Zurich to St Moritz

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated July 2026 · 7 min read

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The journey from Zurich to St Moritz is not just a transport option — it is one of the most celebrated mountain railway routes in the world. The final leg through the Albula and Bernina passes on the Rhaetian Railway crosses bridges, spirals through tunnels and climbs alongside glaciers in a way that has earned UNESCO World Heritage status. You can reach St Moritz comfortably in around 3.5 to 4 hours from central Zurich, and the journey itself is the destination.

The quickest way: regular RhB train via the Albula Line

The fastest rail route from Zurich HB to St Moritz involves an SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) intercity or regional train to Chur (around 1 hour 10 minutes), followed by a Rhaetian Railway (RhB) Albula Line train from Chur to St Moritz (about 2 hours to 2 hours 15 minutes). Total journey with a good connection: roughly 3 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours 45 minutes.

Chur, the cantonal capital of Graubünden, is a straightforward change and gives you a moment to buy provisions if needed. The RhB train from Chur enters the Alps almost immediately, climbing through the Rhine gorge and then ascending the dramatic Albula valley. The line passes through Thusis, the atmospheric medieval town of Tiefencastel, and reaches its engineering crescendo around Bergün and the Preda–Albula tunnel. The highest point is the Albula Pass at 1,820 metres, through a spiral tunnel at Preda. From there the train descends to the Engadin valley, arriving at St Moritz.

On SBB trains to Chur, reservations are not required. On the RhB Albula Line, reservations are also not mandatory on regular services — but in summer and during ski season, trains are popular and seats can be scarce without a reservation. Booking a seat (a small additional fee) is sensible. Tickets can be bought at the station or through SBB's website and app, which covers the entire Swiss network including RhB connections.

Swiss Travel Passes, Eurail and Interrail passes are all valid on the SBB and the RhB, and no supplement is required on regular Albula Line trains (unlike the Glacier Express, which carries a supplement).

The scenic way: the Glacier Express

The famous Glacier Express is the most celebrated way to arrive in St Moritz, though it is more of an experience than the quickest route. It does not run from Zurich — it begins in Zermatt (or Brig) and runs to St Moritz via the Mattertal, Furka Pass, Andermatt, the Oberalp Pass and Disentis, joining the Albula Line for the final descent. The full Zermatt–St Moritz journey takes around 8 hours.

To use the Glacier Express from Zurich, you would travel to Zermatt first (around 3–3.5 hours), then join the morning departure. This makes it a logical choice if you are combining Zermatt and St Moritz on the same trip, but not a sensible Zurich–St Moritz day journey. The Glacier Express carries a mandatory seat reservation supplement on top of any rail pass or ticket, and panoramic-car seats with table-height windows cost more than standard reservations.

For many travellers, the regular Albula Line train from Chur to St Moritz offers 90 per cent of the scenic drama at standard fares, without the Glacier Express premium or the eight-hour commitment. The Albula section — Chur to St Moritz — is common to both routes.

The fastest door-to-door: flying

There is no commercial airport near St Moritz. The nearest airports with meaningful connections are Zurich (ZRH), which is your likely departure point, and Milan Malpensa (MXP) to the south. From Zurich, the train is simply the most practical option. Some wealthy visitors charter helicopters from Zurich Airport to the Engadin, which is certainly fast but not a mainstream travel option.

The scenic way: driving

The drive from Zurich to St Moritz is spectacular but demanding. The most direct route via the A3 and then the mountain roads through the Prättigau or the Julier Pass covers around 200 km and takes approximately 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours in summer conditions. In winter, the mountain passes may be closed or require snow chains — the Julier Pass is generally kept open, but conditions change rapidly.

Driving gives you flexibility for stopping in Graubünden's villages — Davos, Klosters, Arosa and the Rhine gorge (the Ruinaulta) are all close to potential driving routes. However, St Moritz itself is expensive to park in, and the resort's roads can be congested in ski season. Many people drive to Zurich or Chur and take the train from there.

The Vereina Tunnel, a car-carrying rail shuttle between Klosters and Sagliains in the Engadin, offers a useful shortcut and winter bypass — vehicles are loaded onto a flat-car train and transported through the mountain. This is an option worth knowing if you are combining car and rail travel.

What to do in St Moritz

St Moritz is the oldest and most storied Alpine resort — it invented winter tourism, having offered sun guarantees to visitors since the 1860s. Today it combines elite skiing with a year-round culture calendar that is unusual for a mountain resort.

• Skiing and winter sports: the Engadin ski area (Corviglia, Corvatsch, Diavolezza) is vast, high and reliable for snow, with lifts reaching over 3,300 metres. The resort has hosted the Winter Olympics twice and the World Ski Championships multiple times.
• Summer hiking and cycling: the Engadin valley in summer is magnificent — high Alpine meadows, clear lakes and trails at altitude. The Engadin Marathon ski race in March draws thousands; in summer, cycling events and hiking routes replace them.
• Lake St Moritz: the town sits above its namesake lake, which hosts sailing in summer and polo and horse racing on the frozen surface in winter (White Turf, held in February).
• Segantini Museum: a striking stone museum on the hill above town dedicated to Giovanni Segantini, the Swiss-Italian symbolist painter who spent his career in the Engadin and whose alpine canvases are hauntingly beautiful.
• The Engadin villages: Pontresina, Samedan, Celerina and Silvaplana are all reachable by local bus and are more relaxed than St Moritz proper. Samedan has an important Romansh-language library and some of the valley's best preserved village architecture.

Which should you choose?

The regular RhB Albula Line train from Chur is the clear recommendation: genuinely one of Europe's great railway journeys, no supplement required, valid on all standard tickets and passes, and door-to-door in around 3.5–4 hours from Zurich. Reserve a seat in busy season.

The Glacier Express is worth considering if you are travelling between Zermatt and St Moritz anyway, or if you want to experience Switzerland's most famous named train. It is not the most efficient Zurich–St Moritz option. Driving earns its place for those exploring Graubünden broadly, or in summer when the mountain passes are open and conditions are good.

From St Moritz, the most natural rail continuation is the Bernina Express over the Bernina Pass to Tirano in Italy — a continuation of the UNESCO Heritage route. For a broader view of Switzerland by rail, the Switzerland by train guide covers the Swiss Travel Pass, key routes and tips for booking the named trains.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the train from Zurich to St Moritz take?

Around 3 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours 45 minutes with a change at Chur, depending on connections. Allow about 1 hour 10 minutes to Chur on SBB, then around 2 hours on the RhB Albula Line to St Moritz.

Is the Albula Line a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

Yes. The Rhaetian Railway in the Albula and Bernina Landscapes was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, recognising the engineering achievement and the integration of railway and mountain landscape.

Do I need a reservation on the Albula Line train?

A reservation is not mandatory on regular RhB trains, but is strongly advisable in peak summer and ski season as trains fill up. A small fee covers the seat. The Glacier Express requires a compulsory reservation supplement.

Can I use an Interrail or Eurail pass on the Albula Line?

Yes. Both Interrail and Eurail passes are valid on SBB and RhB services, including the Albula Line, with no supplement on regular trains. The Glacier Express requires an additional seat reservation supplement on top of the pass.