Bernina Express First vs Second Class: What Actually Changes?
Same route, same reservation fee: 1st class buys wider 2+1 seating. On the red train it costs $52 more one-way. Who should pay for it, and who shouldn't.
On the Bernina Express, 1st and 2nd class ride the same panoramic train on the same route, and the reservation supplement is reportedly the same in both. What 1st class buys is space: seats are described as 2+1 across the car against 2+2 in 2nd, and the ticket costs more. On the regional red train, a one-way St. Moritz–Tirano ticket on GetYourGuide is $75 in 2nd class and $127 in 1st, a $52 gap.
Most Milan day tours sell 2nd class only, so the choice matters mainly if you book the train yourself.
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On the Bernina Express: seats, space and price
Both classes on the Bernina Express travel in panoramic cars, so the glaciers, Lago Bianco and the Brusio circular viaduct look the same from either. The windows do not open in either class.
| 1st class | 2nd class | |
|---|---|---|
| Seating | 2+1 across the car (reported) | 2+2 across the car (reported) |
| Ticket St. Moritz–Tirano, one-way | about CHF 57–60 | about CHF 33–35 |
| Ticket Chur–Tirano, one-way | about CHF 113–118 | about CHF 66–69 |
| Reservation supplement | about CHF 32 from St. Moritz, CHF 40–44 from Chur | Same |
| View, route, journey time | Same | Same |
The ticket figures are reported fares, the lower end for winter 2026 and the higher end for 2027; check the current price at rhb.ch. On the short St. Moritz–Tirano run, 1st class adds roughly CHF 24 to 25 per person each way. On the full Chur–Tirano route it adds roughly CHF 47 to 49.
For a couple riding one-way from St. Moritz to Tirano without passes, that works out at about CHF 130 to 134 for two in 2nd class, ticket and reservation together, and about CHF 178 to 184 in 1st. Children aged 6 to 15 pay half the ticket in either class, but the full reservation, so the class gap shrinks for them while the supplement does not.
With 2+1 seating, more people sit next to a window and fewer climb over a neighbor to take a photo. RhB still will not let you choose the side or direction of your seat in either class, so 1st class does not guarantee the side most guides prefer. See which side to sit on.
Pass holders face a different sum. A pass covers the ticket in its own class, and the reservation is the same in both classes, so a 1st-class pass puts you in 1st class for the same supplement as everyone else. With a 2nd-class pass, ask RhB about upgrading. The Swiss Travel Pass guide has the details.
On the regional red train: the small 1st-class sections
Many regional trains on the Bernina line run as Allegra units, introduced in 2010, with large windows that open. Rail guides describe 1st class on these units as small sections of about 12 seats at each end of the train, marked with a yellow stripe, and over 100 unreserved seats in the three coaches.
That small size cuts both ways. A 1st-class section tends to be quieter than 2nd class when tour groups fill the train. But with so few seats, it can fill too, and if you want to be sure of one, the optional CHF 5 RhB reservation covers 1st or 2nd class on St. Moritz–Tirano. Regional seat reservations cannot be made for trains in April 2027.
The ride itself is the same: the same stops at Alp Grüm and Poschiavo, and no catering in either class. Class is less about the view and more about elbow room and calm. For the bigger choice between trains, read Bernina Express vs the regional train.
What 1st class costs on GetYourGuide
Three red-train listings on GetYourGuide sell both classes. All are regional-train tickets, not the panoramic Bernina Express.
| Ticket | 2nd class | 1st class | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tirano–St. Moritz one-way (Rigamonti Viaggi) | $75 | $127 | $52 |
| St. Moritz–Tirano return (Rigamonti Viaggi) | $148 | $255 | $107 |
| Tirano–St. Moritz return day ticket (Visit Valtellina) | $123 | $212 | $89 |
The From Tirano: Bernina Red Train Ticket to St. Moritz (our breakdown) and the From Saint Moritz: Bernina Red Train to Tirano (our breakdown) let you pick a standard 1st- or 2nd-class carriage at booking. Seats are not reserved, and the price includes a travel agency fee. The Tirano to St. Moritz: Bernina Red Train Return Day Ticket (our breakdown) adds hop-on, hop-off use for the day.
From Milan, the Round-Trip Bernina Red Train to Saint Moritz, listed from $219, includes the Trenord train and offers a 1st-class carriage option. Full prices for every route are in Bernina Express ticket prices.
Tours that are 2nd class only
On a day tour from Milan, you usually cannot choose. Most ride the red train in 2nd class:
- Lake Como Cruise, St. Moritz & Bernina Red Train, from $194, and Bernina Train and St. Moritz Day Trip, from $160: pre-booked 2nd-class red-train ticket.
- Milan to St. Moritz: Scenic Bernina Train Tour with Guide, from $166: 2nd class with opening windows.
- Bernina Train, Swiss Alps & St. Moritz Day Trip, from $110: 2nd-class standard ticket.
- St Moritz & Alps Day Trip with Bernina Red Train, from $122: first-class ticket listed as not included.
Two of these listings phrase it as “not in 1st class (panoramic carriage), but 2nd class”. That mixes up two separate things. The panoramic Bernina Express has its own 2nd class, and the regional train has its own 1st class. What these tours leave out is the panoramic train, not just a class.
The panoramic trips are 2nd class too. The Milan: St. Moritz and panoramic Bernina Express tour (our breakdown), from $186 on its panoramic option, offers a 1st-class upgrade on request only. The Como: Bernina Panoramic Express & St. Moritz excludes a 1st-class upgrade. Compare the full range on Bernina Express tours.
If 1st class matters to you on a day out from Milan, the simplest route is to build the day yourself: Trenord to Tirano, then a 1st-class red-train ticket or an RhB Bernina Express ticket in 1st class. You lose the guide and the coach, and gain the choice of class and train.
Pullman Class
The Bernina Express also runs Pullman Class: nostalgic coaches in a 1930s style, limited to 32 passengers per journey, with onboard service and selected cuisine. It is a separate product from standard 1st class, and its price is not set out on RhB’s static pages. If you want it, check the RhB shop at rhb.ch for the dates it runs and what it costs on top of your ticket. No tour on this site includes it.
Who should pay for 1st class
- Travelers on a 1st-class pass: take it, since you have already paid for it.
- Couples who want two window seats: 2+1 seating on the Bernina Express makes that easier.
- Anyone riding the full Chur–Tirano route of about 4 hours: more space counts for more on a longer trip; see Chur to Tirano.
- Peak weekends on the red train: a quieter section helps, but add the CHF 5 reservation.
Save your money if you are on a day tour, which is 2nd class anyway, or if you are riding the red train mainly to lean out of the window. The scenery is the same in both classes. For the cheapest way in, start from Bernina Express from Tirano.
Frequently asked questions
Should I pay for 1st class on the Bernina Express?
For the short St. Moritz–Tirano run, most travelers do fine in 2nd class: the view is the same, and 1st class adds roughly CHF 24 to 25 each way. On the 4-hour Chur–Tirano route, the wider 2+1 seating makes a bigger difference.
Does 1st class cost more for the Bernina Express reservation?
No. The supplement is reportedly the same in both classes, about CHF 32 from St. Moritz to Tirano. Only the ticket price changes.
Does the Bernina red train have 1st class?
Yes. The regional trains have small 1st-class sections, reported at about 12 seats at each end of the train. On GetYourGuide a one-way 1st-class ticket from Tirano costs from $127, against $75 in 2nd.
Do Milan day tours offer 1st class?
Most do not. They sell 2nd-class red-train tickets. The panoramic Frigerio tour from Milan offers a 1st-class upgrade on request only.
Is Pullman Class the same as 1st class?
No. Pullman Class uses separate 1930s-style coaches for up to 32 passengers, with onboard service. Check rhb.ch for its dates and price.
Check Which Train Your Tour Actually Uses
Most day trips from Milan ride the regional red train in 2nd class. Only some options guarantee a seat in the panoramic Bernina Express coaches.
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