• Route: St. Moritz – Tirano (Italy) / Chur – Tirano
• Travel time: 4h13
• Panoramic coaches
• Connecting Bernina Bus Tirano – Lugano

General information
The Bernina Express is a famous panoramic train running through the breathtaking Alpine landscapes of Switzerland and Italy. The journey starts in Chur or St. Moritz and crosses the Bernina Pass at 2,253 metres on its way to Tirano in Italy. Along the way you pass impressive mountains, glaciers, waterfalls and picturesque villages.

The Bernina line is a technical masterpiece, opened in 1908 and one of the few railway lines recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition to the Bernina Pass, the most iconic feature is the spiral Brusio Viaduct, where the train makes a 360-degree turn to overcome the height difference.

The Bernina Express offers first and second class coaches with large tables and panoramic windows up to the ceiling. A catering trolley serves hot and cold drinks and snacks. The connecting Bernina Bus runs from Tirano (Italy) to Lugano through the Italian lakes region. Both the train and the bus require a seat reservation.

How to book
The Bernina Express is included as standard in almost all our Swiss rail tours.

You can also book the journey yourself with a Swiss Travel Pass or an Interrail Pass, both of which are valid on the train.

A seat reservation is mandatory. In our rail tours it is included. For journeys with a Swiss or Eurail Pass the reservation must be made separately via our train planner (select “Reservations”).

Train features: comfortable seating in groups of 4, or in 2 facing seats in 1st class, with tables at every seat. Free WiFi available. Large panoramic windows for the best views. Multilingual information (including English) about the sights along the way. Catering trolley with hot and cold drinks, snacks and souvenirs.

2nd class: panoramic windows, 4+4 layout, see also the “Seat map” tab. 



1st class: more comfort than 2nd class and a quieter carriage, 4 carré + 2 (facing).