moritz route.
The Glacier Express: All ou need to know
FAQ Glacier Express
The Glacier Express is a scenic train route in Switzerland that takes you through the Swiss Alps and offers breathtaking views of mountains, valleys, and glaciers.
The Glacier Express route runs from Zermatt in the south-west to St. Moritz in the south-east of Switzerland, passing through 91 tunnels and crossing 291 bridges.
The journey takes about 8 hours to complete, depending on the route and any stops along the way.
The Glacier Express passes through some of Switzerland’s most stunning scenery, including the Matterhorn, the Rhone Valley, and the Oberalp Pass. Along the way, you’ll see snow-capped mountains, deep gorges, crystal-clear lakes, and picturesque villages.
The Glacier 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 Glacier Express varies depending on the class of service, time of year, and other factors. As of 2023, the one-way fare for first class starts at CHF 169, and the fare for second class starts at CHF 99. There are also discounted fares available for children, groups, and seniors.
Yes, it is highly recommended to make reservations for the Glacier Express in advance, as the train can be fully booked during peak season. Reservations can be made online or through a travel agent.
The Glacier 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.
Top10 Highlights while travelling on the Glacier Express
Here are the top 10 highlights you can expect while travelling on the Glacier Express from St. Moritz to Zermatt:
- The Bernina Pass: This stunning mountain pass reaches a height of 2,253 metres and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding Alpine scenery.
- The Landwasser Viaduct: This impressive viaduct spans across a deep gorge and features several curved arches, making it a popular photo spot.
- The Oberalp Pass: This pass sits at an altitude of 2,033 metres and offers panoramic views of the Swiss Alps.
- The Rhine Gorge: Also known as the “Swiss Grand Canyon”, the Rhine Gorge is a dramatic landscape of sheer cliffs, rocky outcroppings, and rushing water.
- The Furka Pass: This steep and winding pass takes you through some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in Switzerland.
- The Aletsch Glacier: The largest glacier in the Alps, the Aletsch Glacier is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is visible from the Glacier Express.
- The Matterhorn: One of the most iconic mountains in the world, the Matterhorn dominates the skyline as you approach Zermatt.
- The Valais Vineyards: As you near Zermatt, you’ll pass through the Valais region, which is known for its vineyards and picturesque villages.
- The Gornergrat: The highest open-air railway in Europe, the Gornergrat offers stunning views of the Matterhorn and the surrounding Alps.
- Zermatt: This charming Alpine town is car-free and offers plenty of activities, including skiing, hiking, and exploring the town’s quaint streets and shops.