Grindelwald to Glacier Express

Hello, am planning a few days hiking based in Grindelwald in early September. Want to get the Glacier Express at the end of my trip then head to Zurich and flight home. Would be grateful for any advice on best way to take Glacier Express from Grindelwald as my starting point. Many thanks.

Hello benwho! If you want to do the entire Glacier Express, or at least a long part of the route, you can best reserve a few days for this trip. You should get to Zermatt (the starting point) or Visp or Brig (along the way) first. You would manage to leave Grindelwald early in the morning and catch the Glacier Express from Zermatt, Visp or Brig the same day, but I think it would be more relaxed to travel to Zermatt the day before, spend the night there and board the Glacier Express the next day. If you don't mind taking your time for the leg Grindelwald-Zermatt, pick the scenic Lötschberg Regio Express (a connection via Frutigen, Kandersteg and Goppenstein instead of the quicker tunnel connection).

Depending on how much time you want to spend on the Glacier Express, you can either get out at Chur and get to Zurich that same afternoon, or travel onto St. Moritz. The leg Chur-St. Moritz includes some of the most spectacular parts of the route though, so if time permits, I would advise to continue your trip to St. Moritz, take your time there and head for Zurich the day after.

The Glacier Express timetable and the general Swiss timetable will help you plan your trips.

Hello Annika! Thank you, that's really helpful. Is there anywhere you would recommend staying for a night in St. Moritz? Also, if getting onto the Glacier Express from Grindelwald would it make much difference to go from Visp or Brig? Do you think we would be missing a lot to not start at Zermatt?

Thanks for your help!

Ben

Hi Ben! A list of hotels near the railway station in St. Moritz can be found here. As for the leg Visp/Brig-Zermatt: that's a beautiful part of the route, as the train gradually climbs into the valley. But then again, the Glacier Express contains so many wonderful sections. If your travel scheme doesn't allow for an overnight stay in Zermatt, just get on at Visp or Brig and enjoy the beauty of the rest of the route.