The UNESCO World Heritage Site and pristine Alpine landscapes within reach: a trip on the Bernina Express is a travel experience in a class of its own.
The Bernina Express, Rhaetian Railway’s classic train, is a rolling legend and one of the most famous trains in the world. On the highest railway tracks in Europe and the steepest in the world, the Bernina Express takes its passengers on a unique journey through 55 tunnels and over 196 bridges. From Switzerland’s oldest town through wildly romantic gorges, past spectacular man-made structures, up to the eternal ice of the glaciers and back down to the palm trees in the Italian town of Tirano: no other Alpine crossing is so spectacular. The modern panoramic cars offer first-class travel comfort and make the impressive landscape appear almost within reach.
Children under the age of 6 travel free of charge. Children aged 6 to 16 pay half the fare.
The seat reservation supplement must be paid in full for everyone.
Half-Fare travelcard, GA travelcard, 1-day-travelpass, municipal 1-day-travelpass, Junior travelcard, Swiss travelpasses, Eurrail and Interrail passes are valid. The seat reservation supplement must be paid in full.
A seat reservation on the Bernina Express is mandatory. You can reserve your seat online, by telephone on +41 81 288 65 65 or at any ticket office in Europe (by telephone or at train stations, at the earliest three months before the date of travel).
The seat reservation per direction and person is:
Bernina Express
Saison A: 01.06. - 30.09.2023, CHF 26.00
Saison B: 01.03. - 31.05.2023/01.10. - 31.10.2023, CHF 24.00
Saison C: 01.11. - 9.12.2023, CHF 20.00
Prices subject to change.
Children under the age of 6 travel free of charge. Children aged 6 to 16 pay half the fare. The seat reservation supplement must be paid in full for everyone.
Half-Fare travelcard, GA travelcard, 1-day-travelpass, municipal 1-day-travelpass, Junior travelcard, Swiss travelpasses, Eurrail and Interrail passes are valid. The seat reservation supplement must be paid in full.
Timetable 2022/23
Routes:
Chur – Tirano – Chur (all year, daily)
Tirano – Chur – Tirano (summer)
St. Moritz – Tirano – St. Moritz (summer)
Tirano – St. Moritz – Tirano (summer, 26.12.2022 – 08.01.2023, 07.12.2023 – 09.12.2023)
Those who want to experience even more Italian flavour can continue their panoramic journey from Tirano on the red Bernina Express Bus. Passing the expansive vineyards of the Valtellina, going through picturesque villages and along Lake Como, the journey takes you to Lugano – and from there at high speed through the Gotthard Base Tunnel back to German-speaking Switzerland.
Route: Lugano Stazione Nord – Tirano – Lugano Stazione Nord
Runs:
16.02. – 26.03.2023 (Thu-Sun)
30.03. – 22.10.2023 (daily)
26.10. – 26.11.2023 (Thu-Sun)
5950
5951
Lugano Stazione Nord
dep. 10.00
arr. 17.30
Tirano
arr. 13.00
dep. 14.20
Mandatory seat reservation for Bernina Express Bus
Season A: 01.06. - 30.09.2023, CHF 16.00
Season B: 01.03. - 31.05.2023/01.10. - 31.10.2023, CHF 14.00
Season C: 01.11. - 9.12.2023, CHF 10.00
Prices subject to change.
Children under the age of 6 travel free of charge. Children aged 6 to 16 pay half the fare. The seat reservation supplement must be paid in full for everyone.
Half-Fare travelcard, GA travelcard, 1-day-travelpass, municipal 1-day-travelpass, Junior travelcard, Swiss travelpasses, Eurrail and Interrail passes are valid. The seat reservation supplement must be paid in full.
Useful information
Travelling with a disability
The Rhaetian Railway does everything it can to make travelling by train as pleasant an experience as possible for people with impaired mobility. And that also includes the journey on the Bernina Express. We recommend the following procedure for booking and organising your trip:
Option 1
There are special seats available on the Bernina Express for passengers with impaired mobility who cannot leave their wheelchair. These seats must be booked using our Railservice by calling +41 81 288 65 65 or sending an e-mail to railservice(at)rhb.ch
Option 2
Passengers with impaired mobility who can leave their wheelchairs can book their seats themselves at a station or online.
In both cases it is important that the passenger pre-orders the boarding and alighting assistance from the SBB Call Center Handicap by calling 0800 007 102 or sending an e-mail to mobil(at)sbb.ch
Self-service bicycle transport is not allowed on the Bernina Express. Please use the marked compartments or luggage cars on the regional (Regio) trains.
Dogs are allowed on the Bernina Express and do not require a reservation. Depending on the size of the dog, a dog ticket is required. Information can be found here .
Please make sure you have the necessary documents with you for crossing the border into Italy.
