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Bernina express how to find the best route?

We have planned a Bucket list trip for this Dec. we are doing Christmas markets in Switzerland and going to do the Glacier express from Zermatt to St Moritz. Unfortunately the Glacier express isn’t running until Dec 14th this year and we needed the 10th. The Bernina express page is very confusing to me doesn’t not look like it has that route. Has anyone done this route on a train? So disappointed our hotels nonrefundable, we booked too early. Thanks!

Posted by
2448 posts

The Glacier Express runs from Zermatt to st. Mortiz. The Bernina Express from st. Moritz to Tirano and from Chur to Tirano. In both cases they follow normal railway lines that are also used by other trains. There are trains about every hour along the entire route, so doing that trip should not be an issue.

What do you mean with "it doesn't look like it has that route"?
For trip planning just use www.sbb.ch
And if you want reservations for the Bernina Express named trains use www.rhb.ch. But know that you can do that trip on normal trains too.

Posted by
21028 posts

No, Bernina Express does not depart from Zermatt, only the Glacier Express does. You can take regular trains that follow the same route as the Glacier Express, you will just have to change trains a few times.

www.sbb.ch/en. Put in via Andermatt, otherwise it will show you the fastest way, which is back to Zurich and not as scenic.

Posted by
1889 posts

And taking the route of the Bernina Express is exactly what regular trains running on the same railway tracks between Chur to St.Moritz and then to Tirano, Italy do.
The Bernina Express trains require a seat reservation of CHF34 per ticket ( about US $40) in addition to the ticket which is another $66.for 2nd class. The regular trains have no requirement that you have a seat reservation.
The most spectacular section is from St. Moritz to Tirano- about a 2.5 hour ride.