Beneath the Peaks: The Glacier Express Across Switzerland
Experience Switzerland’s Glacier Express, a panoramic train from Zermatt to St Moritz crossing valleys, passes and the Swiss Alps in eight unforgettable hours.
Glacier Express emerging from tunnel beneath rocky cliff with wildflowers in front and the Matterhorn peak behind.
The Glacier Express is one of the world’s most celebrated train journeys, carrying travelers through the heart of Switzerland in panoramic comfort. Linking the iconic resort destinations of Moritz and Zermatt, the eight-hour journey crosses deep valleys, mountain passes, and historic railway lines that define the Swiss Alps. Known as the “slowest express train in the world,” it invites passengers to trade haste for wonder, an invitation that echoes our commitment to considered, slow-travel connection. Offering a scenic journey with luxurious comfort, panoramic views, and unique experiences, The Glacier Express is a highlight of Swiss travel.
Every curve reveals unique landscapes and another dimension of Switzerland’s geography: glacial peaks that seem to float in cloud, sun-washed villages, and rivers cutting through emerald meadows. The Glacier Express route spans 291 kilometers, 181 miles, weaving across 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels. From its first ascent below the Matterhorn to its highest point at the Oberalp Pass, 2,033 meters above sea level, the route captures both the precision of Swiss engineering and the art of slow travel.
What You'll Discover
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Where the Glacier Express Travels
Snow-capped Matterhorn towering behind rustic wooden chalets with flower boxes in Zermatt, Switzerland.
The timetable lists just two termini, Zermatt in the south and St Moritz in the east, but the railway line is a composite of two historic networks. The Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn carries the train from Zermatt to Disentis, then hands responsibility to the Rhaetian Railway, whose Albula and Bernina sections belong to a UNESCO World Heritage site. Together they form a meter gauge line, a narrow-gauge railway specifically designed to navigate the steep and mountainous terrain of the Swiss Alps, enabling the train to traverse challenging alpine routes.
Leaving Zermatt, the service rolls beneath the Matterhorn’s north-east ridge, then follows the Matter Valley toward Brig. Vineyards appear in disciplined terraces, and the air softens as altitudes drop. Past Brig, the line bends toward Andermatt, climbing through larch forests before entering the Furka Base Tunnel, a 15-kilometer bore that allows winter operation when the historic Furka Pass road closes under ice. Emerging on the high plateau near Realp, the track continues its ascent, eventually reaching the Oberalp Pass. Here the perspective flips: peaks now sit level with carriage windows, and lakes reflect sky as crisply as cut glass. Along the route, key railway stations such as Brig, Andermatt, and Chur serve as important transit points, connecting passengers to other trains and destinations throughout the region.
The descent toward Disentis introduces the young River Rhine, its water turquoise against white stone, and highlights the dramatic gorge that is a signature feature of the journey. At Reichenau-Tamins the river widens, and the Glacier Express glides into Chur, Switzerland’s oldest city. The final eastbound stage circles through spiral tunnels on the Albula Line, crosses the Landwasser Viaduct in a single sweep of limestone arches, and enters the Engadin Valley where St Moritz waits amid lakes the color of lapis in summer and silver in winter.
Scenic Highlights Along the Route
Aerial view of the winding Rhine Gorge, Ruinaulta, river slicing through forested cliffs in the Swiss Alps.
Rhine Gorge
Nicknamed Switzerland’s Grand Canyon, the Rhine Gorge is a corridor of chalk-white cliffs that plunge toward jade water. Geologists attribute its drama to a prehistoric rockslide. Travelers simply note that the play of morning light against broken limestone is an argument for early departures from Zermatt. The train slows here so touristic announcements can describe each headland. A polarizing filter helps photographers tame reflections on panoramic windows, but even phone cameras capture the scale.
Oberalp Pass
At 2 033 meters this saddle is the highest point on the timetable. From March to May, snow can still rim the track while crocus blooms notch purple scars into drifts. Surveyors chose the pass for its gentle grade, yet passengers feel the altitude in the shifting rooflines of houses below. Oxygen thins, horizons widen, and the train’s reflection appears in tarns that melt by midsummer.
Glacier Express curving across the iconic Landwasser Viaduct, towering above a forested gorge in the Swiss Alps.
Landwasser Viaduct
Few bridges own a silhouette as recognisable as this six-arch curve near Filisur. Built in 1902 from local limestone, the viaduct stands 65 meters above the valley floor and runs directly into a cliff-face tunnel. The design demonstrates how Swiss railways embrace geography rather than flatten it. Passengers on the right side of eastbound services enjoy an unobstructed view of the entire structure; those on the left watch shadows ripple across the engineering that supports them.
Onboard Experience
Spacious Glacier Express panorama carriage with floor-to-ceiling windows and Alpine scenery beyond the glass roof.
Every Glacier Express carriage is a glass studio calibrated for views, but service varies by class. Excellence Class, introduced in 2019, reimagines train travel as a curated tasting menu. Seating is arranged one-by-one along the aisle, guaranteeing a window seat for each traveler. Lounge chairs adjust for lumbar support, free headphones supply multilingual commentary, and a dedicated host manages a flow of champagne, soft drinks, and espresso between touristic briefings. A five-course regional lunch pairs Valais saffron soup with Pinot Noir from Graubünden and includes a souvenir glass as a parting gift. The reservation supplement for this tier is CHF 540, payable in addition to a First Class ticket or a Swiss Travel Pass.
First Class trades intimacy for capacity but retains wide seats and full-height windows. Meal service is available as a three-course reservation or à la carte from the rolling kitchen. 2nd class features a 2+2 seating arrangement across the carriage, offering comfortable seats and panoramic windows, with a slightly higher capacity than First Class but the same high standard of service. The same scenery slides by regardless of ticket type, a reminder that the railway’s true luxury is time. All carriages are air-conditioned, luggage racks accommodate full-size suitcases, and attendants issue tour maps detailing each valley, pass, and station.
Stylish Glacier Express Excellence Class bar lounge featuring wood décor, a champagne bucket and route-map ceiling light.
Dining across classes reflects Swiss commitment to local supply chains. Menus change seasonally: mountain cheese in autumn, trout from Alpine lakes in spring, and berries from the Valais in early summer. Lunch is served at your seat in both 1st and 2nd class, with options for 2, 3, or 4-course meals, all presented on fine china with freshly polished silverware. Plates arrive timed to landscape cues: main course after the Furka Base Tunnel, dessert as the train skirts the Engadin lakes. Coffee service ends near Samedan, where evening light paints the runway of Europe’s highest commercial airport.
Luggage, including full-size suitcases, is permitted onboard, and small animals are allowed if transported in suitable carriers according to railway regulations.
Booking and Reservations
Travel on the Glacier Express train requires both a valid ticket and a seat reservation. Sales open 93 days ahead, and sought-after seats, particularly in Excellence Class, sell out quickly during July, August, December, and January. Travelers holding passes for local trains, such as the Swiss Travel Pass or GA Travel Card, pay only the reservation fee. Second Class one-way fares between Zermatt and St Moritz start at CHF 159; First Class fares begin at CHF 268. Children under six travel free, provided they share a seat.
It is best practice to secure the reservation first, then purchase the ticket, especially if travel dates are inflexible. Online booking through Glacier Express AG offers real-time carriage diagrams that display available window seats. Printed confirmation is not required; a QR code on a mobile device suffices.
Best Season to Ride The Glacier Express
The Glacier Express operates most of the year, pausing only for track maintenance from mid-October to early December, and each season reshapes the view beyond the panoramic windows. The Glacier Express runs in both directions in daylight throughout the year, except for this brief maintenance period in autumn. Winter cloaks the Swiss Alps in monochrome clarity: lakes freeze into mirrored slate, forests glint with hoarfrost, and the train usually runs two departures a day, both of which should be booked at least three months ahead. Spring follows with snowmelt waterfalls that streak granite walls and brighten pastures; afternoon light during these months deepens the chalk-white folds of the Rhine Gorge. Summer offers the longest daylight of the timetable, revealing every contour of green valley and alpine hiking trail, yet its popularity means Excellence Class seats can vanish weeks in advance. By September, autumn replaces glare with gold as larch forests burnish the Engadin slopes, and cooler air settles over quieter platforms before service pauses in mid-October. Photographers gravitate to winter for stark contrasts and to summer for extended light, while slow-travel devotees often favor the quieter shoulder months when reservations are easier and carriages feel unhurried.
Winter Trips and Activities
Red Glacier Express panoramic train gliding across a high-alpine snowfield under a bright blue winter sky.
When winter cloaks the Swiss Alps in a shimmering blanket of snow, the Glacier Express transforms into a cozy sanctuary, gliding through a landscape of pure white. The train’s panoramic windows frame scenes of frozen rivers, frosted forests, and mountain villages dusted with powder, making every moment onboard feel like a journey through a living snow globe. Inside, passengers are treated to warm hospitality, with soft drinks, regional cuisine, and attentive service ensuring comfort as the train winds its way between Zermatt and St Moritz.
Winter is also the season when the Glacier Express opens up a world of alpine adventure at every stop. In Zermatt, travelers can step off the train and onto the slopes for world-class skiing beneath the Matterhorn, or explore winter hiking trails that meander through silent, snow-laden forests. Andermatt offers opportunities for snowshoeing and tobogganing, while the Engadin valley around St Moritz is renowned for its cross-country ski trails, ice skating, and even horse-drawn sleigh rides. The contrast between the warmth of the train’s modern design and the crisp mountain air outside makes winter journeys especially memorable. Whether you’re seeking the thrill of alpine sports or the tranquility of a winter landscape viewed from a window seat, the Glacier Express delights travelers with a winter experience that is both magical and uniquely Swiss.
cost, Passes and Practical Tips
Treat tickets and seat reservations as separate purchases: the base fare can be covered by a Swiss Travel Pass, GA Travel Card, or standalone point-to-point ticket, but every passenger still needs a dated seat reservation before boarding. Booking the reservation first secures space on the preferred departure and direction. A Saver Day Pass, bought far in advance, occasionally undercuts the standard fare, particularly in Second Class. Luggage remains with passengers inside each carriage, so pack layers for temperature changes on exposed mountain platforms even though interiors stay comfortably regulated. For the best views, choose the right-hand side when traveling east from Zermatt toward St Moritz to capture the sweep of the Landwasser Viaduct, and sit left on westbound services to watch the Rhine Gorge open beneath the windows. Photographers will find a thin microfiber cloth useful for polishing the large glass panes, and holding a dark jacket behind the lens helps eliminate interior reflections when shooting the Swiss Alps in full sunlight.
Planning Your Trip to St Moritz
Distant Glacier Express crossing a stone viaduct amid dense evergreen forest and snow-dusted peaks in Graubünden.
Arriving in St Moritz aboard the Glacier Express is the perfect prelude to exploring one of Switzerland’s most glamorous alpine destinations. The town’s railway station sits at the gateway to the Engadin valley, where sparkling lakes and snow-capped peaks create a playground for both relaxation and adventure. After disembarking, travelers can easily connect to local trains for onward journeys or take a relaxing drive through the surrounding mountains.
St Moritz is famed for its luxury hotels, world-class spas, and vibrant culinary scene, offering everything from traditional Swiss fare to Michelin-starred dining. In winter, the area is a haven for skiers and snowboarders, with pristine slopes and extensive cross-country trails. For those seeking a slower pace, the town’s boutiques, art galleries, and lakeside promenades provide ample opportunity to unwind and soak in the alpine atmosphere. Luggage services at the station make it easy to transition from train travel to your next adventure, whether you’re heading to a mountain resort or exploring the valley’s scenic attractions. With a valid ticket or Swiss Travel Pass, visitors can also take advantage of local trains to discover nearby villages and hidden gems throughout the region. St Moritz is not just a destination, it’s the perfect finale to a journey defined by elegance, comfort, and the breathtaking beauty of the Swiss Alps.
Why Slow Travel Elevates the Journey
Glacier Express passing green slopes below the Matterhorn on a sunny summer day, framed by wildflowers and pines.
Slow travel philosophy values depth over distance. The Glacier Express illustrates this principle at the national scale. Covering barely 180 miles in eight hours, it does not measure progress in kilometers but in moments: the first glimpse of the Matterhorn, the smell of resin in conifer forests above Andermatt, the hiss of ice as skis scrape platforms in winter. This cadence aligns with our earlier explorations of the slow travel philosophy, and the pilgrimage along the Camino Portugués, where landscape and time blend into a single lesson on presence.
The train’s deliberate pace also highlights how infrastructure can honor ecology. Spirals and viaducts adapt to topography rather than erase it, and panoramic coaches ensure every passenger witnesses the alpine environment that engineering protects.
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