Glacier Express route – most scenic section
A traveler is planning a trip through Switzerland and needs advice on the Glacier Express route. They are coming from Salzburg and can't decide whether to travel from Chur to Zermatt or take the full route from St. Moritz to Zermatt to ensure they don’t miss any scenic sections.
- Opt for St. Moritz to Zermatt for full scenic enjoyment, including the Albula line.
- The Swiss Travel Pass covers travels from Interlaken to Wengen, but it's only discounted for certain parts, so check the details.
- For maximizing views, consider the route through Kandersteg instead of the Golden Pass for a quicker journey.
AI-generated summary-
Hi All,
Been looking at the Glacier express can someone please give some comments on which is the most section of the Route.The reason being we will be coming from Salzburg , but cannot decide if we should go to Chur and the GE from Chur to Zermatt or go to St. Moritz and to the entire route .Just want to ensure if we do the Chur-Zermatt we do not miss out on the most scenic section
-
There are differing views but I recommend you read 1960man’s “impartial” appraisal.
Hi MPP3216,
The Glacier Express route consists of four main sections, each with their own unique scenery. Each route is described in detail here: http://www.myswissalps.com/glacierexpress/gettingthere
Regards,
Anna
Thanks everyone for the suggestions , looks like we have 2 options
OPTION 1 – Innsbruck-St. Moritz (catch the 13.48 train from Innsbruck with 2 changes Sargan and Chur) reach St. Moritz around 7pm overnight at St. Moritz .Next day morning Glacier express St. Moritz -Zermatt
Option 2- Innsbruck-Chur ( this gives a few more hours in Innsbruck for sightseeing catch the 15: 48 train to Chur 1 Change at Sargan)reach Chur around 7pm .Overnight at CHur . next day morning catch the glacier express form Chur-Zermatt which means we miss the St. Moritz-Chur section
Will have a think over the weekend to work out best option
Personally if I were in your shoes I would not go to Chur and then omit the Albula railway to St Moritz, and the beautiful scenery of the Engadine around St Moritz). Chur – St Moritz is only a 2 hour journey but you get the Landwasser viaduct and the spirals and loops between Filisur and Preda up to the Albula tunnel. With your option 1 you would get 2 chances to see the Albula line.
Here is the Albula railway on three levels at Bergün
I’d pick option 1 but when are you travelling as a matter of interest?
If you want some variety (and don’t mind arriving 9 minutes later) you can change trains at Landquart instead of Chur and go to St Moritz via Klosters Platz and Zernez. You then won’t be doubling up On the GEX route. Though doing the Albula Line in both directions does have some appeal as 1960man points out.
Thanks everyone looks like Option 1 seems more sensible . On another note does anyone have any suggestions when travelling between Zermatt to Wengen . Is there anyway we can include a boat ride ( like lake Thun) as part of the travel between Zermatt- Interlaken .We are planning this trip in May .
The most scenic route from Zermatt to Wengen is via Kandersteg. You will then travel on the BLS Regio-Express Lötschberger (http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-au/experiences/bls-regioexpress-loetschberger/)train over the traditional, more than 100 year old mountain route, giving you a wonderful view along the impressive peaks and down into the Rhone Valley. The faster more direct but less scenic route between Visp and Spiez passes throughthe lengthy (in distance) but shorter (in time) Lötschberg Base Tunnel(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lötschberg_Base_Tunnel).
You could theoretically stop at Spiez and catch a beat on Lake Thun to Interlaken West. You would need to check the timetables carefully. The boats are not as regular as trains and infrequent except in summer, take longer and the boat harbour is some distance from the station. I doubt it would work for you. Best to schedule a day on the lake separately. I prefer the Lake Brienz cruise for what it’s worth.
Thanks for all the suggestions i will have a look
Can someone help me with the validity of the swiss travel pass.We will be staying at Wengen for 4n , is the journey between Interlaken -Wengen covered fully by the swiss travel pass or do we need to buy tickets at 50% discounted for any leg of the journey. Please correct me if i am wrong the route we need to take Interkaen -Lauterbrunnen change train here to take cable car that goes to Klein Scheidegg , but we get down at Wengen. Is the last part in CC also covered by the pass. Sorry if the question has been asked multiple times.
Well first thing you need to study is the map you can download from http://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass/validity. Read the text on that page as well. The map will show you Interlaken to Wengen (change trains at Lauterbrunnen to the train which goes to Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg) is fully covered. Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg (train) and Jungfraujoch (train) are 25% discount but everything up to Wengen is free.
The only cable car that departs Wengen is the one to Männlichen and it is discounted 50%. There is a famous 1.5 hour hike from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg.
Another map which you might find useful is this one.
Hello MPP3216,
Thanks for your questions!
I would recommend the below to help you with the details of the Swiss Travel Pass:
- http://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass
- http://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass/validity
- http://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass/details
Please get familiar with the SBB Train timetable, you will use it the whole time you are in Switzerland. Download the SBB app on your smart phone device, it’s so practical:
Good luck!
Best regards,
Suzanne
HI All,
Seeking some advice , looking at our journey from Zermatt to Wengen where we stay for 4N, we have 2 possible options
1. Zermatt- Montreux (1 train change) take the golden pass from Montreux-Interlaken then onward to Wengen .This way we cover the golden pass route as part of Zermatt-Wengen journey rather than doing the golden pass separately.
2. Zermatt -Interlaken OST store luggage at train station proceed for lake cruise on Lake Brienz -Train back to Interlaken then proceed to Wengen.
In option 1 we need to carry luggage through all the different train changes .Option 2 we can store luggage at Interlaken train station , but then we need to spend another day trying to cover golden pass between Montreux-Interlaken.
Any thoughts on the above 2 options
Go from Zermatt to Wengen via Kandersteg. You will then travel on the BLS Regio-Express Lötschberger (http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-au/experiences/bls-regioexpress-loetschberger/)train over the traditional, more than 100 year old mountain route, giving you a wonderful view along the impressive peaks and down into the Rhone Valley. The faster (by about 1 hour) more direct but less scenic route via Visp direct to Spiez includes passage through the lengthy (in distance) but short (in time) Lötschberg Base Tunnel(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lötschberg_Base_Tunnel)..
It is more scenic than the Golden Pass in my humble opinion and a darn site quicker. You will even have time to throw in a boat ride. Don’t do the Golden Pass just to experience that route. It is a reasonably scenic way to get from Montreux to the Bernese Oberland (or vice versa), not a must do route in it’s own right.
Thanks Rockyoyster for your suggestion , I will have a look . I did not realise there was an alternate route which is more scenic. I had always read and heard about the golden pass and how scenic it was so wanted to make sure we had it covered. I will definitely have a look at this alternative option
You must have missed my suggestion posted earlier (Jan 25). I thought it sounded familiar! 😉
Yes i just realised that….so is my understanding of the route correct
Zermatt – Brig by train (Regional train 1.25 hr), I had a look the Zermatt – Kandersteg are either via Brig or Visp should i still take this option of can I do the Brig option ??
Brig-Speiz or Thun this is where i am confused on the SBB website there are 2 options IC and RE , i am guessing i need to take the RE toward Bern ??
Then from either Spiez/Thu-Wenegn via interlaken
You need to go from Zermatt to Brig. The Regio-Express Lötschberger runs from Brig (well Domodossola actually but that’s irrelevant) to Bern. You will have to change at Spiez to get to Interlaken Ost. You don’t want to go to Thun.
Going via Montreux and the Golden Pass would take close to 8 hours.
A sample route is attached.
Attachments:
Thanks a lot Rockyoyster for the suggestions and sharing the sample route.It makes it so much easy to understand.As i will be getting the 8Day swiss travel pass i am guessing all tickets will be included in the pass.Do we need to make any seat reservations on any of these trains ?
You don’t need seat reservations on any of the trains mentioned. Just make sure you don’t accidentally try to use the Glacier Express (which does require seat reservations) from Zermatt to Brig.
- The thread ‘Glacier Express route – most scenic section’ is closed to new replies.
