The Glacier Express
Glacier Express: the route, the experience & which class to choose
From Zermatt to St Moritz: compare Second Class, First Class and Excellence Class, then continue your holiday into Italy.
©Glacier Express
In this article
A day across the Swiss AlpsThe route, stage by stageSecond Class or First Class?What Excellence Class includesDining and life on boardReservations and seatingContinue to Italy
Give the journey a day of its own
The Glacier Express links Zermatt and St Moritz in around eight hours, bringing together Alpine valleys, the Oberalp Pass, the Rhine Gorge and the engineering of the Albula railway. It is a day to spend looking out of the window, with the option of lunch at your seat and a mountain hotel waiting at the other end.
For an ExpertoItaly holiday, it can be one of the main experiences of the journey south. Stay in Zermatt, cross Switzerland to the Engadin, then take the separate Bernina railway into Italy after time in the mountains. The trains and hotels should work together, with enough nights to enjoy each stop.
All three classes travel through the same scenery and have panoramic windows. Your choice concerns seating space, service and what is included in the day.
The route, from west to east
Zermatt to Brig: the Matter Valley
Leaving Zermatt, the railway descends the Matter Valley towards Visp and Brig, passing steep slopes, villages and the narrow Kipfen Gorge. Make time for the Matterhorn during your stay in Zermatt: this is a cross-country railway journey, rather than eight hours with that one mountain in view.
Goms, Andermatt and the Oberalp Pass
Beyond Brig, the train follows the Goms valley, with wooden village houses and open meadows, before the Furka Base Tunnel leads towards Andermatt. The climb to the Oberalp Pass reaches 2,033 metres, the highest point of the journey. Snow can transform the high ground in winter; warmer months reveal the lake and surrounding slopes.
The Rhine Gorge and Chur
After the descent through Disentis and the Surselva, the Rhine Gorge brings a different landscape: pale rock faces above a winding river. The changing angle of the track lets the valley open and close around you before the train reaches Chur.
Landwasser, the Albula line and St Moritz
Beyond Chur, the route turns towards the Albula railway. Near Filisur, the Landwasser Viaduct curves straight into a rock tunnel. Loops, viaducts and tunnels then gain height between Bergün and Preda before the Albula Tunnel brings the train into the Engadin and onwards to St Moritz.
This Albula section forms part of the UNESCO-listed Rhaetian Railway landscape. The entire Glacier Express route is not a single UNESCO site.
Open the route map
Second Class and First Class explained
The panoramic windows are a feature of the train in both classes. Paying for First Class gives you additional personal space; Second Class still offers the full scenic journey.
| Compare | Second Class | First Class | Excellence Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seating | 2+2 across the aisle; tables for four. | 2+1 across the aisle; tables for two or four. | 1+1 across the aisle; facing pairs at tables for two. |
| Main benefit | Panoramic travel at the lower fare. | More space and a choice of smaller seating groups. | A guaranteed window seat and dedicated hospitality. |
| Food and drink | Available at your seat, charged separately. | Available at your seat, charged separately. | Included dining and drinks as part of the Excellence offer. |
| Reservation | Compulsory, plus a valid Second Class ticket or pass. | Compulsory, plus a valid First Class ticket or pass. | Dedicated compulsory Excellence reservation, plus a valid First Class ticket or pass. |
Second Class: the scenery comes first
Seats are arranged in facing groups of four on both sides of the aisle. It is a sensible choice when the journey matters more than extra space, and the table arrangement works well for friends or a family travelling together.
A couple may share their table with other passengers. A reserved seat is not automatically a window seat, so the actual seat selection matters. Meals can be ordered and served at your table, at an additional cost.
First Class: more room for a full day
First Class has two seats across on one side of the aisle and one on the other, creating tables for four and facing pairs for two. For a couple, a table for two is particularly appealing, subject to availability. It is a seating arrangement within an open carriage, not a private compartment.
For an eight-hour journey, we would consider First Class when extra room and a smaller table are priorities. Food and drink are still additional: a First Class ticket does not include the Excellence dining package.
Excellence Class: window seats, dining and personal service
Excellence Class is a separate premium carriage with just 20 passengers. Each traveller has a reclining lounge seat by a panoramic window, with seats facing one another across tables for two. The guaranteed window seat is a meaningful distinction from the other classes.
The experience begins with a platform welcome and assistance with luggage. A concierge looks after the carriage during the journey, and each seat has a tablet and headphones for information about the route.
Champagne and an aperitif platter are followed by a seasonal five-course menu with wine pairings. Soft drinks, water and coffee are included, and passengers have access to the dedicated Glacier Bar. The meal and service make this a dining experience as well as a scenic rail day.
Excellence Class requires a valid First Class ticket or eligible pass plus its own compulsory reservation supplement. It is offered for the full Zermatt–St Moritz journey in either direction, subject to its operating calendar and availability.
We would choose it for a special occasion, or when the train is a highlight you want to enjoy with the fullest service. First Class remains a good choice if you mainly want more space and would prefer to select your own meal.
Dining, photographs and the rhythm of the day
Lunch can be part of the experience in every class. In First and Second Class, dishes are freshly prepared in the onboard kitchen and served at your seat. Choose from the available menus or dishes and book your preferred meal ahead; the choice on the day can be more limited.
In Excellence Class, the included menu gives the day a more structured dining element. Tell us about allergies or dietary requirements before booking so suitable arrangements can be confirmed.
Between meals, the appeal is simply watching the view change. The audio guide adds context to the places along the line. Wi-Fi is available, although reception varies through the mountains; download anything you need before departure.
Panoramic glass can reflect the carriage interior in photographs. Keep the camera close to the glass and avoid flash. There are also opening windows at the entrance doors for photographs; use them considerately and keep the doorway clear.
Pack a small bag with your essentials within reach and keep larger luggage manageable. An overnight bag is easier to move between trains and hotels than several large cases. We can discuss luggage transfers when they would make a longer rail itinerary more comfortable.
For a moving introduction, watch the Glacier Express video.
Reservations are compulsory in every class
You need both a valid ticket or eligible rail pass and a compulsory seat reservation. A pass that covers the fare does not remove the reservation requirement. First Class and Excellence Class also require the appropriate First Class travel entitlement.
Choose your class and secure the required seats before fixing the rest of the holiday around that departure. The Glacier Express is a reserved service, so a stop along the way cannot be treated as unrestricted permission to board a later departure. Shorter journeys are available on some services, with restrictions.
Can you guarantee a forward-facing seat?
No. The Glacier Express changes direction during the journey, so a particular direction of travel cannot be guaranteed for your seat throughout. Booking opposite one another gives a couple or group seats facing both ways. Even Excellence Class’s window-seat guarantee does not mean a guaranteed forward-facing seat.
Check the operating calendar when planning: there is a seasonal break, and Excellence Class has its own availability. If you need boarding assistance or a wheelchair space, tell us at the planning stage so arrangements can be confirmed with the railway.
Combine the Glacier Express with the Bernina crossing
A stay in Zermatt before the Glacier Express and time in the Engadin afterwards make a more satisfying holiday than consecutive days of arrivals and departures. Two nights at each end give you a full day to explore beyond the railway platform, with longer stays if walking or mountain outings are important.
Hotels such as Matterhorn Focus in Zermatt and Romantik Hotel Muottas Muragl in the Engadin offer different settings. We match the hotel and room to your preferences and plan station transfers and, where needed, mountain transport around the train.
The next major rail experience is the Bernina crossing to Tirano. This is a separate journey over a different Alpine route. Give it its own day, then continue towards Varenna on Lake Como or Milan.
The contrast is part of the pleasure: Zermatt and the Engadin, two substantial scenic rail journeys, then time beside an Italian lake. Our Swiss Alps and Italian Lakes holiday shows how those stages can fit together. Rail travel from London can also be arranged as part of the holiday.
Useful official information: the route, comfort classes, Excellence Class, dining, booking and seat guidance and the operating calendar.
Tell us how you would like to travel
Tell us your preferred class, how much time you have and where you would like to stay in Italy. We can arrange the rail journeys, hotels and transfers around the Glacier Express and Bernina crossing.
Facebook
WhatsApp channel