Zurich to Tirano via St Moritz and the Bernina Express
A traveler is helping their parents plan a holiday in May/June, focusing on traveling from Zurich to Italy via the Bernina Express with a stop in St Moritz. They seek advice on the best way to make reservations and navigate the train connections, specifically regarding options available from Chur to St Moritz.
- Book from Chur to Diavolezza on the Bernina Express and then switch to a local train to St Moritz for convenience.
- Consider taking a regional train directly from Chur to St Moritz if Bernina Express reservations are tricky.
- Look into a Swiss Travel Pass for unlimited travel on public transport during their stay, especially if they plan multiple journeys.
AI-generated summary-
Hello, I am helping my parents plan their holiday in May/June 2025. As they leave Zurich, they are interested in travelling the Bernina Express as they venture into Italy and would like to break this journey up over 2 days, stopping in St Moritz on the way for a night. The Summer timetables apply (late May/early June).
I understand leaving Zurich requires a regular train but they would love to travel on the Bernina Express/Glacier Express for as much of the journey as possible (likely via Chur I assume). In particular it is the Chur – St Moritz leg that I am confused about:
1. I understand the BE does not stop at St Moritz itself, but could they board it at Chur, get off at Pontresina and catch a local train to St Moritz? When trying to book Chur – Pontresina on the BE website, it says “there are no connections available” for any date. However, if I search Chur – Bernina Diavolezza (the next stop?), it will let me proceed – is this what I would need to book & they can just get off 1 stop earlier?
2. Alternatively I see the GE travels from Chur – St Moritz as part of its journey. The timetable says there are 3 trains per day which follow this route. However, when trying to book this through GE website, it only presents me with 1 option – the last train of the day, the 18:58 journey from Chur which is getting too late. Is it not possible to ride one of the earlier trains for a shorter distance?
Thanks in advance for any help!
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Hi bmaccc1,
Welcome to MySwissAlps.
Travelling to St Moritz on the Bernina Express: Apparently the system does not allow for booking from Chur to Pontresina. I suggest just book from Chur to Diavolezza and disembark at Pontresina. The cost of the seat reservation would be the same. Bernina Express online seat reservation: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/bernina-express/#price
Travelling to St Moritz on the Glacier Express: There are three Glacier Express train services from Chur to St Moritz daily according to the summer timetable. If seats are available you should be able to get a seat on any of the services. If you are unable to book any seats, it means those seats have sold out. Glacier Express seat reservation: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/glacier-express/#price
You might want to proceed with your Option 1 which is taking the Bernina Express from Chur to Pontresina and then switch to a regional train to St Moritz. Alternatively you can just take a regional train from Chur to St Moritz (it’s a direct service) and the next day take the Bernina Express from St Moritz to Tirano. Both the scenic and regular trains run on the same Bernina railway line so you will get the same views all the way.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Anna
Hello bmaccc1
If your parents do decide to opt for the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express, follow Anna’s advice.
But I have an alternative plan.
Introduction
I am in my mid-seventies and have been visiting Switzerland regularly ever since 1971. I am a British, and a Public Transport enthusiast.
I am assuming that your parents eventual destination when ‘they venture into Italy’ is Milan.
This journey will involve four stages. It is a very good idea to split the journey overnight in St Moritz.
The itinerary I am about to suggest will NOT use either the Glacier Express or the Bernina Express.
But the journey I am proposing will use the same railways as those trains. The scenery will be the same.
On day one your parents can take a lunch break in Chur. On day two it will be at Tirano.
There will be no seat reservations. That means no reservation fees. That also means (and this is very important) your parents pick their seats on the day of travel.
On all four legs of this journey there is a preferred side of the train on which they will want to sit.
To secure seats on the best side of the train, your parents should be on the departure platform 15 minutes before the scheduled departure. At Zurich, St Moritz and Tirano, it is better to be at the front of the train. At Chur they want to be at the BACK, though note that the rearmost carriages on the Chur-St Moritz train will be first class.
Of the total of six stations involved in this trip, only Chur is a through station where the platforms are reached through a subway. All the others, including Milano Centrale are dead end terminal stations. At Tirano there are separate Swiss and Italian stations, but they are next door to each other.
On all four legs regular trains run hourly. (More frequent Zurich to Chur.)
Note that Swiss Railways nowadays give almost all their trains route numbers, as though they were buses!
Zurich to Chur
Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) run hourly fast trains (route number IC3) from Zurich to Chur, departing at 38 minutes past each hour. (These trains usually come in from Basel, arriving Zurich at 26 past the hour.) The journey will take 74 minutes.
Your parents should sit on the LEFT in the direction of travel for great views over first Lake Zurich, and then a bit later over the truly delightful Walensee lake.
I cannot be sure of this, but I think the departures at 09 38 and 10 38 will be double-decks, so if your parents can get upstairs, they should travel on the top deck. Note that the stairs are much easier to climb than on a double-deck bus. And the train will not be in motion.
When your parents get to Chur, they do not rush for the next train to St Moritz. They go for refreshment!
(There are additional fast trains from Zurich to Chur leaving at 08 07, 10 07. The 08 07 is probably a single deck. The 10 07 will definitely be single deck.)
Chur to St Moritz
Rhaetian Railways (RhB) run trains numbered IR38 every hour from Chur to St Moritz. These trains depart from platform ten at 58 minutes past each hour. The journey takes one hour and 55 minutes.
Your parents should aim to be at platform ten by about 40 past the hour, and to be comfortably seated by 52 past the hour. Why 52? Because that is when the fast IC3 from Zurich arrives!
They will want to sit on the RIGHT in the direction of travel. (On leaving Chur, the IR38 passes directly underneath the bus station built on top of the train station.)
St Moritz to Tirano.
Rhaetian Railways (RhB) run trains departing at 48 minutes past each hour.
Your parents should get to the station by about 30 past the hour, and will want to be at the FRONT of the train, sitting on the right-hand side in the direction of travel.
The trains leaving at 07 48, 09 48 and so on are slower trains, route number R19. The 07 48 reaches Tirano at 10 23 … and so on throughout the day.
The trains leaving at 08 48, 10 48 and so on are numbered RE9. They are a bit faster. The 08 48 reaches Tirano at 1100, and so on throughout the day.
Tirano to Milan
Italian Railways (FS) run trains hourly from Tirano to Milano Centrale departing at 08 minutes past each hour. The journey takes two hours and 32 minutes. Your parents will want to be at the front of the train, sitting on the right in the direction of travel. They will get splendid views over Lake Como.
?Swiss Travel Pass? ?Interrail Global Pass? ?Eurail Global Pass?
If your parents are doing a lot of travelling within Switzerland, then they should consider investing in a Swiss Travel Pass, valid on all modes of public transport.
If this holiday involves travelling by train in more than one European country (I suspect that is the case) then, if resident within (geographical) Europe they should consider investing in Global Interrails. If resident outside Europe they should consider Global Eurails.
Kind regards
Roger
Hi bmaccc1,
Both viable options. Discuss with your parents and see what they think. I am not sure if this is their first time in Switzerland but if it is, it maybe a nice treat to have them take rides on the Bernina Express and Glacier Express trains.
Of course as per Roger’s option it’s all doable with the regular train too, it involves train changes. All personal.Another option, if only in Switzerland for 2 days is the Saver Day Pass. These cover travel for both train rides too. The earlier you purchase them, the cheaper they are.
More information here: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/saver-day-pass/
I wish them a great trip.
Kind regards
Yolanda
Hello all,
Thank you kindly for your thoughtful & detailed replies. Fantastic information all round. They have decided to go local/regional trains from Zurich – St Moritz and the Bernina Express from St Moritz to Tirano.
It was too much hassle for them to travel to Pontresina and change to a 3rd change – they want easy, simple options with less moving parts! Thank you though for all the fantastic advice. Happy travels
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