Glacier Express - Switzerland

That is exactly the correct answer!

The Glacier Express is an EXTREMELY slow-moving train which many people would rather bypass because it eats up too much precious vacation time just SITTING on a train.

Yes, the scenery is beautiful, but so is the scenery most anywhere in Switzerland. There are other regular faster trains that travel along the same tracks. Yes, the Swiss Pass covers most of the cost of the Glacier Express. If this is your "dream come true" then do it. Else, spend your time out IN the beautiful scenery of Switzerland instead of just looking at it through a train window.

Hi delinda,

We did the Glacier Express from St. Moritz to Zermatt. Very long day. We spent 9 hours on this trip. If it's your "dream trip", then do it. I wouldn't spend this amount of time on a train again.
Yes, the Swiss Pass helps but there is a supplement with the Swiss Pass.

www.swisstravelsystem.ch

We rode many trains in Switzerland and in my opinion, you don't need take a "special" train to see outstanding scenery.

Not an answer to your question at all but from Bern, simply take a trip into the Berner Oberland (or Zermatt) to truly experience the Alps.

Paul

If you are staying in Bern, it is less than an hour to Interlaken from which you can travel up in the Alps. You can take the train to Lauterbrunnen and then go on up to Wengen, Murren, the Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn. All of these are very lovely and very much in the Alps.

Thank you for your input. I rather be out in the alps, then sitting and seeing it from the window.

We have taken the Glacier Express and returned several years later to take our best friends. It is a wonderful trip. If you are the type and/or age when you think 15 countries in 14 days is a vacation, then fine. If you are of an age and type that think you need to get out in nature and be miserable to "enjoy" your vacation then do that. But if you are a little older with a more philisophical view of life, take the Glacier Express.

Well now THERE's some reasoning you don't hear everyday! I'm glad not all senior citizens have such a sedentary outlook on life.

There are a lot of neat trains through the Alps, and a variety of price options. For example, there is a regional pass for the Berner Oberland that covers 3 days of free travel and four days of half price travel at a cost of about $225 per person for second class. The Swiss also sell a half fare card, good for 30 days, that costs $99 (all prices approximate because of fluctuations in the dollar). We used that half fare card this year to go from Montreux to Interlaken, up to Jungfrauch, then back to Montreux. The cardsaved us the purchase price plus, as we also used it for shorter trips and the lake boats. See what the point to point tickets are, think about your travel days, then check the Swiss Rail site for passes, fare cards etc.We took the Glacier Express a few years ago to St. Moritz, then took the Palm Express to Lugano. It was a beautiful journey.
Joungfrau was my dream destination and even though it was a little cloudy, I truly felt in heaven.
Enjoy your trip.
terry