Geneva-Basel by Glacier Express or other scenic train + pricey hotels
A traveler is planning a trip in March, aiming to explore Switzerland between Geneva and Basel over 5-6 days. They seek advice on an itinerary that includes scenic railway experiences while managing accommodation costs and considering their husband's mobility issues.
- Consider buying a six-day Swiss Travel Pass for unlimited travel on trains, which can save you money on multiple journeys.
- The Bernina Express is a great option, especially since you plan to stay in Chur; make sure to reserve your seat for this scenic ride.
- If you prefer more flexibility, using regional trains instead of panoramic trains can be a better choice, as they are usually less crowded and don’t require high reservation fees.
AI-generated summary-
We are flying into Geneva and then picking up a cruise in Basel. We have 5-6 days only between the 2. Can anyone suggest an itinerary that takes in the Glacier Express or another scenic railway. Thanks so much. I am finding it difficult and hotels very expensive.
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Hi RLS,
Welcome to MySwissAlps.
Thanks for sharing your travel plans. I am not sure what time of year you will be traveling but if it’s soon, yes accommodation will be expensive as we are midst the peak summer season.
MySwissAlps has a dedicated accommodation section, you could try looking there as well. Use the drop down menu to filter per location. You can also find a “budget hotels” section, that may be better suited, price wise.
Here’s the link:
Nice you would like to experience a scenic train. The Glacier Express is slightly out of the way if you are coming from Geneva. You’d need to make your way to Zermatt to where it starts. This would take just under 4 hours to reach by train. If you’d like to read more about the Glacier Express, you can do so in the link below:
Alternatively, the GoldenPass route would be a nice choice. Make your way to Montreux and then you could travel to Interlaken or Lucerne on the GoldenPass route. All GoldenPass details below:
You could use either Interlaken or Lucerne as a base and explore the Bernese Oberland before heading to Basel for your cruise.
The following links should help you out:
- Bernese Oberland: https://www.myswissalps.com/region/bernese-oberland/
- Lucerne: https://www.myswissalps.com/town/lucerne/
- Interlaken: https://www.myswissalps.com/town/interlaken/
Do use the Swiss timetable to research and gauge trips: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/public-transport/timetable/
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Hi Yolanda,
our dates are the 7 th to 11 th of March 2026. I don’t know much about the GoldenPass Route. How does it compare to the Glacier or Bernina Express? I like the idea of spending a night or 2 in Chur. My husband has mobility issues so a hike will not be possible unfortunately and skiing also out.Thankyou for your time.
RLS
Hi RLS,
Both the Glacier Express and Bernina Express are famous scenic Swiss train routes. The Glacier Express is a longer journey, from Zermatt to St. Moritz, whilst the Bernina Express is a shorter journey from Chur to Tirano in Italy.
I recommend you take a read of both guides to see if one or the other has more appeal. There are videos too, that you can watch.
- Glacier Express: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/glacier-express/
- Bernina Express: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/bernina-express/
That said, as you already have Chur in mind, as a place to stay and visit, it would make sense to experience the Bernina Express? Central Hotel Post would be an affordable option to look into, and it’s easily reached on foot from the Chur train station.
As for the GoldenPass, similarly, take a read of the guide via the link provided earlier, the route is explained in detail and there is also a video to watch as well.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Hello RLS
It is great that you are not travelling until next March – plenty of time to plan! Here is a tentative suggestion from someone who has been visiting Switzerland for over fifty year. I am keeping in mind that your husband ‘has mobility issues’. You will need a good map of Switzerland.
As you are doing a lot of travelling within Switzerland, invest in a six day Swiss Travel Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/). All the journeys I mention below are free with the Swiss Travel Pass, except that you will have to pay a (quite high) reservation fee to travel in the ‘panoramic’ carriages on the Bernina Express (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/bernina-express/).
On the day you fly into Geneva stay the night in Geneva or in any town (there are several) between Geneva and Montreux. Trains on the Geneva Lausanne Montreux line are very frequent. (Twice an hour from Geneva Airport!)
On day two take the Golden Pass route (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/goldenpass/) from Montreux to Lucerne (known as Luzern in German). To minimize the number of changes take the ‘Golden Pass Express’ through train from Montreux to Interlaken Ost. (This express runs four times a day.) At Interlaken Ost change to the Luzern-Interlaken Express. This train runs hourly. Stay the night at or near Lucerne (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/lucerne/).
On day three take the Treno Gottardo (every two hours) bound for Locarno. You get off this train at GOSCHENEN. (Probably in the company of quite a few skiers) walk on the level past the station building to catch the little train up to ANDERMATT.
At Andermatt it is a short walk through the station subway. Catch the hourly regional train which goes over the Oberalp Pass and finishes at DISENTIS. At Disentis you walk straight across the platform to a train bound for CHUR. Stay two nights in Chur.
On day four take the Bernina Express to Tirano and back. On this year’s timetable (it may be slightly different next year) you leave at 08 17 and get back at 18 31 ( 6 31 pm). There is a 95 minutes break at Tirano – time for a relaxed Italian lunch.
On day five take one of the very regular fast Inter-City trains which run through Chur-Zurich-Basel. The line from Chur to Zurich is very scenic. Sit on the right hand side of the train in the direction of travel.. Stay the night in or near Basel (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/basel/).
Best wishes for your detailed planning.
Roger
Thank you so much for that detailed reply. I really appreciate it. So are you suggesting I just buy the 6 day pass. Is it worth buying 1st class? Is this the cheapest way I can purchase the pass?
And then I just reserve a seat on the Bernina Express?
Also, 8 hours there and back on the Bernina express sounds a long day. Certainly worth it. Would it be worth staying over night in Tirano? Can i split the Bernina Express pass?Thank you again
RLS
Hello Again
So are you suggesting I just buy the 6 day pass.
Yes. (There is no five day pass.) But note that you will also need to buy reservations on the Bernina Express on day four.
Is it worth buying 1st class?
I would say YES. I have been visiting Switzerland regularly for over fifty years, and I always buy a first class STP. Why?
Greater comfort.
Less crowded.
Except on the Bernina Express where you are allocated a seat, you can choose where you sit. For example on the Chur-Landquart-Zurich-Basel Intercity trains, it will be easy to get a seat on the scenic right hand side of the train.
Is this the cheapest way I can purchase the pass?
Use the outlets recommended by the MySwissPass website.
Would it be worth staying over night in Tirano?
(Have the map in front of you.)
I would give serious consideration to this option. Another possibility would be to shorten your trip on the Bernina Express by getting off at Le Prese, Poschiavo or Alp Grum.
If you stayed overnight in Tirano.
First note that the STP is valid to/from Tirano, even though that town is (just) in Italy.
Day five now becomes a rather long day (A bit over six hours in total on trains). But the journey from Tirano to Basel can be divided up into three sections, and there is no need to use the Bernina express with its expensive seat reservations.
Stage one would be to catch an ordinary regional train (they run once an hour) from Tirano to St Moritz, and stay on this train all the way to St Moritz. (On the current timetable there is a train from Tirano at 09 00 which gets to St Moritz at 11 11.)
Take a break at St Moritz. The station is right by the lake, which (in early March) may well be still completely frozen over.
From St Moritz, do NOT catch the IR38 train to Chur. This train takes the same route (via Filisur) as the Bernina Express took on day four.
Instead catch an RE3 train bound for LANDQUART via KLOSTERS. These trains run hourly and take just under two hours.
As you will see from the map, Landquart is very close to Chur. The first stop made by the Chur-Zurich-Basel InterCity trains referred to in my reply four is at Landquart. Landquart to Basel takes just over two hours.
Best wishes
Roger
Hi RLS,
Below is an alternative itinerary if you would like to travel on the Glacier Express before going on your cruise.
Day 1 – Arrival in Geneva. Overnight in Geneva (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/geneva/)
Day 2 – Rail transfer to Zermatt. Overnight in Zermatt (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/zermatt/)
Day 3 – Travel on the Glacier Express from Zermatt to Chur (6 hours). Overnight in Chur.
Day 4 – Optional day trip to St Moritz on the Bernina Express and Bernina railway. Overnight in Chur.
Day 5 – Rail transfer to Zurich. Overnight in Zurich (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/zurich/)
Day 6 – Rail transfer to Basel (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/basel/) for your cruise.For further inspiration, you can check out other sample itineraries here: https://www.myswissalps.com/planning/itineraries/self-guided/
Regards,
Anna
Thank you Anna,
That looks wonderful. I have a lot to think about. I am reading a lot about the panoramic trains are very congested. Do you think this will be the case in March? Should I look at the same itinery on regional trains in first class?I am so grateful for everyones advice
RLS
Hi RLS,
Yes, the panoramic trains can get busy but I think traveling in March you should be fine.
If you are interested, take a read of our guide to visiting Switzerland over the course of the year and what to expect.
Note, if you are considering the Glacier Express in Excellence Class, it won’t be operating on your dates of travel. 1st and 2nd carriages will be available.
All the panoramic trains are also doable by regular trains and it’s a perfectly viable option. They involve changes but again all manageable. You”ll find sections within each of the panoramic train rides, explaining the alternatives.
You can research the Swiss panoramic train rides in the link below:
You can also use the Swiss timetable to research the routes too, that way you can gauge the number of changes involved too.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Thank you Yolanda.
Very helpful
RLS
Hello again
Very helpful information from Yolanda, BUT
I said in my rep;y six ‘I have been visiting Switzerland regularly for over fifty years, and I always buy a first class STP. (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/). In those fifty plus years I have NEVER been on the Glacier Express.
Why Never on the Glacier Express?
The route followed by the Glacier Express is covered by regional trains which run hourly.
On those regional trains I do not have to pay a high reservation fee.
Those regional trains are usually not very crowded, and I can pick where I sit.
I can ‘hop on hop off’ regional trains.Kind regards
Roger
Thank you Roger,
Yes I hear you. I will be looking at regional trains.
Kindest regrds
RLS
Hi RLS,
I understand Roger’s point very much and definitely if flexibility is required, the regular, regional trains make sense.
However I still think for some, if they wanted day out without having to worry about connections, or the next train, the Glacier Express would be a nice way to enjoy a day out, whilst enjoying the Swiss scenery in a lovely train.
You mentioned that your husband has mobility issues, I am not sure to what extent. If taking the regional trains, this would involve at least 3 or 4 train changes if you are following the full route. Just something to bear in mind.
Enjoy whichever you decide, it will be lovely either way 🙂
Kind regards,
Yolanda
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