Glacier Express
The self-deprecating 'slowest express in the world' takes around eight hours between Zermatt and St Moritz, crossing 291 bridges and the 2,033-metre Oberalp Pass while lunch is served at your seat.
- Best forCouples · Photographers · Luxury seekers
- In October3°C · 15 rainy days
- Ideal stayA full day, plus a night at either end
- Approx. flying time~11h 55m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyCHFSwiss franc
- LanguageGerman, French, Italian and Romansh
- Local time12:261h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / JBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+41
Why go
Around eight hours between Zermatt and St Moritz on a metre-gauge line that crosses 291 bridges, threads 91 tunnels and tops out at the 2,033-metre Oberalp Pass. Panoramic carriages have curved windows and a meal served at the seat. The pace is deliberate, which is the joke buried in the name, and nothing about the journey is remotely express.
Doing the full length in one sitting is a long day and a considerable expense. The alternative is riding the best sections, Zermatt to Andermatt or Chur to St Moritz, on scheduled regional trains with an ordinary ticket and identical scenery. Reservations are compulsory on the panoramic service and open months ahead. Winter, with the Rhine gorge under snow, is arguably the better season.
- Ideal stay
- A full day, plus a night at either end
- The vibe
- Slow, panoramic, engineered grandeur
From our guides
Full-length it's a splurge; the smart economy is riding just the best section — Zermatt to Andermatt, or Chur to St Moritz — on regular trains with a normal ticket. Winter arguably beats summer: the Rhine gorge under snow is otherworldly.
Featured in Ten mountain railways with views you won't believe
Things to do
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Landwasser Viaduct
A curved six-arch viaduct that runs straight into a cliff-face tunnel, on the UNESCO-listed Albula line near Filisur.
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Rhine Gorge
Switzerland's limestone canyon between Ilanz and Reichenau, with white walls above the young Rhine and particularly good under snow.
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Oberalp Pass
The line's high point at 2,033 metres, a bare saddle above Andermatt with a lake and the source of the Rhine nearby.
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Zermatt and the Matterhorn
The western terminus sits below the mountain, and the village is car-free, so most people build in a night at either end.
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Albula spiral tunnels
The climb towards the Albula tunnel loops through helical tunnels and viaducts to gain height in a very narrow valley.
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The Engadine at St Moritz
The eastern end opens into a high lake valley with its own language, Romansh, and a long walking and skiing season.
Getting there
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Fly to
Geneva (GVA)
Nearest airport to Glacier Express, about 85km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Zermatt
Bern (BRN) is the nearest airport, about three hours to Zermatt by train via Visp, but most people arrive through Zurich or Geneva, each around three and a half hours by rail. The final stretch from Visp is on the Matterhorn Gotthard line.
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On the ground
Getting around
The train is the attraction: roughly eight hours end to end between Zermatt and St Moritz, or half a day if you ride only the Zermatt to Andermatt or Chur to St Moritz sections on ordinary regional trains.
Public transport: This is public transport at its finest. Seats on the panoramic train must be reserved, and a Swiss Travel Pass covers most of the fare.
Flights
Los Angeles Glacier Express, Switzerland
Fly from anywhere — search 4,000+ airports worldwide.
Roughly 11h 55m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
Check dates and prices
Pick your departure date, then your return.
Search flightsNot sure when? Compare fares across a whole month.
Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about -10°C in January to 10°C in July. Driest January to April and November; wettest in June, with rain on about 20 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
October3° · rain 15 daysCold and often wet.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Along the line you book Swiss three-star hotels and gasthofs, plus serviced apartments in the resorts. There is no sleeper accommodation; this is a daytime train.
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Best base overall
Zermatt
The western terminus, car-free and comfortable, with the Matterhorn as an alarm clock and the train leaving from the village station. It is the most expensive night on the line.
Find stays in Zermatt -
Best with children
Andermatt
The midpoint, and the sensible place to break a long day into two shorter ones. Sledging, easy walks and a village that has smartened up considerably in recent years.
Find stays in Andermatt -
Best value
Brig
A working Valais town on the route with hotels at a fraction of resort prices, the Stockalper palace to fill an afternoon and trains in every direction.
Find stays in Brig -
Best for couples
St Moritz
The eastern terminus, all lake, light and Engadine glamour. Prices match the reputation, which is why many people ride only as far as Chur and stay there.
Find stays in St Moritz
Worth knowing before you book: Seat reservations on the panoramic train are compulsory and charged on top of any rail pass, and summer departures sell out weeks ahead.
Search everything else in Zermatt by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Book ahead
- Seat reservations are mandatory on the panoramic trains, and popular summer and Christmas dates go months in advance.
- Timing
- One direction fills an entire day, so plan a night at each end rather than a return. Winter departures are less frequent.
- Pack this
- Patience with photography. The curved panoramic windows reflect badly and do not open, so the view is better enjoyed than shot.
- Getting there
- Zermatt is car-free and reached by train from Täsch, while St Moritz connects through Chur to the rest of the Swiss network.
- Cash or card
- Meals and drinks on board are charged separately unless included in your package. Cards are accepted throughout.
Nearby destinations
The Bernese Oberland
Switzerland · 18km away →
Lavaux
Switzerland · 41km away →
Morzine
France · 41km away →
Oeschinensee
Switzerland · 44km away →
Lac Blanc
Chamonix, France · 45km away →
Les Gets
France · 46km away →Elsewhere in Switzerland
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Glacier Express?
Daytime highs run from about -10°C in January to 10°C in July. Driest January to April and November; wettest in June, with rain on about 20 days.
How long should I spend in Glacier Express?
Our suggestion: a full day, plus a night at either end.
How do I get to Glacier Express?
Bern (BRN) is the nearest airport, about three hours to Zermatt by train via Visp, but most people arrive through Zurich or Geneva, each around three and a half hours by rail. The final stretch from Visp is on the Matterhorn Gotthard line.
Do I need a car in Glacier Express?
No. This is public transport at its finest. Seats on the panoramic train must be reserved, and a Swiss Travel Pass covers most of the fare.
What currency and language are used in Glacier Express?
Currency: Swiss franc (CHF). Language: German, French, Italian and Romansh. Plugs: type C and J.
Who is Glacier Express best for?
Best for couples, photographers and luxury seekers. In a phrase: slow, panoramic, engineered grandeur.