Planning an upcoming Switzerland adventure and considering the Bernina Express panorama train? If you’re wondering “is the Bernina Express worth it?” then look no further, here’s a detailed review of my trip on the Bernina Express from St Moritz to Tirano, as well as some handy tips to ensure you have the best time possible.
After three two-to-three month Europe rail adventures (2022, 2023 and now 2024), I’m a total convert for rail travel, especially in countries with landscapes as magical as Switzerland. Minimal effort, comfortable seating and some of the most mind-blowing views you could ever experience while travelling from A to B.
The Bernina Express was high on my train travel bucket list, and I was able to slot it into my 2022 itinerary right after completing another Swiss panorama train, the Glacier Express. I’ve just been back in 2024 for my second Bernina experience!
If you’re currently planning your Europe rail adventure you might be thinking “is the Bernina Express worth it?”. It’s not cheap, even with a Eurail Pass or Swiss Travel Pass you have mandatory seat reservations that set you back between 28-36CHF depending on the time of year, and if you’re like me then you want to make sure every travel dollar (or Swiss Franc in this case) is put to good use.
No need to go scouring the internet through hundreds of reviews of the Bernina Express to make your decision, this blog post has literally all you need to know about the train journey to help you decide if the Bernina Express is worth it for you. In this post I explain the Bernina Express routes, the current timetable, pricing, options to get a discount or take the same route for cheaper, tips for taking photos and more.
Here’s a deep dive into the Bernina Express to help you decide if the Bernina Express is worth it.
A summary: Is the Bernina Express worth it?
The answer will depend on your exact circumstances of course, but for me the Bernina Express was totally worth it.
If you’re wanting to witness some of the best landscapes in the world, if you’re travelling with a Eurail, Interrail, Swiss Travel Pass (and therefore can get the trip for only the seat reservation cost), if you’re simply a keen train traveller, or if you prefer easy, simple journeys and don’t mind paying a bit of a premium for convenience, then the Bernina Express is probably worth it.
P.S. Save 10% on your Swiss Travel Pass or Eurail Pass on Klook with the promocode findingalexxklook
But on the other hand if you struggle to sit still for half a day, if you’re on a super tight budget and would rather save money by taking a cheaper but less scenic route, or if you’ve only got a couple of days to spend in Switzerland, then the Bernina Express might not be worth it for you.
But please read on for a more detailed explanation on if the Bernina Express is worth it (or not!).
👉🏼 Read more: The Glacier Express vs. the Bernina Express
Bernina Express quick links
- Buy Bernina Express tickets here (if you don’t have a Eurail Pass)
- Book your Bernina Express seat reservations here (if you have a Eurail Pass)
- Buy a Eurail Pass
- Or buy a Swiss Travel Pass (10% off with promocode findingalexxklook)
- My top hotel recommendation in St Moritz is Randolin’s Berghotel, I stayed in their incredible observatory which was a once-in-a-lifetime accommodation experience
- My top accommodation recommendation in Tirano is Ostello del Castello, a top-rated locally-run guesthouse that offers comfortable rooms for a very affordable price
- Ostello del Castello doesn’t operate all-year, if it’s not open for your trip then I also recommend Bernina Express Eco Rooms which is right next to the train station and has a range of rooms/suites available
- Read my guide to the Glacier Express if you’re considering taking another panoramic train from St Moritz through to Zermatt
- Planning an extended Europe train adventure? Read my guide on if a Eurail Pass is worth it (with my detailed budget breakdown from my own trip)
- Want help with your itinerary? I’ve got a five day Switzerland itinerary, 10 day Switzerland itinerary and a Northern Italy and Switzerland itinerary with different length options
What is the Bernina Express?
The Bernina Express is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed train journey in Switzerland (and a bit in Italy) that whisks you past vibrant alpine lakes, charming mountain villages and endless snow-capped peaks over a four hour, 144km journey. You’ll go through 55 tunnels and over 196 bridges, experience an incline of up to 7%, and probably take hundreds of photos!
The railway is made up of two lines, the Albula Railway which was completed in 1904, and the Bernina-Bahngesellschaft which was opened in 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 ‘panorama train‘, a term used for tourist-focused scenic train routes through Switzerland that boast panoramic windows for the ultimate sightseeing experience.
It’s a world-renowned route that sits at the top of many train travel bucket lists, and it’s constantly showing up on lists of the most beautiful train rides in Europe.
Is the Bernina Express worth it for the views?
The views are simply stunning *chef’s kiss*. I’ll give you an idea of what views you can expect.
Where does the Bernina Express start and finish?
This question caused immediate confusion for me when I was doing my research, so to avoid that here’s all you need to know about the Bernina Express route.
The full 144km journey runs from Tirano in Italy to Chur in Switzerland, and vice versa. This trip takes about four hours from start to finish, and runs year-round. This is sometimes referred to on the official website as the ‘Bernina Express long-distance route’ as it’s the full route.
What confused me is that many of the reviews I read mentioned staying in St Moritz. The Chur-Tirano route bypasses St Moritz completely, however there is another Bernina Express route that runs between Tirano and St Moritz, a shorter journey of about 2.5 hours. This is sometimes referred to on their website as the ‘Bernina Express short-distance route’.
This route runs daily from 5 April 2024 to 27 October 2024, and again for three days from 1-3 November, again from 7-10 December, and then 13 & 14 December 2024 too. A very strange timetable!
If you’re travelling in winter on a day that the St Moritz route isn’t running and you want to stay in St Moritz rather than do the full route to or from Chur, you can catch the Chur-Tirano Bernina Express to Pontresina and then catch a short 10 minute train to St Moritz (or vice versa).
In this close up map you can see that the Chur-Tirano line runs straight from Samedan through to Pontresina, bypassing St Moritz. If you start your journey in St Moritz then you join the main line at Pontresina.
If you’re traveling 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.
It’s worth keeping in mind that the Glacier Express, another panoramic train, runs between Zermatt and St Moritz, but makes a stop in Chur. If you’d like to combine the two train journeys and go all the way from Tirano in Italy to Zermatt in Switzerland then you could either spend a night in St Moritz or a night in Chur, as both the Glacier Express and Bernina Express service both of those stations.
There is also a Bernina Express Bus add on available for some of the year which connects you from Tirano to Lugano or vice versa with a three hour journey.
- Bus 5950 departs Lugano at 10am and arrives in Tirano at 1pm
- Bus 5951 departs Tirano at 2.20pm and arrives in Lugano at 5.30pm
- The bus runs daily from 28 March to 27 October 2024, from Thursday to Sunday from 31 October to 24 November 2024, and doesn’t run at all in winter
How often does the Bernina Express run?
It depends on the time of year and the route you’re taking, here are the train times (last updated 11 November 2024).
Note: The Bernina Express summer season runs from 11 May to 27 October 2024, and the rest of the year is referred to as the winter season. As of 11 November 2024 the 2025 dates aren’t published yet, but I’ll update this as soon as I see them.
Chur >> Tirano
One train in winter, two trains in summer.
- 951: Departs Chur 8.28am, arrives Tirano 12.49pm (year-round)
- 955: Departs Chur 1.34pm, arrives Tirano 5.59pm (summer only)
Tirano >> Chur
One train in winter, two trains in summer.
- 950: Departs Tirano 8.06am, arrives Chur 12.22pm (summer only)
- 952: Departs Tirano 2.24pm, arrives Chur 6.22pm (year-round)
St Moritz >> Tirano
This route has a weird timetable that’s a little confusing.
There’s one train that runs throughout the main winter season on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until 31 March, then it runs daily from 5 April to 10 May, then again for a few random days in November and December. There are two other trains that run in the summer season only.
- 971: Departs St Moritz 9.17am, arrives Tirano 11.32am (summer only)
- 973: Departs St Moritz 1.17pm, arrives Tirano 3.31pm (summer only)
- 975: Departs St Moritz 4.14pm, arrives Tirano 6.39pm (Fri/Sat/Sun until 31 March, daily from 5 April to 10 May, and again from 1-3 November, 7-10 December, and 13 + 14 December)
Tirano >> St Moritz
Same dates as the opposite direction mentioned above.
- 972: Departs Tirano 10.06am, arrives St Moritz 12.35pm (same dates as the 975 above)
- 974: Departs Tirano 1.17pm, arrives St Moritz 3.45pm (summer only)
- 976: Departs Tirano 4.06pm, arrives St Moritz 6.25pm (summer only)
How to check the Bernina Express timetable
You can see the timetable on the RhB website.
Keep in mind that if you do a search on that website, it will show you regional trains in the search results without making it very clear anywhere that these are regional trains (not the panorama trains), except for the fact that the seat reservation is only 5CHF rather than the usual 28CHF+.
For an easier way to check the current timetable for the Bernina Express panorama trains (not the regional trains that run on the same route) you can go to https://www.sbb.ch/en, put in your origin and destination, click ‘advanced search’ and then untick all train types except for PE. This will show you the train journeys that are serviced by the Bernina Express panorama train carriages.
Can you do a Bernina Express day trip?
You sure can! Unlike the full day Glacier Express journey between St Moritz and Zermatt, the shorter Bernina Express offers the option to spend a day travelling to and from the same point with a return trip. The day trip options depend on the route and the time of year.
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.
Here are the possible timings for a Bernina Express day trip.
Chur-Tirano day trip (available year-round)
Depart Chur at 8.28am, arrive in Tirano at 12.49pm (on the 951)
Depart Tirano at 2.24pm, arrive in Chur at 6.22pm (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 12.22pm (on the 950)
Depart Chur at 1.34pm, arrive in Tirano at 5.59pm (on the 955)
Tirano-St Moritz day trip in winter (available Fridays to Sundays until 31 March, then daily from 5 April to 10 May and again from 1-3 Nov, 7-10 Dec and 13-14 Dec)
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)
The Tirano-St Moritz day trip in summer is no longer possible due to timetable changes, the latest summer train leaves Tirano at 1.17pm to arrive in St Moritz at 3.45pm, and the latest train going the other way leaves at 1.17pm from St Moritz, so you’ll cross in the mountains.
And if you’re 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.
What’s the price of Bernina Express tickets?
(Prices up to date as of 11 November 2024)
Bernina Express tickets are made up of two separate payments, one for your ticket and one for your seat reservation.
The ticket price for the full journey between Chur and Tirano one way is 66CHF in 2nd class and 113CHF in 1st class. For the shorter journey between St Moritz and Tirano, 2nd class tickets are 33CHF and 1st class tickets are 57CHF. Prices are the same year-round.
On top of the ticket price, to use the panoramic carriages there is a mandatory seat reservation fee which changes depending on the season:
- The St Moritz-Tirano route seat reservation is 28CHF year-round
- For the Chur-Tirano route in the low season (10 December until 30 April, then 1 November to 14 December), seat reservations are 32CHF
- For the Chur-Tirano route in the high season (1 May-31 October), seat reservations are 36CHF
If you’re paying full price you can expect to pay between 98-102CHF for 2nd class or 145-149CHF 1st class between Chur and Tirano, or 61CHF for 2nd class or 85CHF for 1st class between St Moritz and Tirano.
Can you get a discount on the Bernina Express?
I have good news for you!
If you have a Eurail Pass, Interrail Pass, Swiss Travel Pass or other valid travel pass, you do not need to pay the ticket fee. Your rail pass covers your ticket, you only need to pay for the seat reservation. For more info on Eurail Passes you can read my super detailed guide on how to use a Eurail Pass and you can see my Swiss Travel Pass guide here.
If you’re doing a return trip, obviously you’ll need to pay for a ticket and a seat reservation each way (or just seat reservation each way if you’ve got a travel pass).
If you have a Swiss Half Fare Card you’ll save 50% on the ticket price, but you’ll need to pay the full seat reservation.
Can you use a Saver Day Pass on the Bernina Express?
You sure can. A Saver Day Pass is basically a one day Swiss Travel Pass, you can buy it from the SBB website and it gives you unlimited access to trains, boats and buses on the Swiss Travel System.
The price ranges depending on demand, from 52CHF if you book well in advance to 119CHF if you book last minute (and there’s still availability).
If you have a Swiss Half Fare Card you’ll save 15-45% on the Saver Day Pass price too (also based on demand). This means you can save a bit on the Bernina Express price and it’ll cover any onwards travel to Zurich or somewhere else in Switzerland on that day too.
Can you do the Bernina Express on local trains?
And if you’d like to avoid paying the seat reservation fee at all then you can skip the panoramic carriages and sit in the unreserved seats of the Allegra unit, the ‘normal’ train carriage which pulls the Bernina Express for the whole journey.
These windows actually open (unlike the panoramic carriage windows) which actually makes for better photos without annoying reflections. These Allegra seats are first-come first-served so I’d avoid relying on this during busy periods or you might not end up with a window seat.
For the Allegra carriage, you can buy a ticket through the SBB app or website right up until the moment of departure, or if you’ve got a valid rail or travel pass you can use this as your ticket. No seat reservations needed, no pre-booking needed, just be aware that there is a risk it’ll be packed on busy days.
How do you buy Bernina Express tickets?
You can purchase your Bernina Express tickets and seat reservations on the RhB website, but they have made some recent updates (November 2024) which has slightly changed the booking process.
Tickets can be booked six months in advance (this is a recent change, it used to be only 60 days in advance).
How far in advance you can make seat reservations depends on how you’re booking. Their website seems to offer seat reservations for the entirety of the confirmed timetable, but if you search for a date more than six months in the future the page might go blank.
To get around this, just search for a date within six months so it shows the train options, then use the arrow on the right to click through to the date you want.
Reservations do get booked up for the summer season, especially during school holidays and on weekends, so if you’re travelling in Europe summer I’d recommend locking in your seats as soon as possible.
Bernina Express ticket step-by-step guide
Put in your origin, destination and travel date, then click ‘next’ to go through to the availability calendar.
Select the train time that suits you best and it’ll show you the seats that are available on that train.
Select your seat, then click ‘next’ to add in your details. If you have a rail pass of any sort then in the ‘reduction’ dropdown you can select Eurail, Interrail or the Swiss Travel Pass, then your ticket will show as 0.00CHF and you’ll only pay the reservation fee.
Quick note: As of November 2024 there have been issues with the website recognising the discount, it didn’t let me make a booking with a Eurail Pass and would just give me the spinning wheel of death. I’d say this is a major issue for them because their customer service team took a week to reply to my email asking for help. I ended up calling their customer service team and made a booking over the phone instead, their number is +41 81 288 65 65
How to buy a ticket for the Allegra carriage on the Bernina train
If you want to avoid the seat reservation and and want to sit in the Allegra carriage, and you don’t have a Eurail Pass, then you can just book a ticket for the route on the normal RhB booking system or the SBB website or app.
Select your origin, destination and travel date and it should show you the route that matches the Bernina Express route with the same ticket price, just without a reservation added on. When you board the Bernina Express Allegra unit you can show this ticket to the train staff.
If you have a Eurail Pass then no need to buy a ticket at all, you can simply add the train to the ‘My Trip’ section in the Rail Planner app to use a travel day, then show your ticket on the app to the train staff. Same with the Swiss Travel Pass.
If you have a Eurail Pass and are currently planning your trip but have no idea what I’m talking about with ‘My Trip’ and ‘Rail Planner app’, then you can read all you need to know about Eurail in my ultimate Eurail Pass guide for 2024.
Which side of the Bernina Express should you sit on?
The best views are on the right side of the train if travelling south from Switzerland to Italy, and the left-hand side views of the train if travelling north from Italy into Switzerland.
Unfortunately when you’re booking your seat in the booking system, you can’t be certain which side of the train carriage your seats are on. The seat selection page says ‘no information on the driving direction is available’, the carriage layout/direction can change so they can’t definitively say that the bottom seats (when looking at the seat layout online) are on the right side or whatever.
However, 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. I can’t be certain that this is always the case, but I booked a single column seat in 1st class (I’m a solo traveller so always go for the single seats anyway) and it worked for me. No guarantees of course, but you can give it a go.
If you’re travelling in 2nd class then just click the different coaches at the top of the seat selection tool to find the single seats to see if they’re up the top or at the bottom, then go back to the 2nd class coach and choose a seat on the same side.
Bernina Express 1st Class vs. 2nd Class
If you’re travelling with a Eurail Pass then you’ve probably already made your choice between a 1st class or 2nd class pass, and you need to book your reservation for the class that you have a pass for.
If you’re not travelling with a rail pass then you can choose from 1st class or 2nd class on the Bernina Express.
The main benefit of 1st class, as on all trains, is that there is more space. 2nd class cabins have two columns of two seats next to each other, whereas 1st class has one two-seat column and a single seat column. 1st class is ideal for solo travellers or a couple/two friends because you can have your own window seat with aisle access, rather than having to choose between the two.
During the peak summer months you’ll find that the Bernina Express is probably quite busy, so even in 1st class it might be full, but a full carriage in 1st has maybe 28-34 people compared to 44-50 people in 2nd.
When I travelled on the Bernina Express in mid-October I actually had the entire 1st class carriage completely to myself, what a dream!
What is the Bernina Express train like?
The train itself isn’t as fancy as the Glacier Express, but it’s comfortable enough for a four hour (or less) journey. The trip is also packed with stunning, diverse views so the time absolutely flies by, I was up out of my seat taking photos for most of the trip!
There’s no restaurant on-board but there is a mini cart that serves refreshments to you directly in your seat, like coffee, tea, soft drinks, traditional dried sausage and cheese, and some sweet treats. In 1st class we also got a little tin of chocolates (a great souvenir!) and a herbal tea but I’m not sure if 2nd class passengers get the same.
There is WiFi on the train but in my experience this didn’t work very well so don’t rely on it. There also aren’t proper tables in front of the seats in either 1st or 2nd class, not much room for a laptop so don’t expect to be able to get any work done during the journey.
Other tips for the Bernina Express
How to take good photos in the Bernina Express
While the panoramic windows are superb for soaking up the scenery, they aren’t 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 shouldn’t 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.
To maximise your chance of getting the best photos on the Bernina Express, here are some tips:
- Some of the vestibules (the end of the carriage that connects with the next carriage) have windows that partly open, these are where I got my best photos
- Use a polarising filter to reduce reflections
- 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
Some of the best photo spots along the Bernina Express running from north to south on the full Chur-Tirano route 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 Grüm and Lago Palü (there’s a 15 minute photo stop at the station here, 2091m above sea level)
- Lago Poschiavo
- The Brusio Spiral
Pack your own food
The food options on the Bernina Express are minimal (and expensive for what you get) so I’d recommend taking some food and drink with you to avoid getting hangry while on one of the best train journeys in the world.
Spend time before and/or after the journey
I’d recommend spending a couple of days before and after your Bernina Express journey if you can, many travellers opt to do the St Moritz route in summer as there is more to do in St Moritz than in Chur.
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 don’t spend any time in Tirano except for when they’re waiting on the train platform, but I’d 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 it’s 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 L’Hostaria 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 it’s good!
The rooms are spacious and comfortable with all you’d need for a short stay, there’s common areas to relax in and chat to other travellers or the hosts if you wish, and it’s 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.
There’s plenty to do and see in St Moritz, particularly for outdoorsy adventurers. In winter the ski opportunities are unmatched, the St Moritz train doesn’t 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 there’s an endless selection of walking tracks, technical climbs, cable cars to viewpoints and more.
There’s also a world-class food scene to cater to the rich and famous guests that visit, so if you’d 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 Randolin’s 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 Randolin’s 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 I’ve ever stayed and one that I will remember forever, this is a true once-in-a-lifetime accommodation experience and I can’t recommend it highly enough!
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!
Alternative options to the Bernina Express
If you have come this far and have decided you don’t want to spend the money on the Bernina Express, there are ways to experience the same journey without having to fork out for the ticket price and seat reservation.
If you have a Eurail Pass (or other rail pass) or just want to save on the reservation, your best bet is to try and get a seat in the unreserved Allegra cabin on the Bernina Express. With a rail pass you’ll need to use a travel day for this (unless you have a consecutive pass) but you won’t need to pay a seat reservation fee. Keep in mind that these cabins can get very busy in summer so get to the platform early to guarantee your seat.
If you don’t have a rail pass, or if you have a rail pass but don’t want to use a travel day, you can do the exact same route as the Chur-Tirano Bernina Express on regional trains which will end up being around 50CHF if you book in advance, saving 16CHF on the ticket price and not requiring any seat reservation.
For this route you’ll need to change either once (likely in St Moritz) or twice (Samedan and Pontresina) depending on the day you travel.
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 don’t add the ‘via’ bit then it’ll probably show you a faster route via Davos Platz which misses the viaduct and isn’t as scenic.
I hope this blog has helped you decide if the Bernina Express is worth it for your upcoming Switzerland trip. If you have any other Bernina Express questions please let me know in the comments and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
MORE SWITZERLAND TRAVEL INSPIRATION:
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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?
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Hi dear Alexx, I am Angelina from Singapore 🙂
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 🙂
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 🙂
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 🙂
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 🙂
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 🙂
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 🙂
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 🙂
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, I’ll 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 🙂 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 🙂
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 advance😊
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 you’re 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. It’s amazing so thank you. I’m planning a trip in January for 4-5 days just really to do the Bernina express; budget won’t allow for Glacier express. Wondering if it’s best just to purchase train ticket as won’t really be doing other excursions. Wondering which airport to fly into from London gatwick to catch the Bernina express. I I’m feeling very overwhelmed as I really don’t know how to plan this trip let alone how to get to the train. I’ve 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 🙂 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 🙂
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 seat reservations” via the rhb website. It only offers booking through December 9th. But everywhere online I read that you can reserve your seat all year round. I’m so confused! 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!! 🙂
Oh I’m so glad 🙂 what a beautiful time to do the trip, it will be a winter wonderland! Hope you guys have an excellent time in Switzerland 🙂
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 🙂 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 🙂 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 🙂
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 🙁 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 🙂 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 Zúrich, 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 😕
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 don’t 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 don’t 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 🙂 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 🙂 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 🙂
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 Randolin’s 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 I’m 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 seat….do I buy the seat and ticket on the RHB website? Thank you
Thank you for your feedback Liz 🙂 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 🙂
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 🙂
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. I’m 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 🙂
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 🙂 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? 🙂 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 🙂 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 🙂 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! 🙂
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 🙂 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!