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Bernina Express

Connecting Switzerland and Italy via the highest mountain railway in the Alps, the Bernina Express train rises to the challenges presented by snow, ice and the steepest gradients to delight passengers with a four-hour journey of breath-taking beauty through this iconic mountain range.

Beginning in the north at Chur, capital of the canton of Graubünden and the oldest city in Switzerland, the narrow-gauge railway that carries the scarlet-liveried Bernina Express winds its way south-eastwards through the Alps, crossing into Italy shortly after Poschiavo, to its destination in Tirano.

Highlights

The Alpine passage that the Bernina Express makes from Switzerland to Italy has been acclaimed as Switzerland's most scenic journey, and passengers have much to admire from the train's panoramic windows.

The first part of the route from Chur passes through the area of Switzerland most populated with castles. As the train ascends into the glacier-dominated region of Bernina itself, the scenery becomes increasingly breath-taking. However, the views are at their most magnificent at the mountain-ringed Lake Bianco, whose placid waters mirror the sky above.

Of the 55 tunnels and 196 bridges that help the train negotiate the trickier natural elements of the route, Solis Viaduct and famous Landwasser Viaduct are particularly spectacular.

Landwasser Viaduct

Our customers love our Bernina Express tours

First-Class Grand Alpine Explorer

1/Sep

Mark Lucas

“The value for the experience is well worth the investment. Great organization and follow through. I would recommend this product to anyone interested in an exceptional travel experience.

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Glacier Express All Inclusive in Winter

2/Apr

Eric Waters

“Holiday was very good Bernina and Glacier express trains were excellent lots of snow going through the mountains only downside was the walk up the hill everyday although a local bus was available and having to transport cases across Paris and on to final destination

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Traditional Glacier Express in Winter

23/Mar

John Tinston

“A full week with fabulous views!

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Classic Glacier Express at New Year

16/Jan

Clifford Smy

“Great scenery. Kay, our tour manager, was brilliant.

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Glacier Express All Inclusive at New Year

11/Jan

K Brown

“.It was a wonderful tour, scenery was stunning, my 5 th tour overall with the Glacier Express, says it all, the Hotel at Tiefencastel was up to its highest Standard, our Tour Mgr was excellent, produced a lovely booklet which covered the whole tour in extroadinary detail which was brilliant. Overall I give...

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Classic Glacier Express

15/Sep

Richard Stephens

“Great Scenery, very informed guide, nice accommodations. Rails ran on time. only negative was the amount of time spent at some locations. (45 -60 minutes at Grindlewald, St. Moritz, Poschiavo)

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Mountaintops of Switzerland

11/Sep

Raymond

“A memorial holiday never too be forgotten. We recommend it

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Traditional Glacier Express

9/Sep

gailw

“All the train journeys were amazing. I cannot praise the group leader enough - she was charming, efficient and looked after us all so well. The only downside for us was that we always seemed to be allocated the hotel room on the top floor with poorer facilities.

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Glacier Express All Inclusive at Christmas

12/Jan

Mike Batson

“This would have been 5 stars but for the following. 1.Disappointment being changed from Strasbourg to Mulhouse. Mulhouse was attractive and the hotel very good but the journey was too long,we arrived too late to see anything and had to leave next morning just as the market was opening. 2. The group...

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A touch of class

Bernina Express trains typically comprise two or three First and Second class carriages separated by a bar and services carriage at the train's centre. The carriages in both classes are spacious and offer air conditioning, panoramic windows, comfortable seating and an at-seat trolley service providing light refreshments.

Second Class carriages are designed to carry more passengers and are configured with two rows of tables, one each side of the carriage, each of which provides seating for four people.

First Class carriages comprise one row of four-seater tables and one row of double seats. Carrying fewer passengers than Second Class carriages means that First Class passengers enjoy more space and greater legroom and larger, leather-upholstered seats. Fewer seats in First Class also mean that the views from the carriages' larger panoramic windows are less obstructed.

Bernina Express Interior

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Bernina Express?

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What stops are included in the Bernina Express route?