Is the Glacier Express worth it?

If a long, scenic train day appeals to you, yes. It's a genuine experience, not just transport. If eight hours on a train sounds like a lot, ride the central Andermatt-to-Chur section instead, which delivers the best scenery in a fraction of the time. What's rarely worth it is rushing it: the Glacier Express rewards people who treat the journey as the destination.

Do I need to reserve a seat on the Glacier Express?

Yes. Seat reservation is mandatory and separate from your ticket or pass. A Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card covers the fare, but you still pay the reservation, which rises in peak season and sells out. Book as far ahead as you can for summer travel.

How long is the Glacier Express, and can you ride only part of it?

About eight hours end to end, Zermatt to St. Moritz, which is why it's branded the 'slowest express in the world.' You don't have to ride the whole thing. The scenery peaks through the middle, so many travelers ride just the Andermatt to Chur section for most of the magic in a fraction of the time. A shorter segment costs less, still counts toward a rail pass, and frees up the rest of your day.

Can you ride the Glacier Express and Bernina Express together?

Yes, and it's one of the great rail pairings in Europe. The two lines meet at St. Moritz, so a classic plan runs Zermatt to St. Moritz on the Glacier Express, an overnight in the Engadine, then St. Moritz down to Tirano in Italy on the Bernina Express the next day. Don't try to ride both in a single day; give each its own daylight, and there's a strong case for each if you can only fit one.

Scenic Train

Glacier Express

The slowest express train in the world, and one of the most beautiful.

🇨🇭 SwitzerlandReservation required

Zermatt → St. Moritz

Route

Zermatt → St. Moritz

Duration

~8 hrs

High point

2,033 m

Reservation

Required (paid)

Pass coverage

Swiss Travel Pass & Swiss Half Fare Card (reservation paid separately)

Best months

June, July, August, September

The Glacier Express links two of Switzerland's most glamorous resorts, Zermatt and St. Moritz, on an eight-hour panoramic crawl over the Oberalp Pass, across 291 bridges, and through 91 tunnels. Onboard, curved panoramic windows sweep up into the roofline and a multi-course meal is served at your seat, the unhurried ritual that earns it the title of 'slowest express in the world.' It is the most famous train journey in the Alps and a bucket-list ride, though the scenery is at its very best through the middle, between Andermatt and Disentis, and again on the UNESCO-listed Albula line near the Engadine end.

Is it worth it?

Worth it if you love trains and have a full day to give it. If you don't, ride only the scenic central section (Andermatt–Disentis–Chur) for most of the magic in half the time. The run in and out of the resorts is pretty but slower-going.

Insider tips

Book the seat reservation months ahead for summer departures
The panoramic windows curve overhead. Either side is fine, so don't stress about seats
Short on time? Ride just the Andermatt–Disentis–Chur middle, the best stretch
A regular (non-panoramic) regional train shadows much of the route, covered by a pass with no reservation

Along the route

What you'll see

The signature sights of the line, roughly in the order you'll pass them.

1
The Matterhorn at Zermatt
The pyramid peak that bookends the western end of the line before you even board.
2
The Oberalp Pass
The 2,033m high point, with its little summit lake and the watershed where the Rhine begins.
3
The Rhine Gorge
The 'Swiss Grand Canyon', white limestone cliffs above the young Rhine between Disentis and Chur.
4
The Landwasser Viaduct
The curved viaduct that disappears into a cliff tunnel, the most photographed bridge in the Alps.
5
The Albula spiral loops
Near the Engadine end the line corkscrews through helical tunnels between Bergün and Preda to gain height, the engineering heart of the UNESCO-listed Albula railway.
6
Arrival into the Engadine
The high, bright Engadine valley and the resort glamour of St. Moritz at journey's end.

Where to stay

Bases on this line

Towns that make a natural start, finish, or overnight on this journey.

Valais

Zermatt

$$$$$

The Matterhorn, a car-free village, and the best splurge in the Alps.

2–3 nightsCar-free OK

Engadine, Graubünden

St. Moritz

$$$$$

The original alpine glamour, on a string of lakes in the high Engadine.

3–4 nightsCar-free OK

Good to know

Questions, answered

Is the Glacier Express worth it?: If a long, scenic train day appeals to you, yes. It's a genuine experience, not just transport. If eight hours on a train sounds like a lot, ride the central Andermatt-to-Chur section instead, which delivers the best scenery in a fraction of the time. What's rarely worth it is rushing it: the Glacier Express rewards people who treat the journey as the destination.
Do I need to reserve a seat on the Glacier Express?: Yes. Seat reservation is mandatory and separate from your ticket or pass. A Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card covers the fare, but you still pay the reservation, which rises in peak season and sells out. Book as far ahead as you can for summer travel.
How long is the Glacier Express, and can you ride only part of it?: About eight hours end to end, Zermatt to St. Moritz, which is why it's branded the 'slowest express in the world.' You don't have to ride the whole thing. The scenery peaks through the middle, so many travelers ride just the Andermatt to Chur section for most of the magic in a fraction of the time. A shorter segment costs less, still counts toward a rail pass, and frees up the rest of your day.
Can you ride the Glacier Express and Bernina Express together?: Yes, and it's one of the great rail pairings in Europe. The two lines meet at St. Moritz, so a classic plan runs Zermatt to St. Moritz on the Glacier Express, an overnight in the Engadine, then St. Moritz down to Tirano in Italy on the Bernina Express the next day. Don't try to ride both in a single day; give each its own daylight, and there's a strong case for each if you can only fit one.

All Alps rail passes & scenic trains

Keep exploring

More Alpine rail journeys

Chur / St. Moritz → Tirano (Italy)

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Over the highest rail crossing in the Alps, Switzerland to Italy.

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Lake Geneva vineyards to the Bernese Oberland, in Belle Époque style.

Lucerne → Lugano

Gotthard Panorama Express

A paddle-steamer cruise and a historic Alpine crossing in one day.

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