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Bernina Express

Connecting Switzerland and Italy via the highest mountain railway in the Alps, the Bernina Express train rises to the challenges presented by snow, ice and the steepest gradients to delight passengers with a four-hour journey of breath-taking beauty through this iconic mountain range.

Beginning in the north at Chur, capital of the canton of Graubünden and the oldest city in Switzerland, the narrow-gauge railway that carries the scarlet-liveried Bernina Express winds its way south-eastwards through the Alps, crossing into Italy shortly after Poschiavo, to its destination in Tirano.

Highlights

The Alpine passage that the Bernina Express makes from Switzerland to Italy has been acclaimed as Switzerland's most scenic journey, and passengers have much to admire from the train's panoramic windows.

The first part of the route from Chur passes through the area of Switzerland most populated with castles. As the train ascends into the glacier-dominated region of Bernina itself, the scenery becomes increasingly breath-taking. However, the views are at their most magnificent at the mountain-ringed Lake Bianco, whose placid waters mirror the sky above.

Of the 55 tunnels and 196 bridges that help the train negotiate the trickier natural elements of the route, Solis Viaduct and famous Landwasser Viaduct are particularly spectacular.

Landwasser Viaduct

Our customers love our Bernina Express tours

Traditional Glacier Express

26/Jul

Mark Towers

“Very well organised and managed, good pointers for free-days, most meals included. Very good!!!

Collected by Trustpilot

Grand Alpine Explorer

4/Jul

Dennis Southall

“It was well communicated, well organised by the tour guide and met all expectations with wonderful scenery, a dose of culture and a good group of fellow travellers.

Collected by Trustpilot

Traditional Glacier Express in Winter

23/Mar

John Tinston

“A full week with fabulous views!

Collected by Trustpilot

Classic Glacier Express at New Year

16/Jan

Clifford Smy

“Great scenery. Kay, our tour manager, was brilliant.

Collected by Trustpilot

Classic Glacier Express

21/Jul

customer

“Wonderful scenery, good hotels, excellent guide.

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First-Class Glacier Express, Zermatt and Matterhorn

14/Jul

Peter Trant

“Bernina Express & Glacier Express trips excellent. Hotels very good, although St. Moritz hotel food rather uninspiring. Outward & return travel days were long, some with 3 trains, arriving just in time for dinner - so quite tiring with little time to relax. Would be better to have extra...

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Mountaintops of Switzerland

24/Jun

Deirdre Conan

“Excellent tour itinerary, with excellent tour manager. Geissbach Hotel, Schwietzerhof Hotel and Pilatus Klum suberb. I would have liked more menu choice at Geissbach.

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Classic Glacier Express at Christmas

6/Jan

Patricia

“The experience was very good but the main food courses and waitress service in the 4* hotel was not what we expected. Katie Leigh our tour guide made up for that disappointment.

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A touch of class

Bernina Express trains typically comprise two or three First and Second class carriages separated by a bar and services carriage at the train's centre. The carriages in both classes are spacious and offer air conditioning, panoramic windows, comfortable seating and an at-seat trolley service providing light refreshments.

Second Class carriages are designed to carry more passengers and are configured with two rows of tables, one each side of the carriage, each of which provides seating for four people.

First Class carriages comprise one row of four-seater tables and one row of double seats. Carrying fewer passengers than Second Class carriages means that First Class passengers enjoy more space and greater legroom and larger, leather-upholstered seats. Fewer seats in First Class also mean that the views from the carriages' larger panoramic windows are less obstructed.

Bernina Express Interior

Frequently Asked Questions

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