[Anonymous]

13 January 2023 at 11:44:19 #828876

I am sure this is often asked but…..

We have an 8 day itinerary planned in July and will be buying an 8 day Swiss travel pass

We arrive in Basel-down to Bern then a couple of days in Interlaken-heading to Zermatt

My question(and we know we need to reserve)we want to take the entire route on the Glacier express to St Moritz (but recognise there is some crossover on the Bernina route) and somehow combine with the Bernina Express-whats the best way of doing this

We are then heading for Lucern for a few days at the end

Thanks

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[User]

Reply 1 of 7 • 13 January 2023 at 17:44:31 #949590

What you do depends on whether you want to break the journey anywhere on the way, and how early you depart from Zermatt.

The overlap between the Glacier Express train and the Bernina Express train is the Albula Railway from Chur to St Moritz, via Filisur (Landwasser Viaduct), Berguen Bravuogn (Albula railway museum and very ‘real’ Swiss village), the Bergeun – Preda sirals, Abula Tunnel, Samedan.

It comes late on the Glacier Express journey so you may be tired…

On the other hand, if you complete the Glacier Express journey in one go, you can travel on the Bernina Railway with a stop half way at the superb Alp Grum, or Bernina Hospiz summit. If you stay the night in St Moritz you can make some stops on the Bernina line using normal trains.

[User]

Reply 2 of 7 • 13 January 2023 at 18:06:55 #949591

Thanks I think the last option is what will do…whole length of Glacier to st moritz then local train to chur…many thanks

We could always do Bernina som other time combining with northern Italy

[User]

Reply 3 of 7 • 13 January 2023 at 18:38:29 #949592

I really like that plan.

If you take the first 08.52 Glacier Express (PE902) from Zermatt, you reach St Moritz at 16.37. You would have 20 minutes minutes fresh air (45 minutes if you get off at Samedan), then the interregio express back to Chur, giving oyu a second chance to enjoy the Preda – Berguen spirals and the Landwasser viaduct crossing:

St Moritz: 17.02, Samedan 17.15, Chur arrive 19.04

[User]

Reply 4 of 7 • 13 January 2023 at 20:19:34 #949593

Thanks everyone…we have had a change of thought, we are going to do full Glacier express then at St moritz we are going to get a train down to Tirano…we know that is a VERY long day, but…..following day we can do full Bernina up to Chur(we know the st moritz to chur bit retraces part of the day before),few hours in Chur then train to Lucerne for 3 nights…..we think(!)…two long days but you are only here once!

[Anna]

Reply 5 of 7 • 13 January 2023 at 20:59:55 #949594

Hi Forest78,

Your plan is certainly doable. The Glacier Express journey from Zermatt to St Moritz takes about 8 hours. From St Moritz you can take a regular train to Tirano which takes about 2.5 hours. Spending a night in Tirano so you can catch the Bernina Express the next day is a good call. So it’s definitely going to be 2 long days on the train but I’m sure you’ll enjoy the views and the experience.

You can find further details about the Glacier Express and Bernina Express routes from the following links:

• Glacier Express route: http://www.myswissalps.com/glacierexpress/gettingthere
• Bernina Express route: http://www.myswissalps.com/berninaexpress/gettingthere

regards,

Anna

[User]

Reply 6 of 7 • 13 January 2023 at 21:51:49 #949595

Thanks Anna

[User]

Reply 7 of 7 • 14 January 2023 at 0:03:04 #949596

That would indeed be a long day enclosed in sealed window carriages. I think you may regret seeing so much from inside and not getting the chance to at least feel some high mountain air at any of the high points along the long route.

If you change your plan and stay in Tirano for the night, I recommend returning to St Moritz on the early regional train, stopping at Alp Grum of Bernina Diavolezza, then taking a train St Moritz – Landquart via the Engadine, Vereina Tunnel and Klosters. At Landquart you connect into the main line from Chur to Zurich. To get to Luzern you either take trains via Zurich, or you avoid another double back by changing between two semi-fast trains at Thalwil.