Glacier Express: Zermatt to Zurich
A traveler named Fifi is planning her first trip to Switzerland and wants to ride the Glacier Express without spending too many hours on it. She seeks advice on the best stops to change trains while heading to Zurich.
- You can do short sections of the Glacier Express, such as from Chur to Brig, making it a day trip of about 8-9 hours.
- Travel from Zermatt to Andermatt with the Glacier Express then return to Zermatt using a regular train to save time.
- The MGB trains from Zermatt to Visp to Brig to Andermatt are a good alternative to the Glacier Express for similar views.
- For Andermatt to Zurich, the best option requires just one change at Goeschenen; check the timetable for convenient connections.
AI-generated summary-
Hello All! It will be my first time to Swiss! And I would love to take the beautiful rides of Glacier Express but I wouldn’t want the route to be too long hours.
Would love to know on where I should stop to change to Zurich. 🙂
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Hi Fifi,
If you don’t have time to do the full Glacier Express journey, it is possible to just do just 1 or 2 sections of the entire route. From Zurich, a sensible option would be to travel to Chur. Then take the Glacier Express from Chur to Brig. In Brig, you can take a fast train back to Zurich. This can be done as a day trip (8-9 hours in total). You can also do this in reverse.
You can find more details here: http://www.myswissalps.com/glacierexpress
Regards,
Anna
Thank you Anna! May I know if I am able to travel from Zermatt to Andermatt with Glacier express and take other trains from Andermatt to Zermatt?
As I do not want to spend half a day in the train ride.
Hi Fifi,
Yes, it’s possible to travel from Zermatt to Andermatt with the Glacier Express (3 hours) and return to Zermatt from Andermatt with the regular train (3.5 hours). With the regular train, you need to change in Visp before continuing to Zermatt. You can check train schedules on the SBB timetable: http://www.myswissalps.com/timetable
Regards,
Anna
Hi Anna, thank you for your reply. May I check with you, are we able to travel from Andermatt straight to Zurich? Instead of heading back to Visp from Andermatt.
Because when I check on SBB, there is a train that can do so. Attached the screenshot.
Attachments:
Some important information for you:
1) Please bear in mind that the Glacier Express is a ‘brand’. It is just special train type aimed at tourists running over normal railway routes that have ordinary trains as well, giving just the same views without the need for seat reservations so you can ride at will and get on and off where you like (to see the view, have a lunch break etc)
2) In this current thread – are you saying you actually want to go Zermatt – Zurich via the ‘so called’ Glacier express route (between Zermatt and Andermatt this is the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (MGB) railway.
If (2) is yes, then you can take ordinary MGB trains Zermatt – Visp – Brig – Andermatt.
With specific reference to the Andermatt – Zurich route and your screenshot.
Somehow you have obtained a curious result from your journey planner enquiry, involving multiple changes and local commuter buses and trains. Please completely ignore this option!
Andermatt – Zurich is normally possible – Every 2 hours – with just one change of train at Goeschenen. Take the MGB train – you descend from Andermatt on the famous Schoellenen Gorge Railway to Goeschenen. At Goeschenen, switch to the Treno Gottardo train heading direct for Zurich (departs Goeschenen at 08.09, 10.09, 12.09 and so on through the day)
Hi fifi,
Indeed your Andermatt to Zurich search resulted in more changes. If you are wanting a quicker route, with the timetable search results you are presented with, simply click on the route with least number of train changes.
If you wanted to read about the difference between normal trains and the Glacier Express, more information can be found here:
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Hi All, Thank you so much, I now understand what you mean by ignore this route. haha. I found a route that is simpler, with 1 change only (attached).
And noted that I am able to change from Andermatt to Zurich.
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Hi FIfi,
That’s great. This connection is more practical. You’ll be travelling on the Treno Gottardo from Göschenen to Zurich HB. Enjoy your trip!
regards,
Anna
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