Discover Switzerland’s Famous Glacier Express Train Route

The Glacier Express is often called the “slowest express train” because it takes around eight hours to cover roughly 291 kilometres between Zermatt and St. Moritz, gliding at an average of about 40–42 km/h. That relaxed pace is exactly what makes the Glacier Express scenic train so special: you have time to savour every curve, ravine, and snowy peak of the Swiss Alps unfolding outside the large panoramic windows. Although it’s branded as an express Switzerland train, the Glacier Express runs as a dedicated panoramic train along a historic metre gauge line that crosses 291 bridges and dives through 91 tunnels. This famous train route is operated by Glacier Express AG and connects the Valais, Uri, and Graubünden regions, linking Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn with glamorous St. Moritz in the Engadine.

The Glacier Express route has earned its reputation worldwide because it combines engineering feats like the Landwasser Viaduct with wild alpine valleys, glacier‑fed rivers, and car free mountain villages that feel like storybook settings. For many, a single train journey on this line is the highlight of their train travel in Switzerland, often paired with other panoramic trains such as the Bernina Express or the Gotthard Panorama Express for an extended rail adventure through the Alps.

From west to east, the Glacier Express train route links Zermatt - St. Moritz and St.Moritz - Zermatt, continuous train ride that takes about 7.5–8 hours, depending on the season and exact Glacier Express timetable. The route follows a spectacular railway line through three Swiss cantons, stopping at key hubs such as Brig, Andermatt, Disentis/Mustér, Chur, and Samedan along the way.

On departure from Zermatt station, the train eases down the Mattertal valley before joining the main Rhône valley near Brig, where you can see steep vineyards and traditional villages clinging to the slopes.

From here, the route climbs towards the Oberalp Pass, the highest point of the journey at around 2,033 metres above sea level, before descending again through the dramatic Rhine Gorge and on towards Chur. After Chur, the Glacier Express continues through the UNESCO‑listed Rhaetian Railway section, crossing landmarks such as the graceful Landwasser Viaduct as it approaches the Engadine. Finally, the train climbs again through high valleys to reach St. Moritz, one of Europe’s most glamorous resorts and an ideal base or end point for a day trip or longer stay in the region.

What makes the Glacier Express scenic train so unforgettable is the constant variety of landscapes and the way the route threads through them with apparent ease. Early in the journey, you’ll admire deep alpine valleys, wooden chalets, and glacial streams carving paths down from the high peaks of the Swiss Alps, with the Matterhorn region providing a spectacular backdrop as you leave Zermatt. As the train climbs towards the Oberalp Pass, the scenery opens into wide, high‑altitude plateaus dotted with lakes and snowfields, particularly striking during the winter season when everything is blanketed in white. The Oberalp Pass section is also where you fully appreciate the “slowest express train” nickname, since the Glacier Express runs steadily to manage gradients while giving you time to photograph every curve and summit.

From the moment you step through the wide entrance doors of a Glacier Express carriage, it’s clear this is not an ordinary train journey. All coaches are air conditioned and designed as a panoramic train, with large panoramic windows stretching into the ceiling so you can look straight up at cliffs and peaks as you pass them.

The Glacier Express offers 1st and 2nd class coaches as standard, plus the ultra‑premium Excellence Class for those seeking a more exclusive class experience. In both 1st class and 2nd class you’ll find comfortable, forward‑facing seats, generous legroom, and wide windows, with 1st class having more spacious seating and a quieter atmosphere compared to 2nd class.

Throughout the journey, an on board kitchen prepares freshly cooked dishes, and a meal service with local Swiss specialities is brought directly to your seat if you reserve in advance. Alternatively, you can order from the bistro menu, enjoy soft drinks, regional wines, and snacks at extra cost, or simply bring your own food and treat the Glacier Express as the most scenic picnic spot you’ll ever find.

Commentary plays through free headphones at each seat, giving you insights into the villages, passes, and engineering works you’re crossing in multiple languages. With the relaxed pace of the express train and so many photography opportunities from both sides of the carriage, most travellers spend the entire route glued to the windows rather than their phones.

To enjoy this iconic express train, you need two separate things: a valid ticket for the Glacier Express route and a mandatory seat reservation for your chosen departure. Rail.Ninja lets you arrange both online in a single, user‑friendly booking flow, so you don’t have to juggle multiple systems or providers.

When you book with us, you can choose 1st and 2nd class or the luxurious Excellence Class on the date that best matches your itinerary. Our platform automatically adds the required reservation fee per person and per travel date, so you see the real total cost upfront and avoid surprises later.

Instead of comparing various passes and local offers, you simply select your preferred travel time, class, and route section, and the system shows you the most convenient Glacier Express tickets available. This is especially useful if you’re planning the Glacier Express as a once‑in‑a‑lifetime highlight rather than building a complex rail pass itinerary.
Because seats are limited and the Glacier Express is extremely popular in both winter and summer, it’s smart to secure your tickets and seat reservation early. We open bookings well in advance for many travel dates, helping you lock in the departure you want before it sells out during holidays and peak season.

For those looking to elevate their Glacier Express class experience, the Excellence Class is a dedicated luxury coach with a guaranteed window seat for every passenger and lounge‑style seating arranged in pairs along one side of the carriage. In this Glacier Express Excellence Class coach, a personal concierge welcomes you at the platform, helps with luggage, and looks after you throughout the entire journey.
During the day, you’re served a refined multi‑course gourmet lunch served at your seat, with thoughtful wine accompaniment or wine pairings matched to each course.

Non‑alcoholic drinks, coffee, and many soft drinks are typically included, and you can visit the elegant Glacier Bar at the centre of the coach for cocktails or a short ride standing at the bar to chat with other travelers. Each Excellence Class seat is equipped with its own tablet for on board entertainment, maps, and route information, so you can follow your progress across every pass, viaduct, and valley. Because this is the most exclusive part of the train, you need to book Excellence Class well in advance, and the supplement is charged as an extra cost on top of a valid ticket for 1st class.

The Glacier Express runs year‑round apart from a short maintenance break in autumn, with distinct winter timetable and summer timetable periods you should consider when you pick your travel date. In recent years, the winter timetable has covered early December to early May, while the summer timetable typically runs from early May until around mid October. In winter, you can expect snow‑covered peaks, frozen lakes, and sunlit slopes around the Oberalp Pass and Furka region, making the train journey feel like a moving snow globe.

Summer brings lush green meadows, wildflowers, and longer daylight hours, which can be perfect if you want to combine the Glacier Express route with hiking or a day trip from St. Moritz or Zermatt. There is usually at least one Glacier Express Switzerland scenic train in each direction per day, with additional departures on busier dates in the winter season and high summer.

Because parts of the line may close briefly for maintenance around mid October and again from mid December on some years, always check the latest Glacier Express timetable before you decide on your travel date.