How Much Does the Bernina Express Cost?
Bernina Express fares are a rail ticket plus a mandatory reservation. Red-train tickets start at $75 and Milan day tours at $110 to $223 per person.
A Bernina Express ride costs a normal rail ticket plus a mandatory seat reservation. From St. Moritz to Tirano, the 2nd-class ticket is reported at about CHF 33 to 35 one-way and the reservation at about CHF 32, so check rhb.ch for the exact total on your date. The regional red train needs only the ticket: on GetYourGuide a one-way 2nd-class ride starts at $75, and coach-and-train day trips from Milan cost $110 to $223 per person.
GetYourGuide prices below were checked on 11 November 2026 and are per person.
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How an official Bernina Express fare is built
RhB prices the Bernina Express in two parts. You buy an ordinary ticket for the route, the same ticket that covers the regional train, and then a seat reservation supplement for the panoramic train. RhB says the supplement must be paid in full by everyone, and it does not publish the amounts on its static pages. Rail guides that track the RhB shop agree on these figures for the 2026/27 timetable:
| Route (one-way, per person) | Ticket 2nd class | Ticket 1st class | Reservation (both classes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Moritz–Tirano | about CHF 33–35 | about CHF 57–60 | about CHF 32 |
| Chur–Tirano | about CHF 66–69 | about CHF 113–118 | about CHF 40 (winter) to 44 (summer) |
The lower ticket figures are the winter 2026 tariff and the higher ones the reported 2027 fares, since Swiss fares usually change in mid-December. A return ticket costs double the single. Put together, a one-way 2nd-class trip from Chur to Tirano this winter comes to about CHF 106 to 109, and from St. Moritz to Tirano about CHF 65 to 67.
The supplement is charged per person and per direction, so a return trip on the panoramic train in both directions pays it twice. It is reportedly the same in 1st and 2nd class, which makes the gap between classes purely a ticket question; see Bernina Express first vs second class.
RhB sells tickets up to six months ahead and reservations for the whole timetable period. Tickets are refundable until the day before travel with a CHF 10 fee, but seat reservations booked online cannot be changed or cancelled. The seat reservation guide covers the booking rules, and Bernina Express tickets compares official and reseller options.
Watch for RhB’s own offers too. This winter RhB sells a Bernina Express return trip for two with lunch for CHF 249, from Chur to Poschiavo, Le Prese or Tirano, bookable from 1 November 2026 to 31 January 2027 and non-refundable.
Passes, Half Fare and children
Rail passes cover the ticket, never the Bernina Express reservation.
- Swiss Travel Pass, GA, Eurail and Interrail: the ticket is free, so you pay only the reservation, about CHF 32 from St. Moritz.
- Half Fare Card: the ticket is half price, the reservation full price.
- Children aged 6 to 15: half-price ticket, full reservation.
- Children under 6: no ticket needed, but RhB’s rule that everyone pays the reservation in full still applies if they take a Bernina Express seat. Check with RhB before booking for a toddler.
- Groups of 10 or more: 30% off regular tickets, booked through RhB Railservice, not the online shop.
For pass holders this changes the maths. With a Swiss Travel Pass, the panoramic train from St. Moritz costs you about CHF 32 and the red train costs nothing extra, or CHF 5 if you want a reserved seat. Bernina Express with a Swiss Travel Pass walks through the booking.
The regional train has no supplement at all. Its optional reservation is CHF 5 per person and route, in either class, and only between St. Moritz and Tirano. RhB says regional seat reservations cannot be made for trains in April 2027.
Red-train tickets on GetYourGuide
If you are not on a pass and prefer to book in dollars, two resellers sell red-train tickets on GetYourGuide. These are regional-train tickets, not the panoramic Bernina Express, and the listings state that a travel agency fee and commission is included in the price.
| Ticket | Operator | From | Cancellation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tirano–St. Moritz, one-way 2nd class | Rigamonti Viaggi | $75 | 7 days |
| Tirano–St. Moritz, one-way 1st class | Rigamonti Viaggi | $127 | 7 days |
| Tirano–St. Moritz, return 2nd class | Rigamonti Viaggi | $148 | 7 days |
| St. Moritz–Tirano, return 1st class | Rigamonti Viaggi | $255 | 7 days |
| Tirano–St. Moritz return day ticket, 2nd class | Visit Valtellina | $123 | 5 days |
| Same day ticket, 1st class | Visit Valtellina | $212 | 5 days |
The From Tirano: Bernina Red Train Ticket to St. Moritz (our breakdown) and the From Saint Moritz: Bernina Red Train to Tirano (our breakdown) are the cheapest listings on this site at $75. Seats are not reserved; you take any free seat. The Tirano to St. Moritz: Bernina Red Train Return Day Ticket (our breakdown) lets you hop off along the line and board a later train, and is rated 4.5 from 1,140+ reviews.
From Milan, Rigamonti also sells the Round-Trip Bernina Red Train to Saint Moritz with the Trenord leg included, listed from $219.
Compared with the reported official return fare of about CHF 66 to 70 in 2nd class, the reseller tickets cost more. You pay for dollar pricing, a PDF guide and timetable, and a free cancellation window.
Day tours from Milan: what $110 to $223 buys
A day tour bundles the coach from Milan, a guide and the train ticket. Prices on the tours with their own pages here run from $110 to $223 per person.
| Tour | From | Train |
|---|---|---|
| Bernina Train, Swiss Alps & St. Moritz (TaoTravel) | $110 | Red train, 2nd class |
| St Moritz & Alps with Bernina Red Train (City Wonders) | $122 | Red train, Bernina or Albula option |
| Bernina Red Train and St. Moritz Tour (Vaxvi Tour) | $128 | Red train, reserved carriage |
| Bernina Red Train & St. Moritz (Milano Art Discovery) | $144 | Red train |
| St. Moritz and panoramic Bernina Express (Frigerio Viaggi) | $186 | Panoramic coach option |
| Lake Como Cruise, St. Moritz & Bernina Red Train (Autostradale) | $194 | Red train, 2nd class |
| Bernina Train & Diavolezza Glacier Lunch (Frigerio Viaggi) | $223 | Red train, standard carriage |
The cheapest is the Bernina Train, Swiss Alps & St. Moritz Day Trip, rated 4.8 from 1,650+ reviews. Only the Milan: St. Moritz and panoramic Bernina Express tour (our breakdown) guarantees a panoramic coach from Milan, on its “Tour with Panoramic Carriage” option, from $186; its Diavolezza lunch option costs $221. The Bernina Train & Diavolezza Glacier Lunch at $223 pays for a cable car to 2,978 m and a fixed three-course lunch. The best tours compared page ranks them all.
Three ways to do it: a cost comparison
Here is what one adult pays for a day out from Milan, before food.
| Milan DIY by train | Milan red-train tour | Panoramic tour | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milan–Tirano and back | Trenord, about EUR 25 return | Coach included | Coach included |
| Bernina line | Red-train return from $123 (or about CHF 66–70 at RhB) | Ticket included | Panoramic coach included |
| Reservation | Optional CHF 5 per direction | Handled by the tour | Included |
| Guide | None | Included | Included |
| Total | about EUR 25 + $123 | $110–$194 | from $186 |
Doing it yourself costs about the same as the cheapest tours but gives you more time on the line, because you pick your trains. To ride the panoramic Bernina Express for one leg, buy an RhB ticket and add the reservation, about CHF 32 from Tirano. The Milan to St. Moritz page has the step-by-step plan.
How to pay less
- Use a pass you already hold. Swiss Travel Pass and Eurail holders pay only the reservation.
- Ride the red train. You see the same scenery and skip the supplement.
- Buy from RhB if you do not need dollar pricing or a cancellation window.
- Travel Monday to Thursday, when RhB says trains are quieter and the date you want is more likely to have seats left.
- Start in Tirano. Trenord’s regional train from Milan is about EUR 12.50 each way. See Bernina Express from Tirano.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Bernina Express from St. Moritz to Tirano?
About CHF 65 to 67 one-way in 2nd class, made up of a ticket of about CHF 33 to 35 and a reservation of about CHF 32. These are reported figures; check the exact fare on rhb.ch.
Is the Bernina Express included in the Swiss Travel Pass?
The ticket is, the reservation is not. Pass holders pay the full supplement, about CHF 32 from St. Moritz to Tirano and CHF 40 to 44 from Chur.
What is the cheapest way to ride the Bernina line?
The regional red train. With a pass it costs nothing extra; without one, a one-way 2nd-class ticket on GetYourGuide starts at $75, or buy at RhB for less.
Do children pay for the Bernina Express?
Children under 6 travel free and ages 6 to 15 pay half the ticket, but RhB says the reservation supplement is paid in full by everyone. Check with RhB before booking a seat for a small child.
Why do GetYourGuide tickets cost more than RhB fares?
The listings say a travel agency and reservation fee is included. In return you get dollar pricing, a PDF timetable and free cancellation up to 7 days before (5 days on the day ticket).
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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