Is the Glacier Express worth it? The ultimate Glacier Express guide

ByAlexx Posted

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Eight hours, 291 bridges, 91 tunnels and zero stress, Switzerland’s Glacier Express tops bucket lists of travellers and train nerds the world over. It’s actually what triggered my own Europe-by-rail obsession, it was the first scenic journey I took during my three month Eurail adventure a few years ago!

But with 54CHF seat reservations (even if you’ve got a travel pass) and full fare tickets coming up at an eyewatering 159CHF for 2nd class or 272CHF for 1st, I completely understand why so many people wonder if the Glacier Express is truly worth the hefty price tag.

As someone who loves a luxury experience but haaaates wasting my precious fondue money, I’ve deep-dived into the logistics to find out exactly who the Glacier Express is for and who might be better off skipping it, plus I’ve given you the blueprint to getting the absolute best deal on the trip so you never have to pay full price.

In this guide I’ll break down the real costs for 2026, important timetable info so you can plan your trip, and my honest verdict on whether the panoramic windows are worth the splurge compared to the local trains on the same route (plus I’ll tell you exactly how to take those local trains too).

All aboard!

Quick summary: Is the Glacier Express worth it?

If you’re just here for the answer to that question, my answer is *probably yes*, but it really depends on your budget, timeframe and priorities.

The Glacier Express is probably worth it for you if:

  • You’ve got a travel pass that covers the full ticket cost (leaving you to just pay the seat reservation)
  • You’re a lover of mountain landscapes
  • You’ve got a day to spare in your Switzerland itinerary for a slow but ultra-scenic journey
  • You’re a train nerd 🤓
  • You’re already doing the Bernina Express and want to tag on another epic rail journey

💰 With a Swiss Travel Pass or a Eurail Pass you won’t need to buy a Glacier Express ticket, saving you a massive 159CHF right off the bat!

But the Glacier Express might not be worth it for you if:

  • You prefer active adventures over slow scenery
  • You’re on a very tight budget
  • You’re short on time in Switzerland
  • You’d rather save money by doing the same route on local trains instead (info on that below!)

Glacier Express ay a glance

  • Route: Zermatt ↔ St Moritz (via Brig, Andermatt, Disentis, Chur & Samedan)
  • Duration: About 8 hours
  • Distance: 291km
  • Seat reservations: 54CHF for 1st and 2nd class
  • Ticket price: 159CHF for 2nd class and 272CHF for 1st class for the full Zermatt to St Moritz route (or vice versa)
  • Ways to save $$$: If you have a Swiss Travel Pass or Eurail Pass these count as your ticket, saving you 159CHF immediately!

Quick links

What is the Glacier Express?

Switzerland’s Glacier Express is an eight hour train trip around mountains and through gorges in the Swiss Alps, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful train journeys in Europe.

It takes you over 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels on the “slowest express train in the world”, allowing travellers to soak up the views through panoramic windows from the comfort of luxurious carriages.

It’s also known for being eye-wateringly expensive, but there’s ways to get around that which I’ll explain below!

Glacier Express route: Where does it start and finish?

The full Glacier Express journey starts in Zermatt and ends in St Moritz, or vice versa.

There are other stations in between where you can start or end your journey if you prefer, like Chur, Andermatt and Brig.

Glacier Express route map

Connecting the Glacier Express with the Bernina Express

The Glacier Express and the Bernina Express (another panoramic train) both stop in Chur and St Moritz, making them super easy to connect together to form an epic Switzerland train itinerary.

The Bernina Express full route runs from Chur to Tirano just over the Italian border, but there’s a shorter route that runs from St Moritz to Tirano instead, so you could choose to spend a night (or more) in either Chur or St Moritz to break up the trips.

➡️ Want to do the Bernina Express too? Check out my full Bernina Express travel guide for all the info on pricing, seat reservations, timetables and booking tips.

Glacier Express train timetable for 2026

📆 Last updated 8 January 2026, timetable valid until 10 October 2026

❄️ 2026 winter season: 6 December 2025 to 1 May 2026
☀️ 2026 summer season: 2 May to 10 October 2026
🔨 2026 shutdown period: 11 October to 4 December 2026

The Glacier Express timetable on their website is a bit confusing and there are a couple of trains that don’t run the entire route, so let me break this down for you.

Zermatt ➡️ St Moritz (full route)

One or two daily trains in winter, two trains in summer.

  • Train 920 (winter only but select dates, in 2026 it’s 31 Jan to 1 May): Departs Zermatt at 7.52am, arrives in Chur at 1.25pm and departs there at 1.34pm, then arrives in St Moritz at 3.37pm
  • Train 902 (runs year-round): Departs Zermatt at 8.52am, arrives in Chur at 2.25pm and departs there at 2.34pm, then arrives in St Moritz at 4.37pm
  • Train 904 (summer only): Departs Zermatt at 9.52am, arrives in Chur at 3.25pm and departs there at 3.34pm, then arrives in St Moritz at 5.37pm

St Moritz➡️ Zermatt (full route)

One or two daily trains in winter, two trains in summer.

  • Train 903 (runs year-round): Departs St Moritz at 8.38am, arrives in Chur at 10.45am and departs there at 11.05am, then arrives in Zermatt at 5.07pm
  • Train 905 (runs all of summer and the same winter dates as 920 above): Departs St Moritz at 9.38am, arrives in Chur at 11.56am and departs there at 12.05pm, then arrives in Zermatt at 6.07pm

Shorter trips

There are a few additional Glacier Express services that don’t quite stretch the whole route:

  • Train 900 (summer only) departs Zermatt at 7.52am and ends in Chur at 1.25pm
  • Train 906 (summer only) starts in Brig (the first stop after Zermatt) a 2.14pm and goes all the way through to St Moritz, arriving at 8.55pm
  • Train 901 (summer only) departs St Moritz at 7.05am and ends in Brig at 1.40pm
  • Train 907 (summer only) starts in Chur at 2.32pm and arrives in Zermatt at 8.07pm

Does the Glacier Express run year-round?

No, the Glacier Express does not run year-round. It has a break from mid-October to early December.

This almost caught me out because the official website used to say the Glacier Express has been running all year since 1982, so I planned out my entire Europe itinerary to include the train trip in early November a few years ago.

When I went to book I realised that there was in fact a shutdown period from the middle of October for 6-7 weeks, and had to completely rejig my trip to fit it in a few days before it closed for the season. Learn from my mistakes 🙃

In 2026 the shutdown period is from 11 October until 4 December.

Glacier Express prices in 2026: Tickets & seat reservations

💰 Prices valid until 10 October 2026

The total cost of taking the Glacier Express is made up of two separate parts:

  1. A ticket
  2. A seat reservation (mandatory for panoramic carriages)

If you have a Swiss Travel Pass, Eurail Pass, Interrail Pass or a Saver Day Pass, these act as your ticket so you don’t need to pay for a specific Glacier Express ticket. You do still need to pay for the seat reservation though.

And if you have a Swiss Half Fare Card, you’ll get 50% off the Glacier Express ticket cost, but you’ll also still need to pay the full seat reservation fee.

Glacier Express ticket prices

2nd class1st classExcellence Class
Zermatt – St Moritz (full route)159CHF272CHF272CHF
Zermatt – Chur124CHF212CHF

Ticket prices are the same year-round.

Glacier Express seat reservation costs

A seat reservation for 1st or 2nd class costs 54CHF for any Glacier Express route, regardless of whether you’re travelling the full trip from Zermatt to St Moritz or taking a shorter journey.

For Excellence Class, the seat reservation is a whopping 540CHF 🫠 PLUS you have to have a 1st class ticket.

This means that the full price for the Zermatt to St Moritz journey (if you’re buying a full fare ticket) is:

  • 2nd class: 159CHF + 54CHF = 213CHF
  • 1st class: 272CHF + 54CHF = 326CHF
  • Excellence Class: 272CHF + 540CHF = 812CHF

Seat reservations used to be different for long and short journeys but in 2026 they’re now 54CHF for all trips, and reservations are the same price year-round.

How to save money on the Glacier Express train

BUT WAIT ⚠️ Don’t let those prices put you off, because there are some easy ways to get a huge discount on your Glacier Express trip!

Option 1: Swiss Travel Pass, Eurail Pass or Interrail Pass

If you’re spending more than a couple of days using Switzerland’s public transport network, or if you’re planning on taking at least one other long-haul train in Europe, chances are a Swiss Travel Pass, Eurail Pass or Interrail Pass will save you money vs. paying full price.

A Swiss Travel Pass gives you unlimited access to Switzerland’s public transport including trains, buses and boats, plus discounts on most mountain railways and gondolas. It completely covers the cost of the Glacier Express ticket, you only have to pay the seat reservation fee.

The 3-day Swiss Travel Pass is 254CHF in 2nd class (with better value for longer passes), so if you’re combining the Glacier Express with two other intercity trains or mountain trips, it’s almost always going to save you money.

Eurail Passes and Interrail Passes on the other hand act as your train ticket for most trains across 33 countries in Europe, including Switzerland’s panoramic trains. If you’re tempted to plan a big Europe-wide train trip, you can read my full Eurail breakdown, my guide on how to use Eurail Passes and my three month Europe itinerary (no car needed).

With any travel pass you still need to pay the seat reservation fee in full.

Golden autumn foliage in a Swiss mountain valley along the Glacier Express route

Option 2: SBB Saver Day Pass

If you’re not getting one of those travel passes, an SBB Saver Day Pass is guaranteed to be the cheapest way to ride the Glacier Express if they’re available for your travel day.

It’s basically a one-day Swiss Travel Pass, giving you unlimited travel on the Swiss transport network for one day, and it always works out cheaper than buying a full price Glacier Express ticket directly. Saver Day Passes are dynamically priced, meaning the price goes up with demand, but even their maximum price (before they sell out for that day) is less than the Glacier Express full fare:

  • 2nd class Saver Day Passes start from 52CHF and they max out at 119CHF (saving you at least 40CHF)
  • 1st class Saver Day Passes start from 88CHF and max out at 199CHF (saving you at least 73CHF)
The Glacier Panorama bar car interior on the Glacier Express

If you have a Swiss Half Fare Card, you can get Saver Day Passes for even cheaper, starting from just 29CHF for 2nd class and maxing out at 69CHF, which is 90CHF less than the standard Glacier Express ticket.

The Saver Day Pass also covers travel for the entire day from midnight, right up until 5am the next morning, so if you took an early Glacier Express trip from Zermatt to St Moritz for example, you could travel onwards to Tirano or back up to Zurich on the same day without paying for separate train tickets.

There are two catches though:

  • Saver Day Passes are limited and can sell out, though in reality this only happens on popular travel days like in the peak of summer or around European school holidays (and even then you’d generally be able to nab a maxed out Saver Day Pass within even a couple of weeks of travel). You get better prices the earlier you book though, so purchase one as soon as you get your Glacier Express seat reservation.
  • They’re also non-refundable and can’t be changed to a different date, so triple check you’ve got the correct date before locking it in.
Woman in red gazing at autumn scenery from inside the Glacier Express

Option 3: Swiss Half Fare Card

A Swiss Half Fare Card gives you 50% off the entire Swiss Travel System network as well as 50% off most mountain railways and cable cars. It’s 150CHF for a whole month (no shorter options available), and for Switzerland itineraries without the Glacier Express it often works out better value than a Swiss Travel Pass.

Butttt for the Glacier Express specifically, 50% off still leaves you paying 79.50CHF for a 2nd class ticket.

Alternatively, a Saver Day Pass at the cheaper Half Fare Card rate starts from 29CHF and maxes out at 69CHF, so if you’re getting a Half Fare Card anyway for other parts of your Switzerland trip, use it to buy a discounted Saver Day Pass rather than a discounted Glacier Express ticket directly.

Autumn mountain valley viewed through Glacier Express panoramic windows

Option 4: Take regional trains along the same route (with changes)

If you want to follow the Glacier Express scenic route but aren’t fussed about the fancy carriages with panoramic windows, and don’t mind hopping on and off a bunch of times, you can avoid the seat reservation entirely by using local trains instead.

Local trains are fully covered by a Swiss Travel Pass or Eurail/Interrail Pass, otherwise your best option will be a Saver Day Pass or Half Fare Card + Saver Day Pass combo.

Switzerland train at mountain station platform with characteristic red livery

How to book Glacier Express tickets & seat reservations

There are two parts to locking in your Glacier Express trip, let’s go through both of them step by step.

How to book Glacier Express seat reservations

Glacier Express seat reservations sell out in advance, so it’s essential to make them well before you plan to travel.

They can be booked up to 93 days before your travel date. Window seats in summer can sell out the day they get released, so set a calendar reminder for 93 days ahead of your planned travel day to ensure you get the seat you want.

1️⃣ To book a seat reservation, first head to the Glacier Express website

2️⃣ Put in your origin and departure and hit ‘Find a connection’

3️⃣ It’ll show you the departures on your chosen date along with how many seats they have left. Choose your preferred departure and click ‘Buy a seat reservation’, then hit ‘Select your seat’.

4️⃣ It’ll bring up a seat map with the available seats, you can click through the carriages at the top to find the right one and select your seat.

5️⃣ In this next step you can choose to add on meals, but if you don’t want to book that in advance just click ‘Passengers’

6️⃣ Here it will ask you if you want to continue as a guest or login to your SwissPass account. Note that a SwissPass account is not the same as a Swiss Travel Pass, it’s just an online account you can use to buy public transport tickets in Switzerland.

You don’t need a SwissPass account for the Glacier Express, but if you’re booking multiple journeys it’ll save you time having to constantly enter your details. Otherwise just select ‘Continue as guest’ and add your name and date of birth.

7️⃣ In the passenger details section it’ll bring up a ‘Discount card’ dropdown. If you have a Half Fare Card you need to select it to get the 50% discount, but if you’ll be using a Swiss Travel Pass, Saver Day Pass or Eurail/Interrail Pass which all cover the ticket price in full, you can just tick the seat reservation only box.

8️⃣ Put in your credit card details and complete your purchase, all done!

How to book Glacier Express tickets if you don’t have a travel pass

If you don’t have a valid travel pass, there’s a simple way to make sure you get the best value Glacier Express ticket price.

Instead of buying a ticket on the Glacier Express website (which will give you the full price of the point-to-point route), you can use the SBB website or app to easily check if a Saver Day Pass is available.

1️⃣ Put in your origin and destination, find the ‘PE’ (Panoramic Express) train from the results and hit ‘Select tickets’

2️⃣ The default prices on the SBB website/app are based on a Half Fare Card so if you don’t have one you’ll need to fill in your passenger details and select ‘No discount’ from the dropdown

3️⃣ Then it’ll show you the ticket options, including the full fare Glacier Express ticket and a Saver Day Pass if it’s available

4️⃣ I’ll say it again: If a Saver Day Pass is available for your travel date, it is guaranteed to be cheaper than a full price ticket!

There are only two scenarios where you should buy full fare Glacier Express tickets:

  • If Saver Day Passes are totally sold out for your travel date and your Switzerland itinerary isn’t worth you getting a Swiss Travel Pass
  • If you forgot to buy a Saver Day Pass until the morning of the train (you can’t buy them the day of) and no other travel pass is worth it

How far in advance can you book the Glacier Express?

You can buy seat reservations 93 days ahead of travel, and you can buy tickets/Saver Day passes six months in advance.

View out the Glacier Express window with alpine scenery

How to do the Glacier Express route on regional trains

If you’re comfortable hopping on and off different trains and navigating (fairly small and efficient) Swiss train stations, you can avoid the seat reservation altogether by taking regional trains along the exact same route.

You’ll need to change trains four times and you won’t get the panoramic windows, but you’ll save yourself 54CHF which means your fondue dinner that night is basically free!

The local trains don’t have the panoramic windows but they do have one advantage, their windows can be opened. The Glacier Express panoramic windows are just flat panes of glass so you’ll often get glare and reflections in your photos depending on the sun, but regional trains have normal windows that you can slide open for reflection-free shots along the way.

Lush green Swiss valley seen through the Glacier Express window

How to follow the Glacier Express route using local trains

The local train option requires four changes along the way: Visp, Andermatt, Disentis/Mustér and Reichenau-Tamins.

If you make the shortest connections it’ll end up taking about 8h 20m, but if you want to stop for some sightseeing, grab a bite to eat or miss your connecting train for whatever reason, you can just jump on the next one.

The trick is finding the right connections to follow the correct route. To do this you need to:

  • Head to the SBB website
  • Enter Zermatt as your origin and St Moritz as your destination (or vice versa)
  • Click ‘Settings’ in the bottom right corner, toggle on ‘Show via field’ and click ‘apply’ at the bottom
  • In the ‘via’ field, add ‘Disentis/Mustér’. This is the key to making sure you’re finding the trains on the Glacier Express route, if you skip this step the system will suggest you take intercity trains via Bern or Zurich rather than through the mountains.
  • Now it’ll show you all the departures that service that route, but that list will include the Glacier Express trains or sometimes a combo of local trains plus the Glacier Express. To avoid paying for a seat reservation you’ll need to select a route without any ‘PE’ (Panoramic Express) trains in the list.

How much does it cost using local trains?

If you’ve got a Swiss Travel Pass or Eurail/Interrail Pass, the local trains along the Glacier Express route are fully covered with no seat reservations required, so the journey is essentially free.

If you don’t have a valid travel pass then a Saver Day Pass is almost always the cheapest option, but to check this you can just put the route into the SBB website (which I’ll run you through below) and it’ll show you the available prices for a Saver Day Pass, Supersaver ticket (tied to the exact connections you’ve selected) and the point-to-point tickets.

Autumn colours around a lake near St Moritz, Switzerland

1st class vs. 2nd class on the Glacier Express

The main benefit of a 1st class ticket on the Glacier Express (and any Swiss train) is that there’s additional space.

The 1st class seat layout is 2-2 on one side and 1-1 on the other side (vs. 2-2 and 2-2 in 2nd class) which means slightly bigger seats and a bigger aisle.

Having 1-1 seats is also ideal for a couple/duo or solo travellers, because you can have your own window seat without having to scoot past someone else to get into the aisle.

  • Glacier Express first class carriage showing the signature panoramic ceiling windows
    1st class with the 2-2 and 1-1 seating
  • Glacier Express second class seating with panoramic windows
    2nd class 2-2 and 2-2 seating

Apart from that, basically everything else is the same. The panoramic windows are the same, the menu is the same, both 1st class and 2nd class have speedy WiFi, and the views are obviously the same. I usually go for the first class upgrade on trains because more space means it’s easier to work on my laptop, but for the Glacier Express I was too busy enjoying the scenery to do any laptop work anyway!

If you’re planning on getting a Saver Day Pass, whether 1st class is worth it will totally depend on the prices. Both passes are priced dynamically but separately, meaning a 2nd class Saver Day Pass might be 97CHF but a 1st class might only be 50CHF more, which might be a worthwhile splurge for the extra space or a solo seat.

Glacier Express first class interior with panoramic windows and mountain views

What about Excellence Class?

If you’re celebrating something special, or if you just can’t turn down an opportunity for a once in a lifetime experience, Glacier Express has an ultra-luxurious and super exclusive Excellence Class.

Excellence Class guests get a red carpet welcome, a concierge that’ll take your luggage off your hands, a guaranteed window seat (that reclines!), a welcome glass of bubbles, and that’s before the train even starts moving.

Red Glacier Express train carriage at a Swiss station

Once you’re chugging along you’ll be able to soak up the views while enjoying a five-course meal and wine matches, or park up at the Excellence-Class-only Glacier Bar for fancy cocktails.

Sounds tempting I know, but are you ready for the price? A cool 540CHF for the seat reservation, on top of a 272CHF 1st class ticket 🫠 that brings the total for the full Zermatt to St Moritz journey (or vice versa) to 812CHF if you’re paying full fare.

The good news is that there are ways to bring the cost sliiiightly down:

  • If you have a 1st class Swiss Travel Pass or Eurail Pass you won’t have to buy a 1st class ticket, you’ll just have to pay the 540CHF seat reservation (ha, *just* 🙃)
  • If you have a 2nd class travel pass you can pay for a ‘Class upgrade’ for that specific day, which can be organised at any train station in Switzerland (plus the seat reservation fee)
  • If you don’t have a travel pass, buy a 1st class Saver Day Pass instead (88-199CHF so guaranteed saving vs. the full ticket)

Other Glacier Express tips

Pack your own food

There’s proper cooked meals available onboard but they’re expensive, if you’re keen to save money where you can then DIY a picnic lunch and take your own food with you.

Dress in layers

The train carriages have central heating/air con to keep temperatures pleasant year-round, but in summer you’ll get hottttt sitting in the sun all day and in winter if you’re sitting at the end of the carriage, people going in and out will let chilly alpine air in.

How to get the best photos

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the Glacier Express is less than ideal for photography due to huge un-open-able windows and terrible reflections. Photos hardly do the views any justice!

The best way to capture photos from the Glacier Express is to open the windows of the doors at the end of each cabin, these will give you a glass-free viewpoint with no reflections. Just be very careful for obvious reasons and don’t lean out too far, the train gets super close to trees/posts/tunnel walls and you don’t want to lose your phone, camera or a limb.

If you’re determined to shoot from your seat, here are a few simple tips to help you get the best photos:

  • Use a polarising filter on your camera
  • Use a lens hood and get as close to the glass as possible
  • Wear dark clothing, bright clothes will be more obvious in reflections
  • Have a dark scarf with you to wrap around your phone/lens
  • Shoot from the less sunny side of the train
  • Use a high shutter speed as the train will be moving at about 38km/h

Where to stay in Zermatt & St Moritz before and after the Glacier Express

Both Zermatt and St Moritz are very popular ski resorts and accommodation can fill up months in advance, especially during winter and especially the more affordable options.

I’d recommend booking your pre- and post-train accommodation at the same time you confirm your train reservation to avoid being stuck with no hotels in your budget.

Zermatt

Budget:

  • Hotel Bahnhof (right by the train station, kitchen facilities, comfortable dorms and private rooms)
  • Annex Antika (simple, affordable rooms but with access to the wellness area + free buffet breakfast at the Antika Hotel next door)
  • Zermatt Youth Hostel (very basic but one of the cheapest places in Zermatt without compromising on cleanliness or comfort)
Woman admiring the Matterhorn reflection in Riffelsee lake at Gornergrat

Mid-range:

Luxury:

  • I always stay at Hotel ZERMAMA, a brilliant boutique hotel and one of my homes-away-from-home in Switzerland. Their interior design is just beautiful, with tones and materials that connect it to the mountains while also feeling stylish and modern, and some of the rooms have Matterhorn views.
  • The Omnia (top-rated 5* hotel with world-class service and a lush spa complex)
  • Riffelalp Resort (5* ski-in ski-out resort sitting at 2222m, with mind-blowing Matterhorn views)
  • CERVO Mountain Resort (5* après ski haven with a focus on health, wellness and community)
Woman relaxing on a hotel balcony at Hotel ZERMAMA with Matterhorn views in Zermatt

And if you’ve got extra time to explore Zermatt, here are the best things to do there:

  • See the Matterhorn (warning: you’ll crave a Toblerone immediately)
  • Hit the slopes at the Matterhorn Ski Paradise, Europe’s highest-altitude ski area, open year-round
  • Take the Gornergratbahn for the best view in Zermatt
  • Hike the Five Lakes Walk
  • Take the cable car to the highest cable car station in Europe, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, for insane views and an epic ice palace experience
  • Eat fondue (highly recommend doing so on your balcony at Hotel ZERMAMA, they have DIY fondue kits for guests to use!)
  • Take a helicopter tour for an unforgettable aerial view of the Matterhorn and the Swiss Alps
  • Relax in one of Zermatt’s luxurious spas, unwinding with views of the majestic alpine landscape
The Matterhorn peak with a paraglider soaring above Zermatt

St Moritz

Where to stay | I stayed at Randolin’s Berghotel, which is a fantastic value family-friendly hotel with mountain and lake views. But that’s not all, I actually stayed in their historic observatory, complete with a turning mechanism and a window that opens for stargazing!

Observatory dome at Randolins hotel with snow-capped Swiss Alps in the background

This observatory is SO COOL, one of the most unique places to stay in Europe. You have to climb up a ladder to get up to the dome, where you’ll find a cosy double bed, some bench space for sitting or storage, and a big heater keeping you warm all night long. The room has a private bathroom downstairs as well as a minifridge and kettle before climbing up the ladder.

The hotel’s facilities are great too, with a decent buffet breakfast, a shuttle bus into town (it’s a 30 minute walk otherwise) and an awesome wellness area with saunas, steam rooms and both an indoor and outdoor pool.

Night sky view through the observatory window at Randolins hotel in St Moritz

What to do | St Moritz is one of Europe’s most luxurious ski resorts in winter, with world-class runs, Michelin-starred restaurants and designer shops. In summer there are a range of cable car options to get you to epic viewpoints and hiking trails through the mountains.

Glacier Express FAQs

Can you take luggage on the Glacier Express?

Of course you can! There are dedicated storage racks at the end of each cabin for big suitcases, and you can keep smaller bags under your seat or in between seats if there is room.

Is food included on the Glacier Express?

Food isn’t included in 1st and 2nd class bookings, but you can pre-order meals when you reserve your seat and there’s a restaurant onboard that you can order from on the trip (though availability is limited so I’d recommend pre-booking or bringing your own food as a back up).

Can I open the windows on the Glacier Express?

No, the large panoramic windows in the train carriages don’t open (which is great for sightseeing but not so great for photography). If you’re a photographer trying to avoid reflections then you’ll spend a lot of time in the end of the carriage (the vestibule) because the train doors have windows that can be pulled down.

Which side of the train is best for the Glacier Express?

This is tricky to answer because a) the train changes directions in Chur and b) you can’t guarantee the direction of the carriages when you book.

In saying that, the best views from the Glacier Express are on the right side for most of the trip (until Chur) from Zermatt to St Moritz, or if you’re travelling the other direction, on the left side (after Chur). The notable caveat here is that the Landwasser Viaduct (a highlight of the journey) is on the other side to the rest of the ‘best views’ but you could always grab a spot in the vestibule to see this instead.

There is one trick to booking the right seat that I learnt from frequent riders, and that’s that the single column of seats in 1st class are typically on the same side as the best views. If you’re not sitting in 1st class, you can just check the seat map to see which side those seats are on and then book your 2nd class spots on the corresponding side.

There’s no guarantee that this will work but it did work for me, and it’s worth a try!

Is there WiFi on the Glacier Express?

Yes, there is free WiFi available on the Glacier Express but the signal can be patchy, I wouldn’t rely on it to do any time-sensitive work or streaming.

Final verdict: Is the Glacier Express worth it?

If you love spectacular scenery, have a travel pass (or can get a cheap Saver Day Pass), have time for a full day train journey and can spare 54CHF for the seat reservation fee, the Glacier Express is absolutely worth it.

The views are worth the hype and the onboard experience is completely stress-free, there’s something magical about drifting past snowy peaks, alpine lakes and fairytale villages from the comfort of a cosy train carriage.

But if the price tag makes your eyes water, or if sitting still for eight hours sounds like a nightmare rather than a holiday, then the cheaper and shorter Bernina Express (Chur to Tirano) or doing the Glacier Express on local trains might be more up your alley.

Ready to plan the rest of your Switzerland adventure?

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Alexx is the full-time solo traveller behind Finding Alexx, a travel blog all about helping you make the most of your time and money on the road.

She quit her desk job in 2019 and has since visited more than 60 countries across six continents, armed with a couple of cameras, a suitcase that's way too heavy, and a mission to find the best travel experiences around the globe without blowing the budget. With a background in travel marketing, she blends storytelling and strategy to bring you ultra-detailed itineraries, honest travel guides and behind-the-scenes chaos from her adventures (and misadventures).

From scuba diving with sea turtles in Borneo to train-hopping in Switzerland to solo campervanning through her home country of New Zealand, she's here to help you plan smarter and travel better.

35 Comments

  2. It was very helpful, Thank you .
    I want to go the 16.5.2023 with the train from Bratislava.SK to St.Moritz or to Chur,and then with the Glacier expres to Zermatt.
    I don`t know exactly how i should do that,without loozing tíme.
    I would like to ser something nice in 8 days.
    I som little bit older lady,but with great sense to explore.
    Daška

    Reply

    1. Glad it was helpful! To get from Bratislava to Chur you can take the train (or bus might be cheaper) to Vienna and spend some time there if you wish, then it’s a one-stop (in Buchs) train to Chur from Vienna 🙂

      Reply

      1. Thank you fór the tip about the train from Vienna. I know Vienna very Well.
        I consider about to go to Zermatt oné day to Gornergrat.
        Second to Montreux and Lousane (spend there night),to Geneva,the samé dať to Bern sleeping there,než dať to Lucern sleeping there.With the Boat to Rigi.Sleeping in Lucerne,train to Zürich,then back to Bratislava .
        Second plán:
        Zermatt,then Bern,then Lucerne,Lugano,Locarno ,Ascona,,Locarno, Zürich.
        Byt i think the first idea IS better.Don`t you think?
        Thank you very múch fór your respond.

        Reply

        1. Unfortunately I haven’t been to Bern, Lugano, Ascona or Locarno so I can’t really say which option is better, but the first option including Montreux, Lausanne and Geneva is what I would choose!

          Reply

  3. Great information! If we take a shorter ride on the Glacier Express from Chur (instead of San Moritz) to Zermatt, would we regret missing that part of the ride between San Moritz and Chur? Is it especially beautiful?

    Reply

    1. You would miss the Landwasser Viaduct between St Moritz and Chur which is very cool to see, but the entire trip is beautiful so I don’t think you’d be disappointed with the shorter Chur to Zermatt route!

      Reply

    2. So much wonderful information and a real time saver from doing extensive and confusing research. Thank you for being so informative.

      Reply

  5. THinking of taking glacier express from Chur to St Mortiz, do you think it will be worth it and will give us good experience of the landscape?

    Reply

    1. Hey Nick! Both the Bernina Express and the Glacier Express travel between Chur and St Moritz (the Bernina stops at Samedan which is a very short regional train to St Moritz) and the Bernina Express is much cheaper than the Glacier so that is something to consider. My personal favourite views are between Zermatt and Chur as you wind through the most beautiful valleys, but if you only have time for Chur to St Moritz then you’ll still get some stunning mountain villages, tunnels, viaducts and more!

      Reply

  6. Hi Alexx,

    Thanks for the detail information on Glacier express. I have a few questions regarding Switzerland in general. Appreciate if you can respond.

    1. In September end, we will be travelling to Switzerland with whole family including a senior. Do you recommend not taking her to Jungfraujoch due to the altitude? Did you see many seniors during your trip there?

    2. In the small towns like Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen and Zermatt, how is the local transport if we want to look around using a vehicle rather than walking and hiking? Can we hire taxis in those places? Are there local buses?

    3. Given a choice between Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, Zermatt etc where do you recommend staying overnight? We are planning to enter Switzerland via Zurich, stay a few days at Lucerne and then eventually make our way through to Zermatt for glacier express. Where do you think would be a good place to make a halt before that but still managing to see those towns?

    4. Do the Swiss railway stations happen to have luggage rooms to drop off and later pick up our luggage?

    Thanks in advance.

    Reply

    1. Hi Chan! No problem, happy to help.

      1. I saw tour groups that had seniors with them but this would probably be best to ask a physician as it would totally depend on her health and fitness in general. 2. Interlaken has taxis and buses, Lauterbrunnen is much smaller and more mountainous so you’d mostly get around by cable car/mountain trains, Zermatt is a no-car village but there are small electric taxis which can take you around.
      3. I’d say Interlaken would be best for an overnight stay for you, you can take an easy day trip to Lauterbrunnen from there as well as explore the lakes and viewpoints around Interlaken itself. Then do at least one night in Zermatt before the Glacier Express, going up the Gornergrat is my top must-do in Zermatt.
      4. All of the railway stations I went to have luggage lockers which you can pay for, usually 8-12CHF for a big locker for a day.

      Happy travels!

      Reply

  7. HI Alexx,

    I am planning my travel on Gracier Express between Zermatt to Aldermatt, is it worth it?

    I got a 2 year old and I would like to keep it short and sweet

    Reply

  9. Halo Alexx,

    I am Chin here, would like to plan a trip to Switerland 3 weeks.

    Base 10 days Zurich and 14 days in Bern.

    I will be using Swiss Pass Flex 15 days for my trip.

    I need your kind advise as I would like to do Glacier and Bernina Express, since I have time for both.

    Anyway, this is my 1st time in Europe.

    My spouse is vey tall and big built (6 feet 3, so siting at 2nd class a bit small or 1st class seat will be better?

    So you have done Glacier Express ………………… 8 hours?

    Zermatt to St Moritz

    Chur to Tirano

    Your help would be appreciated. thank you very much

    We both above 60 years old.

    regards
    ching

    Reply

      1. Hi Alexx,

        thank you for your advice and king suggestion.

        We will read thru your itinearies you provide, many thanks

        I decide to do a day trip from Zurich, Chur to Tirano (4 hours) Bernina Express

        From Bern, Zermatt to St Mortiz (Glacier Express 8 hours) stay 2 nights at St Moritz, return trip by normal trian.

        Actually we not keen to do a 8 hour journey trip, after reading your blog, we decide to go for it.
        We will take your advice to upgrade to first class seat for husband to sit more comfortable.

        As and when I got time will read up your blog for more information.

        Have a great day ahead.

        Regards
        Ching

        Reply

    1. You don’t need the Swiss Travel Pass when you purchase your seat reservation, you just need to make sure you have a valid pass on the day of travel as this functions as your ticket.

      Reply

    1. The Glacier Express train itself doesn’t have any unreserved carriages, but you could cover that route using regional trains with a few train changes if you don’t mind the logistics and want to save money!

      Reply

  13. I purchased two tickets for the Glacier Express yesterday and received an order number. The confirmation said that the order confirmation would be sent to you via email shortly…but I have not received anything. I did look and my credit card was charged yesterday.

    Reply

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