Bernina Express and Glacier Express via Pontresina
A traveler is planning a trip from Tirano on the Bernina Express, wanting to catch the Glacier Express to Zermatt and stay one night in St. Moritz. They are looking for advice on train connections and booking options as they are confused about some route details and ticket options.
- You can catch a local train from Pontresina to St. Moritz and back easily.
- The Glacier Express runs through Chur on its way to Zermatt, so you'll still pass through if you book it.
- You can buy a class upgrade from 2nd to 1st class at St. Moritz station before boarding, just pay the price difference.
- The Swiss Travel Pass covers most train travel across Switzerland, so check what’s included before your trip.
AI-generated summary-
I am very confused about the Bernina and Glacier Express Routes. I was even going to book one of the “holidays” with SBB but they are all return and I only want to go one way. I could really use some help.
I am coming from Tirano on the Bernina Express then I’d like to catch the Glacier Express to Zermatt. I thought I’d stay at St Moritz for one night. I have a hotel that provides a shuttle to and from the train station.
If I stayed at the cheaper Pontresina is there a local train to get to there from St Moritz and back to again?
When I try and book the GEX it says: “Direction to Zermatt”. Does that mean I miss out on going to Chur or should I book the IR to Chur? When I did try to book the GEX from St Moritz to Zermatt it says “this service is not available online”.
Thank you for your help.
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Hi Paddington,
Yes, you can catch a train from Pontresina to St. Moritz and back. It should be fine to stay there if you prefer and catch the GEX train in St. Moritz. You can use the timetable to find connections on your date of travel: https://www.myswissalp s.com/timetable
The train “direction” of a train is the end destination of the train, in this case Zermatt. The Glacier Express will go through Chur on its way to Zermatt. https://www.myswissalp s.com/glacierexpress/g ettingthere
Hope that helps with your booking! For the mandatory reservations on the Glacier Express look here: https://www.myswissalp s.com/glacierexpress/p ackages
Are you traveling on a rail pass as well? https://www.myswissalp s.com/train/ticketspas ses
My recommendation:
Take the Bernina Express to Pontresina
Stay the night
Take a local train in the morning Pontresina – Samedan
Change at Samedan into the Glacier Express
The Glacier Express runs St Moritz – Samedan – Albula Unesco Heritage railway – Chur – Zermatt
Look for pages 9 and 10 in the official timetable PDF below, you will see some trains Pontresina – Samedan and the Glacier Express trains
For example you should see Pontresina 9.02 arrive Samedan 9.08, and in another column the Glacier Express GEX903 departing Samedan at 9.25
http://www.fahrplanfelder.ch/ fileadmin/fap_pdf_fiel ds/2018/940.pdf
Thank you both for that info. It is very helpful but we have found a good price at a hotel in St Moritz and they will pick us up and drop us back to the train station so I am happy to stop and start at St Moritz. I think this will save me a few train changing headaches.
If I have a 2nd class pass and I book a first class seat for the BEX and GEX do I just pay the difference on the day?
Does the swiss pass include day train travel actually in Lucern? Or is it just for Mt Titlis and boats?
Yes, you can buy a class upgrade to 1st class at St. Moritz station before boarding the train. It will cost 1/2 the price difference between 1st and 2nd class. Buy it before boarding the train.
The Swiss Travel Pass covers most travel in Switzerland. Have a look at our page and pdf map here to see what is covered: https://www.myswissalp s.com/swisstravelpass/ validity
Thanks.
I’ve read all those maps so many times. It is still confusing! I will get there in the end I hope!
Make sure to zoom in on the map and review the legend in the corner.
Essentially all solid lines are free, dotted lines would be 50% off (unless there is a #1 beside it like Jungfraujoch where you get 25% off).
Dashes are tunnels (and can be hard to tell between dotted lines) and still free.
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