Ride The Glacier Express
Still to do
Eight hours through the Alps in a glass-roofed train, over 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels.
The adventure
The Glacier Express doesn't hurry. It takes about eight hours to cover some 290 kilometres, winding from the foot of the Matterhorn at Zermatt to the glamorous resort of St Moritz, and every minute of it is out of the window.
The train climbs to the Oberalp Pass at 2,033 metres, crosses 291 bridges and plunges through 91 tunnels. The big moment is the Landwasser Viaduct, where the line curves high above a gorge and runs straight into a tunnel in the cliff face. Through the panoramic windows, which wrap up into the roof, you watch glaciers, snowfields, gorges and wooden villages pass by while lunch is served at your seat.
Why it’s epic
- The Landwasser Viaduct, 65 metres high, leading straight into a tunnel.
- The Oberalp Pass at 2,033 metres, the route's highest point.
- Panoramic carriages with windows into the roof.
What it is
Often called the slowest express train in the world, the Glacier Express crosses the Swiss Alps between Zermatt and St Moritz in panoramic carriages.
How to do it
Book seats in advance on the official site or through a rail agent. A Swiss Travel Pass covers the fare but you still need a seat reservation.
Top tip
Sit on the side facing the valley views; for most of the westbound trip that's the left.
Need to know
- Seat reservations are compulsory and sell out in summer.
- Excellence Class is a luxury option at a much higher price.
- Part of the route is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Albula and Bernina lines.
Plan this trip
- Rough cost
- £2,000 to £5,000 per person, including flights from the UK
- Time needed
- About 8 hours
- Best time to go
- All year; winter for snow, summer for flowers
- Fly into
- ZRH airport
Fares plus the compulsory reservation are high; Switzerland is pricey.
Make it happen
Why it’s on my list
Not done yet. If you’ve done it and have tips, tell me about it.
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