--- title: "Bernina Express (2026): Route, Times, Fares, Reservations" description: "The Bernina Express from Chur or St. Moritz to Tirano: 2026 timetable, fares, CHF 32 to 44 reservations, Pullman Class, regional trains, luggage and access." url: "https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/bernina-express-guide" image: "https://www.mobeeinternational.com/_astro/01M5J4124N032YAG2VKX9Q1D4S.ChJAUCo6_1LbmRh.jpg" --- 1. [Home](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/) 2. [Travel insights](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles) 3. Bernina Express Guide: Route, 2026 Timetable, Fares and Reservations [Travel insights](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles) # Bernina Express Guide: Route, 2026 Timetable, Fares and Reservations The Bernina Express from Chur or St. Moritz to Tirano: 2026 timetable, fares, CHF 32 to 44 reservations, Pullman Class, regional trains, luggage and access. By [Valentine Julien](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/team/valentine-julien), Global Manager · Published on October 22, 2026 · 8 min read ![Interlaken](/_astro/01M5J4124N032YAG2VKX9Q1D4S.ChJAUCo6_AynzJ.webp) The Bernina Express is the red panoramic train that crosses the Alps from Chur or St. Moritz in Switzerland to Tirano in Italy. The full ride from Chur takes about four hours and twenty minutes, the shorter St. Moritz to Tirano section about two hours and fifteen minutes, and a seat reservation is mandatory on every train: CHF 32 (about $40) on the short route and CHF 40 to CHF 44 on the long one in 2026, on top of your ticket or Swiss Travel Pass. ## Route: Chur or St. Moritz to Tirano The Bernina Express runs on two lines of the Rhaetian Railway (RhB) that together have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2008: - **The Albula line (Chur to St. Moritz):** spiral tunnels between Bergün and Preda, and the Landwasser Viaduct near Filisur, the curved stone bridge that runs straight into a tunnel in the cliff. This is also the last stretch of the [Glacier Express](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/glacier-express-guide). - **The Bernina line (St. Moritz to Tirano):** RhB describes it as the highest transalpine railway and one of the steepest adhesion railways in the world, with no cogwheel. It climbs past Lago Bianco to its highest point at 2,253 m (7,392 ft) at Ospizio Bernina, then drops past the Palü Glacier at Alp Grüm, through Poschiavo and Le Prese, and around the Brusio Circular Viaduct, a full stone loop in a meadow, before rolling into the main street of Tirano. Across the whole route the train crosses 196 bridges and runs through 55 tunnels. In four hours you go from glaciers to chestnut trees and vineyards, which is the real point of this ride. ### Which section to ride | Section | Time | What you see | Best for | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Chur to Tirano | about 4 h 20 min to 4 h 30 min | Albula line, Landwasser Viaduct, Bernina Pass, Brusio | Travelers coming from Zurich or Lucerne | | St. Moritz to Tirano | about 2 h 15 min to 2 h 25 min | Bernina Pass, Lago Bianco, Alp Grüm, Brusio | Travelers already staying in the Engadin | | Davos to Tirano | regional train to Filisur, then the Bernina Express | Same as from Chur after Filisur | Davos stays | There is no Bernina Express starting in Davos in the 2026 timetable. From Davos, you take a regional train to Filisur and board the Chur train there (it left Filisur at 9:32 a.m. and 2:43 p.m. in summer 2026). When we design a trip, we usually put the full Chur to Tirano ride after a night in Lucerne or Zurich only if the traveler has not already ridden the Albula line on the Glacier Express. If they arrived in St. Moritz by Glacier Express, the short St. Moritz to Tirano section is enough, and it leaves the afternoon free in Tirano or on Lake Como. ## Timetable and seasons in 2026 In the summer timetable (May 2 to October 25, 2026), there were five departures a day in each direction: | Southbound | Departs | Arrives Tirano | | --- | --- | --- | | PE 951 from Chur | 8:17 a.m. | 12:49 p.m. | | PE 971 from St. Moritz | 9:17 a.m. | 11:32 a.m. | | PE 973 from St. Moritz | 1:17 p.m. | 3:31 p.m. | | PE 955 from Chur | 1:34 p.m. | 6:00 p.m. | | PE 977 from St. Moritz | 4:14 p.m. | 6:39 p.m. | | Northbound | Departs Tirano | Arrives | | --- | --- | --- | | PE 950 to Chur | 8:06 a.m. | 12:31 p.m. | | PE 972 to St. Moritz | 10:06 a.m. | 12:35 p.m. | | PE 974 to St. Moritz | 1:17 p.m. | 3:45 p.m. | | PE 952 to Chur | 2:24 p.m. | 6:31 p.m. | | PE 976 to St. Moritz | 4:06 p.m. | 6:25 p.m. | From October 26 to December 12, 2026, the service drops to three trains a day in each direction. The train runs all year, and winter is a real option: the Bernina Pass under snow, fewer passengers and the lower reservation fee. **Autumn 2026 diversion:** from October 29 to November 13, 2026, trains 951 and 952 (the Chur trains) run through the Vereina tunnel via Klosters instead of the Albula line. They skip the Landwasser Viaduct. If you travel in those two weeks, ride from St. Moritz instead, or take a regional train over the Albula line first. The timetable for 2027 starts on December 13, 2026, and RhB opens sales for the new timetable period from mid to late October. Tickets can generally be bought up to six months before travel. ## Tickets and seat reservations You need two things: a **ticket** (or a pass that covers the route) and a **seat reservation** for the specific train. ### 2026 fares (one way, per adult, without reservation) | Route | 2nd class | 1st class | | --- | --- | --- | | Chur to Tirano | CHF 66 (about $82) | CHF 113 (about $140) | | Chur to Poschiavo | CHF 59 | CHF 101 | | St. Moritz to Tirano | CHF 33 | CHF 57 | | St. Moritz to Poschiavo | CHF 25 | CHF 42.60 | Children under 6 travel free, and children 6 to 16 pay half the fare. ### 2026 reservation supplement (per person, same in 1st and 2nd class) | Train | Low season | Peak season (May 2 to Oct 25, 2026) | | --- | --- | --- | | St. Moritz to Tirano | CHF 32 | CHF 32 | | Chur to Tirano | CHF 40 | CHF 44 | Children pay the full supplement. The Swiss Travel Pass, the Swiss Half Fare Card, Eurail and Interrail passes are all valid on the train, but **no pass covers the supplement**. With a Swiss Travel Pass, the whole cost of the long route in peak season is the CHF 44 reservation. Our [Swiss Travel Pass calculator](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/tools/swiss-travel-pass-calculator) adds these reservations for you when it compares the pass with single tickets. RhB also sells a last-minute 2nd-class fare including the reservation, online only, from six days before departure, non-refundable, and a return offer for two people with lunch at CHF 249. Neither has many seats, so we never build a trip around them. **When to book:** for July and August, and for any Saturday in summer, we reserve as soon as the timetable opens. Shoulder-season and winter trains are easier, but the panoramic cars have a fixed number of seats and groups book them early. ## Classes and the Pullman option All Bernina Express cars are panoramic, with windows that curve into the roof, Wi-Fi, a live route map, power sockets at every row and an at-seat trolley service (card payment only). - **2nd class:** two seats on each side of the aisle. Comfortable for a two-hour ride. - **1st class:** a single row of wider seats on one side, so fewer passengers and more elbow room. For the four-hour ride from Chur, this is our default. - **Bernina Express Pullman Class:** a restored 1930s art-deco Pullman car for 32 passengers, St. Moritz to Tirano only, from June 1 to October 25 in 2026. It includes a champagne aperitif, a three-course lunch with wine at the La Gatta winery near Tirano and a guide. Prices in 2026: CHF 490 one way (about $610) or CHF 625 return; Swiss Travel Pass holders pay the lower GA price of CHF 440 or CHF 575. The car is not step-free and has very little luggage space. There is no Excellence Class on the Bernina Express. Travelers who want the full-service experience usually ride the [Glacier Express](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/glacier-express-guide) in Excellence Class and then the Bernina Express in 1st class, or the Pullman car on a day trip from St. Moritz. ## The regional train alternative The red regional trains (R) run on the same Bernina line all day, roughly every hour, with 1st and 2nd class and **windows that open**. Photographers prefer them because the panoramic glass reflects. No panoramic roof, no catering, but bikes are allowed. - Reservation on regional trains is optional, CHF 5 per person, from a limited quota. RhB recommends it on summer weekends. - In summer (June 22 to August 30, 2026), yellow **open-air carriages** ran on three regional trains a day from St. Moritz to Tirano, with no supplement and no individual reservations. - RhB's own tip: from Friday to Sunday, avoid northbound morning trains and southbound afternoon trains, which are the busiest. A plan we often suggest: Bernina Express southbound for the panoramic view, then a regional train back north the next day with the window down at Alp Grüm. ## From Tirano to Lugano or Lake Como Tirano is the end of the line, in Italy's Valtellina. Three options from there: 1. **Bernina Express bus to Lugano:** about three hours through the Valtellina and along the shore of Lake Como, one coach a day each way (Tirano 2:20 p.m. to Lugano 5:30 p.m. in 2026). It ran daily from March 26 to October 25, 2026, and on Thursdays to Sundays in late winter and November. The ticket is CHF 41 one way, plus a CHF 16 to CHF 18 reservation. 2. **Italian train to Lake Como or Milan:** Trenord regional trains leave from the Italian station next door. 3. **Private transfer to Lake Como:** what we arrange for most couples, because it saves dragging bags across two stations and gets you to Bellagio or Varenna for dinner. Our [Lake Como to Switzerland guide](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/lake-como-to-switzerland) covers the same link in the other direction. ## Luggage on board Space is the weak point of this train. Racks exist but RhB itself says storage is limited and asks travelers to bring hand luggage where possible; bags go between and under the seats. The Pullman car has almost no space. Our approach: your suitcases travel separately. RhB forwards luggage at CHF 12 per item (up to 23 kg) with arrival two days later, and SBB runs door-to-door services across Switzerland. We explain the timing trick in our guide to [luggage on Swiss trains](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/luggage-on-swiss-trains). On the day, you carry a daypack with lunch, a layer for the cold at 2,253 m and your passport for Italy. ## Accessibility Some seats on the Bernina Express and on the Bernina Express bus are wheelchair accessible, but they can only be booked through RhB Railservice (+41 81 288 65 65, [railservice@rhb.ch](mailto:railservice@rhb.ch)), not online. Boarding help is ordered separately from the SBB Contact Center Handicap (0800 007 102, or +41 800 007 102 from abroad), at least an hour ahead; RhB uses a mobile lift, ramps or a shuttle where a station is not step-free. The Pullman car and the open-air carriages are not barrier-free. For travelers with reduced mobility, we book 1st class (more space to transfer), reserve the accessible seat by phone and arrange a private transfer from Tirano rather than the coach. ## Our recommendations - **Direction:** southbound is our usual choice, because you end in Italy with Lake Como or Lugano ahead, and the landscape warms up as the day goes on. - **Season:** June and September for green meadows and fewer families on board; January to March for snow on the pass and the lower reservation fee. - **Combine it:** the Bernina Express is the second half of our [Legendary Swiss Trains](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/legendary-swiss-trains) week, after the Glacier Express and the Gornergrat, and it links Switzerland to Italy on our 14-day [Switzerland to Italy by train](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/from-switzerland-to-italy-medieval-towns-outdoor-fun-and-italian-riviera) trip. More rides of the same caliber are in our list of the [best train rides in Switzerland](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/best-train-rides-in-switzerland). If you want the Bernina Express on a specific date, with the right class and a transfer waiting in Tirano, [ask one of our travel designers](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/plan-your-trip) for a custom version. More guides: [Switzerland by train](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/topics/swiss-trains)[Getting around](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/topics/routes) ## Related destinations - [Switzerland](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/countries/switzerland) - [Italy](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/countries/italy) ## Contents Written by ### [Valentine Julien](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/team/valentine-julien) Global Manager · Based in Villefranche-sur-Saône Grew up between the French and Swiss Alps; designs our scenic train and mountain itineraries and has strong opinions about hotels. [More about Valentine](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/team/valentine-julien) ## Trips for this guide - [![Legendary Swiss Trains](/_astro/01M5J4124NCZ8M7GK939T8W5Z8.DuO0OEHt_2ePJvK.webp)**Legendary Swiss Trains: Glacier Express, Bernina & Gornergrat, 7 Days**From €2,199 · 7 days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/legendary-swiss-trains) - [![From Switzerland to Italy : medieval towns, outdoor fun and italian riviera](/_astro/01M5J4124QMGRZKA4DGVWAAVSG.CZhi2FDY_ZKyIQy.webp)**Switzerland to Italy by Train: Alps, Lucerne & Lake Como in 14 Days**From €5,499 · 14 days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/from-switzerland-to-italy-medieval-towns-outdoor-fun-and-italian-riviera) - [![Switzerland : 12 day scenic train rides, mountains, lakes and chocolate](/_astro/01M5J4124NCCP82JJ7FY8RXAQ4.CeI7SiQJ_Z1oIPLB.webp)**Switzerland by Train in 12 Days: Lavaux, Jungfraujoch, Glacier Express**From €3,499 · 12 days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/switzerland-12-day-scenic-train-rides-moutains-lakes-and-chocolate) When you’re ready, we’re ready ## Let us help you plan a trip that feels right Tell us what you’re dreaming about: dates, pace, who you’re traveling with, and what would make it special. A real person will get back to you with thoughtful ideas, not a generic pitch. ## Frequently asked questions ### How long is the Bernina Express? From Chur to Tirano the Bernina Express takes about four hours twenty to four hours thirty minutes, crossing 196 bridges and 55 tunnels. From St. Moritz to Tirano it takes about two hours fifteen minutes. If you add the Bernina Express bus from Tirano to Lugano, count another three hours, so a full Chur to Lugano day lasts around eight hours with the connection. ### Is the Bernina Express covered by the Swiss Travel Pass? The ticket is covered, the seat reservation is not. In 2026 the reservation costs CHF 32 per person between St. Moritz and Tirano, and CHF 40 in low season or CHF 44 in peak season between Chur and Tirano, in both classes. Children pay the same supplement. The Pullman Class has its own all-inclusive price, reduced for pass holders. ### Is the Bernina Express worth it, or is the regional train enough? The regional trains use the same tracks, cost no supplement beyond an optional CHF 5 reservation and have windows that open, so they are better for photography. The Bernina Express adds panoramic roof windows, a trolley service and a guaranteed seat on a busy line. For a first ride we suggest the Express one way and a regional train back. ### Does the Bernina Express run in winter? Yes, it runs all year, with fewer departures than in summer. Snow over Lago Bianco and the Bernina Pass is one of the best reasons to ride it from December to March, and the long-route reservation is cheaper outside the May to October peak. Check for maintenance diversions in late autumn, such as the Vereina tunnel detour in November 2026. ## Plan this trip Day by day, with prices. Each one is reshaped around you. [All itineraries](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages) ![Legendary Swiss Trains](/_astro/01M5J4124NCZ8M7GK939T8W5Z8.DuO0OEHt_1szWel.webp) 7 days / 6 nights ### [Legendary Swiss Trains: Glacier Express, Bernina & Gornergrat, 7 Days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/legendary-swiss-trains) Six nights by train from Interlaken to Lucerne, with the GoldenPass, the Gornergrat, the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express, in 4-star hotels beside each station. For first-time visitors who want the big views without a car. From **€2,199** per person ![From Switzerland to Italy : medieval towns, outdoor fun and italian riviera](/_astro/01M5J4124QMGRZKA4DGVWAAVSG.CZhi2FDY_Z1wOw8X.webp) 14 days / 13 nights ### [Switzerland to Italy by Train: Alps, Lucerne & Lake Como in 14 Days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/from-switzerland-to-italy-medieval-towns-outdoor-fun-and-italian-riviera) Thirteen nights from Zurich to Milan by train: Rhine Falls, kayaking on Lake Brienz, the Schilthorn, a via ferrata, Rigi, Lugano, Lake Como and the Borromean Islands. Central 3-star hotels; an active trip with full days. From **€5,499** per person ![Switzerland : 12 day scenic train rides, mountains, lakes and chocolate](/_astro/01M5J4124NCCP82JJ7FY8RXAQ4.CeI7SiQJ_Z2aYD41.webp) 12 days / 11 nights ### [Switzerland by Train in 12 Days: Lavaux, Jungfraujoch, Glacier Express](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/switzerland-12-day-scenic-train-rides-moutains-lakes-and-chocolate) Eleven nights by train from Montreux to Zurich: Lavaux, the Chocolate Train, Jungfraujoch, Zermatt and the Glacier Express to St. Moritz. Well-placed 3-star hotels keep the price down; we upgrade one or two stops on request. From **€3,499** per person ## More to read [All articles](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles) ![Chamonix, Chamonix Adventure Week: Rafting, Aiguille du Midi & Annecy in 7 Days](/_astro/01M5J4124KP7N37VC1YFM7P6DZ.CPvoeehz_Z1Iz5o6.webp) Italy ### [Recharge in Europe: The Art of Traveling for Your Well-Being](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/recharge-in-europe-the-art-of-traveling-for-your-well-being) The most restorative journeys are not the ones that take you furthest from home. They are the ones that bring you back to yourself. ![7 days in Switzerland : mountains, lakes and chocolate](/_astro/01M5J4124MCR5WBXAPXY8BMN83.COn9YTWr_Z1l0N9k.webp) Switzerland ### [Jungfraujoch vs Gornergrat vs Schilthorn: Which to Choose?](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/jungfraujoch-vs-gornergrat-vs-schilthorn) Jungfraujoch vs Gornergrat vs Schilthorn: cost, travel time, views and altitude compared, plus which summit fits your base and our weather rule for going up. ![Lavaux](/_astro/01M5J4124NY4C9KPA7XMMMF47R.B6tA9Lv8_tjsRe.webp) Switzerland ### [Interlaken vs Lucerne: Which Swiss Base Is Right for You](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/interlaken-vs-lucerne) Interlaken vs Lucerne: lake city or high Alps? Compare excursions, weather, cost, where to sleep and how many nights, from designers who book both every week. Tailor-made, from France ## Let us help you plan a trip that feels right Tell us what you’re dreaming about: dates, pace, who you’re traveling with, and what would make it special. A real person will get back to you with thoughtful ideas, not a generic pitch. 1. 1Share your dates and wishes 2. 2Get a priced itinerary within 48 hours 3. 3Refine it together, then travel 9 travel designers in Lyon and Nice reply to every request themselves. ★★★★★ > “A wonderful travel partner” Carol W., Seattle, WA · 4.8/5 on 273 reviews - [US+1 607 354 8896](tel:+16073548896) - [Europe+33 4 26 30 36 82](tel:+33426303682) - [contact@mobeeinternational.com](mailto:contact@mobeeinternational.com) Two minutes, three steps. 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