Swiss Alps train journeys at a glance
A Swiss Alps train trip can mean very different things. There are long panoramic lines such as the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express, a scenic express between Lucerne and Interlaken, and mountain railways that climb to viewpoints. A Swiss Alps train tour adds a guide and often a coach for the legs that the rails do not cover. Most routes can be ridden on your own with a rail pass or a normal ticket.
Two dates matter at the moment. The Glacier Express does not run from 11 October to 4 December 2026, and some Bernina trains are diverted until 13 November 2026. This page covers the routes briefly and links to the detailed guides where they exist.
Our picks: guided scenic train days
The Glacier Express day from Basel adds a seat reservation and a local guide, while the Milan departures focus on the Bernina line. On the Bernina or Albula day, check the option you select, because the inclusions differ.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in Swiss francs (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Glacier Express day trip from Basel with local guide
- Local guide
- Standard rail pass
- Glacier Express seat reservation
The route section follows the day programme, so this is not a ticket for the whole route. The Glacier Express is paused until 4 December 2026, so choose a later date.
Check availability →
Bernina train and St. Moritz day trip from Milan
- 2nd class Bernina train ticket
- Opening windows
- Professional guide
Hotel pickup applies only with the hotel option, and the tour may be bilingual, so check when you reserve.
Check availability →
Bernina or Albula train day trip from Milan
- Bernina train ticket, Bernina option
- Albula route, Albula option
- English-speaking guide throughout the day
What is included differs by option, so check the one you select. Free time in St. Moritz is part of the day.
Check availability →Swiss Alps train tours and day trips
Scenic train tours, day trips and activities in the Swiss Alps, with live prices and availability.
Glacier Express
The long line between Zermatt and St. Moritz.
The Glacier Express runs from Zermatt via Brig, Andermatt, Disentis and Chur to St. Moritz. The line is in its seasonal pause from 11 October to 4 December 2026. The winter timetable runs from 5 December 2026 to 7 May 2027, with an example journey from 08:50 to 16:37, which is 7 hours 47 minutes. Fares, reservations and the booking window are explained on our Glacier Express page.
Bernina Express
From Graubünden to Tirano in Italy.
The Bernina Express links Chur or St. Moritz with Tirano. Chur to Tirano takes about 4 hours and St. Moritz to Tirano about 2 hours 15 minutes. Trains 951 and 952 are diverted via Vereina from 29 October to 13 November 2026. If you plan a train from Milan to the Swiss Alps, the day trips and the route are covered on the Bernina Express page.
Lucerne to Interlaken Express
A scenic day on a normal ticket.
The Lucerne to Interlaken Express takes about 1 hour 50 minutes and runs every hour. Trains leave Lucerne from 06:06 to 21:06 and leave Interlaken from 07:04 to 20:04, but check the timetable for your travel day. You ride on a normal rail ticket, and the Swiss Travel Pass and the GA travelcard are valid. A seat reservation costs 16 CHF up to 1 November 2026 and 12 CHF from 2 November 2026 to 30 April 2027. It is not compulsory for every traveller.
A return trip needs about 3 hours 40 minutes on the train, so a mountain on top of it makes a long day. For the lake and the city at the western end, see Lucerne and Lake Lucerne. The other end of the line is covered in our Interlaken guide.
Jungfrau railway since 1912
A short look at the line to the Jungfraujoch.
The railway link to the Jungfraujoch opened on 1 August 1912. Today the station at 3,454 m is the highest railway station in Europe, with a view of the Aletsch Glacier. You can read about the line in detail on the Jungfrau railway. With a Swiss Travel Pass or a Flex pass you get a 25 percent discount from Grindelwald or Wengen, but the trip is not free.
A seat reservation for 10 CHF was compulsory from 1 May to 31 October 2026, so check the rule with the operator if you travel from November. The quick ride up does not replace acclimatisation. If you feel a headache, dizziness or nausea, go back down.
Gornergrat
A mountain railway above Zermatt.
The Gornergrat railway starts in Zermatt, a village that is closed to private cars beyond Täsch. The price sheet of June 2026 lists the return ticket from Zermatt to the Gornergrat at 132 CHF from May to October and at 102 CHF from November 2026 to April 2027. The single fares are 66 and 51 CHF. The price changes with the season, and the sheet gives 50 percent off with Half Fare, GA, the Swiss Half Fare Card and the Swiss Travel Pass. More about the ride is on the Gornergrat railway.
Guided rail tours
What the tours include and where they start.
If you prefer a guide, there are three kinds of Swiss Alps train tour. The Glacier Express day tours start at Zurich main station or at Basel SBB. Both include a local guide, a standard rail pass and a seat reservation on the Glacier Express. A lunch can be bought on the train, and tips are extra. The descriptions do not say that the whole route is ridden, so read the day programme. Because the train is paused until 4 December 2026, check the dates with the provider.
The other two start in Milan. One tour from the central station area includes a second class Bernina train ticket with opening windows and a guide. Hotel pick-up is available only if you choose that option. The tour from Milan Porta Garibaldi has two options. The Bernina option includes the ticket from St. Moritz to Tirano and free time in Tirano. The Albula option follows the UNESCO railway route and includes free time in Filisur. Both give free time in St. Moritz and use a coach from Milan.
Rail passes and reservations
What to buy for a train-heavy trip.
The Swiss Travel Pass is accepted on the Glacier Express, but the seat reservation is separate and costs extra. The same applies to the Bernina Express. Our Swiss Travel Pass guide lists the pass prices and how the pass works on mountain railways.
If you travel less, the Swiss Half Fare Card for visitors costs 150 CHF and is valid for one month. It gives up to 50 percent off rail, bus, boat and mountain railways, but it is not a free network ticket. You need a residence outside Switzerland and Liechtenstein and your original ID. Saver tickets are tied to one train and give a discount on the full or half fare price, so they are not a standing route fare.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Glacier Express running now?
No. It does not run from 11 October to 4 December 2026. The winter timetable starts on 5 December 2026.
Do I have to reserve a seat on the Lucerne to Interlaken Express?
Not for every traveller. A reservation is offered for 16 CHF up to 1 November 2026 and for 12 CHF from 2 November 2026 to 30 April 2027.
Is the Swiss Travel Pass valid on the panoramic trains?
It is accepted on the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express, but the seat reservations are separate and cost extra.
Can I combine a train with a mountain in one day?
Maybe, but plan carefully. The Lucerne and Interlaken return trip alone takes about 3 hours 40 minutes by train.