Last Updated on May 10, 2025 by Alexx
Planning an upcoming Switzerland adventure and wondering: is the Bernina Express worth it? This detailed guide shares my honest review of the Bernina Express, plus practical tips to help you make the most of the experience.
After doing annual two- to three-month Europe rail adventures (2022, 2023, 2024, now planning 2025!), Iām a total rail travel convert, especially in countries with landscapes as magical as Switzerland. Minimal effort, comfy seats and some of the most spectacular views you could ever experience while travelling from A to B.
The Bernina Express train in Switzerland was sitting high on my travel bucket list, I ticked it off in 2022 (right after finishing another Swiss panorama train, the Glacier Express) and I loved it so much that I went back in late 2024 for round two.
If youāre currently planning your Europe rail adventure and are tossing up if the Bernina Express is worth it, especially with the cost of reservations (28-36CHF even with a valid travel pass), I totally get it. This blog is your one-stop shop to help you decide if the views and experience are worth the money!
In this post, Iāll explain the Bernina Express route, current timetable, ticket options, tips for getting the best views and photos, and how to ride the same route for cheaper if youāre on a budget, all accompanied by photos from my own trip to get you excited for the journey.
Hereās a deep dive into the Bernina Express to help you decide if the Bernina Express is worth it.
Quick summary: Is the Bernina Express worth it?
The answer will depend on your travel style, budget and timeframe, but for me the Bernina Express was totally worth it, both times!
The Bernina Express is probably worth it for you if:
- You want to see some of the most dramatic landscapes accessible by train in the world
- You have a Swiss Travel Pass, Eurail Pass or Interrail Pass (so you only pay the seat reservation)
- You enjoy slow travel and love the idea of four hours of epic sightseeing without having to take a single step
- Youāre okay with paying a bit of a premium for a smooth, convenient travel experience
šļø P.S. Save 10% on your Swiss Travel Pass or Eurail Pass on Klook with the promocode findingalexxklook
But on the other hand, the Bernina Express might not be worth it for you if:
- You get restless on long train rides
- Youāre on a tight budget and are happy to take a less direct journey to save money
- Youāve only got 1-2 days in Switzerland and want to prioritise other things
- Youāre travelling north (Tirano to Chur) in winter when a chunk of the train trip is in the dark
Still undecided? Read on for a more detailed explanation of the Bernina Express routes, cost, alternatives and booking tips to help you figure out if itās worth it for your trip.
šš¼ Related post: The Glacier Express vs. the Bernina Express
Bernina Express quick links: Tickets, passes & stays
šļø Tickets & reservations
- Buy Bernina Express tickets here (if you donāt have a Swiss Travel Pass or Eurail Pass)
- Book your Bernina Express seat reservations here (if you have a valid travel pass)
- Top-rated Bernina Express day trip from Milan
- Top-rated Bernina Express day trip from Lake Como
š Travel pass discounts
- Buy a Eurail Pass (10% off with promocode findingalexxklook)
- Buy a Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card (10% off with promocode findingalexxklook)
š¤ Where to stay
- St Moritz: Randolinās Berghotel, I stayed in their incredible 100+ year old observatory which was a once-in-a-lifetime accommodation experience!
- Tirano: Ostello del Castello (top-rated locally-run guesthouse with the loveliest owners), Bernina Express Eco Rooms (simple but right by the station) or DIMORA1934 for something a bit fancier
š More helpful reads
- Glacier Express guide
- Is a Swiss Travel Pass worth it?
- Is a Eurail Pass worth it?
- The ultimate 5 day Switzerland itinerary & 10 day Switzerland itinerary
- The perfect Northern Italy & Switzerland itinerary
What is the Bernina Express train in Switzerland?
The Bernina Express is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed train journey that travels through Switzerland to Northern Italy, offering one of the most scenic rail trips in the world.
It whisks you past impossibly blue glacial lakes, charming mountain villages and endless snow-covered peaks over a 4-4.5 hour, 144km journey. Youāll go through 55 tunnels and over 196 bridges, experience an incline of up to 7%, and probably take hundreds of photos!
The railway combines two historic lines, the Albula Railway (opened in 1904) and the Bernina Railway (1910). Those two railways were taken over by Rhaetian Railway (RhB) in 1943, and RhB have been marketing the train journey to tourists as a scenic route since the 1980s.
These days the Bernina Express (along with the Glacier Express and the Gotthard Panorama Express) is known as a āpanorama trainā, a term used for tourist-focused scenic train routes through Switzerland that boast panoramic windows for the ultimate sightseeing experience.
Itās regularly ranked amongst the best train rides in Europe (even in the world) and itās certainly one for the bucket list!
Bernina Express scenery: Are the views worth it?
The views from the Bernina Express are the entire reason why itās world-renowned, a relatively short 4-4.5 hour trip covers diverse landscapes along the way, including bright alpine lakes, winding viaducts, storybook villages and glaciers hiding up in the mountains.
But words donāt do it justice, so hereās visual proof.
Bernina Express route: Where does it start and end?
This question totally tripped me up when I was planning my first trip, so hereās all you need to know about the two Bernina Express routes to avoid that confusion.
Bernina Express full route
The full 144km Bernina Express route runs from Tirano in Italy to Chur in Switzerland, and vice versa. It takes 4-4.5 hours from start to finish.
This is sometimes referred to on the official website as the āBernina Express long-distance routeā. It runs year-round with one train per day in winter and two in summer.
Bernina Express full route map
Bernina Express short route: Tirano to St Moritz
What really confused me was that lots of the Bernina Express reviews I read mentioned staying in St Moritz, even though the full route actually bypasses St Moritz entirely.
Itās not super clear online but there is actually a separate Bernina Express route that services a shorter journey, from Tirano to St Moritz (and reverse) in about 2.5 hours. This is sometimes referred to as the āBernina Express short-distance routeā.
This trip operates seasonally, with three departures in summer but only on select days in the winter season (2025/2026 winter TBC but itās typically Fridays to Sundays from mid-December to mid-April). More info on timetable in the next section.
Bernina Express Tirano-St Moritz route map
This is a close up of the route map to show you how the Bernina line splits in two, with the full route travelling from Pontresina straight towards Samedan, and the shorter route veering off to service St Moritz as the terminal stop.
Does the full Bernina Express route stop at St Moritz?
No, the Chur-Tirano Bernina Express route does not stop in St Moritz. It goes from Pontresina to Samedan and bypasses St Moritz completely.
This is super important to understand because you need to make sure you book the right train if you want to start/end in St Moritz.
If youāre travelling from Tirano and are planning to stay in overnight St Moritz, or want to stop off for a short visit before taking the trip back to Tirano on the same day in summer, then you need to ensure you book and board the St Moritz train and not the Chur train, as the Chur train will not stop at St Moritz. If you book or board the wrong train, youāll have to get off as soon as you realise and use local trains to get back to St Moritz.
How to travel from Tirano to St Moritz in winter
If youāre travelling in winter on a day that the St Moritz route isnāt running, you can easily connect St Moritz with the full route by catching a short local train from St Moritz to Pontresina, where you can jump on the Bernina Express that runs year-round.
Same goes for if youāre travelling from Tirano and want to end your trip in St Moritz, just get off in Pontresina and catch a local train from there.
Bernina Express bus route: Tirano to Lugano extension
If you want to extend your Bernina Express experience into a loop that takes you back to Switzerland without backtracking, thereās a Bernina Express bus that connects Tirano (Italy) with Lugano (Switzerland).
Itās an official Bernina Express service so it lines up perfectly with the trains, and it takes three hours with sun-soaked vineyards and lakeside villages along the trip.
Bernina Express train timetable for 2025
š Last updated: 10 May 2025
The Bernina Express timetable changes depending on the time of year and the route youāre taking. Hereās a full breakdown of the 2025 Bernina Express train times so you can easily plan your trip.
Note: The official 2025/2026 winter timetable hasnāt been released yet. Check RhBās official timetable here for the most up-to-date info.
āļø Summer season: 15 May to 26 October 2025
āļø Winter season: The rest of the year
Chur ā”ļø Tirano (full route)
One train in winter, two trains in summer.
- Train 951: Departs Chur 8.17am, arrives Tirano 12.49pm (year-round)
- Train 955: Departs Chur 1.28pm, arrives Tirano 5.59pm (summer only)
Tirano ā”ļø Chur (full route)
One train in winter, two trains in summer.
- Train 950: Departs Tirano 8.06am, arrives Chur 12.31pm (summer only)
- Train 952: Departs Tirano 2.24pm, arrives Chur 6.31pm (year-round)
St Moritz ā”ļø Tirano (short route)
- Train 971: Departs St Moritz 9.17am, arrives Tirano 11.32am (summer only)
- Train 973: Departs St Moritz 1.17pm, arrives Tirano 3.31pm (summer only)
- Train 975: Departs St Moritz 4.14pm, arrives Tirano 6.39pm (departs daily in summer, takes a break until early December, usually runs Friday-Sunday from mid-December to mid-April but the winter timetable for 2025/2026 hasnāt been released yet)
Tirano ā”ļø St Moritz (short route)
Same dates as the opposite direction mentioned above.
- Train 972: Departs Tirano 10.06am, arrives St Moritz 12.35pm (same dates as the 975 above)
- Train 974: Departs Tirano 1.17pm, arrives St Moritz 3.45pm (summer only)
- Train 976: Departs Tirano 4.06pm, arrives St Moritz 6.25pm (summer only)
Bernina Express prices: Tickets & seat reservations
The Bernina Express price is made up of two separate parts:
- A ticket
- A seat reservation (mandatory for panoramic carriages)
Even if you have a Swiss Travel Pass, Eurail Pass or Interrail Pass which covers your ticket, you still need to pay the seat reservation.
And if you have a Swiss Half Fare Card, youāll get 50% off the Bernina Express ticket cost, but youāll also need to pay the full seat reservation fee.
Bernina Express ticket prices
| Route | 2nd class | 1st class | |
| Chur ā Tirano (full route) | 66CHF | 113CHF | |
| St Moritz ā Tirano (short route) | 33CHF | 57CHF |
Ticket prices are the same year-round, and if you have a valid travel pass (Swiss Travel Pass, Eurail Pass etc.) then you donāt need to buy a ticket, you only need to pay for the reservation.
Bernina Express seat reservation costs
If you want to sit in the panoramic carriages on the Bernina Express, you need to pay the mandatory seat reservation fee. The price for this depends on season.
| Route | Summer | Winter | |
| Chur ā Tirano (full route) | 36CHF | 32CHF | |
| St Moritz ā Tirano (short route) | 28CHF | 28CHF |
If you donāt have a travel pass and are buying a standard full fare ticket, the total cost for the full route will come to 98-102CHF for 2nd class or 145-149CHF for 2st class, and for the shorter route itās 61CHF total for 2nd class and 85CHF total for 1st class.
How to get discounts on the Bernina Express
Donāt let those prices scare you, there are a few ways to save money on the Bernina Express panoramic train.
1. Swiss Travel Pass / Eurail Pass / Interrail Pass
If you have any of these passes, your Bernina Express ticket is fully covered and all you have to pay is the mandatory seat reservation (28-36CHF depending on route/season). Youāll just need to make sure your pass is valid on that day, then show your pass and seat reservation to the conductor aboard.
šø Save 10% on your Swiss Travel Pass, Eurail Pass or Interrail Pass on Klook with promocode FINDINGALEXXKLOOK
2. Swiss Half Fare Card
If youāve got the Swiss Half Fare Card for your Switzerland trip, this will give you 50% off the Bernina Express ticket price. You still need to pay for the full seat reservation.
šø Save 10% on your Swiss Half Fare Card on Klook with promocode FINDINGALEXXKLOOK
3. Saver Day Pass
If you donāt have a proper travel pass, your best bet to save money on the Bernina Express panoramic trip is to book early and try nab an SBB Saver Day Pass.
A Saver Day Pass is like a one day Swiss Travel Pass, it gives you unlimited access to the entire Switzerland public transport network from midnight until 5am the following day. It covers the Bernina Express trip (except the seat reservation) and would also cover any other transport you take within the validity period, like if you were travelling onward from Chur to Zurich.
Saver Day Passes are limited per day though, and they go up in price as they get booked up. For example:
- A Saver Day Pass for tomorrow might cost 119CHF for 2nd class, so itād be cheaper to just pay full price for the 66CHF Bernina Express ticket from Tirano to Chur
- A Saver Day Pass for four months from now might cost 52CHF (the lowest price), so this is cheaper than the 66CHF full fare ticket, and I could go all the way to Zurich or anywhere else in Switzerland until 5am the next morning without paying any extra
You can also get a further discount on Saver Day Passes if you have a Half Fare Card.
ā ļø Important: Saver Day Passes wonāt show up as an option in the RhB Bernina Express booking system, so before you book your full price tickets, check if a Saver Day Pass is available for your dates on the SBB website. If it is, then you can just book a seat reservation through the RhB website as usual, and show your Saver Day Pass to the train staff when they ask to see your ticket.
4. Take the Allegra carriage or local trains
If you want to see the Bernina Express route, but youāre on a tight budget and want to avoid the seat reservation fee, youāve got two options:
- Sitting in the Allegra carriage, this is the ānormalā carriage that pulls the Bernina Express panoramic carriages (first-in first-served each departure)
- Catching local trains along the same route (requires a couple of easy train changes along the way)
Both of these options avoid the need for any seat reservations and theyāre fully covered by a valid travel pass, but youāll be in normal train carriages without panoramic windows. More info on these later in the blog.
How to book Bernina Express tickets & seat reservations
Booking the Bernina Express can be a bit confusing, because there are a few different ways to do it depending on whether youāre buying a full fare ticket, using a Saver Day Pass or just need to book a seat reservation.
In this section Iām just briefly explaining why the booking process is different for each of these situations, so you can figure out what process you need to follow. In the next section youāll find step-by-step guides for booking through RhB and SBB depending on your set up.
Option 1: If you already have a valid travel pass (Swiss Travel Pass, Eurail Pass etc.)
If youāre travelling with one of these passes, your ticket is already covered! All you have to do is pay for a seat reservation through the RhB website (recommended as you can select specific seats) or the SBB website (you canāt select specific seats).
Option 2: You donāt have a travel pass but you want to check if a Saver Day Pass is worth it
If youāre not using a travel pass, a Saver Day Pass might save you money, especially if youāre booking in advance and connecting the Bernina Express with other travel in Switzerland that day (i.e. Chur to Zurich).
Saver Day Passes wonāt show up on the RhB website, so hereās what you need to do instead:
- Check the Saver Day Pass price and availability on the SBB app or website
- Purchase your Saver Day Pass there
- Book a seat reservation through the SBB website at the same time (no seat selection) or do it separately on the RhB website (you can select seats)
Option 3: You donāt have a travel pass and a Saver Day Pass isnāt worth it (or you just want to keep things simple)
If a Saver Day Pass is too expensive or is sold out, or if you just want to keep things super simple with a single booking instead of having to navigate multiple systems, you can book full fare tickets and seat reservations at the same time on the RhB website (seat selection possible) or the SBB website (seat selection not possible).
How to book Bernina Express seat reservations & tickets on the RhB website
Use this if:
- You have a Swiss Travel Pass, Eurail Pass or Interrail Pass and you just need a seat reservation
- You have already bought a Saver Day Pass and now need to book a seat reservation only
- Youāve checked Saver Day Pass prices but theyāre sold out or not worth it for your trip
- You donāt have a travel pass and want to book both your ticket and seat in one simple booking
1ļøā£ Go to the official Bernina Express booking platform on the RhB website
2ļøā£ Enter your origin, destination, travel date and then click ānextā to go through to the availability calendar.
3ļøā£ Select the departure that suits you best
4ļøā£ Itāll show you the available seats on that train. Select your preferred seat, then click ānextā to move on to the details page.
5ļøā£ If you have a valid travel pass of any sort then in the āreductionā dropdown you can select Eurail, Interrail or the Swiss Travel Pass or the 1-day travel pass (this refers to the Saver Day Pass), then the price under āTravellersā will show as 0.00CHF and the total price will match the seat reservation fee.
If you have a Half Fare Card, select this in the discount dropdown and your ticket price will show as 50% off.
If you donāt have a valid travel pass, skip this step!
6ļøā£ Fill out the rest of your details, click āadd to cartā and make the payment to confirm your ticket
ā If youāre having any trouble booking your ticket or seat reservation, you can call the Bernina Express customer service team and make a booking over the phone instead. Their number is +41 81 288 65 65.
How to check for a Saver Day Pass through SBB
Use this if:
- You donāt have a valid travel pass which covers the full Bernina Express ticket cost AND
- Youāre on a budget and want to get the lowest price possible for the panoramic carriages
- Youāre catching another trip on the Swiss travel network immediately before or after the Bernina Express
If you donāt have a travel pass that covers your whole ticket cost (so either no travel pass or just a Half Fare Card), a Saver Day Pass might be cheaper than buying an individual ticket through the RhB website. This is more likely to be the case if youāre booking well in advance, and if youāre extending your Bernina Express journey with a train to/from elsewhere in Switzerland on the same day.
ā ļø Before you buy a Saver Day Pass you need to make sure thereās availability on the Bernina Pass train you want to take, because if seats are sold out, you wonāt be able to make a reservation. You can check this on the RhB website using the steps above.
The quick way
One quick way to check for Saver Day Passes is to go to the SBB website Saver Day Pass calendar, you can put in your travel date and itāll show you the current prices on each date.
Letās quickly compare the Saver Day Pass prices above with the Bernina Express individual ticket prices:
- A Saver Day Pass on 9 June is 119CHF for 2nd class, this is the most expensive Saver Day Pass price so that means lots of people have already bought one for this day, and itās a lot more expensive than the 66CHF Bernina Express full fare ticket. This would only be worth it if you were travelling Chur-Zurich (or similar) after the Bernina Express *and* if both trains came to more than 119CHF total.
- But if you were planning on travelling the full Chur-Tirano route in 1st class on 10 June, you could get a 1st class Saver Day Pass for 97CHF, this is cheaper than buying a Bernina Express 1st class ticket for 113CHF! In this case you can buy the Saver Day Pass on SBB, then follow the steps I mentioned above to book a seat reservation on the RhB website.
The fool-proof way
For a super obvious way to compare Saver Day Pass prices with the Bernina Express ticket price, you can find the exact panoramic train on the SBB website with all your ticket options side by side. Hereās a step-by-step guide.
1ļøā£ Go to the SBB website or app and put in your origin, destination and travel date. In the āPrice displayā section it will default to show the Half Fare price, so if you donāt have a Half Fare Card then click into this and select āFull fareā.
2ļøā£ Click āSettingsā, toggle on āMeans of transportā and untick all transport types except IR/PE
3ļøā£ This will show you the train journeys serviced by the PE (Panorama Express) carriages, itāll remove the regional trains from the search results
4ļøā£ Find the train you want to book, select it and click āselect ticketsā, youāll be taken to the price details page. This page will show you the price for a Saver Day Pass if itās available, as well as the point-to-point full price ticket.
ā ļø Donāt get a fright from the prices you see, the SBB website automatically adds the mandatory seat reservation to the total price. You can click the āseat reservationā button and untick the box to remove this from the total price.
In the example below, you can easily see that the Saver Day Pass on this date is 52CHF, compared to 66CHF for the standard Bernina Express ticket price of 66CHF. The Saver Day Pass wins!
5ļøā£ If a Saver Day Pass is worth it for you, then purchase it now to lock in this price, because they get more expensive as more are sold. If itās not worth it then you can buy a point-to-point ticket through SBB or through the RhB website, theyāre the same price.
6ļøā£ You can now book Bernina Express seat reservations on the SBB website, this has only been possible since December 2024, but at the time of writing (May 2025) thereās no option to actually select a seat, so youād be seated randomly. If youāre paying this much money to take the panoramic carriages then Iād hazard a guess that your seat is important to you, so reserve your seat on the RhB website where you can choose a specific seat instead.
How far in advance can you book the Bernina Express?
Bernina Express tickets can be booked six months in advance, it used to be 60 days but this was changed in 2024.
Seat reservations are also meant to be available six months in advance, but the RhB website sometimes lets you book further ahead if the timetable has been confirmed.
If you search more than six months in the future then the page might go blank and not bring up any results, but to get around this you can search for a date within six months so it shows the options, then use the arrow on the right to click through to the date you want.
Reservations do get booked up for peak season, especially during school holidays and on weekends, so if youāre travelling in Europe summer Iād recommend locking in your seats as soon as possible.
How to buy a ticket for the Allegra carriage on the Bernina train
The Allegra carriage is the regular train car that pulls the Bernina Express panorama carriages. It has standard non-panoramic windows, you donāt need to (and canāt) reserve seats, itās just first-in first-served on the day.
The windows in the Allegra carriage actually open, so photographers might prefer this vs. the panoramic carriages to avoid glare and reflections.
If you have a Swiss Travel Pass, Eurail Pass, Interrail Pass or Saver Day Pass, you can travel in the Allegra carriage for free without any additional fee.
If you want to avoid the seat reservation by sitting in the Allegra carriage, and you donāt have a valid travel pass, you can:
- Buy a regular point-to-point ticket on the SBB website/app using the steps above (untick seat reservation so youāre only buying the ticket)
- Or use the normal RhB booking engine (not the Bernina Express booking system)
If you choose to do this, just make sure youāre double checking the train details with the Bernina Express timetable so youāre definitely booking a ticket for the correct train.
Can you choose what side to sit on on the Bernina Express?
You can try, but itās not a guarantee.
When you reserve your seat via RhB, thereās no indication of which direction the train is facing. The seat selection page says āno information on the driving direction is availableā, and in their FAQs they even specify that the direction of the carriage is unknown as the carriages can be attached to the train in either direction.
BUT in saying thatā¦
I heard from previous Bernina Express travellers that the single column seats in 1st class are typically on the right side of the train when travelling south and the left side of the train when travelling north, i.e. the side you want to sit on.
If youāre travelling in 2nd class, simply click the different coaches at the top of the seat selection tool to find 1st class, see if the single seats are at the top or at the bottom of the plan, then go back to the 2nd class coach and choose a seat on the same side.
On my first trip, I booked my usual single-row 1st class seat and I was on the side I expected. Iāve planned Bernina Express trips for a handful of friends since then and the same trick has worked for all of them.
Unfortunately my luck ran out on my most recent trip. I was travelling north from Tirano to Chur, I booked my 1st class single row seat hoping to be on the left, but I ended up sitting on the right side of the carriage. So this might work most of the time, but thereās no guarantee.
Can you move around during the journey?
You can move around the train within reason, just be respectful of other passengers.
If you have a 2nd class ticket or pass then you can only wander around the 2nd class carriages, you canāt access the 1st class carriages (or you could get fined).
You can stand in the vestibules (I never knew what that word meant until I became a train travel nerd, but theyāre the end sections that connect the carriages), some of the vestibule windows open so you can get glare-free photos! But be aware that as soon as you do this everyone else will follow suit and youāll lose your spot if you leave it.
If the train isnāt full then you can probably move seats to take photos, but if someone turns up part-way through the journey with that seat booked youāll need to move back to your original one.
It can be super tempting to get up and down and move all around for photos during the trip, but remember that other passengers have paid good money for a relaxing journey so you donāt want to be disrupting their journey by asking them to move, opening and closing the carriage doors when the vestibule window is open (especially during winter š„¶) etc.
Bernina Express 1st class vs. 2nd class
If youāre trying to decide between 1st class or 2nd class on the Bernina Express, hereās a breakdown of what to expect in each one.
P.S. If youāre travelling with a Swiss Travel Pass, Eurail Pass or Interrail Pass then the class you travel in will be the class your pass is valid for. If you have a 2nd class pass but want to sit in the 1st class carriage, this is sometimes possible on trains in Switzerland, but it depends on availability and a class upgrade canāt be booked online. To check this youād need to get in touch with RhB or SBB to ask about the specific departure you want to take.
Seating layout
- 1st class: One seat on one side, two seats on the other (1-2)
- 2nd class: Two seats on either side of the aisle (2-2)
As a solo traveller I prefer sitting in 1st class for all Europe trains where possible, because I can reserve a seat in the single column and get the benefits of both a window seat and an aisle seat. Best views, easy to get out, I can type away on a heavy work session without annoying the person next to me.
Also handy for couples/two friends so you can book two single-row seats across from each other and both get window/aisle access.
Space & comfort
The Bernina Express carriages are comfortable enough in both classes, though theyāre more basic than the fancier Glacier Express train.
2nd class seats are typical train seat material (I have no idea if thereās a word for this haha but you know what I mean!) with small tables that really only extend to the end of the window seat.
Seats in 1st class are wider with more legroom and elbow space, but with the same small tables. With bigger seats obviously this means fewer people in the carriage.
During the peak summer months youāll find that the Bernina Express gets pretty busy, so even though the whole train might be full, in 1st class there will be 28-34 people max. vs. 44-50 people in one 2nd class carriage.
When I first travelled on the Bernina Express I actually had the entire 1st class carriage completely to myself, what a dream! This was in mid-October but the staff were very surprised as this doesnāt happen often, they said it was maybe a tour group that had cancelled š¤·š¼āāļø
What is the Bernina Express train like?
The first thing to know is that this isnāt a luxury train service with all the bells and whistles. For that, check out Glacier Express Excellent Class š
The Bernina Express is a comfortable half-day (or shorter) tourist train thatās alllll about the scenery rather than the service or the onboard experience.
Food on the Bernina Express
Thereās no restaurant car but there is a food trolley that serves snacks like chips, sweet treats, traditional dried meats and cheeses, as well as wine, beer, soft drinks and hot drinks. Prices are expensive, I paid 5CHF for a tiny bottle of water š«
In 1st class we also got a little tin of chocolates (a great souvenir!) and a herbal tea, Iām not sure if 2nd class passengers get the same. Some info online says these are only given in summer but both times I travelled in the winter season, perhaps itās summer for both classes but year-round for 1st class only? If anyone can confirm then please let me know in the comments so I can update this!
WiFi onboard
There is WiFi on the Bernina Express but in my experience this didnāt work very well so donāt rely on it.
There also arenāt proper tables in front of the seats in either 1st or 2nd class, not much room for a laptop so donāt expect to be able to get any work done during the journey.
The views are too magical to be looking at a screen anyway!
Luggage storage
There are luggage storage racks in each carriage, thereās no overhead storage like most trains (due to the panoramic windows) so youāll need to keep any small bags with you/under your seat or leave them in the racks too.
The Allegra carriage
The no-reservation-needed Allegra carriage has 1st and 2nd class seats, with the 1st class section providing a 2-1 configuration as usual vs. 2-2 in 2nd class.
These carriages have opening windows and overhead racks for small bags.
Tips for taking photos on the Bernina Express
While the panoramic windows are superb for soaking up the scenery, they arenāt ideal for photography thanks to reflections.
The Bernina Express staff are fantastic at making sure the windows are clean before each journey so dirt or streaks shouldnāt be an issue, but having a reflection ruin a stunning photo is something all photographers have experienced. This is why many photographers choose to sit in the unreserved seats of the Allegra unit, they have opening windows.
Here are some quick tips to get the best Bernina shots:
- Find a vestibule with opening windows, these are where I got my best photos (fair warning: your hands will get bloody cold in winter)
- Use a polarising filter to reduce glare
- Wear dark clothing, bright clothes show up more in reflections
- Have a dark scarf with you to wrap about your phone or lens which also helps remove reflections
- Shoot away from the sun if possible
- Use a high shutter speed to get the landscape in focus
Itās also important to know where the best photo spots are along the route, so youāre ready to shoot when the time is right. Some of the best photo spots along the Chur-Tirano Bernina Express route (north to south) are:
- Charming villages and endless mountains between Chur and Filisur, particularly incredible in autumn when the trees are all shades of orange
- The Landwasser Viaduct
- The Morteratsch Glacier
- Lago Bianco
- Alp GrĆ¼m and Lago PalĆ¼ (there used to be a 15 minute photo stop at the station here, 2091m above sea level, but on my trip in November 2024 they didnāt do this so Iām not sure if thatās a new change or if we were just running late and didnāt have time)
- Lago Poschiavo
- The Brusio Spiral
Can you do a Bernina Express day trip?
You sure can! Unlike the full day Glacier Express journey between St Moritz and Zermatt, the half-day (or shorter) Bernina Express offers the option to spend a day travelling to and from the same point with a return trip.
You can choose to do the return trip in either direction, stopping in Tirano, St Moritz or Chur for lunch or a quick explore around town. The day trip options depend on the route and the time of year:
Chur-Tirano day trip (available year-round)
- Depart Chur at 8.17am, arrive in Tirano at 12.49pm (on the 951)
- Depart Tirano at 2.24pm, arrive in Chur at 6.31pm (on the 952)
St Moritz-Tirano day trip (only available in summer)
- Depart St Moritz at 9.17am, arrive in Tirano at 11.32am (on the 971)
- If you want a quick turnaround then depart Tirano at 1.17pm and arrive in St Moritz at 3.45pm (on the 974)
- OR for a longer stay you can depart Tirano at 4.06pm and arrive in St Moritz at 6.25pm (on the 976)
Tirano-Chur day trip (only available in summer)
- Depart Tirano at 8.06am, arrive in Chur at 12.31pm (on the 950)
- Depart Chur at 1.28pm, arrive in Tirano at 5.59pm (on the 955)
Tirano-St Moritz day trip (available in summer + select days in winter, check the Tirano-St Moritz timetable above for details)
- Depart Tirano at 10.06am, arrive in St Moritz at 12.35pm (on the 972)
- Depart St Moritz at 4.14pm, arrive in Tirano at 6.39pm (on the 975)
And if youāre spending a few days in Milan and want to tick the Bernina Express off your bucket list, there are some highly-rated organised Bernina Express day tours that take you to Lake Como, St Moritz, the Bernina Express through to Tirano and then back to Milan.
Other travel tips for the Bernina Express
Pack your own food
The food options on the Bernina Express are minimal (and expensive for what you get) so Iād recommend taking a picnic-style lunch or some snacks with you, to avoid getting hangry while on one of the best train journeys in the world.
Take warm layers in winter
The train carriages have central heating/air con to keep temperatures pleasant year-round, but if youāre travelling in winter and you get a seat at the end of the carriage near the doors, or if youāre a keen shutterbug using the vestibule windows to shoot, the alpine air can get suuuper chilly.
Extend your trip and add on some other panorama trains
The Bernina Express is one of five premium panoramic trains in Switzerland, and the others are absolutely worth a trip as well.
You can combine all five, as well as three connecting segments, to experience the epic 1280km Grand Train Tour of Switzerland. One for your travel bucket list!
Tirano travel tips
Tirano is a sleepy mountain village near the Italy-Switzerland border, best known as the gateway to the Bernina Express. Many travellers choose to travel here from Milan (2.5 hours by train) and donāt spend any time in Tirano except for when theyāre waiting on the train platform, but Iād encourage you to spend a night or two here if you can find the time in your itinerary.
The town has an intriguing combination of both Swiss and Italian heritage, the cuisine is Italian with an alpine twist and some unique dishes not found elsewhere in Italy, and there are hikes, bike trails and wineries to keep you busy.
Tirano also boasts a majestic basilica, the Santuario della Madonna, dating back to the 1500s. Be sure to go inside (when itās open) to see the exquisitely carved 17th century organ and ornate decorations on the walls and ceiling.
What to eat in Tirano | For food in Tirano I highly recommend trying local Valtellinese cuisine at Parravicini Restaurant, and I also loved the pizza at LāHostaria Ristorante.
Where to stay in Tirano | I stayed at an amazing guesthouse called Ostello del Castello, perched on the hills above Tirano with expansive views across the valley. The guesthouse boasts a 9.6/10 rating on booking.com from more than 500 reviews, so you know itās good!
The rooms are spacious and comfortable with all youād need for a short stay, thereās common areas to relax in and chat to other travellers or the hosts if you wish, and itās a short walk to the restaurants and shops in town. Highly recommend!
St Moritz travel tips
St Moritz is an iconic Switzerland resort town, it was actually the birthplace of alpine tourism in 1864 and now plays host to travellers from Europe and around the globe throughout the year.
Thereās plenty to do and see in St Moritz, particularly for outdoorsy adventurers. In winter the ski opportunities are unmatched, the St Moritz train doesnāt run for most of winter but you can catch the Tirano to Chur route and just book a ticket for up until Pontresina, then switch trains to a short 10 minute regional train to St Moritz. In summer thereās an endless selection of walking tracks, technical climbs, cable cars to viewpoints and more.
Thereās also a world-class food scene to cater to the rich and famous guests that visit, so if youād like to splurge on a luxurious evening, St Moritz might just be the place to do it.
Where to stay in St Moritz | I stayed at Randolinās Berghotel, a great value hotel with fantastic facilities, including a hearty buffet breakfast, restaurant serving up traditional meals with mountain and lake views, a dreamy wellness and spa area, and playgrounds for kiddos.
But my Randolinās experience was taken to the next level, literally, because I actually slept in their historic observatory, which boasts an actual turning mechanism and a hand-wound window for stargazing. One of the most unique places Iāve ever stayed and one that I will remember forever, this is a true once-in-a-lifetime accommodation experience and I canāt recommend it highly enough!
Bernina Express FAQs
Where does the Bernina Express start and end?
The full Bernina Express route runs from Chur in Switzerland to Tirano in Italy, a shorter Bernina Express route also runs between St Moritz and Tirano.
How much is the Bernina Express?
A full fare ticket for Chur-Tirano costs 66CHF (2nd class) or 113CHF (1st class), or the shorter route St Moritz-Tirano is 33CHF (2nd class) or 57CHF (1st class). Seat reservations for the panoramic carriages are mandatory, they cost 28-36CHF depending on the season and route.
How do you book Bernina Express tickets and seat reservations?
A few different options.
You can book tickets through the SBB website (this will show discounted Saver Day Pass options if available + full fare point-to-point tickets) or the RhB website (full fare tickets only). If you have a valid travel pass (Swiss Travel Pass, Eurail Pass etc.) you donāt need to buy a ticket, only a seat reservation.
For seat reservations you should book through the RhB website because it lets you select a specific seat, the SBB website now sells seat reservations too but itāll randomly assign you a seat.
How long is the Bernina Express train ride?
The full Chur-Tirano Bernina Express route is 144km and takes between 4-4.5 hours. The shorter St Moritz-Tirano Bernina Express route is about 2.5 hours.
How far in advance can you book the Bernina Express?
You can book both tickets and seat reservations up to six months in advance.
Can you do the Bernina Express on regional trains?
Yep, you can follow the exact same route as the Bernina Express using regional trains that run throughout the day, but youāll need to make a couple of easy changes along the way, generally in Samedan and Pontresina.
To find the regional train options, go to the SBB website, put from Chur and to Tirano (or vice versa) and add via Thusis to make sure you take the Albula Line past the Landwasser viaduct. If you donāt add the āviaā bit then itāll probably show you a faster route via Davos Platz which misses the viaduct and isnāt as scenic.
Which side of the Bernina Express should you sit on?
Sit on the right side when travelling south (Switzerland to Italy), and on the left side when travelling north (Italy to Switzerland) for the best views of the main sights.
Can you do the Bernina Express as a day trip?
Yes, itās possible to do a return trip in one day from Chur, St Moritz, or Tirano, depending on the season and timetable. Iāve got a super detailed day trip timetable breakdown above for the exact departures where this works.
Is there food on the Bernina Express?
Thereās no restaurant car, but a trolley service offers snacks and drinks. Itās best to bring your own food for the journey.
Is the Bernina Express included in the Swiss Travel Pass?
Yes, the Swiss Travel Pass covers the Bernina Express ticket, but youāll still need to book and pay for a seat reservation separately (28ā36 CHF).
Is the Bernina Express included in the Eurail Pass?
Yes, the Eurail Pass covers the base ticket, but you must pay for a seat reservation to ride in the panoramic carriages.
What is the difference between the Bernina Express and the Glacier Express?
The Bernina Express is a shorter, steeper route between Chur or St Moritz and Tirano, known for dramatic scenery and engineering marvels. The Glacier Express is a full-day journey between Zermatt and St Moritz, with a slower pace and an elevated onboard experience (at a higher price!).
Is the Bernina Express or the Glacier Express better?
Great question, I have a full blog post on the Bernina Express vs the Glacier Express! A quick summary is that the Bernina Express is cheaper and more varied in a shorter trip, but the Glacier Express is longer, more luxurious and has equally incredible views.
What is the difference between the Bernina Red Train and the Bernina Express?
The āBernina Red Trainā isnāt a specific train, itās just another term for the red trains that service the Bernina Railway route. The Bernina Express is the name of the official panoramic train, but the āBernina Red Trainā might also refer to the normal regional trains that run throughout the day.
Which part of the Bernina Express is the best?
Highlights include the Landwasser Viaduct, Alp GrĆ¼m, Lago Bianco, and the Brusio Spiral Viaduct. I personally love the Lago Bianco section and the zigzag climb up to Alp GrĆ¼m.
Can I do the Bernina Express and the Glacier Express in the same day?
Technically yes, but only at certain times of the year. More info in my Bernina Express vs. Glacier Express guide.
Can I take luggage on the Bernina Express?
You can bring luggage onboard the Bernina Express for free, there are luggage racks at the end of each carriage. Thereās not a huuuge amount of luggage storage though, especially in 2nd class, so if youāre travelling in peak season youāll want to get to the station early so you can board first and secure a safe spot for your suitcase.
The final verdict: Is the Bernina Express worth it?
I think the Bernina Express route is absolutely worth it, itās easily one of the most scenic train journeys on the planet.
Whether the Bernina Express train itself is worth it really depends on your priorities.
If you have a Swiss Travel Pass, Eurail Pass or Interrail Pass then itās a no brainer, your ticket is free and you just pay a 28-36CHF reservation for a world-famous train ride. Yes please!
If you donāt have a valid travel pass then itās all down to your budget.
Can you get a Saver Day Pass to make the ticket cheaper (especially helpful if youāre connecting Zurich-Chur or vice versa)? Go for it.
Are the Saver Day Passes sold out, but the price is worth the convenience of a simple, scenic journey with panoramic windows and without any changes? Then itās probably a yes.
But if youāre reeeally low on funds, you could get to the train early to try nab a no-reservation-needed seat in the non-panoramic Allegra carriage that pulls the Bernina Express carriages, or if youāre up for an adventure, take a combo of the many local trains that run the exact same route, with easy changes in Samedan and Pontresina.
I hope this guide has helped you figure out if this iconic train journey is worth it for your trip. If you do decide to book it (or if you opt for the Allegra carriage or regional trains instead) then Iād love to know your thoughts in the comments!
MORE SWITZERLAND TRAVEL INSPIRATION:
- How to spend 5 days in Switzerland
- How to spend 10 days in Switzerland
- 33 Instagrammable places in Switzerland
- Rigi vs Pilatus vs Titlis vs Stanserhorn: Which one to visit?
- The cheapest place to ski in Switzerland: Liddes Ski Hostel
- 10 reasons to try co-living in Switzerland
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MORE SWITZERLAND TRAIN GUIDES:
- Swiss Travel Pass vs Half Fare Card: Which one is best?
- The ultimate Swiss Travel Pass guide
- The ultimate Swiss Half Fare Card guide
- Is the Glacier Express worth it?
- Bernina Express vs Glacier Express: Which one should you choose?
- Is the Jungfrau Travel Pass worth it?
- Is the Tell Pass worth it?
MORE EUROPE TRAVEL INSPIRATION:
- The perfect two month Europe itinerary
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- The most beautiful train rides in Europe
- 27 Europe holiday ideas to inspire you
- How to use a Eurail Pass
- Is a Eurail Pass worth it?
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MY GO-TO TRAVEL PLANNING RESOURCES
Flights āļø I use Skyscanner to find the best flights for my trip and then Iāll always book direct with the airline to protect myself from having to deal with dodgy third parties if anything goes wrong.
Trains š If Iām travelling through Europe, I try to travel by train wherever possible! For an extended trip (2+ weeks) Iāll calculate if a Eurail Pass is worth it, or Iāll book point-to-point tickets through RailEurope or the local train operator.
Accommodation šļø I book almost all of my accommodation through booking.com, they have a user-friendly website + app and many of their options are free cancellation, easily cancelled with a simple click of a button.
Activities š½I use GetYourGuide, Klook and Viator to look for activities in the places I visit, or I just Google āthings to do in [city]ā! P.S. If you book anything on Klook you can use the promocode FINDINGALEXXKLOOK to get 10% off
Travel cards š³ Iām a Wise gal through and through, theyāve been my chosen travel card for more than five years now. You can easily top up your card from your bank account or through Apple Pay, convert your money to local currency, and spend money with minimal fees and the best exchange rates around.
Travel insurance š©ŗ I use Cover-More NZ travel insurance for my own trips, I have a comprehensive policy and Iāve only had good experiences with them. Cover-More also has an Australian company, but if youāre from elsewhere then two popular insurance options for global travellers are SafetyWing (cheaper policy, lower coverage) and World Nomads (more expensive but significantly better coverage).
Luggage š¼ I travel with Samsonite Cosmolite suitcases, one 75cm check in bag and a 55cm carry on bag, and I absolutely adore them and will never travel with anything else! They are SUPER lightweight (2.8kg and 1.9kg respectively) so I have much more space for my actual stuff.
Camera gear šø I use a iPhone 15 Pro Max for phone photos/videos, and my camera kit includes a Lumix S9 (incredible lightweight full-frame camera, a game changer for travel creators!) with a 20-60mm lens, a Lumix G9 with an 8-18mm and 12-60mm lens, a DJI Mini 3 Pro drone and a GoPro Hero 10. I do all my writing and editing on my ASUS Zenbook 14, itās lightweight but powerful enough for photo editing and intense blogging sessions.
Hi dear Alexx, I am Angelina from Singapore š
I am planning my Europe trip while searching online I chanced upon your blog. It is so informative ! I definitely want to get onboard Bernina Express.
I have a couple of questions about the route. Looking forward to hear from you.
Hey Angelina! Always happy to help if I can, let me know your questions š
This is so useful. My head has been spinning. I just want to confirm that if I make a seat reservation on the direct Chur to Tirano train, I have a seat in the panoramic carriage. Are there panoramic 1st and 2nd carriages? Another site said I had to make a first class Reservations to get a panoramic. Your has been the most helpful out of many!
I’m so glad it’s been useful, my head was spinning too when I was trying to plan my trip haha so I wanted to put together a super informative guide!
The second class Bernina Express carriages do have panoramic windows, so if you make a second class reservation on the Bernina Express website you’ll definitely get the panoramic windows. The Bernina Express train also has carriages with non-panoramic windows, the Allegra unit, and these carriages don’t require reservations. I hope this helps, have an amazing trip!
Hi Alexx, very helpful post! I am staying in Switzerland for 15 days and I wanted to try to do Bernina Express the 2 days I am in Zurich. My last day in Zurich is a Sunday. Is it possible to do Bernina Express and Spend couple of hours in St. Mortiz? I would do this on a Sunday.
How exciting, you’ll have an amazing trip I’m sure! The Bernina Express doesn’t run from Zurich so you’d need to get to Chur first, which is a 1h 15m direct regional train. From Chur the Bernina Express starts and then ends in Tirano, this Bernina Express route doesn’t actually stop at St Moritz, the St Moritz-Tirano Bernina Express is a different train altogether. If you just want to get to St Moritz and then go back you could take the Bernina Express from Chur to Samedan and then catch a very quick 7 minute regional train from Samedan to St Moritz. I hope this helps!
Do you have any recommendations of places to stay in Chur?
I didn’t stay in Chur unfortunately as I took the Glacier Express all the way to St Moritz and then caught the Bernina Express from there, sorry!
Hi Alex thanks for your time putting this information together. my questions are:
does the 2nd class Bernina train have panorama view?
apart from the seat arrangement , is there any other difference between 1st and 2nd class? would you have any photo of the 2nd class cabin as well?
Thaks in Advance!
Hey Alex! The 2nd class Bernina Express trains have the same panoramic windows as 1st class so you’ll still get the amazing views. I don’t have a photo of the 2nd class cabin sorry as I travelled in 1st class for this trip and didn’t make it to the 2nd class cabin to take a photo, but the seat layout is 2-2 rather than 2-1, the seats aren’t leather, and the seats are a bit smaller as they have to fit four across instead of three.
This is great info! Thank you! Do you have info on hotels you have stayed at?
Yep, I’ve listed the hotels at the bottom of the post! I stayed at Ostello del Castello in Tirano (a cute local guesthouse) and in an observatory at Randolin’s Berghotel in St Moritz š
Hi Alexx! Your info on the Bernini Express is super helpful! I just reserved seats on round-trip out of Chur for late Oct, traveling solo, so per your advice I booked single column seat in each direction in 1st class. (Will purchase tickets 60 days out.) I will look for the partially opened window for potential photos. Thx for all of the great advice!
That’s fantastic Dan, you will have such a great trip! Late October will be a beautiful time to do it š
Hello! I’m considering taking the express going south on October 19th near the end of the season. Will it still be scenic at this time? Or should I just take the direct train from Zurich to Milan?
I did the Bernina Express trip on the 20th of October 2022 so the photos you see on this post are exactly what you can expect š
Hi Alexx!
Thank you so much for writing such informative and readable blogs! Its been very helpful in planning for my trip to Italy!
I’m sold on going on the Bernina Express!!
I was wondering if you could help me with a question? Do you know whats the scenery like on the Tirano – St.Mortiz route around late (20th) September? In terms of summer becoming fall season, we are trying to grasp what the foliage would be like… still relatively green, yellow/golden, or golden with browning and leaves falling off?
Any light you could shed on this would be mucb appreciated!
I did the trip about a month after that and as you can see from the photos it was quite orange, so I would guess that late September would be a good mix of golden in some parts and still quite green in others. Autumn is my favourite time of the year to travel in Switzerland and Italy!
Hi Alex, thanks for your reply!
When you went during October, was it turning dry and bare already?
You can see in the photos in the post, some areas were still beautifully autumn-y and orange but some were more wintery! Still stunning though š
Thank you so much Alexx!
Hi Alexx! Thank you for all the information, I am going to be there in Late November, but I am going from Italy to Zurich one way, I see the train tirano-chur is pretty late in the day, to arrive in Zurich at 8pm!!.. I was looking maybe do tirano-St Moritz is ealy in Bernina express, and then St Moritz-chur in another train earlier to try to arrive not so late to zurich? since the second half of the trip most likely it will be dark if I stay in the Bernina the whole time?
I only have 2 days in Switzerland, Do you have any thoughts?
I really appreciated any input! I hope I was not so confusing.. lol..
That would work, do the earliest Bernina Express to enjoy the panoramic windows and good views, then just take the normal regional trains to get to Zurich via Chur as they will be cheaper and get you there faster.
Awesome! Thank you for the confirmation! We might give a quick stroll around in St Moritz between trains, are there places to store luggage over there?
Thanks so much again!
There were luggage storage lockers when I was there in October last year but best to Google to get the most up to date info!
I have read a lot and I mean A LOT of blogs on this topic and I have found yours to be the most helpful! Thank You!!
This means a lot, thanks Jennifer š
Thanks for all the info!! We’re landing at ZRH in August & staying in Pontresina. Which trains / seats should we book from ZRH if we want it to be a scenic ride, but not take longer than 4 hours? We’ll have luggage & a toddler with us.
Also would you know if I purchase these tickets in advance & my flight is delayed, can I just get on the next train or how does that work?
I appreciate if you can help me figure this maze out.
Thanks so much!
Hey Anna, I haven’t caught the train from Zurich to Pontresina sorry so I can’t advise on scenery for that route but honestly in Switzerland everywhere you look is beautiful, so I’m sure you’ll enjoy it either way! If you miss a train due to a flight delay then you can speak to customer service at the train station and they will give you a ticket for the next available train. Enjoy your trip š
Hi Alexx, am glad I came across your blogs. The glacier express stops operating by the time I am in Switzerland from late October to mid November. I am looking at Bernina express from Chur to St. moritz. From you blogs, Am I right to take the Bernina express from Chur to Samedan and hop on to a regional train to St. Moritz. Going back to Zurich, Iāll take the regional train from St. Moritz. Appreciate your advice
Hi Wendy! Yep that’s correct, you can take the Bernina Express from Chur to Samedan or Pontresina and there are easy, short regional trains from those places to St Moritz. When I did the trip last October Samedan was a stop on the timetable but for the current timetable it’s not showing as a stop, in this case you can get off at Pontresina and take the local train from there instead. I hope this helps!
Hello Alex, thanks for all the info. We are heading to Switzerland for 8 days by mid Jan 2024 and we booked our stay in Basel, Lucerne & Zurich. Since we only have limited time is it possible to do a short trip via Bernina Express from Zurich? If yes, any recommendation which station to get off and maybe have a break for couple of hours, then hop on to Bernina Express again back to Chur, then to Zurich. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and bless you more!
Best
Liezl
Hi Liezl š if you have a full day to spare then you could do a day trip from Zurich, catch a regional train to Chur, do the Bernina and stop in Tirano for lunch before catching the return trip back to Chur and on to Zurich, but in January you’re daylight hours are obviously limited so the first and last parts of the trip will be dark.
I haven’t been to any other stops on the route unfortunately, I’ve just done the full trip myself, so I can’t give a personal recommendation of where else to stop. Sorry I can’t be of more help!
Super helpful post. Question – We are planning to travel north from Tirano to St. Moritz. I understand that the route for Chur is common until Pontresina. Do you know if the Pontresina to Chur stretch is not worth missing out? If not, we’d rather spend a night in St. Moritz and enjoy the place. Appreciate all your help!
Hi Nimit, the whole route is beautiful but I personally preferred the Tirano to St Moritz stretch, I don’t think the segment between Pontresina and Chur is any more magical. Take a night at St Moritz and enjoy there instead š
Hi Alex, thanks for the info. Just want your help, if I want to travel from Tirano to Swiss, which station do I need to stop, Chur or St Moritz. For your info, my itinerary will only cover Interlaken, lauterbrunnen and grindelwald as I have only 4 days in Swiss. And can you advice me on STP, is it worth it to buy STP for my trip or is it better to pay individual tickets for my 4 days in there.
Tq in advanceš
Hi Syida, Chur is closer to those destinations you want to visit and has better train connections, so I’d say it would be better to travel from Tirano to Chur and then head to Interlaken from there, which would be via Zurich for a change in train probably.
RE: Swiss Travel Pass it really depends on the train prices on the day you want to travel and if you’d be making use of the other Swiss Pass benefits like discounted mountain trains, free museums and public transport, etc.
Thanks so much for your post. Im planning on arriving in MIlan on the 26th march an would like to go on the Bernina Express from Tirano to St Moritz. I know there isnt a direct train.. How clould I plan this trip staying in St Moritz for a day and return to Milan on the 31st?
Thanks
Hey Laura! If youāre travelling in winter and want to stay in St Moritz rather than do the full route from Tirano to Chur, you can get a direct train from Milan to Tirano, then you can catch the Bernina Express from Tirano to Pontresina and then catch a short 10 minute train to St Moritz. Coming back you’d do the same again, the short train to Pontresina and then hop on the Bernina Express from there to Tirano and then back to Milan. Hope this helps!
Hi Alex, thanks for your detailed information. I am planning a trip and it includes to Chur which I will take the Bernina Express to Tirano. May I ask if is worth staying a night in Tirano ? Thanks
Tirano is a very small town but it is super charming, I had two nights there and enjoyed it! They have a unique local food scene with an interesting Swiss-Italian cuisine, there’s a beautiful church and also some wineries and bike trails nearby if you’re there in the warmer months. Not a big touristy destination but if you like quiet, authentic local towns then it’s worth staying a night.
Hi am soo pleased I came across your blog. Itās amazing so thank you. Iām planning a trip in January for 4-5 days just really to do the Bernina express; budget wonāt allow for Glacier express. Wondering if itās best just to purchase train ticket as wonāt really be doing other excursions. Wondering which airport to fly into from London gatwick to catch the Bernina express. I Iām feeling very overwhelmed as I really donāt know how to plan this trip let alone how to get to the train. Iāve read all your great advice re where to stay once on the train route. Just really need help on figuring how to get as close to the train as possible by plane.
Regards
Leanne
Hey Leanne, I just replied to your comment on the other post before seeing this. For the Bernina Express you could either fly into Zurich (I think EasyJet flies there from Gatwick) or into Milan.
From Zurich it would be a 1h 15m-1h 30m direct train to Chur which is where the Bernina Express starts. You could either catch the Bernina Express return, to Tirano (Italy) and then back to Chur, or you could do it one way to Tirano and then catch an easy 2h 30m train from Tirano to Milan and fly out of Milan.
With 4-5 days you could spend a few days in Zurich, or Chur, or Milan, so it really depends on what interests you.
Hi Alex
IM so confused, we want to travel from Zurich to Lake como and stay there. Bernina express will take us there in under 4 hours with two stops in late november 2023?
The Bernina Express does not go to Lake Como, it travels from Chur to Tirano and then there is a connecting bus that takes you to Lugano. To do the Bernina Express on this route you’d need to first train from Zurich to Chur, take the Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano, catch the connecting bus to Lugano, then take a further 35m-45m train to Como San Giovanni so it would be a very long travel day.
If you want to get from Zurich to Lake Como you can catch a direct train (runs every two hours) that takes 3h 35m.
Hi Alexx! your blog is amazing and helped me a lot with my hesitations.
We are a young couple who is planning to travel to Italy-Switzerland in the end of December to the mid of January.
I would appreciate your help – do you think it is possible to travel from Milan to Zurich in the same day?
The plan is to take a regular train from Milan to Tirano -> from there to take the Bernina Express to Chur -> from there to take a train to Zurich and spend the night there.
All this journey with 2 large luggages (we want to experience the great views from panoramic windows in train, so we want to take the bernina express 1st class).
Thank you so much!
Hiya! It would be possible, just a long travel day. From what I can see, in winter 2023/2024 the Bernina Express leaves Tirano at 2.24pm so you’d have plenty of time to catch a regional train from Milan, then you’ll arrive in Chur at 6.22pm, then there are direct Chur to Zurich trains a couple of times an hour which take around 1h 20m-1h 30m. If you wanted a short break in Chur to grab something to eat then you’d probably end up arriving in Zurich around 8-8.30pm.
Hi Alex, thanks for the super informative guide (complete with imbedded links!).
Just wanted to double check I understood this route I’m planning correctly.
Our travel date is winter (Dec 17ish). We would be coming from Milan and want to do a day trip.
From Milan we would take a direct train to tirano, then catch the Tirano to Chur Bernina express, get off at Pontresina, catch a 10 min regular train to St Moritz, then back onto the reg train to pontresina to catch the opposite direction of the bernina express (chur to Tirano) to get back to Tirano and then direct train to Milan?
Is this a doable intinerary?
Hey Kristina š the Bernina Express only runs once a day in winter, it leaves Chur in the morning (8.28am) and it leaves Tirano at 2.24pm, so there’s no way to do a Milan to Tirano to St Moritz and back day trip, to get the next Bernina Express back you’d need to wait until the next morning. You could spend a night in St Moritz if you had time.
I’ve had a quick look at current train timetables and I have found something that *might* work but please note I am not a travel agent nor a train expert, so you’ll need to do your own research to double check, but from what I can see based on December timetables you could:
– Regional train to Tirano in the morning/early afternoon
– Catch the 2.24pm Bernina Express
– Get off at Pontresina at 4.22pm
– Catch the regional train RE1649 from Pontresina (departs 5.04pm) to Tirano (arrives 7pm)
– Catch a regional train back to Milan (current timetable says this departs at 7.08pm and 8.08pm, and takes 2h 30m to get to Tirano)
I hope this helps.
Hi Alex, thanks for this information. Please how do we book the regional trains ahead of time (e.g the regional train RE1649 from Pontresin)
Additionally, are the regional trains located close to the Bernini express stops, considering the tight schedule, would it be possible to catch the train?
Also I have just a seat reservation, wondering how I can get a ticket for the Bernini express for early November from Tirano to Chur.
Hi Jay, regional trains you can easily book on the SBB website or app, or at the train station when you get there. Regional trains go to the same stations that the Bernina Express stops at (you just need to check what track the train leaves from once you’re at the station), I’m not sire what you mean by your second question? You can buy a ticket from the Bernina Express website, the link is in the blog post š
Hi Alexx, You are SO KIND to answer so many questions! Maybe you can help me too. We’re planning on the Bernina Express on December 22 from Chur to Tirano (and a regional train on to Milan) – but we can’t “lock in our seatĀ reservations” via the rhb website. It only offers booking through December 9th. But everywhere online I read that you can reserveĀ yourĀ seat all yearĀ round. I’m so confused!Ā What’s the scoop?
Hey Kara! Hmm I just tried to look on their website and it is showing me a ‘website down for maintenance’ message so I can’t replicate your search, perhaps they’re having technical difficulties with their booking platform. I’d suggest getting in touch with their customer service team at [email protected] and they’ll be able to give you an official answer. Enjoy your travels!
Hello! I’m so happy I came across your blog. My wife and I are going to be staying in Geneva, Switzerland for a week and then in Milan, Italy for a week. So we were trying to see if we could take the Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano and the regional train from geneva to chur and tirano to Milan. However, are there regional trains that early?
If you’re travelling in winter and therefore only have the one daily departure from Chur at 8.28am then there’s no trains that will get you to Chur early enough unfortunately. It would be best for you to stay in Chur the night before, or you could stay in Zurich and catch an early train to Chur (the earliest is around 6.15am, arriving at 7.45am). I hope this helps!
Hello, I was so excited to come across your blog with all of your information. I have spent hours reading and researching trying to decide on how best to book the Bernia Express. I even went in and asked a travel agent and they were unsure. I have been planning a 6 week trip to Europe on my own for myself and my husband. We will be doing the Bernia Express on May 7, 2024, Chur to Tiranp. I thought I could only book 2 months out. Luckily early November I decided to look at their booking system again and found I could of reserved already and there were only 2 seats left in 1st class, Train car 951 leaving at 08:28 Carriage no. 11, 1. Class, Seats 43, 54 Panorama, which I immediately reserved. The seats are not next to each, are both aisle seats and are probably on the left side of the train. I have a couple of questions. Since 1st class is full will we be able to move around to take pictures? I will need to book the tickets 60 days out, correct? I do see there are a lot of seats in 2nd class, would this be a better option? I welcome any suggestions. Thank you so much foe your help!!
Hey Leisa! In a full first class you will still be able to stand up and take pictures, you can always walk into the 2nd class carriages to take photos there if there is more space. I prefer first class because having that single row of seats means you can get in and out of your chair without disrupting anyone next to you. Tickets are available 60 days before the trip yep so make sure to book those when you can. Have a fantastic time.
Hello Alexx!
I will be traveling to Switzerland with my 5-year old son from Dec 26th to Jan 3rd. We are staying in Basel and was hoping to be able to experience the panorama train. Like others, I spend every night looking up detail after detail and this article is fantastic and answered SO many questions for me (I had basically canned the whole idea before I came across your page). A huge thank you for laying it all out and placing this back on my agenda!! š
Oh I’m so glad š what a beautiful time to do the trip, it will be a winter wonderland! Hope you guys have an excellent time in Switzerland š
Hello,
Thanks for the awesome post.
-any insight on going in Dec/Jan? Whether riskier with fog and such?
-appears need to go Chur Tirano route Winter because reverse route leaves in pm and arrives Chur in dark. Why do they run at this time?
– is there any skiing real close to Tirano like real close for just 1 day on the slopes
Thanks
Hiya! I haven’t been in Dec/Jan personally so I can’t share my own experience but it’s still very popular during the winter and the photos I’ve seen are incredible.
I think the reverse route runs at that time because the earliest the train can run is 8.30am (the sun rises at 8am in the middle of winter and perhaps they have to clear the tracks for overnight snow, I dunno) and then they need to leave time in Tirano for day trippers to have a quick stop for lunch I guess, so it’s unfortunate but winter doesn’t allow time for the train to run both directions in sunlight.
The closest ski resort I can see on Google Maps is Aprica, about 30 min drive from Tirano, but once you book accommodation I’d recommend checking with your hotel as they’ll know much more than me.
Hope this helps!
Hello! Thank you so much for your informative post! I am curious – if the train ticket I booked from Tirano to Chur says via Pontresina-Samedan (below) does that mean we will have to change trains at some point?
3/25/24 Tirano – Chur
via Pontresina – Samedan
Single, 1st Class | Change
Hey Jess! Does your ticket tell you the train number? This will clarify if it’s one train or if you need to make changes. The direct Bernina Express from Tirano to Chur that runs year-round is the 952 leaving Tirano at 2.24pm and arriving in Chur at 6.22pm, if you’re on a different train/have different times then there will be a change to a different train. There has been a lot of track maintenance in Switzerland recently (it messed up a bunch of my travel plans in November) so if there’s no direct train showing this might be the reason. Best to get in touch with the Bernina Express team if you’re still not sure though!
Thank you so much for your time and explanation.
I also have a question-please, help me understand. I am in the process of booking the Bernina Express, this is what it gives to me-below. I am booking only 3 days in advance.
I did as it says in your explanation above, choosing only PE trains, but it gives me a change anyway, does it mean its not a panoramic train I am booking on Bernina Express website? It also says – choose standart connection or some other, I hope I chose correctly…
Tirano – Chur
via Pontresina – Samedan
Single, 2nd Class | Change
Thank you.
Hey Anna! Someone asked a similar question yesterday for travel in March and it’s showing the same thing, no direct option. There should be one direct Tirano to Chur train that travels year-round but if it’s not showing up then it might be a track or train issue meaning it’s not available at the moment. The best thing to do would be to contact the Bernina Express team and double check what the problem is. Sorry I can’t be of more help!
Thanks for all your information. We are going to Switzerland in May and will be getting a Swiss Travel Flex pass. I have read you really don’t need 1st class and it is quite pricey compared to 2nd class. I would like to be in the 1st class car from Turino to Chur. Do you know how to upgrade for 1 ride only and how easy is it to do so? Also, would you recommend the early 8:30 train or the afternoon train.
Thank you!
Hey Cathy š You can’t upgrade for only one ride unfortunately, you’d need to just buy a totally separate ticket + reservation for the first class cabin and not use your Swiss Travel Pass for that one. The 1st class Swiss Travel Pass doesn’t make much a difference for most of the regional trains but if you’re using it on the panoramic trains (like the Bernina or the Glacier Express etc.) that’s where it’s really valuable as it can save you a decent chunk of money. In terms of morning v. afternoon it’s probably more dependent on your timing, are you spending a night in Tirano before? If so then the morning train would work, if you’re travelling from Milan that day then the afternoon train will mean you’ve got a bit more time to get there in case of any delays. Hope this helps!
Hi Alexx – I love your blog. Information is so clear and helpful!
Our family is taking the St. Moritz to Tirano Bernina Express in late April. We realize this train does not have the panoramic windows but are hoping it is just as spectacular of an experience.
A quick question on arriving in Tirano – is there a train from Tirano to Varenna or do we need to take a bus?
Thanks! Charlotte
Hey Charlotte, so glad it has helped you š Have you booked the official Bernina Express train from St Moritz to Tirano, the 975? It only runs on Fridays to Sundays from 5 April, if this is what you’ve booked then I am fairly sure this has the panoramic windows. If you’re taking a non-Bernina regional train then you’ll still get epic views on that route so all good!
There is a train that runs from Tirano to Varenna every hour or two throughout the day, it takes 1h 30m.
Hi thanks in advance for your help> we are planning , switerzerland trip for 8 days in mi d June. flying from Melbourne. we want to see top of Europe and do glacier and Bernina express . ho w we should plan ? fly in to Zurich and fly out form Geneva. can u suggest? we are there for sight scene only.
thanks
Hi Alka, I actually have a blog post about a five day itinerary that might give you some helpful tips, you can see it here: https://findingalexx.com/5-day-switzerland-itinerary/
If you’re flying into Zurich and out of Geneva and you want to do both train trips you will need to double back on yourselves, there’s not really any way of avoiding that. You could go:
– Zurich to Chur, one night in Chur
– Chur to Tirano on the Bernina Express 951 train, leaves 8.28am and arrives 12.49pm
– Lunch in Tirano
– Tirano to St Moritz on the Bernina Express 976 train, leaves 4.06pm and arrives 6.25pm, one night in St Moritz
– Glacier Express from St Moritz to Zermatt, 1/2 nights in Zermatt
– Zermatt to Interlaken (about 2h 30m by train), stay in Interlaken and do a day trip to Jungfrau (Top of Europe) and other options like Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen
– Interlaken to Geneva (about 3h by train)
Appreciate all your information on this. Taking a 2 week trip in April and understanding this train has been the most challenging part of the planning. Could you direct me to what a photo of the regional train windows look like as well as the Allegra windows? Are the Allegra windows the same size/style as the regional train that takes the same route? Thank you!
Hey Jon! I haven’t travelled in the Allegra unit or on the regional train so I don’t have photos sorry, but if you Google ‘Man in Seat 61 Bernina Express’ you’ll find a blog post that includes photos of the Allegra carriage š
Hi Alexx, thank you for your post about Bernina Express. Unfortunately, by the time I found out about it there aren’t enough available seats in panoramic coach for all 8 of us š I’m thinking of still taking the train from Chur – Tirano route, do you happen to know if all the train on that route is going on the same route as the Bernina Express (with Panoramic car)? I’d appreciate your help – Lenny
Hi Lee š Yu can travel on regional trains that do the same route but you will probably need two train changes, at Samedan and at Pontresina. These trains don’t have panoramic windows unfortunately, the only panoramic trains are the official Bernina Express carriages, but on regional trains you can generally open some of the windows which actually makes for much better photos. Have fun!
Hello Alexx!
Thanks for sharing so useful info about your experience at Bernina express. Unfortunately, I read it a little late….
In fact, I am going to travel to Switzerland next month with my friend and we have already bought our tickets from Tirano to ZĆŗrich, including St. Moritz and Chur. Our train from Tirano to St. Moritz is Bernina express PE972, however I didn’t know that I should reserve our seats first, and system shows that they are sold out on that day. I have booked 1st class tickets. Do you think I can travel in Allegra unit without seat reservation, and if yes, how earlier should I be at the station in order to get in? If Allegra is full too, can I travel with Bernina express anyway? I have already e-mailed RhB but did not receive any answer yet š
Thanks in advance,
Lenya
Hey Lenya, sorry to hear about your situation. You definitely can’t travel on the Bernina Express carriages without a seat reservation so don’t try that as you’ll likely get fined. and if it’s showing as sold out then there won’t be any seats available (and they don’t allow people with no reservations to stand). If you’ve got a ticket for the route then you will be able to take a spot on the Allegra carriage without paying for a seat reservation. I haven’t taken the Allegra carriage before so I’m not sure what time would be best, but it is first-in first-served so get there early to ensure you’ve got a spot. Best to double check with RhB to confirm what I’ve told you here but I think this is correct!
Thank you so much for your reply! If there are no delays, my train arrives at Tirano at 08:52. Bernina departs on 10:06. Hope I’ll manage to get in, otherwise we’ll pay anew for a regional train.
Good luck, my fingers are crossed for you!
I come back today, as everyday I visit the site of Rhb, today it showed two seats available in second class. As I wrote, I have bought 1st class tickets. If I reserve the seats of 2nd class, do you know if I have to buy new tickets, too?
Oh that’s great to hear! If you’ve got first class tickets then I don’t imagine there would be any problem with you taking a second class seat reservation, you have already paid more than the required amount for the ticket. If you’d like confirmation of this then it would be best to get in touch with RhB though just to make sure.
Dear Alexx
Thanks for your amazing post on Bernini Express trains.
My travel team of 2 is planning to take the BE Direct train from Chur to Tirano on May 4/2024.
We plan to catch the 8:30 am BE attain at CHUR (we will be staying overnight at CHUR on May 3 so we are in CHUR early enough on May 4.
We donāt want to pay for seat reservations. We have EU Rail Class 2 passes. That said, you mentioned below one of the ways is to get to the platform early enough on the BE a travel day. Can you elaborate on this option and hopefully providing clarifications on the following questions-
1. How early should we plan to get to the platform? Will the specific platform be known already if we get there early enough. What is your recommendations?
2. Will there be a specific queueing area in the platform?
3. Since we donāt have seat reservation, we would be competing potentially with other passengers with reservations in Class 2? If yes, our chances of getting 2 seats are lesser, right?
4. Finally we saw some reference about Class 2 front and Class 2 back. Where should we be queueing?
5. finally, if on that day, we were unable to get on the BE direct, we should then immediately look for the regional train options at CHUR to get us to Tirano? We have read the regional train ride is as good as the BE Direct but has 1-2 stops and takes a little longer. But we need to get to Tirano early afternoon to get to our final destination Milan evening of May 4.
Many thanks in advance for the anticipated responses from this community.
Ed
Hi Ed š I’m glad the blog has been helpful for you. I haven’t taken the Allegra unit (the unreserved carriage) myself so you might want to try and find someone who has personal experience but I will try to answer your questions.
1. Usually the Bernina Express leaves from platform 10 at Chur but you can check on the SBB website to confirm that. I’m not sure what time you’ll need to get to the platform sorry, but given it’s a Saturday, I assume it will be a very full service so best to get there as early as you can to increase your chance of getting a spot.
2. Not sure if there is a specific area for queueing for the unreserved carriage
3. You won’t be competing with people with a seat reservation. If you have a seat reservation you will be on the Bernina Express panoramic carriages, in these carriages a seat reservation is mandatory. If you don’t have a reservation then you can only sit in the Allegra unit which is a ‘normal’ train carriage with no panoramic windows, so you’ll only be competing with other people without a reservation.
4. When you arrive at the platform you can ask train staff to point you towards the Allegra unit
5. If there are no spaces available on the Bernina Express then you can take regional trains yes, you’ll probably need to change at Samedan and Pontresina and these trains are covered by your Eurail Pass so you won’t need to reserve seats.
Hope this helps!
Hi Alexx,
Just to say thank you for your information. I’m doing a 4-night trip in March (1 night each in Zurich, Chur, Tirano, Milan) and including the Bernina Express. I booked my flights, all hotels, train tickets yesterday but felt a bit unsure about the Bernina Express but your blog has reassured me and has given me additional details – great information thank you so much!
Sounds like an epic trip Liz, glad I’ve been able to put your mind at ease š have an excellent time!
We are traveling with a family of 7 adults and 4 children ranging ages 8-6 months old. We are planning to stay in St. Moritz for 2 nights. We are traveling from Milan and in route to Venice after St. Mortiz. What do you recommend for taking the Bernina Express in this 2 day trip? Tirano to Venice is at least 5 hours.
Hey Melisa! I don’t quite understand your question sorry, can you please rephrase? Are you wanting to know what the best itinerary would be to cover Milan, St Moritz and Venice using the Bernina Express? If you can clarify what info you need from me then I’ll try and help š
We are visiting St. Moritz and Pontresina. We are staying Celerina for two nights. My question is that since we are coming from Milan what would be the best itinerary to take the Bernina Express and go back to Milan at the end of our stay in Celerina. Thank you!
The Bernina Express has a seasonal timetable so it depends on the time of year you’re visiting, but your options will really depend on how early you want to leave from Milan. With young kids I assume you wouldn’t want to start your day too early. Here are some ideas:
– You could take the 7.20am train from Milan to Tirano arriving at 9.52am, or the 8.20am arriving at 10.52am, or the 9.20am arriving at 12.05pm, or the 10.20am arriving at 12.52pm
– You could catch the 972 at 10.06am to St Moritz (Friday to Sunday until 31 March, daily from 5 April to 10 May)
– Or the 974 at 1.17pm to St Moritz (11 May to 27 Oct)
– Or the 952 at 2.24pm to Chur, get off at Pontresina (year-round)
– Or the 976 at 4.06pm to St Moritz (11 May to 27 Oct)
On your way back to Milan there are also lots of options:
– Catch train 971 from St Moritz at 9.17am (11 May to 27 Oct)
– Catch train 951 from Pontresina at 10.25am (year-round)
– Catch train 973 from St Moritz at 1.17pm (11 May to 27 Oct)
– Catch train 955 from Pontresina at 3.41pm (11 May to 27 Oct)
– Catch train 975 from St Moritz at 4.14pm (Friday to Sunday until 31 March, daily from 5 April to 10 May)
Does this answer your question?
Agree with a prior comment that your kindness and generosity to answer questions is heartily appreciated. My questions is how did you get from the St Moritz train station to the Randolinās Berghotel. Did you take a taxi? I’m not seeing great local transit options without a 20+ minutes walk along a narrow, steep road, which I’m hesitant to do in winter with potentially sizeable snowdrifts on the roadside. Thanks in advance!
They have a shuttle! They run off a set timetable that usually aligns with the trains and they’ll pick you up from the train station, but you need to pre-book through their reception because the shuttle won’t run if they don’t have a booking. Definitely don’t do the walk haha it is steeeep!
Your blog is amazing and you give us so much insight A couple of questions Do I need to have a Swiss Travel Pass or Eurail Pass before I book a seat reservation or can I purchase one of them when I buy the ticket 60 days out? If Iām only traveling in Switzerland is the Swiss Travel Pass better? One last thing I buy a seat reservation on the BE months ahead then 60 days ahead I buy a ticket for the seatā¦.do I buy the seat and ticket on the RHB website? Thank you
Thank you for your feedback Liz š You don’t need a Swiss Pass or Eurail Pass when you book the reservations if you’re booking them through SBB or any other Europe rail operators, you just need to make sure you have a valid pass on the day of travel. If you want to book reservations on the Eurail website then you will need a pass beforehand to attach it to your account, then you can make the bookings, but you don’t need to do it this way as you can make reservations on many European train operator websites or at stations in person.
If you’re just in Switzerland then yep a Swiss Travel Pass will be better as it also includes local transport and generally gives you a higher discount on some mountain railways. What you’ll want to calculate is the Swiss Travel Pass vs. the Swiss Half Fare card, often the half fare card ends up being cheaper.
I’m actually looking at offering a ‘which rail pass is better’ service as I get so many questions, if you want me to take a look at your itinerary then flick me an email at [email protected] and I can send you a bit of a brief. Happy to do it for free to you so I can figure out the best process?
Sorry and yes, if you need a ticket for the BE (e.g. if you don’t have a rail pass) you’ll need to buy a ticket on the RhB website, however they’ve started releasing tickets for summer six months in advance so they might be available now if you’re travelling in the next six months.
If you have a Swiss Travel Pass or Eurail Pass you don’t need to buy a separate ticket as your pass is your ticket, you just need that and the reservation š
Hi Alexx,
I really enjoyed your blog. Thanks for all the information. I would be travelling with my family (including 2 kids) to Europe in June and I have few questions and would appreciate your help.
I am planning to book 1st class on Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano. Which side of seating will have a better view?
Is it advisable to stay the night in Chur as I will be travelling from Lucerne to Chur to board the Bernina Express? We don’t plan to stay in Tirano as we will be going to Lake Como. Are there direct trains from Tirano to Lake Como?
Hiya! If you’re travelling southbound then you’ll want to sit on the right side of the train. Staying in Chur the night before is a good idea, the trip from Lucerne to Chur is about 2h 10m so if you did Lucerne-Chur-Tirano-Lake Como in one day it would be a very long day switching trains. There’s no direct train from Tirano to Lake Como, your best option is probably to train to Milan and then switch to a train to Como š
Hello Alexx, thank you for such an informative blog. We are planning a trip in Oct/Nov and I am just wondering if there is a better direction to travel the Bernina Express. From Chur to Tirano or vice versa. Also as we seem to be travelling at the turn of timetables from summer/winter, are we better off trying to do in the summer timetable.
Thanks
Hey Darren! The direction doesn’t matter at all, but at that time of the year you’ll just want to make sure you’re not going to be travelling when it’s too dark. The best option in the winter timetable between Chur and Tirano is the southbound route leaving Chur at 8.28am and arriving in Tirano 12.49pm, if you catch the train in the other direction you won’t get into Chur until 6.22pm, and it’ll be dark for the last hour or more. If you travel during summer there are more trains to choose from so you can choose to travel in either direction in full daylight even in late October.
Hello Alexx, that makes alot of sense thank you, we could start our trip in Switzerland so we would be in the summer timetable. If we flew into Zurich and had about 5/6 days before we did BE and into Italy, what would be your highlights.
Thanks
I’ve got a blog that might help, a five day itinerary starting in Zurich and ending with the Bernina Express: https://findingalexx.com/5-day-switzerland-itinerary/
With this itinerary you could always cut out the Glacier Express if you aren’t fussed on that and just go from Interlaken to Zurich instead.
But it really depends on what you’re into. Lucerne is a great place to be based for mountain adventures (Rigi, Stanserhorn, Pilatus and Titlis all easy access) plus beautiful lake cruises and the city itself is very charming, ideal if you prefer a slower pace of travel and want to be somewhere with a beautiful Old Town. If you want more adventurey stuff then Interlaken (or one of the small mountain towns like Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen) gives you access to Grindelwald-First, Schiltorn and the famous Jungfraujoch. Lots of very cute alpine villages, two beautiful lakes, Harder Kulm viewpoint is magical, things like rafting, paragliding, canyoning etc. on offer.
Love your blog. We are planning on doing this on May 1, 2 or 3rd. We are staying in Bellagio. So thinking we need to take ferry to Varrena and then train to Tirano. I thought maybe the Bernina Express to St. Moritz and then take the regional train back to Tirano and stop off at little places that looked interesting on the Express. And then we could get on and off. I saw there are busses and trains that could take you from Varenna to Tirano. Iām thinking train would be a better choice. What would you think of this for an itinerary?
Hey Jackie, I can’t find any buses from Varenna to Tirano without having to make a change, but there are direct trains, so I think a train will be easier. In terms of places to stop, I’ve only done the Bernina Express direct and haven’t stopped anywhere, but there were people on my train that got off in Pontresina to have a look around before jumping back on. Have a fantastic trip!
Hello!
Im Marcelo from Chile. I am very grateful for your tips and recommendations.
Very useful.
Sorry but, maybe you have ever travelled to Turkey. Could you recommend me a goog Hot air ballons Company in Capadoccia?
I went with Butterfly Balloons when I was in Cappadocia š
Hello,
We have a stopover in Milan so are considering taking the day tour trip to Lake Como and St. Moritz including the Bernina Red Train to , it is a 13 hour tour but we are time poor so need to make the most of our stay.
It will be the end of October.
Will we see any snow or glaciers?
We are from Australia so snow is a novelty for us.
Do you recommend this?
Thanks
Sharon
Australia
Hey Sharon! What an exciting trip š I did the Bernina Express in the very middle of October and all the photos on this page are my own photos from that trip, you can see that there are beautiful autumn colours along with some snow in the higher alpine areas, and I did see glaciers. If you’re doing it end of October I’d expect it to be a bit snowier but the colours should still be vibrant in the lower areas. It’s a brilliant time of the year to do it, I’d highly recommend it.
Hi
Really great information, thank you very much.
In British technical railway language, “the end of the carriage that connects with the next carriage” is a vestibule.
THANK YOU! I knew these would have a name but my Googling didn’t give me the right answer haha
Hi Alexx, thank you for these useful and relevant information.
Can Ist / 2nd class Bernina Express Panoramic passengers visit the Allegra unit to capture nice photos and videos on open windows? š Thanks!
Hi Idine! I believe the Allegra unit is a separate carriage and isn’t connected to the Bernina by an internal door, so there’s no way to access it from the 1st/2nd class Bernina carriages. I think you’d have to disembark your carriage at one of the stops and then jump onto the Allegra carriage, and wouldn’t be able to get back to your carriage until the next stop. It would be easier for you to find a window that opens in the vestibule (the bit that connects the Bernina carriages) and take photos from there.
Such an amazing blog with so much practical information and tips. I have always wanted to travel on one of the alpine trains for Switzerland and you have helped immensely with planning. The observatory hotel sounds amazing. Thank you!
Thanks for your feedback Rebecca, stoked that it has helped you sort your trip š Have the best time!
Hi, thanks for your blog. I am confused about booking train tickets from Chur to Tirano. Could you help?
1. Is the BE the only direct train that travels from Chur to Tirano?
On local trains you need to change?
2. Where do you buy tickets for the Allegra part of the BE ?
3. I am travelling 3May 2025. How far in advance can you buy these tickets?
Thank you for your help.
Hi Jane š Answers to your questions:
– The Bernina Express train is the only direct train from Chur to Tirano yep. You can use local trains if you don’t mind changing, the changes would be at Samedan and Pontresina and are very simple and well-signed.
– You can buy a ticket for the Allegra unit on the RhB website (the operator of the Bernina Express) or the SBB website (the national railway operator), and you can book them up to six months in advance. If you have a Swiss Travel Pass you don’t need to book though, your pass acts as your ticket so you can just hop on the train! But because Allegra seats aren’t reserved and that’s a Saturday you might want to get there early to ensure you get a seat.
Hope this helps!
Hello Alexx,
Thank you for your most helpful blog, I wanted to do the Bernina Express before reading it but this has sealed the deal and I definitely want to now! š
I’m sorry if this has already been answered above but I’m still a bit confused on where to book and what the price should be, this is what I want to do:
Saturday 1st March 2025
Tirano to Chur
Daylight hours
Panoramic train
1st Class
2 adults
Direct is preferable but I don’t mind having to change
Is this possible and what would the price be – how is it best to book it? I’m from the UK.
Thank you so much in advance,
Jodie
Hi Jodie! Glad to hear it’s been helpful, I actually did the Bernina Express again yesterday to get some fresh photos and videos š Always a highlight of my time in Europe. On 1 March it’s still the winter timetable, so there’s one daily train from Tirano to Chur that leaves at 2.24pm and arrives at 6.22pm (if their 2025 timetable stays the same as 2024, they haven’t updated this on their website yet). Google says sunset in Chur at that time of the year is 6.08pm but with the mountains it’s hard to know how light the last hour or so of your trip will be.
In terms of booking/prices, you have a few options. If you are taking multiple trains in Switzerland over multiple days, look into the Swiss Half Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass. I have blog posts on both (and comparing them) linked in this Bernina blog if you need more info. The STP covers your ticket cost (113CHF per person in 1st class based on 2024 pricing) so you’d just need to pay the seat reservation fee (32CHF each in low season). The SHFC gives you half price, so 56.50CHF for your ticket and then the 32CHF reservation fee.
If the Bernina is the only train you’re taking, then you can book a full price ticket on the Bernina Express website (I’ve linked it in the blog) for 113CHF for 1st class, plus the 32CHF reservation, OR if you’re ready to book now there is one additional option.
The Swiss Transport System has something called a Saver Day Pass, which is basically a ticket that gives you unlimited travel across the network for one day, and you can buy in on the SBB website. It’s like the Swiss Travel Pass but for a single day rather than 3-10 days. Saver Day Passes are priced dynamically, meaning they are cheaper when you book in advance/when there is low demand. You could buy a 1st class Saver Day Pass today for travel on 1 March for 88CHF, this acts as your ticket so you’d be saving 25CHF compared to the full price ticket of 113CHF. You’d still need to purchase the 32CHF seat reservation on top. The Saver Day Pass is not flexible/non-refundable so only buy it if you’re certain of your travel plans.
I hope this makes sense!
Hi Alexx, great site it has some great info. My question is, I will have a Eurail Pass and I just want to take the regional trains from Chur to Tirano (the same path as Bernina Express). Correct me if Iām wrong but these run quite regularly during the day? To use these trains do I just put them in my trip planner in eurail? Can I or do I need to reserve any spots? I will be coming from Luzern and going into Varenna either end in a big travel day. Thanks
Yep the regional trains run quite frequently, to follow the exact same route you’ll need to change trains at Samedan and at Pontresina, and yes you just add them into the Rail Planner app. No reservations needed on regional trains in Switzerland, and the Tirano to Varenna train is a regional Trenord train I think which also doesn’t require reservations. Hope this helps!
Hi Alex, thank you so much of this informative blog! I was planning on catching the Bernina from Chur to Tirano and get back to Zurich on the same day. Is this possible and if it is what is the best travelling solution? Should I catch the Bernina back to Chur then get on a regional train to Zurich or is there a more direct route?
You can do it but it’d be a long day! You’d need to take the 951 from Chur at 8.17am arriving at 12.49pm in Tirano, have time for lunch, then catch the 952 leaving Tirano at 2.24pm and arriving in Chur at 6.31pm, then catch a direct train to Zurich (1h 15m for fast trains, 1h 37m for slower regional trains).