The Glacier Express guide

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated July 2026 · 5 min read

The Glacier Express is an eight-hour commitment, not a quick scenic hop, so getting the planning right matters more than on most train journeys. This guide walks through the practical decisions: which class to book, whether to break the journey up, when to travel, and how to make the most of a very long day on a very slow train.

Is the Glacier Express actually worth it?

For a specific kind of traveller, unreservedly yes: if you want a single sustained day of Alpine scenery without driving, and you're comfortable with a mandatory reservation fee on top of your rail ticket, nothing else matches it. If you are short on time, prone to restlessness on long journeys, or would rather see the Alps in shorter, more varied hops — say, a few hours on the Bernina Express plus time to explore towns along the way — the Glacier Express's eight hours in one seat may feel like a lot for what is, ultimately, one long train ride. Most people who commit to it come away glad they did, but it is worth being honest with yourself about which kind of traveller you are before booking.

Choosing your class and whether to add dining

First and second class are both available in the panoramic carriages; the core scenic experience is the same in both, since every seat has the same tall curved windows. First class buys more space, a quieter carriage and a more elaborate at-seat dining option. Given that this is fundamentally a scenery-and-food day rather than a functional transfer, upgrading to first class is a reasonable indulgence if your budget allows it, but not essential — second class gets you the same views.

The onboard dining, including the well-known tilted wine glass designed for the steep gradients, is worth booking ahead if you want the full seated meal service rather than a lighter refreshment option. Reserve your meal slot at the same time as your ticket where possible, since capacity in the dining car is limited relative to the full train.

Breaking the journey up

You do not have to ride St Moritz to Zermatt (or the reverse) in a single unbroken sitting. Andermatt, roughly in the middle, is a popular overnight stop that splits the eight-hour journey into two more manageable days and adds a night in a genuinely attractive mountain town. Chur and Disentis are other realistic points to break the journey, useful if you want to explore a specific section rather than commit to the whole line.

Picking a season

• Summer (June–September): the most popular, most expensive, and the only season with guaranteed full daylight for the entire eight-hour run. Book months ahead.
• Winter (December–March): the most visually dramatic in many travellers' view — snow on every peak, frozen lakes, a stark and quiet Oberalp Pass — and both the cheapest fares and the lowest reservation fees of the year. Some stops may be limited on the winter timetable.
• Autumn (October–November): often considered the sweet spot — golden larch forests in the lower valleys, thinner crowds than summer, and reservation costs below peak rates.
• Spring (April–May): a genuine shoulder season, with high passes sometimes still under snow while lower valleys turn green — worth it if you want a mix of both landscapes in one journey.

Booking logistics

The booking has two separate parts: the underlying rail ticket, which an Interrail or Eurail pass covers, and the panoramic car reservation, which is mandatory for every passenger and is never covered by any pass. Book the reservation as early as possible — panoramic cars sell out months ahead for summer travel — through the official Glacier Express site or Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). See our seat reservations explained guide for how reservation logistics work across the Swiss network generally.

Combining it with the Bernina Express

St Moritz is the natural link between the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express south to Tirano, and a two-to-three-day Alpine rail circuit combining both — Zermatt to St Moritz one day, an overnight in the Engadin, then St Moritz to Tirano the next — is one of the most rewarding train itineraries in Europe. Both lines share the same operator territory (Rhaetian Railway runs the eastern half of the Glacier Express route and the whole Bernina line), so onward connections between the two are well established. See our roundup of Europe's most scenic railways for how the wider network fits together.

What catches first-time travellers out

The most common planning mistake is underestimating just how long eight hours in one seat actually feels, particularly with young children — bring entertainment, snacks beyond the dining car service, and realistic expectations about restlessness partway through. The second is assuming a rail pass covers the reservation fee; it does not, ever, regardless of pass type. The third is booking too late for summer travel and finding the panoramic cars sold out weeks or months ahead.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Glacier Express worth the cost and the eight-hour commitment?

For travellers who want a single sustained day of Alpine scenery without driving, most come away glad they booked it. If you'd rather see the Alps in shorter, more varied stops, a combination of shorter scenic lines may suit you better.

Should I book first or second class?

Both classes sit in the same panoramic carriages with identical views. First class adds space, a quieter carriage and a more elaborate dining option, but is not essential for the scenic experience itself.

Can I break the Glacier Express journey into two days?

Yes. Andermatt, roughly at the journey's midpoint, is a popular overnight stop, and Chur or Disentis also work as break points if you want to explore rather than ride straight through.

Does a rail pass cover the Glacier Express reservation fee?

No. Interrail and Eurail passes cover the base rail fare, but the mandatory panoramic car reservation is a separate charge for every passenger, regardless of pass type.