What is the Bernina Express?
The Bernina Express is a famous comfortable train with high panoramic windows, running between Chur and Tirano in south-eastern Switzerland.
The 4-hour journey is extremely varied. It includes the Albula rail line with its spiral loops, the famous Landwasser viaduct, the high Bernina Pass with the lake "Lago Bianco", the Palü Glacier, and the Mediterranean-like Poschiavo Valley.
In summer, there's an additional Bernina Express bus ride between Tirano and Lugano, crossing Italy.
Bernina Express prices, tickets, and reservations explained
Prices 2024
Price 2nd class | Price 1st class | More information | Applies to the following ticket(s) |
---|---|---|---|
CHF 52 | CHF 52 | more info and prices | Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Travel Pass Flex + reservation (CHF 36 for the train in 2nd or 1st class / CHF 16 for the bus) |
from CHF 81 | from CHF 101 | more info and prices | Swiss Half Fare Card + discounted Saver Day Pass (from CHF 29 for 2nd class / CHF 49 for 1st class) + reservation (CHF 36 for the train in 2nd or 1st class / CHF 16 for the bus) |
from CHF 104 | from CHF 140 | more info and prices | Saver Day Pass (from CHF 52 for 2nd class / CHF 88 for 1st clas) + reservation (CHF 36 for the train in 2nd or 1st class / CHF 16 for the bus) |
CHF 105.50 | CHF 128.80 | more info and prices | Swiss Half Fare Card + 50% discounted train ticket (CHF 33 for 2nd class / CHF 56.30 for 1st class) + 50% discounted bus ticket (CHF 20.50 for 2nd class) + reservation (CHF 36 for the train in 2nd or 1st class / CHF 16 for the bus) |
CHF 159 | CHF 206 | more info and prices | Full-fare train ticket (CHF 66 for 2nd class / CHF 113 for 1st class) + full-fare bus ticket (CHF 41 for 2nd class) + reservation (CHF 36 for the train in 2nd or 1st class / CHF 16 for the bus) |
Bernina Express high season prices 2024 with a Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Travel Pass Flex
If you have a Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Travel Pass Flex, this counts as your Bernina Express ticket. You only need seat reservations. These cost CHF 52: CHF 36 for the train and CHF 16 for the bus.
Bernina Express high season prices 2024 with a Swiss Half Fare Card
With the Swiss Half Fare Card, the lowest possible price for the train and bus ride is CHF 81 in 2nd class and CHF 101 in 1st class.
This price is based on a discounted Saver Day Pass for the lowest possible fare (from CHF 29 for 2nd class, and from CHF 49 for 1st class) and seat reservations: CHF 36 for the train and CHF 16 for the bus.
Bernina Express prices with other rail passes
Find a full overview of rail pass discounts here. In all cases, you need to add the obligatory seat reservation prices.
Bernina Express high season prices 2024 without a rail pass
Without a rail pass, a single journey by Bernina Express train and bus costs at least CHF 104 in 2nd class and 140 in 1st class.
This price is based on a Saver Day Pass for the lowest possible fare (from CHF 52 in 2nd class and from CHF 88 in 1st class), a train reservation (CHF 36), and a bus reservation (CHF 16).
Bernina Express seat reservation must-knows
- The train and bus require separate reservations.
- Reservations have to be paid per traveler and per single journey.
- Reservations include a supplement for the extra services of the Bernina Express.
- You have to make reservations in advance. Reservations are usually available for travel dates up to mid-December, as that's when the Swiss timetables are updated. Reservations for the next year become available around mid-October.
- Train reservations cost the same for 1st and 2nd class.
- The bus has 2nd class seats, and thus 2nd class reservation prices only.
Bernina Express seat reservation prices in detail
- Reservation prices for a long train journey vary by season: CHF 36 in high season (May-October), CHF 32 in low season (the other months). Any journey between Chur (or another station within the stretch Chur-St. Moritz) and Tirano is considered a long train route.
- Reservation prices for a short train journey are the same year-round: CHF 28. Any train trip between St. Moritz-Tirano is considered a short journey.
- Reservation prices for the bus Tirano-Lugano are CHF 16 in high season (May-October) and CHF 14 in low season (the other months).
Riding the Bernina Express train in 1st class with a 2nd class pass or ticket
Do you have a 2nd class pass or ticket, but would you like to enjoy the Bernina Express train ride in 1st class? That's possible: simply buy an upgrade ticket. It costs CHF 47 for the entire train journey Chur-Tirano. You'll pay the discounted fare of CHF 23.50 if you have a Swiss Travel Pass (Flex) or a Swiss Half Fare Card.
Bernina Express: paying for the ride versus paying for seat reservations
You need to pay for two things:
- the ride. You can do this with a rail pass. If you don't have a pass that allows free traveling, you need normal point-to-point tickets or a Saver Day Pass. You can get your ticket or pass at any moment until right before boarding.
- seat reservations. These have to be paid on top of whichever pass or ticket you're using. You'd best book reservations well in advance.
Bernina Express tours and packages
There are many tours and train packages that include the Bernina Express. If you book one of those, it usually includes everything: both the price for the ride and reservations. Always check the conditions though.
Get your train tickets, reservations and tours
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- Easy, online, free cancellation in most cases
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- Extra Support: if you buy here, MySwissAlps can also assist if you have questions about your order.
Promotions
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Various multi-day packages for guided and self-guided trips to Switzerland. The offerings change regularly. Packages including surrounding countries are available too.
Bernina Express discounts with your rail pass
The rail passes below allow you to buy discounted tickets or even travel for free in the Bernina Express. That doesn't include seat reservations.
Pass | Discount |
---|---|
Day Pass |
Free:
Seat reservations: no discount. |
Eurail Global Pass |
Free:
Seat reservations: no discount. |
graubündenPASS |
Free:
Seat reservations: no discount. |
Interrail Switzerland Pass |
Free:
Seat reservations: no discount. |
Saver Day Pass |
Free:
Seat reservations: no discount. |
Swiss Half Fare Card |
Discount 50%:
Seat reservations: no discount. |
Swiss Travel Pass |
Free:
Seat reservations: no discount. |
Swiss Travel Pass Flex |
Free:
Seat reservations: no discount. |
The Bernina Express route in detail, plus map
The Bernina Express route summarized
The Bernina Express is a direct train between Chur and Tirano in Italy. It crosses the beautiful canton of Graubünden from north to south, or the other way around. Chur to Tirano is the classic route, but there's also a train from St. Moritz. All trains cross the Bernina Pass, and they end or begin in Tirano.
The journey from Chur takes about 4 hours. The route from St. Moritz takes about 2,5 hours, and does not include the north of Graubünden.
The Bernina Express route is an impressive piece of railway engineering: the train reaches an altitude of 2253 m, even higher than the Glacier Express, and without the help of cogwheel track. It requires lots of spiral loops, 55 tunnels and 196 bridges to accomplish this.
The landscape varies greatly, from high-alpine scenery on the Bernina Pass to Mediterranean scenery in the Poschiavo valley and Tirano.
There is a connecting Bernina Express bus from Tirano to Lugano, which adds another 3 hours to the journey.
Section 1: Chur to Pontresina
The first section overlaps with section 4 of the Glacier Express route. The Bernina Express departs from Chur and first heads for Reichenau. There it bends to the south, towards Thusis and Tiefencastel. This Domleschg valley is known for its many castles.
The train 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, where Pontresina is one of the prominent towns. This valley is at such a high altitude that its climate is considerably different from climates in other Swiss valleys. You will not see many deciduous trees here. It's a fantastic winter sports region.
Section 2: Pontresina to Tirano
About 10 minutes after Pontresina, the Morteratsch glacier and the highest peaks of the canton of Graubünden will be reached. This is where the ascent up the Bernina Pass begins. The tree line will soon be crossed, and you can admire a rugged high-alpine landscape.
The Lago Bianco (White Lake) comes into sight, and soon after the Bernina Express reaches the small station of Ospizio Bernina. This marks the highest point of the route, at 2253 m over sea level. This is a great area to do some hiking.
The train now begins its huge descent of 1824 m, all the way to Tirano at 429 m. It passes the station of Alp Grüm, where you can get out for a photo stop. That's worth it, as Alp Grüm offers a magnificent view of the Palü glacier. The train runs through countless curves to gradually descend into the Poschiavo Valley.
Once the valley floor has been reached, you'll notice that the villages, such as Poschiavo, look more Italian than Swiss. This is still Switzerland, but people speak Italian here. The Bernina Express passes the Lago di Poschiavo (Lake of Poschiavo) and descends a bit more at the famous Brusio spiral viaduct.
In some towns the train rides on the street, blocking it completely, simply because there's not enough space for a road plus a railroad. About 15 minutes later, the train will cross the Italian border and arrive in Tirano.
Section 3: Tirano to Lugano
If you would like to see more of the southern scenery, the scenic Bernina Express bus ride to Lugano (Switzerland) is recommended. Most of the route is on Italian soil. The bus takes you through the valley "Valtellina", and along Lake Como and Lake Lugano.
Bernina Express route map: train (Chur-Tirano) and bus (Tirano-Lugano)
Operation dates, schedules and timetable
Bernina Express operation dates 2024
The trains operate all year round. The schedules differ per season.
The bus operates:
- from 15 February to 24 March 2024: on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
- from 28 March to 27 October 2024: daily
- from 31 October to 24 November 2024: on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
Planning your Bernina Express journey with the timetable
You can use the specific Bernina Express timetable here.
The trains and bus can also be found in the general Swiss timetable. This is how to identify the trains:
- Enter your "From" and "To" stations along the Bernina Express route. Enter your travel date, or a date close to it.
- You'll see a list of connections. The ones labeled "PE" (Panoramic Express) are Bernina Express trains. Options labeled "IR" are normal regional trains.
- If you click on a "PE" connection, you'll see details, including the name 'BERNINA EXPRESS'.
This is how to find the Bernina Express bus:
- Enter "From: Tirano", "To: Lugano", or the other way around.
- Enter a travel date at which the bus operates: see above.
- You'll see a list of connections. The direct bus route labeled "BP" is the Bernina Express bus. Click on this connection for details.
- If can't find the bus, you may need to select another departure time. Also check if you're searching for the period in which the bus operates.
Best season for the Bernina Express
The best seasons are early January to late February, late April to late June and mid September to early November. You'll see a wonderful variation in scenery: from snow on the mountains to blossoming or coloring nature.
But, any season can be great if the sky is clear enough to enjoy the views:
- Spring (May to June) is our favorite, because of the perfect combination of green valleys and snowy mountains.
- In summer (July to September), it's the flowers and the Mediterranean atmosphere in the Poschiavo valley that make this journey attractive.
- During fall (October to November) you'll see autumn colours in the deciduous trees of the Albula valley and the conifers of the Engadine. There can be snow on the mountains too.
- Winter (from mid-December to March) is beautiful as the landscape can be covered by a thick layer of snow.
Note these details for summer and winter:
- Open-air cars without windows operate during good weather in July and August between St. Moritz and Poschiavo, and sometimes on other routes in the area too. They're ideal for photography. Dress warmly!
- The winter timetable of the Bernina Express train is limited: there are fewer trains each day. The Bernina Express bus from Tirano to Lugano does not operate in winter. The regular regional trains operate normally.
Weather
The Bernina Express operates in all kinds of weather. Only in extreme conditions the service may be suspended. Check the forecast for your travel date below.
What to expect in the Bernina Express train
Traveling on board the Bernina Express is very comfortable.
- Both 1st and 2nd class coaches have large panoramic sealed windows all the way to the roof.
- The train is air-conditioned.
- 1st class seats are more spacious.
- There is a trolley serving local snacks, drinks, and souvenirs at your seat.
- While on board, you can get route information by connecting your phone or tablet to the ‘InfoT(r)ainment’ system. This will also get you free Wifi. Bring a headset, so you can listen to the commentary.
Normal trains versus Bernina Express trains
You are not required to travel with the Bernina Express if you want to enjoy the scenery of the Bernina railway. There are regular train services on the same line too.
Regular trains do not offer the panoramic windows, comfortable seats, information about the route and snacks and drinks. That’s why we prefer Bernina Express trains. But in normal trains you’ll ride the same route and see the same landscape.
With regular trains, you’ll have to switch trains at least once to cover the whole route. The Bernina Express is the only direct train between Chur and Tirano.
The best side of the train and bus to sit on
If it’s not too busy and you can move around in the Bernina Express train or bus, these are the suggested sides:
- Section 1, Chur-Pontresina: you can best sit on the right side for the best view on the Landwasser viaduct.
- Section 2, Pontresina-Tirano: the right side will get you slightly better views of the Morteratsch glacier, the Bernina mountains and the Lago Bianco.
- Section 3, Tirano-Lugano: the left side of the bus provides the best views of the lakes.
Note that 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!
How to make a Bernina Express trip from a town far away
For the best experience, we recommend to stay in a town along the route. Examples are Chur and St. Moritz. If you are staying in a town far from the route, a day trip with the Bernina Express can take a lot of time.
These day trips are possible from other towns:
- From Lucerne: take a train to Chur and board the Bernina Express train there. Take the bus from Tirano to Lugano. Then take a train back to Lucerne. This day trip takes about 14 hours.
- From Lugano: take the bus to Tirano and board the Bernina Express train there. Get off the train in Thusis. Take a bus to Bellinzona and finally a train back to Lugano. This day trip takes about 11 hours. If you stay in Milan you can follow this route as well, by taking a train to/from Lugano.
- From Milan: take a train to Tirano, and board the Bernina Express to St. Moritz. Then take a bus to Chiavenna, and finally take trains back to Milan. This route takes about 9,5 hours. A longer alternative is to take a train to Lugano, and take the Bernina Express bus to Tirano from there. Then continue as described.
- From Zurich: take a train to Chur and board the Bernina Express train there. Take the bus from Tirano to Lugano. Then take a train back to Zurich. This day trip takes about 13,5 hours.
Detailed schedules can be found in the timetable.
Bernina Express or Glacier Express: how to choose
The Bernina Express is better if:
- you’re staying in Graubünden for several days and can make a Bernina Express day trip from your base town;
- the journey fits your itinerary, for example if you leave or enter Switzerland from Italy;
- you prefer a shorter journey with lots of variety.
The Glacier Express is better if:
- it fits your plans to travel between Zermatt (Valais) and St. Moritz (Engadine);
- you prefer a long scenic trip;
- you like comfort and extras such as dining during your journey.
Mind that the Bernina Express and Glacier Express aren’t the only scenic trains in Switzerland.
Special Bernina Express rides
There’s more than just the regular Bernina Express train rides. To highlight a few:
- From mid-May to late October, some trains have open carriages that are great for photographers. Dress warmly! The Bernina Express timetable shows which trains feature these carriages.
- Between mid-July and mid-August, you can enjoy the ride between Poschiavo and Alp Grüm in a vintage train twice a week.
- In winter, there are special evening rides between St. Moritz and Alp Grüm.
- You can book a ride in the driver’s cab for unforgettable views of the Bernina route!
Bernina Express FAQ
-
What’s the best leg of the route?
All sections are beautiful in their own way. If you ask us, it’s only the tunnels and the area just outside Chur that are less pretty. In all that’s perhaps half an hour of the total trip. We think that the Bernina Pass section between Pontresina and the Poschiavo valley is the absolute highlight.
If you don’t have time to do the complete Bernina Express route, just pick the section that is closest to your base town.
-
How to combine the Bernina Express with other panoramic trains?
The Bernina Express starts or ends in Lugano. That’s where the Gotthard Panorama Express starts or ends too.
You can also connect to the Glacier Express. The Glacier Express route partly overlaps with the Bernina Express route. You can switch in Chur or St. Moritz for example.
Other websites of interest
- www.rhb.ch: the Bernina Express
- www.rhb.ch: open-air carriages on the Bernina line
Schedules
- www.rhb.ch: timetable Bernina Express train and bus
Prices
- www.rhb.ch: Bernina Express ticket and reservation prices