Glacier Express: Fares, Excellence Class and the 8-Hour Route From Zermatt to St. Moritz
The Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz: fares in CHF, the CHF 590 Excellence Class, Swiss Travel Pass rules, timetable and where to stay at each end.
At a glance
Glacier Express at a glance
- Route
- Zermatt to St. Moritz, 291 km, about 8 hours
- MySwitzerland and glacierexpress.ch, Nov 2026
- Full-route fare, 2nd class
- CHF 166 plus CHF 54 seat reservation
- glacierexpress.ch, St. Moritz to Zermatt full fare, Nov 2026
- Full-route fare, 1st class
- CHF 284 plus CHF 54 seat reservation
- glacierexpress.ch, Nov 2026
- Excellence Class
- CHF 590 seat reservation on top of a 1st class ticket
- glacierexpress.ch, Nov 2026
- Highest point
- Oberalp Pass, 2,033 m
- glacierexpress.ch, Nov 2026
The Glacier Express runs 291 km between Zermatt and St. Moritz in about eight hours, and the cheapest way to ride it is a 2nd class ticket of CHF 166 plus a CHF 54 seat reservation, CHF 220 in total at full fare (glacierexpress.ch, Nov 2026). The most expensive is Excellence Class: a CHF 590 reservation on top of a 1st class ticket, which brings champagne, a five-course menu and a guaranteed window seat.
This guide is written for the traveler who wants the Glacier Express done well: what each class costs, what Excellence Class actually includes, how the Swiss Travel Pass works, when the train does not run, and how it compares with the Bernina Express. For other rail journeys, see our luxury train journeys guide.
Glacier Express Price
The fare has two parts: a ticket for the distance, and a mandatory seat reservation. The reservation is CHF 54 per person in 1st and 2nd class and CHF 590 in Excellence Class (glacierexpress.ch, Nov 2026). Tickets can be bought up to six months ahead, and 1st and 2nd class reservations open 93 days before travel. Excellence Class can be booked for the whole timetable period.
| Class | Full route, St. Moritz to Zermatt | Seat reservation | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd class | CHF 166 | CHF 54 | glacierexpress.ch, Nov 2026 |
| 1st class | CHF 284 | CHF 54 | glacierexpress.ch, Nov 2026 |
| Excellence Class | 1st class ticket (CHF 284) required | CHF 590 | glacierexpress.ch, Nov 2026 |
At full fare, then, the through journey costs CHF 220 in 2nd class, CHF 338 in 1st class and CHF 874 in Excellence Class (ticket plus reservation). Shorter hops cost less: Andermatt to Zermatt is CHF 80 in 2nd and CHF 137 in 1st, and Chur to Zermatt is CHF 129 and CHF 221 (glacierexpress.ch, Nov 2026).
Is the Glacier Express Included in the Swiss Travel Pass?
Yes, as a ticket. The official site says the Swiss Travel Pass, the Flex version, Eurail and Interrail passes are accepted, and MySwitzerland says the Swiss Travel Pass and the GA travelcard fully cover the route. The seat reservation is never covered: it is mandatory and costs extra (glacierexpress.ch, Nov 2026). For 1st class and Excellence Class you also need a 1st class ticket or a pass that covers it.
Half Fare and Children
Half Fare cards are accepted, children under 6 travel free, and children aged 6 to 16 pay half. A seat reservation is still required (glacierexpress.ch, Nov 2026). The Saver Day Pass also covers the train, with prices that vary with demand, but again the reservation is separate.
Glacier Express Excellence Class
Excellence Class is a separate service in its own carriages, sold in small numbers: the Glacier Express page says it carries 20 passengers per trip. Each guest has a guaranteed window seat, a reclining lounge seat that faces another across a table (glacierexpress.ch, Nov 2026).
What the CHF 590 Includes
The Glacier Express lists the following for Excellence Class (glacierexpress.ch, Nov 2026):
- Champagne and a welcome aperitif platter.
- A seasonal, regional five-course menu cooked fresh in the on-board kitchen, with wine and non-alcoholic drinks.
- Unlimited soft drinks, mineral water and coffee.
- Access to the Glacier Bar at the end of the carriage, serving cocktails and wines.
- A personal welcome on the platform, a concierge throughout the trip, and luggage taken from and delivered to the platform.
- Headphones and a tablet at each seat with an infotainment system and Wi-Fi.
You still need a valid 1st class ticket or travel card. The price is a single journey and does not change with the distance you ride.
Is Excellence Class Worth It?
It is a lunch, a bar and a concierge on a train you can also ride in 1st class for far less. Pay for it if the meal and the service are the point of the day, and if you want the window seat guaranteed. Skip it if you want to move around, photograph from open windows or see the route at your own pace.
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The Glacier Express Route
The train runs between St. Moritz and Zermatt in either direction, via Chur, Andermatt and Brig, over 291 km in about eight hours, crossing more than 291 bridges and 91 tunnels (MySwitzerland and glacierexpress.ch, Nov 2026). The official site calls it a panoramic journey; MySwitzerland describes it as “the world’s slowest express train.”
Glacier Express Stations
The stations on the timetable are Zermatt, Brig, Andermatt, Disentis, Chur, Tiefencastel, Filisur, Samedan and St. Moritz. Not every train stops at all of them: the winter timetable shows one service calling at Tiefencastel and another at Filisur, where there is a change to and from Davos (glacierexpress.ch, Nov 2026).
Highlights Along the Way
- Oberalp Pass, 2,033 m. The highest point of the journey, and a popular photo stop in any season (glacierexpress.ch, Nov 2026).
- Rhine Gorge. Between Reichenau and Ilanz, nicknamed the “Swiss Grand Canyon.” The Glacier Express says a landslide about 10,000 years ago blocked the valley and shaped it.
- Landwasser Viaduct. 65 m high and 142 m long near Filisur, leading straight into a tunnel.
- Albula Line. Between Preda and Bergün the track climbs through three spiral and two helical tunnels and six high viaducts, including the 85 m Solis Viaduct (glacierexpress.ch, Nov 2026).
- Furka Base Tunnel. Opened 26 June 1982, it gives the year-round link between the Valais and Uri sides.
Tickets, Passes and Reservations
Book the reservation first, then the ticket. Tickets are sold up to six months ahead, and the reservation window for 1st and 2nd class opens 93 days before you travel, so a late-summer ride is worth planning in spring if you want Excellence Class, which is bookable across the whole timetable (glacierexpress.ch, Nov 2026).
Buy a 1st class ticket or pass if you plan to ride Excellence Class. Check that the reservation is for the correct direction: the Glacier Express runs both ways, and the train times differ.
Glacier Express vs Bernina Express
The two are often chosen between. The Bernina Express runs Chur or St. Moritz to Tirano in Italy, 148 km in about 4 hours 21 minutes, past 55 tunnels and more than 196 bridges, and can be extended by a bus from Tirano to Lugano (90 km, about 3 hours 20 minutes, March to October). The line is part of the Rhaetian Railway UNESCO World Heritage site, and a passport or ID is needed to cross into Italy (MySwitzerland, Nov 2026).
| Glacier Express | Bernina Express | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Route | Zermatt to St. Moritz | Chur or St. Moritz to Tirano | MySwitzerland, Nov 2026 |
| Length | 291 km | 148 km | MySwitzerland, Nov 2026 |
| Time | About 8 hours | About 4 hours 21 minutes | MySwitzerland, Nov 2026 |
| Tunnels and bridges | 91 tunnels, over 291 bridges | 55 tunnels, over 196 bridges | MySwitzerland, Nov 2026 |
| Swiss Travel Pass | Ticket covered, reservation extra | Ticket covered, reservation extra | MySwitzerland, Nov 2026 |
| Top class | Excellence Class, CHF 590 reservation | Panoramic cars, no equivalent listed | glacierexpress.ch, Nov 2026 |
Choose the Glacier Express for a full day with the Matterhorn end of the route and a dining service. Choose the Bernina Express for a shorter day that ends in Italy. St. Moritz is the point where the two lines meet, so some travelers ride both.
When to Go
The Glacier Express has a winter and a summer timetable. The 2026 to 2027 winter timetable runs from December 5, 2026 to May 7, 2027, with departures from Zermatt at 07:50 and 08:50 and arrivals in St. Moritz at 15:37 and 16:37 (glacierexpress.ch, Nov 2026). The first of those trains, number 920, runs only between December 12, 2026 and January 3, 2027, and again between January 30 and May 7, 2027.
Two closures matter. The Glacier Express does not run between October 11 and December 4, 2026, and the Rhine Gorge section is closed from April 17 to May 2, 2027, when a replacement bus links Chur and Disentis. Times are subject to change without notice.
Where to Stay at Each End
St. Moritz is the better base for a luxury stay: see our guide to the best luxury hotels in St. Moritz, and for the mountain itself our luxury ski resorts guide. Many hotels there close between seasons, so match your dates to their opening months before you book the train.
For Zermatt, book directly with a hotel that suits your dates; the station is where the journey starts, and an early departure at 07:50 in winter makes a night in town the sensible choice.
Getting There Privately
The practical airports are Zurich and Geneva. Our route pages cover London to Zurich by private jet, London to Geneva and London to St. Moritz. Samedan is the stop before St. Moritz on the Glacier Express timetable, which is useful when you plan to ride one way and fly the other.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does a Glacier Express 1st class ticket cost?
- A full-route 1st class ticket between St. Moritz and Zermatt is CHF 284, plus a CHF 54 seat reservation, CHF 338 in total at full fare (glacierexpress.ch, Nov 2026). Shorter sections cost less, and Half Fare card holders pay less for the ticket.
- Is the Glacier Express included in the Swiss pass?
- The ticket is covered by the Swiss Travel Pass, the Flex version, Eurail and Interrail, but the seat reservation is mandatory and always extra (glacierexpress.ch, Nov 2026). For Excellence Class you also need a 1st class ticket or a pass that includes it.
- What are the stations of the Glacier Express?
- The timetable lists Zermatt, Brig, Andermatt, Disentis, Chur, Tiefencastel, Filisur, Samedan and St. Moritz. Each train serves a subset: one winter service calls at Tiefencastel, another at Filisur, where there is a change for Davos (glacierexpress.ch, Nov 2026).
- Which is better, Bernina Express or Glacier Express?
- The Glacier Express is longer, 291 km in about eight hours, with a dining service and Excellence Class. The Bernina Express covers 148 km in about 4 hours 21 minutes and ends in Italy (MySwitzerland, Nov 2026). Choose by how much of the day you want to spend on a train.
- How much does Glacier Express Excellence Class cost?
- The Excellence Class seat reservation is CHF 590 per person, plus a valid 1st class ticket or travel card. It includes champagne, a five-course menu with wine, unlimited soft drinks and coffee, the Glacier Bar and a concierge (glacierexpress.ch, Nov 2026).
Sources
- Glacier Express, Prices, https://www.glacierexpress.ch/en/price (opened Nov 2026)
- Glacier Express, Timetable, https://www.glacierexpress.ch/en/timetable (opened Nov 2026)
- Glacier Express, Excellence Class, https://www.glacierexpress.ch/en/excellence-class (opened Nov 2026)
- Glacier Express, Route, https://www.glacierexpress.ch/en/route (opened Nov 2026)
- Glacier Express, Home, https://www.glacierexpress.ch/en/ (opened Nov 2026)
- MySwitzerland, Glacier Express, https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/experiences/glacier-express (opened Nov 2026)
- MySwitzerland, Bernina Express, https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/experiences/bernina-express (opened Nov 2026)
- Rhaetian Railway, Panoramic trains, https://www.rhb.ch/en/panoramic-trains (opened Nov 2026)
