Journey aboard the iconic Bernina Express through breathtaking Swiss and Italian Alps, where panoramic views, soaring viaducts, glaciers, and charming mountain villages await.
Since 1910, the Bernina Express has crossed one of Europe’s most spectacular railway routes, linking Switzerland and Italy through soaring Alpine peaks, emerald valleys, dramatic viaducts, and UNESCO World Heritage landscapes. From the iconic Landwasser Viaduct to the spiralling Brusio Circular Viaduct and the 2,253-metre Bernina Pass, every kilometre reveals breathtaking scenery. This is not simply a train journey—it is one of the world’s greatest panoramic rail experiences, where every moment is made to be savoured.
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92 Reviews
Dublin
Galway Cliffs of Moher Dublin 87 Reviews
Lucerne Interlaken Montreux Zermatt St. Moritz Tirano Lucerne St. Gallen Tirano Romanshorn Schaffhausen Zurich
88 Reviews
Paris Lausanne Lucerne Bellinzona Milan Rome 98 Reviews
Brussels Dinant Namur Mons 116 Reviews
Madrid Granada Ronda Tarifa Seville Córdoba Valencia Barcelona 156 Reviews
Oslo Myrdal Flåm Gudvangen Voss Bergen Ålesund Ålesund Trondheim OsloThere’s no dining car on the Bernina Express — instead, a catering trolley comes through the carriage, serving snacks and drinks right at your seat while the Bernina Pass unfolds outside the window. Payment on board is cashless only, so have a card ready.
A rotating selection of Graubünden specialties and light Swiss snacks — think sandwiches, pastries, and regional bites — served trolley-side throughout the roughly 4-hour Chur–Tirano route.
Coffee, tea, soft drinks, and a short list of Swiss beers and wines, poured right at your seat. Coffee options are simple — expect straightforward black coffee or café au lait rather than an espresso menu.
First-class travelers receive a small welcome gift of Swiss chocolate, shaped like a Bernina Express carriage, along with herbal tea — a sweet, local touch to the journey.
Trolley selection is limited and can't always suit every diet, so packing your own food and drink is common practice — and fully welcomed on board if you'd rather bring a picnic for the ride.
Floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows showcase jagged peaks, turquoise lakes, and glaciers as you climb through some of the highest terrain in the Alps.
Cross the Alps without a single tunnel detour underground — the Bernina Express takes the high road, reaching 2,253 meters at Ospizio Bernina, the highest point on any Alpine crossing.
Journey between Chur (or St. Moritz) and Tirano, crossing the iconic Landwasser Viaduct and the spiral loops of Brusio, all part of a UNESCO World Heritage rail line.
Savor regional Swiss and Italian specialties served at your seat while the train winds past glaciers, palm trees, and everything in between within a single journey.
Choose from panoramic First or Second Class carriages, each designed with oversized windows and heating for the high-altitude crossing.
Famed for connecting glacier and palm tree in one ride, the Bernina Express is celebrated as one of the most dramatic rail journeys on Earth.
London · Paris · Venice
Lucerne · Interlaken · Montreux
Chur · Tirano
Fort William · Mallaig
Myrdal · Flåm
Clear, senior-specific advice on cover — including pre-existing conditions and cancellation.
A real person on the phone anywhere in Europe, day or night — no menus, no hold music.
From low-salt to gluten-free, dietary needs are shared with every hotel and train restaurant.
Built-in rest days, gentle transfers, and shorter travel legs to keep you at your best.
It’s a UNESCO World Heritage scenic train running between Chur (or St. Moritz), Switzerland, and Tirano, Italy, famous for its panoramic windows and the dramatic Alpine scenery it crosses, including glaciers, viaducts, and the Bernina Pass.
Yes — a seat reservation in the panoramic carriages is mandatory. In high season from 2 May to 25 October 2026 it costs CHF 36 (€38), and in low season at all other times it costs CHF 32 (€34) for the St. Moritz–Tirano stretch, while the longer Chur–Tirano journey runs CHF 40 in low season and CHF 44 in high season. You can skip the fee only by riding in the unreserved seats of the Allegra unit hauling the train.
A Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Travel Pass Flex counts as your Bernina Express ticket — you only need to add the seat reservation, which is priced the same as a regular ticket’s reservation fee.
Reservations can be made up to 365 days in advance, and for the following year they typically open around mid-October.
Children under 6 travel free, and those aged 6 to 16 pay half the adult ticket fare — though kids aged 6–16 still pay the full adult reservation fee.
The full Chur–Tirano route takes about 4 hours. Without a travel pass, a standard full-fare round trip runs roughly 106–110 CHF in 2nd class or 153–157 CHF in 1st class for the full route, plus the mandatory reservation fee.
“Breathtaking views the entire ride! The panoramic windows made every glacier and viaduct feel close enough to touch. Worth every franc.”
Senior Travelers
“Reservation process was smooth, but seats sell out fast in summer. Book early. The Bernina Pass scenery alone justifies the trip.”
September 2024
“Comfortable, scenic, and unforgettable — though pricey with reservations added. Still, crossing the Alps by train beats any bus tour easily.”
September 2024
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