Glacier Express Switzerland route, price & alternative trains in 2027 

This table shows prices per person for a single ride from St. Moritz to Zermatt, or the other way around. All fares and options are explained in detail below.

You need both a ticket or rail pass and a reservation

When traveling on the Glacier Express, you have to pay for two separate things:

• the route. You can cover this with a rail pass or ticket. You can get this at any time you want, even shortly before boarding. Most rail passes and tickets don't sell out.
• the seats. These have to be reserved in advance. You can do so here. Seats can be booked from 3 months before your travel date. Reservations not only secure your seat, but also include a supplement for the extra Glacier Express services.

Your seat reservation is completely separate from the ticket or pass you use. So you don't have to get your pass or ticket before reserving your seats. As long as you've purchased both before boarding, you're ready to go.

What if I can't get hold of Glacier Express reservations?

The Glacier Express is popular, and seats can get sold out quickly. That's why I strongly advise making your reservations 3 months before your travel date, and not much later. Annika has listed further insider tips to secure your reservations here.

How to make your reservations

Use any of the trusted vendors listed here. Also, check the video further down on this page, in which I show you how an online reservation is made.

Glacier Express 2nd and 1st class: seat reservation

Reservations have to be paid per person and per single journey. Reservation prices in 2027 for both 2nd and 1st class are CHF 54.

You also need a 2nd- or 1st-class rail pass or ticket.

Glacier Express Excellence Class: seat reservation/supplement

In 2027, reservations for the Excellence Class cost CHF 590 per person and single journey, regardless of the traveled distance and season.

This amount includes seat reservations, as well as the catering and all extra services, such as the personal concierge and access to the exclusive Excellence Class bar.

You also need a 1st class rail pass or ticket.

Glacier Express prices with a Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Travel Pass Flex in 2027

If you have a Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Travel Pass Flex, this counts as your Glacier Express ticket. You don't need an additional ticket. But you do need to pay the seat reservation: CHF 54 for 2nd or 1st class, CHF 590 for Excellence Class.

Glacier Express prices with a Swiss Half Fare Card in 2027

The lowest possible Glacier Express price with a Swiss Half Fare Card is CHF 83 in 2nd class, CHF 103 in 1st class, and CHF 639 in Excellence Class.

The above price is based on:

• a discounted Saver Day Pass at the lowest possible fare (from CHF 29 for 2nd class, from CHF 49 for 1st class and Excellence Class)
• seat reservations (CHF 54 for 2nd or 1st class, CHF 590 for Excellence Class)

Swiss Half Fare Card holders can pay for the ride with several products. The options are:

• a discounted Saver Day Pass. If you buy it early, it's usually cheaper than a normal discounted ticket.
• regular 50% discounted tickets. A discounted point-to-point ticket Zermatt - St. Moritz costs CHF 83 for 2nd class and CHF 142 for 1st class and Excellence Class.
• a Day Pass

Glacier Express fares with other rail passes

Find a full overview of rail pass discounts here. In all cases, you'll have to add the required seat reservation costs.

Glacier Express prices without a rail pass in 2027

Without a rail pass, the lowest possible price for the Glacier Express is CHF 106 in 2nd class, CHF 142 in 1st class, and CHF 678 in Excellence Class.

The above price is based on:

• a full-fare Saver Day Pass for the lowest possible fare (from CHF 52 for 2nd class, from CHF 88 for 1st class and Excellence Class). A Saver Day Pass is usually cheaper than regular tickets, if bought well in advance. A full-fare point-to-point ticket Zermatt - St. Moritz would cost CHF 166 for 2nd class, and CHF 284 for 1st class and Excellence Class.
• seat reservations (CHF 54 for 2nd or 1st class, CHF 590 for Excellence Class).

Glacier Express upgrade tickets for 1st class and Excellence Class

If you have a 2nd class pass or ticket, but want to travel by Glacier Express in 1st class or Excellence Class, you can buy an upgrade ticket.

This costs CHF 118 for the entire route (Zermatt - St. Moritz or the other way around).

A class upgrade is 50% discounted for Swiss Travel Pass (Flex) and Swiss Half Fare Card holders: CHF 59 for a point-to-point ticket upgrade for the entire route (Zermatt - St. Moritz or the other way around), or CHF 53 for a day class upgrade that not only covers this route, but also other train routes in Switzerland you may travel that day.

Glacier Express tour packages

You can book a travel package that includes the Glacier Express, either a standard one or a package that Annika or I will be happy to tailor to your preferences.

All tickets and reservations will be included in your package, as well as accommodation. Other trips and excursions you'd like to enjoy can be included, too.

The Glacier Express cancellation policy

Reservations for Swiss trains are mostly not refundable. That goes for Glacier Express seat reservations too. The only exception is proven incapacity to travel due to sickness or an accident. If that's the case, you can fill out an online form to request a refund.

The rules for group reservations, rail passes or tickets, and travel packages may be more flexible:

• Groups of 10 people or more can cancel their Glacier Express reservation for free up to 30 days in advance. After that, a cancellation fee is deducted, which increases the closer to the date you cancel.
• Your rail pass or ticket may be refundable. It depends on what you're using to pay for the train ride. For example: the Swiss Travel Pass can often be canceled at a 15% cancellation fee, and some vendors even offer a full refund. Products that can run out, such as Saver Day Passes, are mostly not refundable.
• If you book a package, you'll have to check the cancellation conditions provided by the operator you're buying it from.

The Glacier Express is a direct train between Zermatt and St. Moritz. It's available in both directions. You can ride the entire route or just a section of it. You can board in Brig, Andermatt, Disentis or Chur for example.

The route is displayed on the below map. It can be divided into 4 main sections, each with their own unique scenery.

Section 1: Zermatt to Brig

The journey starts near the Matterhorn, in the car-free mountain village of Zermatt, at an altitude of 1605 m. The Matter valley leads to the town of Visp and is quite narrow at many places, with massive rock walls rising up to well over 4000 m.

The highest peaks of the Swiss Alps can be found in this region. Once Visp has been reached, the train has decended to 651 m. A short flat stretch leads to Brig.

Section 2: Brig to Andermatt

The train crosses the river Rhone a few minutes after departure from Brig, and continues its way east into the Upper Rhone valley. The V-shaped valley is very narrow sometimes. At end of the valley, in Oberwald, the train has reached an altitude of 1366 m.

Since 1925, a railroad across the Furka Pass leads from Oberwald to Realp. The mountains caused quite some engineering difficulties to this stretch, and it couldn't be crossed in winter.

In 1982, a tunnel to Realp was opened to bypass the pass, making the train service much more reliable. The old pass railway was closed, but it was reopened in 2010 for touristic steam trains. The Glacier Express uses the tunnel.

A heads-up: the Furka tunnel will be closed for maintenance during parts of 2028 and 2028.

From Realp, a fairly flat stretch leads to Andermatt.

Section 3: Andermatt to Chur

Andermatt, at 1436 m, is where the Oberalp Pass begins. The Glacier Express winds its way up to 2034 m, the highest point of this journey.

This is where the river Rhine rises. The bare landscape up here can be covered in snow from November to April. The road is closed during that period.

Next up is a long descent along the Rhine valley to Chur, at 585 m. Chur is the lowest point of the route. The landscape looks very dramatic in the Rhine gorge between Ilanz and Reichenau, where the river carved deep into the white rocks.

This region is also referred to as the 'Swiss Grand Canyon'. After Reichenau, the train will reach Chur, the capital of the canton of Graubünden and the largest town along the route.

Section 4: Chur to St. Moritz

The final section overlaps with the first section of the Bernina Express. The Glacier Express changes direction and heads for Reichenau again. There it bends to the south, towards Thusis and Tiefencastel. This Domleschg valley is known for its many ruins and castles.

The Glacier Express continues south through a mostly narrow valley, crossing the spectacular curved Landwasser viaduct just before it reaches Filisur.

After Filisur, several spiral loops help it gain height until it reaches the entrance of the Albula tunnel, at 1789 m. This section of the route is very interesting to explore on foot as well.

The Albula tunnel leads to the high Upper Engadine Valley. The Glacier Express will reach its destination St. Moritz after another 20 minutes.

The best side of the Glacier Express train to sit on

Especially in high season, most seats will be taken. So it’s not that easy to move around in the train and switch sides during the ride. But if you can, these are the sides I’d suggest for each section of the Glacier Express route:

• Section 1, Zermatt-Brig: whether you sit on the left or right side of the train does not matter much.
• Section 2, Brig-Andermatt: the view from the right side of the train is slightly better, but there’s no major difference.
• Section 3, Andermatt-Chur: sit on the left side for the best views of the Rhine Gorge.
• Section 4, Chur-St. Moritz: you can best sit on the right side of the train to enjoy the view on the Landwasser viaduct.

If you make reservations, you usually can’t choose seats in a particular driving direction or on a specific side. You’ll have great views on either side though!

Glacier Express operation dates & timetable 2027: summary

• 5 December 2026 - 7 May 2027 (winter schedule):
  • The Glacier Express runs, including the Excellence Class.
• 8 May - 9 October 2027 (summer schedule):
  • The Glacier Express runs, including the Excellence Class, with the exception of the period mentioned below.
• 16 April - 2 May 2027 (direction: St. Moritz > Zermatt) / 17 April - 3 May 2027 (direction: Zermatt > St. Moritz):
  • The Glacier Express runs, but the Excellence Class is not available.
• 17 April - 2 May 2027:
  • The Glacier Express runs, but the section between Disentis and Chur is closed. Replacement buses will operate between these towns. Catering is generally available, but there may be fewer options.
• 10 October - 3 December 2027:
  • No Glacier Express trains run due to a maintenance break.

Glacier Express timetable, option 1: find your train in the online Swiss timetable

I recommend planning your Glacier Express with the online Swiss timetable. It's up-to-date and will show possible changes for your travel date. In addition, you can consult separate Glacier Express schedules: I'll explain those further down.

Here's how to find the Glacier Express in the general Swiss timetable:

• Enter your departure and destination stations along the Glacier Express route.
• You may have to add a via-station to make sure the timetable shows the Glacier Express trains, and not other routes. For example, add "Andermatt" when searching for connections between Zermatt and St. Moritz.
• The direct trains labeled "PE" ("Panorama Express") are Glacier Express trains. Click on such connections for further details.
• If you board at the station of Brig, fill out "Brig Bahnhofplatz" as your departure location.
• The train numbers correspond with the numbers in the separate Glacier Express PDF schedule, which is explained below.

Glacier Express timetable, option 2: check the separate Glacier Express schedules

You can download the official Glacier Express PDF timetable through the links here. Then check my full interpretation info below.

But first: note that the PDFs don't contain unexpected changes. Always consult the online Swiss timetable for up-to-date info about your travel date as well.

How to interpret the PDF schedules in general

• For Zermatt > St. Moritz (direction: west to east), use the left half of the overview, and read the timetable from top to bottom.
• For St. Moritz > Zermatt (direction: east to west), check the right side of the overview, and read the timetable from the bottom to the top.
• In each half, the winter schedule is on the left, and the summer schedule is on the right. The operation dates for each season are mentioned too.
• The numbers (920, 902, 900, et cetera) above the timing indicate train numbers. They correspond to the numbers you'll find in the online timetable.
• A small "2" next to the train's number indicates that it has an Excellence Class coach. In short, Excellence Class can be found on only one train per day: trains 902 (departure from Zermatt: 08:50) and 903 (departure from St. Moritz: 08:38). The other trains have 1st and 2nd class only.
• Two vertical dashes to the right of a time mean you can only board at that station. You can't get off there.
• An "x" on the right of a time means you can only get off, not board the train at that station.
• At the bottom of the PDF, extra information about exceptions to the regular schedule is provided.

Details for the winter season schedule (5 December 2026 - 7 May 2027): trains on the entire route with 2nd class, 1st class, and Excellence Class

During the entire winter season, there's one daily Glacier Express train in both directions that has 2nd class, 1st class, and Excellence Class coaches:

• train 902, departure from Zermatt at 08:50 / arrival in St. Moritz at 16:37 
• train 903, departure from St. Moritz at 08:38 / arrival in Zermatt at 17:04 

Details for the winter season schedule (5 December 2026 - 7 May 2027): trains on the entire route with 2nd class and 1st class only

During the busier weeks of the winter season, there's an additional train with 1st and 2nd class coaches only. The exact dates are:

• 12 December 2026 - 3 January 2027
• 30 January - 7 May 2027

The train numbers and departure times are:

• train 920, departure from Zermatt at 07:50 / arrival in St. Moritz 15:37 
• train 905, departure from St. Moritz at 09:38 / arrival in Zermatt at 18:04

Details for the summer season schedule (8 May - 9 October 2027): trains on the entire route Zermatt-St. Moritz

In the summer season, two daily Glacier Express trains a day depart from both directions. They operate on the entire route.

Only one train a day from each direction has an Excellence Class coach in addition to 1st and 2nd class coaches (except for 16 April - 3 May 2027, when the Excellence Class is not available):

• train 902, departure from Zermatt at 08:50 / arrival in St. Moritz at 16:37
• train 903, departure from St. Moritz at 08:38 / arrival in Zermatt at 17:04

The later trains on the entire route have 1st and 2nd class coaches only:

• train 904, departure from Zermatt at 09:50 / arrival in St. Moritz at 17:37 
• train 905, departure from St. Moritz at 09:38 / arrival in Zermatt at 18:04

Details for the summer season schedule (8 May - 9 October 2027): early morning and afternoon trains on part of the route

In addition, there are two daily trains that service part of the route. These too have 1st and 2nd class only.

• In the early morning, there's one from Zermatt to Chur (direction: west to east) and from St. Moritz to Brig (direction: east to west).
• In the afternoon, a train runs from Brig to St. Moritz (direction: west to east) and from Chur to Zermatt (direction: east to west).

Details for the morning trains on part of the route:

• train 900, departure from Zermatt at 07:50 / arrival in Chur at 13:25
• train 901, departure from St. Moritz at 07:05 / arrival in Brig at 13:40

Details for the afternoon trains on part of the route:

• train 906, departure from Brig at 14:14 / arrival in St. Moritz at 20:55
• train 907, departure from Chur at 14:32 / arrival in Zermatt at 20:04

Partial closure of the route in April - May 2027
From 17 April to 2 May 2027, the stretch between Disentis and Chur will be closed for renewal of the railway tracks. Replacement buses are available.

There may be small changes to the timetable. Consult the general Swiss timetable shortly before your trip in advance for up-to-date information.

Catering is still available, but the options may be reduced.

Partial closures of the route in 2028 and 2029
In 2028, too, the stretch between Disentis and Chur will likely be closed, and replacement buses will likely be available.

In addition, the Furka Tunnel will be closed for parts of the year: likely from late August to October 2028, and from late August to October 2029. There will likely be replacement services for this stretch, and there may even be alternatives for the entire Glacier Express route.

I'll update this information once more is clear about replacement options.