Hello. We will be visiting Switzerland in early September. Our journey will take us Zurich--Zermatt--Montreux--Berner Oberland--Lucern. I've long been interested in the Glacier Express, but our route does not favor the Glacier Express route. Is it worth trying to work it into our journey from Zurich to Zermatt so that we can experience a portion of the GE route, or even doing a partial day trip from Zermatt on the train (not the full route)? Thank you!
Posted by
Hayden Lake, ID
36 posts
We rode the Glacier Express in 1998!!! From St Moritz to Zermatt. We still have fond memories of the trip. We returned to Switzerland in 2022 for 3 weeks and wished we'd ridden the Glacier Express again. So many hikes..... so little time. Highly recommend it even if it's just for a portion of the ride.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17418 posts
Yes, you could do that from Zurich to Zermatt. Instead of taking the fast train through the tunnel to Visp, board a Treno Gottardo heading south from Zurich toward Locarno. You will get off at Göschenen, 1 hour and 45 minutes after leaving Zurich. Take another train the short distance to Andermatt, which is on the Glacier Express line. The westbound Glacier Express stops at Andermatt on the way to Zermatt at 14:08, 15:08 and 17:08, T least on the current schedule. The Treno Gottardo departs Zurich at 9:05, 10:05, 11:05, etc. will have to check the schedule for the connections between Göschenen and Andermatt to work out the timing.
The other option would be to change the order of travel so you put Zermatt last, and travel there from Luzern using the Treno Gottardo, which departs Luzern at 9:18 and 11:18. The order of travel for your trip would then be Zurich—-Montreux—-Berner Oberland—-Luzern—-Zermatt. The fast train from Zermatt back to Zurich takes just over 3 hours.
You can see these routes and connections on the map of the Swiss railway system, with scenic trains highlighted.
Posted by
Green Bay
21141 posts
You can also use the Glacier Express by going Zurich to Chur, then get the Glacier Express from Chur to Zermatt. Assuming you are landing at Zurich airport that day, this is only practical if you land before 11 am as the last connecting train to Zurich is at 12:15 pm to get the connecting train to Chur. It is an 8 hour journey from Zurich airport if you are up for that after a transatlantic flight.