Switzerland winter trip with scenic trains
Steve from Houston is planning a winter trip to Switzerland from January 10 to 21, with multiple train journeys starting and ending in Zurich. He seeks advice on route choices, ticket reservations, and the best way to enjoy scenic trains during the winter.
- Consider purchasing a Swiss Travel Pass, as it offers good value for extensive travel.
- Make reservations in advance for scenic trains like the Glacier Express and Bernina Express to ensure you have your seats.
- Use the SBB timetable to check for boat connections between Flüelen and Lucerne, as steam paddle boats don't operate in winter.
AI-generated summary-
Putting together a winter trip to Switzerland, flying in and out of Zurich, Jan 10 thru Jan 21.
Landing in Zurich on Jan 10th, taking train to Lucern for the night.
Jan 11 taking train/Golden Pass – Lucern to Montreux – 1 night
Jan 12 – taking train from Montreux to Zermatt – 2 nights
Jan 14 – taking train/Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz, then to Chur – 2 nights
Jan 16 – taking train/Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano – 2 nights
Jan 18 taking train from Tirano to Lugano – 1 night
Jan 19 taking train/Gotthard Panorama Express from Lugano to Lucern – 2 nights
Jan 21 taking train from Lucern to Zurich airport.
Question 1 – On Jan 14 taking Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz then backtracking to Chur so that I get the full effect of Glacier Express and leaving from Chur to get full effect of Bernina Express, also less expensive accommodation in Chur…does this sound wise?
Question 2 – I have planned on staying 1 night in Montreux, but have been there 2 or 3 times before, want to do Golden Pass, should I skip night in Montreux and add night in Zermatt?
Question 3 – On Jan 19 planning on taking Gotthard Panorama Express from Lugano to Fluelen then boat to Lugano, I understand the steam paddle boats don’t run in winter but they will have other boats, how do I find a timetable for these other boats?
Question 4 – Tickets, If not mistaken, I can buy the tickets for all the trains when I get to Zurich, but need to get reservations for the scenic trains in advance? I want to purchase reservations for scenic trains ASAP.
I have taken all of these trains in the past but never in the middle of the winter, which is my main goal this trip. Love riding the trains with lots of scenery and hoping for lots of snow, something we don’t see much of in Houston area. Any other ideas or recommendations are appreciated and thank you all for your help.
Steve from Houston
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Hi Steve,
1. Just get off the GEX at Chur or stay at St. Moritz. The BEX follows the same route.
2. Personal choice. Continuing to Zermatt will be a long ride.
3. The Gotthard Panorama Express does not run in winter but you can follow the same route via Göschenen on regular trains. Use the SBB timetable advanced search to look for “Ship” connections between Flüelen and Luzern.
4. With that amount if travel a Swiss Travel Pass would make sense. You should already be familiar with the reservation process. If not then just search this site for the relevant train and look at the Price tab on the resultant page.
Hi there Steve!
In addition to Rockoyster’s helpful advice, here are some more links:
- http://www.myswissalps.com/boatlakelucerne/gettingthere, with a link the timetable for all boats from Flüelen to Lucerne (I think that’s what you meant, rather than Flüelen to Lugano?);
- reservations for panoramic trains can be made through http://www.myswissalps.com/goldenpass/tickets, http://www.myswissalps.com/glacierexpress/tickets, http://www.myswissalps.com/berninaexpress/tickets, http://www.myswissalps.com/gotthardpanoramaexpress/tickets.
I agree with Rockoyster that a Swiss Travel Pass is the perfect option for your itinerary. I’d pick the 15 day version if I were you. Even though it offers more days than you need, the price difference with an 8 day version is really small (about CHf 95 in 2nd class), and that amount would easily be reached if you’d have to buy additional tickets on the few days that would not be covered by an 8 day pass. Please refer to http://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass/price.
Jan 14 – taking train/Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz, then to Chur – 2 nights
Jan 16 – taking train/Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano – 2 nights
Your above journey would be: Zermatt – Chur – Samedan – St Moritz – Samedan – Chur – Samedan – Pontresina – Tirano which is , I suggest, pointless duplication. Personally I would stay in Samedan (near St Moritz but cheaper), or stay half way along the Albula line at Bergün Bravuogn to get a real feel of being in the mountains.
Thank you 1960man,
2 years ago I rode glacier express from Zermatt to Filisur then 2 days later took early train to Davos to catch Bernina Express from Davos to Tirano, in the summer.
I was going to take the Glacier Express all the way to St. Moritz and spend 2 nights there, this way I would see the scenery from the train and maybe do a little exploring of St. Moritz but St. Moritz is pretty expensive during the winter so if I ride into St. Moritz then take train out to Chur then I will get to see the scenery that I wouldn’t see on the Bernina Express since it doesn’t go to St. Moritz. Also by staying in Chur then I can ride the Bernina Express the full length of that route, maybe sit on opposite side of train or something.
Zermatt to St. Moritz back to Chur is going to make for a long day.
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