Bernina Express with a Swiss Travel Pass: What Is Covered?
Your Swiss Travel Pass covers the Bernina line ticket to Tirano. The panoramic train's seat reservation, about CHF 32 from St. Moritz, is always extra.
Your Swiss Travel Pass covers the train ticket on the Bernina line all the way to Tirano. It does not cover the Bernina Express seat reservation, which every passenger pays in full. That supplement is reported at about CHF 32 from St. Moritz to Tirano and CHF 40 to 44 from Chur. On the regional red train you need nothing beyond the pass, and a reserved seat costs an optional CHF 5.
The same rule applies to Eurail, Interrail and the Swiss GA travelcard: ticket free, reservation extra. A Half Fare Card halves the ticket but not the reservation.
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What each pass covers on the Bernina line
The Rhaetian Railway (RhB) treats every pass the same way on the Bernina Express. The pass handles the ticket, and the reservation is a separate charge that no pass or discount reduces. That includes children.
| Pass or card | Ticket to Tirano | Bernina Express reservation | Red-train reservation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swiss Travel Pass, Flex or Youth | Free | Paid in full | Optional, CHF 5 |
| GA travelcard | Free | Paid in full | Optional, CHF 5 |
| Eurail or Interrail pass | Free | Paid in full | Optional, CHF 5 |
| Half Fare Card | Half price | Paid in full | Optional, CHF 5 |
| Junior travelcard (child with parent) | Free | Paid in full | Optional, CHF 5 |
| Child 6–15, no card | Half price | Paid in full | Optional, CHF 5 |
| Child under 6 | Free, no ticket | Paid in full if they take a seat | Optional, CHF 5 |
On a Flex pass, the day you ride counts as one of your travel days.
What does that mean in francs? The reported 2nd-class single fare from St. Moritz to Tirano is about CHF 35 without any pass. So a traveler with no pass pays about CHF 67 for the panoramic train, ticket plus reservation. A Half Fare holder pays about CHF 50. A Swiss Travel Pass holder pays only the reservation, about CHF 32. On the regional red train, the Swiss Travel Pass holder can ride for nothing at all.
From Chur, where the Bernina Express also crosses the Albula line and the Landwasser Viaduct, the reservation is reported at about CHF 40 in the low season (26 October 2026 to 23 April 2027) and CHF 44 in the high season. The reservation price is the same in 1st and 2nd class, so a 1st-class pass costs you nothing extra on the reservation. Exact amounts sit in the RhB shop, so confirm on rhb.ch before you budget. Our ticket prices guide has the full fare table.
How to book only the Bernina Express reservation
You do not buy a ticket at all. You buy the reservation on its own and show your pass on board. RhB says a seat reservation stays valid without a ticket, but the conductor will want to see a valid ticket, and your pass is that ticket.
- Pick your train. In winter only a few Bernina Express trains run each day; see the Bernina Express timetable.
- Book the reservation on rhb.ch or in the SBB app, and keep the confirmation on your phone.
- Carry the pass itself, plus your passport.
- Find the coach number on your reservation and take that seat.
Timing rules to know before you click:
- Bernina Express reservations open for the whole timetable period, and the next period goes on sale in mid to late October. Popular dates sell out, especially weekends and public holidays.
- Online seat reservations cannot be changed or cancelled. Book once your dates are firm.
- Seat side and direction cannot be chosen, because coaches can be coupled either way round. Groups can reserve seats facing each other. Our best side to sit guide covers what you can control.
Retailers such as MySwitzerland also sell the St. Moritz–Tirano reservation from about CHF 32. Check that you are buying the reservation only, not a ticket you already hold. The seat reservation guide and our page on Bernina Express tickets compare where to book.
The regional red train: just show your pass
This is where a pass is at its most useful. The regional red train runs on the same track as the Bernina Express, roughly hourly, with windows that open. You need no reservation. Step aboard, sit in any free seat in your class, and show the pass when the conductor comes round.
A reservation on the red train is optional and costs CHF 5 per person and route, in 1st or 2nd class, between St. Moritz and Tirano. RhB recommends it on busy days. When reserved seats sell out you can still travel without one. Note that RhB cannot take individual seat reservations on regional trains in April 2027 because of technical changes.
With a pass you can also treat the line like a hop-on, hop-off route. Get off at Ospizio Bernina at 2,253 m, the highest point of the RhB network, or at Alp Grüm for the view of the Palü glacier, and catch the next train an hour later. On the Bernina Express you would need a new reservation for each leg.
Pass holders who mainly want photos often pick the red train for this reason alone. Our Bernina Express vs regional train guide and the St. Moritz to Tirano train page cover the two side by side.
Crossing into Italy: Tirano and the train from Milan
The Bernina line ends in Tirano, in Italy, and your pass covers the RhB ticket right to Tirano station. The RhB station and the Italian station sit a few metres apart on the same square.
The Trenord regional train from Tirano to Milan is a different matter. It is an Italian train outside the Swiss network, so a Swiss Travel Pass does not cover it. Buy a separate ticket, about EUR 12.50 in 2nd class for a ride of about 2.5 hours. Trains run roughly every one to two hours, so check the Trenord timetable. If you hold a Eurail or Interrail pass, check whether your pass includes Italy before you rely on it for this leg.
Carry your passport or ID card on any trip that crosses the border, even though both countries are in Schengen. Spot checks are reported. If you plan to spend time at the southern end, our guides to things to do in Tirano and starting the Bernina Express from Tirano will help.
Does a guided tour make sense with a pass?
Usually not. Every Milan day trip on this site bundles a train ticket that your pass already covers, plus a coach transfer, and most of them ride the regional red train anyway. If you are staying in Switzerland with an active pass, you are paying twice for the train.
The same goes for ticket resellers. From Saint Moritz: Bernina Red Train to Tirano (our breakdown) sells a 2nd-class one-way red-train ticket from $75, with free time in Tirano and a timetable guide. It suits travelers without a pass. One reviewer wished her Half Fare Card had arrived before she bought; with a full pass, you would not need the product at all. Its sister listing from the other end, From Tirano: Bernina Red Train Ticket to St. Moritz (our breakdown), works the same way.
A tour can still make sense in two cases:
- You are based in Milan and your pass days are not active yet. A day trip such as From Milan: Bernina Train, Swiss Alps & St. Moritz Day Trip (our breakdown), from $110, may cost less than activating a pass day plus the Trenord trains.
- You want a guaranteed panoramic coach without booking anything. From Milan: St. Moritz and Bernina Express Tour (our breakdown) guarantees a panoramic seat on its panoramic option, from $186, though seats are not assigned in advance.
Our Bernina Express from Milan page compares those day trips in full.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bernina Express free with the Swiss Travel Pass?
The ticket is free; the ride is not. You still pay the mandatory seat reservation in full, reported at about CHF 32 from St. Moritz to Tirano and CHF 40 to 44 from Chur. The regional red train on the same line needs no reservation at all.
Do I need a reservation for the red train with a Swiss Travel Pass?
No. Your pass is enough on the regional red train. A reserved seat costs an optional CHF 5 per person between St. Moritz and Tirano, and RhB recommends it on busy days.
Do children pay the Bernina Express reservation?
Yes. RhB says the reservation supplement must be paid in full for everyone, children included. Children under 6 travel without a ticket and those aged 6 to 15 pay half fare, but the reservation is the same for all.
Can I change or cancel my reservation?
Not if you booked it online. RhB says online seat reservations cannot be changed or cancelled, so wait until your plans are fixed. Tickets, which pass holders do not need, follow different rules.
Does the Swiss Travel Pass cover the train from Milan to Tirano?
No. The Milan–Tirano train is run by Trenord in Italy, so buy a separate ticket of about EUR 12.50. The pass takes over once you board the RhB train in Tirano. Our Milan to St. Moritz by Bernina train page explains the connection.
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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