Swiss Scenic Trains Compared: Glacier, Bernina, GoldenPass and Gotthard (2026)

Switzerland’s famous scenic trains are the Glacier Express, the Bernina Express, the GoldenPass Express and the Gotthard Panorama Express, plus the Luzern-Interlaken Express as an everyday panoramic line. If you can ride only one, take the Bernina Express: four hours from Chur or two from St. Moritz, a glacier, a pass and Italy, for CHF 110 in second class or CHF 44 with a Swiss Travel Pass in summer 2026. The Glacier Express is the grand eight-hour classic (CHF 220, or CHF 54 with the pass), the GoldenPass Express the easiest add-on between Lake Geneva and Interlaken (CHF 76, or CHF 20 with the pass). On all of them you pay a seat reservation even with a pass, and on every line there is a cheaper regular train on the same tracks. We have not ridden these panoramic trains ourselves; we drove through the Bernese Oberland in July 2026, and this hub compares them with the operators’ 2026 prices. More planning topics are in good to know before you go.

Which scenic train should you choose?

Choose by your route, not by fame. Each scenic train is a link between two regions, so the best one is the one that connects places you want to visit anyway. Only if you have a free day and want a pure excursion should the scenery alone decide; then the Bernina Express gives the most for the least time and money.

• Zermatt and St. Moritz on your trip: the Glacier Express, or a section of it.
• Graubünden, the Engadin or Lake Como: the Bernina Express, with the bus to Lugano.
• Geneva or Montreux and the Bernese Oberland: the GoldenPass Express.
• Lucerne and Ticino: the Gotthard Panorama Express, in season from April to October.
• Lucerne and Interlaken: the Luzern-Interlaken Express, hourly and without compulsory reservation.
• Travelling with a dog: every train here except the Glacier Express allows dogs.

We travel with our dog Miley, which already rules out the Glacier Express for us. For a first trip without a car, our own pick would be the Luzern-Interlaken Express into the Bernese Oberland and, on a longer tour, the Bernina Express from St. Moritz.

What they really cost: tickets and reservations

Every scenic train costs a normal ticket plus a seat reservation, and the reservation is never covered by a pass or discounted with the Half Fare Card. So with a Swiss Travel Pass you pay CHF 20 to 54 per trip; without a pass the full ticket comes on top.

The Half Fare figures are half the ticket plus the full reservation. The Swiss Travel Pass covers all the tickets; it pays off on scenic trains mainly because they are long journeys, as our guide is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it shows with real calculations. For an overview of all passes, from the Half Fare Card to regional passes, see our guide to Swiss rail passes.

Glacier Express

The Glacier Express runs about eight hours from Zermatt to St. Moritz over the Oberalp Pass at 2,033 metres and the Landwasser Viaduct. In 2026 it costs CHF 166 in second class plus a CHF 54 reservation; Excellence Class costs a CHF 590 reservation on top of a first-class ticket.

It is the most famous and most expensive of the scenic trains, with meals served at your seat. Reservations open 93 days ahead, cannot be changed or cancelled when booked online, and dogs are not allowed. The train takes a break from October 11 to December 4, 2026. All details, the section fares and the cheaper regional route are in our Glacier Express guide.

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Bernina Express

The Bernina Express runs from Chur or St. Moritz over the Bernina Pass to Tirano in Italy, through a UNESCO World Heritage railway with 196 bridges and 55 tunnels. In summer 2026 Chur to Tirano costs CHF 66 plus a CHF 44 reservation, St. Moritz to Tirano CHF 33 plus CHF 32.

From Tirano the Bernina Express bus continues to Lugano in about three hours. On the same line, the Rhaetian Railway’s regional trains run more often with an optional CHF 5 reservation and windows that open. Dogs are allowed. Prices, timetable and the bus are in our Bernina Express guide.

GoldenPass Express and Luzern-Interlaken Express

The GoldenPass Express links Montreux and Interlaken in about 3 hours 15 minutes without a change, switching track gauge at Zweisimmen with you on board. It costs CHF 56 in second class plus a CHF 20 reservation; Prestige Class with raised, heated seats costs CHF 49 on top of a first-class ticket.

Together with the Luzern-Interlaken Express over the Brünig Pass, it forms the “GoldenPass Line” from Lake Lucerne to Lake Geneva. The Luzern-Interlaken Express is the easy one: hourly, about two hours, CHF 34, reservation optional. It also stops in Brienz, where we stayed for our week, and runs past Lake Lungern, which we saw from the Brünig road on our arrival day. Both trains are covered by the Swiss Travel Pass and, according to Swiss Activities, by the Bernese Oberland Pass. More in our GoldenPass Express guide.

Gotthard Panorama Express

The Gotthard Panorama Express combines a boat across Lake Lucerne to Flüelen with a first-class panoramic train over the historic Gotthard line to Lugano, in about five and a half hours. Swiss Activities sells the complete trip for CHF 164; pass holders pay a compulsory supplement of CHF 24 including the reservation.

It runs only from spring to autumn: the 2026 season ended on October 18, the 2027 season starts on April 17. Luggage transport between Lucerne and Lugano is included. The cheaper alternative is a regular boat plus the hourly Treno Gottardo over the same mountain line. Details in our Gotthard Panorama Express guide.

Other scenic lines

Beyond the big four, several lines are scenic without the label “Express” and without compulsory reservations: the Voralpen-Express from St. Gallen to Lucerne, the Centovalli Railway from Locarno to Domodossola, the Palm Express postbus from St. Moritz to Lugano, and the mountain railways themselves.

• Voralpen-Express: St. Gallen to Lucerne through the pre-Alps, crossing Lake Zurich at Rapperswil; Swiss Activities sells the ticket from CHF 51.
• Centovalli Railway: a narrow-gauge line from Locarno through a hundred valleys to Domodossola in Italy, often combined with a return via the Simplon.
• Palm Express: a PostBus line from St. Moritz over the Maloja Pass to Lugano, with compulsory reservation; Swiss Activities lists it from CHF 92.
• Cogwheel and steam railways: short but spectacular, such as the Brienz Rothorn steam railway in the Bernese Oberland.

The Brienz Rothorn railway is the one historic train we saw up close. On July 8, 2026, we went up the Brienzer Rothorn by cable car from Sörenberg and watched the red steam trains climb the last bends below the summit. The return from Brienz costs CHF 98, half price with a pass or the Half Fare Card.

The cheaper way: regular trains on the same tracks

On every scenic route a regular train runs on the same or almost the same tracks, without compulsory reservation and usually more often. You give up the panoramic windows and the onboard service, and gain flexibility, windows that open and a lower price.

Our honest advice: if budget matters, use the regular trains and spend the savings on one mountain excursion. If it is your once-in-a-lifetime trip, book one scenic train on the section you care most about and use regular trains for the rest.

Combining them on a round trip

The scenic trains connect into a loop around Switzerland: Lucerne to Interlaken, Interlaken to Montreux, then to Zermatt, Zermatt to St. Moritz, St. Moritz to Tirano and Lugano, and Lugano back to Lucerne. That takes at least six or seven travel days and suits an 8-day or 15-day Swiss Travel Pass.

1. Lucerne to Interlaken: Luzern-Interlaken Express, about 2 hours. Stay in the Bernese Oberland, see our Bernese Oberland guide.
2. Interlaken to Montreux: GoldenPass Express, about 3 hours 15 minutes.
3. Montreux to Zermatt: regular trains via Visp, about two and a half to three hours.
4. Zermatt to St. Moritz: Glacier Express, about 8 hours.
5. St. Moritz to Tirano and Lugano: Bernina Express and bus.
6. Lugano to Lucerne: Gotthard Panorama Express in season, otherwise the Treno Gottardo.

With a Swiss Travel Pass the reservations for such a loop add up to about CHF 150 to 165 per person, with a first-class pass for the Gotthard Panorama Express. If you fly into Zurich, our guide from Zurich Airport to Interlaken covers the first leg, and for the winter months see our tips for Switzerland in winter by train.

FAQ: Swiss scenic trains

Which is the best scenic train in Switzerland?

For most visitors the Bernina Express, because it combines a glacier, a mountain pass and Italy in two to four hours at a moderate price. The Glacier Express is the most famous, but it takes eight hours and costs twice as much.

Are scenic trains included in the Swiss Travel Pass?

The tickets are, the seat reservations are not. With the pass you pay CHF 20 for the GoldenPass Express, CHF 32 to 44 for the Bernina Express and CHF 54 for the Glacier Express.

Do I need a reservation for Swiss scenic trains?

Yes for the Glacier, Bernina and Gotthard Panorama Express and for Prestige Class on the GoldenPass Express. On the Luzern-Interlaken Express and regular trains it is optional.

Which scenic trains allow dogs?

The Bernina Express, GoldenPass Express, Gotthard Panorama Express and all regular trains, with a dog ticket for larger dogs. The Glacier Express does not allow dogs, except assistance dogs.

Which scenic trains run in winter?

The Bernina Express, GoldenPass Express and Luzern-Interlaken Express run all year, the Glacier Express from December 5, 2026. The Gotthard Panorama Express only runs from April to October.

Is there a cheaper alternative to the panoramic trains?

Yes. Regular trains run on the same tracks without compulsory reservation, often with windows that open, which photographers prefer.

Pick the scenic train that fits your route, check the season and book the reservation in time. Each train has its own guide with prices and tips, and more Swiss trips start on the Swiss Detours home page.