Updated October 2026
Short answer: Take the Bernina Express if you have one day and want the most drama in the shortest time: about 4 hours from Chur to Tirano in Italy, over 196 bridges and through 55 tunnels, up to 2,253 m. Take the Glacier Express if the train ride is the whole day: about 8 hours between Zermatt and St. Moritz, a slow, scenic crossing of the Swiss Alps. Note that the Glacier Express doesn’t run between 11 October and 4 December 2026.
These are the two most famous panoramic trains in the Alps, and they share part of the same track, so it’s easy to mix them up. We’re a train-first family, and when friends from home ask me which one to book, my answer always starts with a question: how much of your trip do you want to spend on the train?
Here’s how they compare, what changes in winter and the tips I’d give a friend before booking.
How do the Glacier Express and Bernina Express compare?
| Glacier Express | Bernina Express | |
|---|---|---|
| Route | Zermatt â St. Moritz (or Davos) | Chur or St. Moritz â Tirano (Italy) |
| Time end to end | About 8 hours | About 4 hours from Chur, 2Πhours from St. Moritz |
| Highest point | Oberalp Pass, 2,033 m | Ospizio Bernina, 2,253 m |
| Highlights | Rhine Gorge, Oberalp Pass, Landwasser Viaduct, Matterhorn area | Landwasser Viaduct, Lago Bianco, PalĂŒ Glacier, Brusio circular viaduct |
| UNESCO | Runs over part of the Albula line | Runs over the full Albula/Bernina UNESCO World Heritage line |
| Classes | 2nd, 1st and Excellence Class | 2nd and 1st |
| Seat reservation | Required | Required on the panoramic train |
| Winter 2026/27 | Break 11 Oct â 4 Dec 2026, then daily from 5 Dec | Runs all year, fewer trains in winter |
What is the Glacier Express?
The Glacier Express is the slow one, and that’s the point. It runs between Zermatt, at the foot of the Matterhorn, and St. Moritz in the Engadin, a whole day crossing the Swiss Alps from west to east. On the way it climbs over the Oberalp Pass at 2,033 m, winds through the Rhine Gorge (sometimes called the Swiss Grand Canyon) and crosses the Landwasser Viaduct near Filisur.
The panoramic cars have big windows that curve up into the roof, and you can order lunch served right at your seat. Excellence Class adds a reserved window seat for everyone, a multi-course meal and a concierge.
Who it’s for: people who love long train journeys, travelers moving between Zermatt and the Engadin anyway, and anyone who wants a full, relaxed “travel day” in comfort.
Glacier Express winter timetable 2026/27
This is the one that catches people out. The Glacier Express takes an annual break, and in 2026 it doesn’t run between 11 October and 4 December. The winter timetable starts on 5 December 2026 and runs until 7 May 2027.
Winter timetable
5 Dec 2026 â 7 May 2027
Annual break
11 Oct â 4 Dec 2026
Daily trains
PE 902 and PE 903 run all winter
Extra trains
PE 920 and PE 905 run 12 Dec â 3 Jan and from 30 Jan
Zermatt dep. (PE 902)
08:50, arr. St. Moritz 16:37
Booking
1st and 2nd class open 93 days ahead
Two more things to know: a seat reservation is mandatory, and dogs aren’t allowed on the Glacier Express (our pups Scout & Moose would be sad). In spring 2027 there’s also construction in the Rhine Gorge between 17 April and 2 May, with buses between Chur and Disentis.
What is the Bernina Express?
The Bernina Express is the more dramatic one in less time. It starts in Chur (Switzerland’s oldest town) or St. Moritz and climbs all the way up to Ospizio Bernina at 2,253 m, right beside the milky Lago Bianco, before dropping down past the PalĂŒ Glacier and Alp GrĂŒm into Italy. It does all that without a rack and pinion, on gradients of up to 7%.
From Chur, the route crosses 196 bridges and passes through 55 tunnels. The Albula and Bernina lines it runs on have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008. Near the end, it loops around the Brusio circular viaduct, and then you step out in Tirano among palm trees and Italian cafĂ©s. â
Who it’s for: anyone with one free day, families (four hours is much easier with kids than eight) and anyone who’d like to add a bit of Italy to a Swiss trip.
Does the Bernina Express run in winter?
Yes, all year. There are fewer panoramic trains in winter than in summer, so book the seat reservation early for the Christmas and February holidays. In my opinion the snowy Bernina Pass is one of the most beautiful winter train rides in the Alps.
My tip: if the panoramic train is full, the regular regional trains run the same Bernina line from St. Moritz to Tirano almost every hour. You won’t get the curved roof windows, but the views are the same, and some regional cars have windows that open for photos.
Which one is better with kids?
For most families, the Bernina Express. Four hours (or just over two from St. Moritz) is a manageable stretch with snacks and a window seat, and the change from snow at the top to palm trees at the bottom is a fun thing for kids to watch. The Glacier Express is wonderful, but eight hours is a long day for little ones. If you want a taste, ride just one section, for example Chur to Andermatt over the Oberalp Pass.
Good news for budgets: with a Swiss Travel Pass, children aged 6 to 15 travel free with a parent on the free Swiss Family Card, and children under 6 travel free anyway. You still pay their seat reservations on these two trains.
How much do they cost?
You pay two things: a normal ticket for the route, and a seat reservation for the panoramic train. Reservation fees change with the season and class, so check the official booking pages for your date.
- With a Swiss Travel Pass: the ticket part is covered, and you pay only the seat reservation. In 2026 the pass costs CHF 254 for 3 days in 2nd class (CHF 405 in 1st).
- Without a pass: compare a regular ticket plus reservation, or a Swiss Half Fare Card if you’re in Switzerland for a while.
- Tirano is in Italy, but no extra ticket is needed for the Bernina Express route itself. Bring your passport, as you’re crossing a border.
Can you do both on one trip?
Yes, and it makes a classic loop. One way to plan it:
- Day 1: Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz (or the shorter section to Chur).
- Day 2: Bernina Express from St. Moritz to Tirano, lunch in Tirano, then back by regional train, or on to Lugano with the Bernina Express bus.
If you only have time for one, pick the Bernina Express. If you’re crossing Switzerland anyway, let the Glacier Express be your travel day.
Which side should I sit on?
- Bernina Express, Chur to Tirano: the right side for Lago Bianco near the top. Both sides get great views at the Brusio circular viaduct.
- Glacier Express: the views change sides often, so don’t worry too much. The panoramic windows reach up into the roof, so you’ll see both sides anyway.
My tips before you book
- Check the date first. Between 11 October and 4 December 2026 there’s no Glacier Express at all.
- Book early for holidays. Christmas, New Year and February are the busiest winter weeks.
- Pick the morning train. The light in the high Alps is clearest in the morning, and you’ll arrive with time to explore.
- Pack layers. It can be sunny and warm on the train and freezing on the platform at 2,000 m. Es gibt kein schlechtes Wetter, nur schlechte Kleidung (there’s no bad weather, only the wrong clothes).
- Combine with Christmas markets. In December, Montreux and the South Tyrol markets in Bolzano and Merano are a reasonable journey from the route. See Christmas markets in the Alps 2026.
Glacier Express and Bernina Express questions
Is the Glacier Express or Bernina Express better?
The Bernina Express is better if you have one day and want the most dramatic scenery in about four hours. The Glacier Express is better if you want a relaxed full-day crossing of Switzerland between Zermatt and St. Moritz.
Does the Glacier Express run in November 2026?
No. The Glacier Express takes an annual break from 11 October to 4 December 2026. The winter timetable starts on 5 December 2026.
Does the Swiss Travel Pass cover the Glacier Express and Bernina Express?
Yes, the pass covers the ticket, but you still need to buy the compulsory seat reservation for the panoramic trains.
How long is the Bernina Express?
About 4 hours from Chur to Tirano and about 2 hours 15 minutes from St. Moritz to Tirano.
Can kids ride the Glacier Express?
Yes. Children under 6 travel free, and children aged 6 to 15 travel free with a parent who has a Swiss Travel Pass and the free Swiss Family Card. Seat reservations still apply. With small children, the shorter Bernina Express is often easier.
Read next
- The Alps without a car: how we get around by train
- The Alps in winter without skiing
- Dolomites vs Swiss Alps vs Austrian Alps
Pfiat di (take care),
Brian
Sources (checked 20 October 2026)
- Glacier Express timetable, winter 2026/27 and FAQ: glacierexpress.ch/en/timetable, glacierexpress.ch/en/faq
- Bernina Express route facts: rhb.ch/en/panoramic-journeys/bernina-express, RhB Bernina Express 2026 brochure
- Swiss Travel Pass prices 2026 and Swiss Family Card: sbb.ch/en/offers/buy-swiss-travel-pass, sbb.ch/en/offers/swiss-family-card, myswitzerland.com
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