Glacier Express

About Glacier Express

The Glacier Express bills itself, with characteristic Swiss precision and understatement, as **the slowest express train in the world**. It takes approximately **eight hours to travel 291 kilometres between Zermatt, at the foot of the Matterhorn**, and **St Moritz, in the Engadine valley of Graubünden** — a journey that crosses **291 bridges, passes through 91 tunnels**, and traverses some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in Europe at a pace that **rarely exceeds 35 kilometres per hour**. The slowness is not inefficiency but deliberate: the route climbs over the **Oberalp Pass at 2,033 metres, the highest point on the Swiss rail network**, following gradients that require careful, controlled ascent and descent. The route was conceived in the 1920s as a way of connecting two of Switzerland's premier winter resorts that were otherwise isolated from each other by the mountains between them, and **opened in 1930**. For most of the journey, the landscape outside the panoramic windows changes from the high Alpine terrain of the **Valais — glaciers, granite peaks, and narrow gorges** — to the broader, more pastoral valleys of **Graubünden**, with their medieval villages, onion-domed churches and south-facing vineyards. The **viaduct at Landwasser, a curved six-arch limestone bridge carrying the train directly into a tunnel in the cliff face**, is one of the most photogenic railway structures in the world. The **Rhine Gorge section — sometimes called the Swiss Grand Canyon** — is equally spectacular. The Glacier Express runs **year-round**; winter offers snow-covered Alpine scenery of great beauty, while summer brings green meadows and wildflowers. **Reservations are required** on all departures and should be made well in advance in summer. **First class** offers wider seats and more table space; meals are served to all classes at your seat. The journey can be broken at **Andermatt or Chur**, and specific segments — particularly the Andermatt to Chur section through the Rhine Gorge — are worth doing independently. Combine with time in **Zermatt** for the Matterhorn and high Alpine hiking, or in **St Moritz** for its combination of luxury resort culture and serious mountain terrain.

Highlights

• ✦ Scenic rail journey covering 291 km in about 8 hours
• ✦ Crosses 291 bridges and 91 tunnels
• ✦ Connects Zermatt to St. Moritz through the Swiss Alps

Practical info

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Glacier Express cost and do you need to book ahead?

The mandatory seat reservation costs roughly CHF 39–49 depending on the season, on top of a standard rail fare or a Swiss Travel Pass, which covers most of the actual journey cost. First class adds a meal service and slightly larger windows. Reservations for popular summer dates can sell out weeks in advance, so book online as soon as your travel dates are fixed.

How long does the Glacier Express journey take and is it worth the full route?

The full Zermatt to St. Moritz (or Davos) route takes about 8 hours, crossing 291 bridges and 91 tunnels including the dramatic Oberalp Pass. It's worth doing the full route if you enjoy scenery for its own sake — there's no faster or more purposeful way to make this trip, since it's slower than driving or a direct connecting train. If 8 hours feels like too much, many travellers ride just a scenic 2–3 hour section, such as Chur to Andermatt.

Which side of the train has the best views on the Glacier Express?

There isn't a single 'best' side for the whole route since the train winds through valleys on both sides, but many regulars suggest sitting on the right when travelling from Zermatt toward St. Moritz for the Oberalp Pass views. Panoramic windows run the full length of both sides of the carriage, so the difference is fairly minor compared to regular trains. Standing briefly between seats for photos is generally tolerated when the carriage isn't full.

Why is the Glacier Express called the 'world's slowest express train'?

It earned the nickname because 'express' historically meant a train with few stops, not necessarily a fast one, and the Glacier Express averages only about 35 km/h due to the steep mountain terrain, tight curves and old narrow-gauge track it uses. The route opened in 1930, connecting two of Switzerland's most famous resort towns. Its deliberately slow pace is exactly what makes the scenery viewable.

Can you get on and off the Glacier Express at intermediate stations?

Yes, the train stops at towns like Chur, Disentis, Andermatt and Brig along the way, and you can book a reservation for just a segment rather than the full end-to-end journey. This is a good option if you want to combine the ride with a stopover, such as a night in Andermatt, without doing the whole 8-hour trip in one sitting.

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