Postcards from Italy

Switzerland by Rail: The Glacier Express and Bernina Express

One of the biggest draws in Switzerland is, of course, its unparalleled scenery. Soaring mountain peaks, lush expanses of Alpine meadow, placid crystalline lakes, rushing streams of icy water, bucolic rural farms and quaint mountain towns straight out of a Currier and Ives Christmas card…no matter where you look, the views are gasp-worthy.

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(Photo by CIU Travel via Flickr)

There are a number of ways to tour Switzerland’s panoramic countryside, each with its pros and cons. The country has an impeccable network of roads, and driving tours are the most popular and straightforward way to get around. The downside is that many of the most spectacular vistas are from rather remote, impervious wilderness that is difficult—if not impossible—to reach by car. Almost more formidable than their highway system are Switzerland’s hiking trails, setting out from virtually any town or city in the country and in just minutes heading steeply uphill to the most sweeping overlooks across the Swiss landscape. But even the most approachable mountain trails require a certain level of fitness, and not everyone wants to be (or can be) that physically active on holiday.

There is a third way to explore Switzerland’s most remote mountain passes that combines the convenience of the road with the exclusivity of the trail: the train. There are a number of scenic train routes that offer timeless charm, comfortable transport, and memorable views—perfect for combining a transfer from one location to another with a bit of adventure and unique panoramas. Here are our favorites:

Glacier Express

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(Photo by CIU Travel via Flickr)

The bright-red Glacier Express is a narrow-gauge line that offers direct service between the exclusive ski resort of Zermatt and chic St. Moritz. Its route through Switzerland’s spectacular mountain scenery passes across gorges, over glaciers, and above river valleys, making it one of the most breathtaking scenic train rides in Europe.

The Route
Known as “the slowest express train in the world,” the trip between Zermatt and St. Moritz takes about eight hours, but passengers are treated to stellar views of the Swiss Alps through the train’s picture windows and glass skylights during the ride that winds through the cantons of Valais, Uri, and Graubunden through the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the “Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina Landscapes.”

The train makes five stops on its 180-mile run, passing over 291 bridges and viaducts and through 91 tunnels; the highest point along the route is the Oberalp Pass between Andermatt and Disentis, at over 6,600 feet. Passengers can board the Glacier Express at Zermatt or St. Moritz and take a one-way trip in a single day, or you can stop to explore the towns of Visp, Brig, Andermatt, Disentis or Chur along the route, stretching out the journey over a few days.

The Basics

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(Photo by CIU Travel via Flickr)

The Glacier Express runs daily all year long, with the exception of a few weeks each fall when service is suspended for maintenance. Three trains depart each morning in the summer, and offer views of lush Alpine scenery; from December to May there is one daily departure and dramatic vistas of snow-capped peaks if you get clear weather…when we took the trip, we got clouds and snow for most of the trip. There are 2- and 4-person compartments in 1st class and 4-person compartments in 2nd class; a full-service restaurant car serving gourmet traditional dishes, vegetarian and Indian options, and a children’s menu; and a panoramic bar car. Waiters on the train pour liqueurs from an impossible height into a little glass while the train is moving without spilling a drop, which you can either find endearing or kitsch…we lean toward the former!

The Bernina Express

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(Photo by CIU Travel via Flickr)

The Glacier Express route links to another scenic Alpine train route in Chur: the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Bernina Express that runs over the Bernina Pass to Tirano just east of Lake Maggiore. Known as the Trenino Rosso (Little Red Train), this historic narrow-gauge line is the highest in the Alps and its “little engines that could” have been chugging across the Swiss-Italian border for over a century.

The Route
One of the most photogenic trains in the world, the Bernina Express follows a route between the Italian town of Tirano and Swiss Chur, combining beautiful scenery with the allure of crossing from the palm trees of Lake Maggiore to the snowy peaks of Chur in just over four hours.

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(Photo by CIU Travel via Flickr)

The Trenino Rosso climbs the Bernina Pass (at more than 7,000 feet), passing through 55 tunnels, over 196 bridges, and through an Alpine landscape of snow-capped peaks and pristine glacial lakes. In addition to the scenery, the line is dotted with impressive feats of engineering, including the soaring Landwasser Viaduct, the spiral-shaped tunnels between Bergün and Preda, and the famous Brusio Circular Viaduct; there a a couple of points along the route where the curves are so sharp that you can see the train in front of you. There can be anywhere from a dozen to over 20 stops along the route, including St. Moritz—where you can break up the trip with a stop—and Ospizio Bernina (the official border between Romansh-speaking Engadine and Italian-speaking Valposchiavo), depending upon the time of day and seasons; the stretch from Thusis to Tirano has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Basics

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(Photo by CIU Travel via Flickr)

All cars on the Bernina Express are fitted with picture windows, but from late June through September there are also open-air panoramic cars for optimal photography. Trains run all year round, with additional routes between Davos Platz and Tirano and St. Moritz and Tirano–the two most popular stretches–in the summer months. You can easily connect to the Italian rail system in Tirano (the station is connected to the arrival point) and head west towards Varenna and eventually Milan. There is no restaurant car, but a refreshment cart is available and passengers can pre-order a cheese and charcuterie platter for their trip. There are first and second-class seats, both of which can use the on-board app for information and explanations during the ride.

Travel Specialists

Maria Landers

Brian Dore