The Bernina Express is widely considered one of the most spectacular railway journeys in the world. Stretching from the alpine landscapes of Chur and St. Moritz in Switzerland to the charming Italian town of Tirano.
This panoramic route crosses glaciers, sparkling turquoise lakes, dramatic viaducts and sweeping valleys - all while giving you front-row seats to some of Europe’s most beautiful scenery. Best of all it's not expensive as you may think!
Written by Sarah Kenny, travel creator and European rail specialist with a community of over 350,000 followers across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Pinterest.
Sarah’s viral Bernina Express videos have reached over 100 million views, helping travellers around the world plan their own Swiss adventures.
She also holds a Swiss Travel System Gold Diploma, certified by the Swiss Travel System Excellence Program - recognising her expertise in Switzerland’s rail network, panoramic routes, and scenic train travel.
In this Ultimate Guide, you’ll find everything you need to plan your trip: a detailed explanation of the route, the best time of year to travel, the difference between first and second class, how to book, how to ride with kids, itineraries from Switzerland and Italy, what to expect inside the train, and dozens of expert tips that will help you enjoy the journey.
If you are planning a trip for 2026, this guide covers all the newest updates, including ticket prices, seat reservations, winter services, December schedules, onward journeys to Milan, and tips for families, couples, photographers, and first-time visitors.
The Bernina Express is a panoramic sightseeing train operated by the Rhaetian Railway (RhB). It travels along two UNESCO World Heritage railway routes, the Albula Line and the Bernina Line, connecting northern Switzerland with northern Italy.
Unlike many mountain trains, the Bernina Express requires no cogwheel sections, despite reaching a peak altitude of 2,253 metres at Ospizio Bernina. It climbs naturally thanks to an ingenious track design based on spiral tunnels, loops, viaducts, and carefully engineered gradients.
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Travellers love it because it offers:
It is considered one of the top train journeys on Earth, ranking alongside the Glacier Express, the Jacobite in Scotland, and the Trans-Alpine in New Zealand.
Both routes are stunning. The Chur route is longer and includes the Albula line, which many experts consider one of the most impressive parts of the journey.
The Bernina Express runs between:
Switzerland → Italy
to
You can travel north → south or south → north, depending on your itinerary.
Chur to Tirano includes the dramatic Albula Valley, the Landwasser Viaduct, the engineering spiral tunnels, and iconic viewpoints such as Filisur. This is the full UNESCO section.
The two-hour journey from St. Moritz to Tirano still includes the Bernina Pass, Alp Grüm, Lake Bianco, and the Brusio Circular Viaduct, all highlights, but skips the Albula section.
Chur → Tirano tends to be more entertaining for kids because the big scenery happens earlier and more frequently.
Both directions are excellent, but:
This gives the best views of the Landwasser Viaduct, the Albula Valley, and Lake Bianco.
Below is a detailed explanation of the full route, starting in Chur and ending in Tirano.
Switzerland’s oldest city, known for its medieval streets, lively cafés, and proximity to hiking routes. Chur is easily accessible via Zurich.
As the train climbs into the Albula region, you pass through forests, alpine villages, and narrow mountain valleys carved by rivers.
The iconic six-arched stone viaduct appears suddenly as the train curves into view. After crossing it, the train disappears directly into a cliffside tunnel. This is one of the most photographed railway structures in the world.
A traditional Graubünden village with wooden chalets and direct views of the viaduct.
A masterpiece of railway engineering. The train climbs using a series of spiral tunnels and looping turns, all without a cogwheel mechanism
Famous for its wildlife, pine forests, and views of the Piz Bernina mountain.
As the train climbs past the treeline, the scenery becomes dramatic and open. Snow is common here even in May.
The highest point of the journey. Expect a mix of tundra, alpine lakes, snowfields, and huge dramatic skies.
A milky turquoise glacial lake surrounded by rock and ice. On sunny days, the reflection is breathtaking.
A favourite stop for photographers. It overlooks the Palü glacier and the Poschiavo Valley.
The landscape turns Mediterranean, with vineyards, colourful houses, and palm trees.
A full circular stone viaduct that allows the train to descend smoothly into the Italian valley. One of the most unique sections of the journey.
A small Italian town with a beautiful basilica, gelato shops, pizzerias, and the River Adda flowing nearby.
The Bernina Express operates all year, and each season offers something different.
Winter is absolutely magical.
If you want guaranteed snow and a festive feel, December is the perfect month. You may also catch Christmas markets in Chur, Zurich, St. Moritz, and Tirano.
A mix of snow and meltwater.
Summer has postcard-perfect visibility and incredibly bright colours.
Book seats 4–8 weeks in advance.
An underrated gem.
The Bernina Express is one of Europe’s best family-friendly scenic train rides. Children love the changing landscapes, tunnels, bridges, and snowfields.
We've personally taken our 4 children aboard the Bernina Express from Chur to Switzerland. You can read about our full itinerary which took us from Zurich to Milan here.
Chur → Tirano is ideal because the scenery escalates faster and keeps children engaged.
A common question is whether first class is worth the upgrade.
Second class is surprisingly spacious and has wide panoramic windows. Most families choose it because it offers excellent value. Personally, this the carriage we choose to ride in.
The key benefits of first class are:
No, the views are the same.
Both classes sit in the same panoramic coaches. You won’t miss scenery by choosing second class.
Choose a window seat if possible.
To ride the Bernina Express, you need two things:
Typical ticket prices for the Bernina Express in 2026
Reservations cost:
The seat reservation price for the short route of St.Moritz - Tirano/Tirano-St.Moritz is CHF 28 all year round.
The longer route between Chur and Tirano varies from CHF 32 to CHF 36, depending on the time of year.
There are many companies offering tours from Milan, to the Bernina Express. Many refer to these as 'red train' tours. This is not the same as the panoramic carriages available on the Bernina. These are tours on board a regional train, travelling along the same route, which is cheaper.
One tour, we recommend and many of our readers have booked in the past is this one. They offer luxury return coaching from Milan to St Moritz/Tirano and seats in a 2nd class panoramic carriage. These tours are great value for money, especially as basing yourself in Milan can be far cheaper than Chur.
If you book via the Get Your Guide app, you can also save 5% with the code BUILDABREAK5
Yes, seat reservations are mandatory on all Bernina Express trains in the panoramic carriages.
There are standard carriages which are attached to the Bernina Express. Seats in these do not need to be reserved.
Yes, the Swiss Travel Pass fully covers the ticket, but you must still pay for seat reservations. Check out our guide to see if purchasing a Swiss Pass is worth it.
Not everyone knows this, but a regular regional train runs on the same tracks as the Bernina Express.
If you want the full “iconic” experience: choose the Bernina Express.
If you want photos without reflections: choose the regional train.
The main arguments revolve around cost and photography. However, in each Bernina Carriage there is a window on the doors that opens which allows you to take glare-free photos. For us, the cost difference was not significant enough, to not experience a luxury train on this bucketlist route.
Many travellers combine both - take the Bernina Express in one direction and the regional train back.
To explore more on the 'red train' vs the Bernina Express click here
There are accessible coaches on many services. Book assistance ahead if needed.
Dogs are allowed with a paid dog ticket and must travel on a lead.
Bicycles are not allowed on the Bernina Express, only the regional trains.
The onward journey to Milan is extremely easy.
Take the train to Milan and switch to a high-speed Frecciarossa service.
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