Bernina Express vs Glacier Express: Route, Time and Price Compared
Bernina Express: about 2 h 15 min, St. Moritz to Tirano, doable from Milan. Glacier Express: about 8 h to Zermatt, CHF 166 plus a CHF 54 reservation.
The Bernina Express crosses the Alps from St. Moritz to Tirano in Italy in about 2 h 15 min, or about 4 hours from Chur, and you can ride it on a day trip from Milan. The Glacier Express runs from St. Moritz to Zermatt in about 8 hours, and a 2nd-class seat costs CHF 166 for the ticket plus CHF 54 for the reservation.
Choose the Bernina for a short, steep crossing into Italy. Choose the Glacier for a full day of Swiss scenery from end to end, with a proper lunch on board.
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The two routes side by side
Both trains can start in St. Moritz and both run panoramic coaches, but they head in opposite directions. The Bernina Express goes south over the Bernina Pass to Italy. The Glacier Express goes west across Switzerland to the foot of the Matterhorn.
| Bernina Express | Glacier Express | |
|---|---|---|
| Route | Chur or St. Moritz → Tirano, Italy | St. Moritz → Zermatt |
| Time on board | About 2 h 15 min from St. Moritz, about 4 h from Chur | About 8 h |
| Bridges and tunnels | About 196 bridges and 55 tunnels, Chur–Tirano | 291 bridges and 91 tunnels |
| Highest point | Ospizio Bernina, 2,253 m | Oberalp Pass, 2,033 m |
| Signature sights | Morteratsch glacier, Lago Bianco, Alp Grüm, Brusio spiral viaduct; Landwasser Viaduct on Chur trains | Landwasser Viaduct, Rhine Gorge, Oberalp Pass, Zermatt |
| Crosses a border | Yes, into Italy | No |
| Dogs | Allowed; small dogs in a box free | Not allowed |
| Seat reservation opens | For the whole timetable period | 93 days ahead |
The Albula line between Chur and St. Moritz, with the Landwasser Viaduct, is part of both journeys. On the Bernina Express you only cross it on the Chur-based trains. The Bernina and Albula lines have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008. See the Bernina Express route map for the stops in order.
Prices and reservations
The Glacier Express publishes its fares. For St. Moritz to Zermatt the ticket costs CHF 166 in 2nd class and CHF 284 in 1st, and the seat reservation adds CHF 54 in either class, so a 2nd-class ride totals CHF 220. Excellence Class needs a 1st-class ticket plus a CHF 590 reservation, which includes a five-course menu. Tickets go on sale 180 days ahead, reservations only 93 days ahead.
The Bernina Express is cheaper but less transparent, since RhB sells the supplement through a dynamic shop. Rail retailers report:
| Fare, per adult | St. Moritz–Tirano | Chur–Tirano |
|---|---|---|
| Ticket, 2nd class | about CHF 33–35 | about CHF 66–69 |
| Ticket, 1st class | about CHF 57–60 | about CHF 113–118 |
| Bernina Express reservation | about CHF 32 | about CHF 40–44, by season |
The ranges straddle the Swiss fare change in December, so confirm the figure in the RhB shop on rhb.ch. A 2nd-class St. Moritz to Tirano ride comes to roughly CHF 65 to 67 with the reservation. The full breakdown is in Bernina Express ticket prices.
Rail passes help with both. A Swiss Travel Pass, Eurail or Interrail pass covers the ticket, but both reservations are paid in full, children included. The Swiss Travel Pass guide explains what you still pay.
What the scenery feels like
The Bernina line packs its drama into a short ride. It climbs at up to 70 per mille without a rack, past the Morteratsch glacier to the lakes at Ospizio Bernina, then drops about 1,820 m to Tirano through Alp Grüm, Poschiavo and the Brusio spiral viaduct. You leave glaciers after breakfast and step out in an Italian town for lunch.
The Glacier Express is a slow-moving day of changing landscapes. From the Engadin it runs over the Albula line and the Landwasser Viaduct, through the Rhine Gorge and over the Oberalp Pass, and ends in Zermatt below the Matterhorn. It suits travelers who like the journey to be the whole day.
If you want one alpine train ride and a taste of Italy, the Bernina fits. If you are crossing Switzerland anyway, the Glacier turns the transfer into the sightseeing.
Food and comfort on board
The Glacier Express is the one with a kitchen. In 1st and 2nd class you pre-order a meal served at your seat, with a three-course lunch reported at about CHF 49. Excellence Class adds a five-course menu with wine and drinks, a concierge and the Glacier Bar.
The Bernina Express has no restaurant service. RhB says food and drinks are served at the seats, while MySwitzerland describes a minibar for snacks and drinks, so expect light refreshments at most. Free Wi-Fi is on board. Pullman Class, in nostalgic 1930s-style coaches for up to 32 passengers, is the more polished option. Most travelers eat in Tirano.
The panoramic windows on the Bernina Express do not open. The red regional trains on the same line do, at the price of an ordinary ticket and an optional CHF 5 reservation. The Bernina Express vs regional train guide explains the trade.
Which works as a day trip from Milan
Only the Bernina. Trenord trains reach Tirano from Milano Centrale in about 2 h 30 min, and guided day trips run about 11 to 13 hours with roughly 2 to 2.5 hours on the train. The Glacier Express takes 8 hours one way and ends in Zermatt, far from Milan, so a return in a day is out.
Most Milan day trips sold as “Bernina Express” ride the red regional train. Only the two Frigerio tours on this site guarantee a seat in a panoramic Bernina Express coach. The Milan: St. Moritz and panoramic Bernina Express tour (our breakdown) costs from $186 per person on its panoramic option and is rated 4.6 from 4,090+ reviews, the most of any tour here that can secure a panoramic coach. It runs 12.5 hours, with about 2.5 hours in St. Moritz and a stop in Tirano; seats are not assigned in advance. Its Como twin, the Como: Bernina panoramic Express and St. Moritz, starts from $220.
If open windows matter more than glass, the Milan to the Swiss Alps: Bernina red train and St. Moritz (our breakdown) costs from $144 and is rated 4.8 from 5,110+ reviews. Compare all the options in Bernina Express from Milan or start with which Bernina train tour is right for you.
Combining both trains
The two link neatly at St. Moritz. Ride the Glacier Express from Zermatt, spend the night in St. Moritz, then take a morning Bernina Express to Tirano. In summer 2027, PE 971 leaves St. Moritz at 09:17 and reaches Tirano at 11:32, leaving time for a Trenord train on to Milan. Going the other way, PE 972 leaves Tirano at 10:06 and arrives in St. Moritz at 12:35, ready for a Glacier Express departure the next day.
Since the Glacier Express already covers the Albula line and the Landwasser Viaduct, board the Bernina Express in St. Moritz, not Chur, unless you want that section twice. Book the Glacier Express as soon as its 93-day window opens; Bernina Express reservations open earlier. Exact times are in the timetable guide, and where to stay for the Bernina Express covers the overnight.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, the Bernina Express or the Glacier Express?
They do different jobs. The Bernina Express is a 2 h 15 min crossing from St. Moritz into Italy that fits a day trip from Milan. The Glacier Express is an 8-hour journey to Zermatt with meals at your seat, best when you are crossing Switzerland anyway.
Which is cheaper?
The Bernina Express. St. Moritz to Tirano in 2nd class comes to roughly CHF 65 to 67 with the reservation, while the Glacier Express costs CHF 166 plus CHF 54 in 2nd class. Pass holders still pay both reservations in full.
Can you do the Glacier Express as a day trip from Milan?
No. It runs about 8 hours one way between St. Moritz and Zermatt. From Milan, the Bernina line is the alpine train that fits in a day, either on your own via Tirano or on a guided tour.
Can you ride both on one trip?
Yes. Ride the Glacier Express to St. Moritz, stay overnight and take the Bernina Express to Tirano the next morning, or reverse it from Tirano. Book the Glacier Express 93 days ahead, when reservations open.
Do both trains need a seat reservation?
Yes. The Glacier Express reservation is CHF 54, or CHF 590 in Excellence Class. The Bernina Express supplement is reported at about CHF 32 from St. Moritz and CHF 40 to 44 from Chur. Both are paid on top of the ticket, even with a rail pass.
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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