Glacier Express tickets + reservations for Sept 10th, 2026
Debbie from Canada is planning to book 4 tickets on the Glacier Express for September next year and is confused about the process. She wants to know if she can book the train ticket and seat reservation at the same time and if it's better to use a travel agent for reservations.
- You can book both train tickets and seat reservations for the Glacier Express at the same time, but it's best to secure the seat reservations first as they can sell out quickly.
- Seat reservations for 1st and 2nd class can only be made 93 days before your travel date, so mark your calendar for that.
- If you're traveling in Excellence Class, you can secure seat reservations up to a year in advance.
- It’s possible to manage the booking yourself, so take your time to plan.
AI-generated summary-
Good afternoon, I’m looking for some help or tips on booking tickets on the Glacier Express train for next September. I understand, (I believe I do) you need to book a train ticket in conjunction with a seat reservation. What I’m confused about is, can you book these tickets at the same time? I’m told tour companies hold blocks of seats, so it’s almost next to impossible to get a reservation on the train. I want to book 4 tickets for next year. They don’t seem to make it straight forward to get a reservation. We’ve used the train system many times before in Switzerland and it’s not complicated. Can someone tell me if it’s better to use a travel agent rather than book it yourself…would they have more success? Is there a travel agent I could work with directly in Switzerland to help me out? Thank you for any help, Debbie from Canada.
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Hi Debjdion,
Very welcome to MySwissAlps.
Lovely to hear you are planning a ride on the Glacier Express next year.
You’ve understood correctly, you need both a seat reservation and a rail ticket to enjoy the Glacier Express. Yes, you can purchase both at the same time but what I would suggest is to purchase the seat reservation first. These can and do sell out. Best to secure your seat reservation first. You can worry about your ticket later, as it may make sense to purchase a rail pass depending on your overall plans which would also cover a ride on the Glacier Express route.
However, do note the 2nd and 1st class seat reservations can only be purchased 93 days before your date of travel, so you are a little early. I would make a note in your diary/calendar accordingly. If you are traveling in Excellence Class, then these seat reservations can be secured a year in advance.
You can read more about the Glacier Express in our guide below, there is also a video you can watch too:
This link should help you out as well, it’s written with 2025 in mind but the same tips should also apply for 2026 🙂
I think you have ample time to plan and book everything yourself.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
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