Switzerland in Winter by Train: Glacier Express, Jungfrau Region and What Runs in 2026/27
+5Switzerland works very well by train in winter: the Glacier Express runs from December 5, 2026 to May 7, 2027, the Bernina Express and the GoldenPass Express run all year, and the Jungfraujoch, the Schilthorn, Grindelwald First and Rigi stay open. What does not run in winter: the boats on Lake Brienz, the Gotthard Panorama Express, the Bernina Express bus to Lugano, and summer mountains such as the Brienzer Rothorn, Harder Kulm and Schynige Platte. A Glacier Express seat reservation costs CHF 54 on top of the ticket or pass, the ticket from Zermatt to St. Moritz CHF 159 in second class (CHF 166 from mid-December), and the Swiss Travel Pass covers all trains. Below you find what runs and what does not, the winter dates and prices for every panoramic train, a 7-day winter route and our honest tips. We travelled the Bernese Oberland in July 2026, not in winter, so everything here comes from the operators’ winter timetables and price lists, checked in October 2026.
Glacier Express seat reservation for CHF 54 (about US$65), mandatory on every journey, also with a Swiss Travel Pass; winter trains from December 5, 2026, free cancellation up to 24 hours before (Oct 2026).
Reserve Glacier Express seatsSwitzerland in winter by train at a glance
| Train, boat or mountain | Winter 2026/27 | Price from (adult) |
|---|---|---|
| Glacier Express | Runs December 5, 2026 to May 7, 2027; no trains October 11 to December 4 | Ticket CHF 159 to 166, reservation CHF 54 |
| Bernina Express train | Runs all year | St. Moritz to Tirano CHF 33, reservation CHF 32 |
| Bernina Express bus Tirano to Lugano | No service in winter | in season CHF 41 plus reservation CHF 18 |
| GoldenPass Express | Runs all year | Ticket CHF 56, reservation CHF 20 |
| Gotthard Panorama Express | No service in winter (season April 18 to October 18, 2026) | CHF 164 in season |
| Jungfraujoch | Open every day of the year; lower winter fares | see operator for winter prices |
| Lake Lucerne, Lake Thun boats | Run all year with reduced timetable | Lake Lucerne winter day pass CHF 53 |
| Lake Brienz boats | No boats from December 7 to early April |
Timetables and fares from glacierexpress.ch, Jungfrau Railways, SGV, BLS and Swiss Activities (checked October 19, 2026). US dollars at 1 CHF = 1.21 USD.
- What runs in winter and what does not
- Glacier Express in winter
- Bernina Express in winter
- GoldenPass Express and Luzern-Interlaken Express
- Jungfrau Region in winter
- Lakes and boats in winter
- Which pass for a winter train trip?
- A 7-day winter route by train
- Tips for winter train travel
- Honest downsides
- FAQ
What runs in winter and what does not
All main rail lines, the famous panoramic trains Glacier Express, Bernina Express and GoldenPass Express, the big winter mountains and the boats on Lake Lucerne and Lake Thun run in winter. Closed are the summer-only mountains, the Lake Brienz boats, the Gotthard Panorama Express and several gorges and waterfalls.
| Runs in winter | Closed in winter |
|---|---|
| Glacier Express (from December 5, 2026) | Gotthard Panorama Express |
| Bernina Express train Chur and St. Moritz to Tirano | Bernina Express bus Tirano to Lugano |
| GoldenPass Express Montreux to Interlaken | Lake Brienz boats (December 7 to early April) |
| Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn, Grindelwald First, Männlichen | Brienzer Rothorn (steam train June 6 to October 25, 2026) |
| Rigi, Titlis, Gornergrat, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise | Harder Kulm (until November 29, 2026), Schynige Platte |
| Oeschinensee gondola (winter season from December 5, 2026) | Pilatus cogwheel railway; the cable cars from Kriens run |
| Lake Lucerne and Lake Thun boats, reduced timetable | Trümmelbach Falls, Aare Gorge, Rosenlaui Gorge |
We know several of the closed places from our summer week: we watched the steam trains of the Brienz Rothorn Railway on July 8, 2026, and walked through the Aare Gorge and the Rosenlaui Gorge, all of which close for the winter. Plan those for a summer trip.
Glacier Express in winter
The Glacier Express runs in winter from December 5, 2026 to May 7, 2027, with one or two trains a day in each direction between Zermatt and St. Moritz, about 7 hours 45 minutes. It does not run from October 11 to December 4, 2026. In winter the snow makes the Oberalp Pass and the Rhine Gorge the most spectacular part of the journey.
| Glacier Express winter 2026/27, Zermatt to St. Moritz | Train 920 | Train 9022 |
|---|---|---|
| Runs | December 12 to January 3 and January 30 to May 7 | every day of the winter timetable |
| Zermatt | dep. 7:50 | dep. 8:50 |
| Andermatt | arr. 10:46 | arr. 11:46 |
| Chur | arr. 13:25 | arr. 14:25 |
| St. Moritz | arr. 15:37 | arr. 16:37 |
- Ticket: Zermatt to St. Moritz CHF 159 in second class and CHF 272 in first class at the October 2026 fare; Swiss Activities already shows CHF 166 and CHF 284 for travel dates from mid-December, which matches the 2027 prices on MySwissAlps. With the Half Fare Card from CHF 79.50.
- Reservation: mandatory, CHF 54 per person and journey in first or second class, also with the Swiss Travel Pass, GA, Interrail or Eurail. Bookable up to 93 days before travel; reservations for December onwards open in mid-October.
- Excellence Class: CHF 590 per person and journey on top of a first-class ticket or pass, also in winter.
- Cheapest without a pass: a Saver Day Pass from CHF 52 plus the reservation of CHF 54, so from CHF 106 for the whole route, if you book early.
- Construction: from April 17 to May 2, 2027, buses replace the train between Chur and Disentis in the Rhine Gorge. Avoid those dates if you can.
Book the reservation first and only then the ticket, as Swiss Activities advises: the ticket is not refundable, and reservations are limited even when tickets are available. More details, including which side to sit on, are in our Glacier Express guide.
Bernina Express in winter
The Bernina Express train runs all year from Chur and St. Moritz over the Bernina Pass to Tirano in Italy, and in winter it crosses a snowy landscape at more than 2,200 metres. The connecting Bernina Express bus from Tirano to Lugano does not run in winter; in 2026 it ran from March 23 to October 25.
- Ticket: St. Moritz to Tirano CHF 33 in second class, Chur to Tirano CHF 66.
- Reservation: mandatory on the panoramic train, CHF 32 from St. Moritz and CHF 40 to 44 from Chur, depending on the date. The Swiss Travel Pass and GA cover the ticket, not the reservation.
- Travel time: St. Moritz to Tirano 2 hours 12 minutes to 2 hours 35 minutes; Chur to Tirano about 4 hours.
- Bring your passport: Tirano is in Italy.
Without the bus to Lugano, the winter Bernina day is a round trip: St. Moritz to Tirano and back, with lunch in Tirano. Our Bernina Express guide covers both directions and the summer bus.
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GoldenPass Express and Luzern-Interlaken Express
The GoldenPass Express runs all year between Montreux and Interlaken Ost, direct in about 3 hours 15 minutes without changing in Zweisimmen. The Luzern-Interlaken Express also runs daily and takes about 1 hour 50 minutes over the Brünig Pass, past Lake Lungern and along Lake Brienz.
- GoldenPass Express: ticket from Interlaken Ost or Montreux from CHF 56, optional reservation CHF 20, Prestige Class supplement CHF 49 on top of a first-class ticket.
- Luzern-Interlaken Express: ticket from CHF 34, optional reservation CHF 16; included in the Bernese Oberland Pass.
- Passes: the Swiss Travel Pass covers both trains; reservations and the Prestige supplement are extra.
We drove the Brünig road and along Lake Brienz several times in July 2026; in winter, when the pass road can be snowy, the train is the relaxed way to see the same landscape. Details in our guide to the GoldenPass Express.
Jungfrau Region in winter
The Jungfrau Region is the best winter base for non-skiers who travel by train: the Jungfraujoch is open every day of the year with lower winter fares, the long sledding runs around Grindelwald and Wengen open with the snow, and the Jungfrau Travel Pass allows sledding and winter hiking in its area.
- Jungfraujoch: open all year; from November to April fares are lower and the seat reservation is optional. The winter fares for 2026/27 were not fully published when we checked; see our Jungfraujoch ticket guide.
- Jungfrau Travel Pass winter: from CHF 210 for three days in 2026 (CHF 165 with Half Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass), CHF 220 and CHF 170 on later winter dates; no ski pass included, but sledding and winter hiking within its area are allowed. The Jungfraujoch connecting ticket costs CHF 63 outside the summer reservation period. Our Jungfrau Travel Pass guide has the full table.
- Sledding: Eiger Run, Big Pintenfritz, Fox Run and night sledging from CHF 29; see our guide to sledding in Grindelwald.
- Schilthorn: open all year as part of the Mürren ski area; winter timetable on the operator’s website.
- Grindelwald First: reopens after the maintenance break (in 2026 reportedly from November 28); First Flyer and Glider run in winter too.
Glacier Express seat reservation for CHF 54 (about US$65), mandatory on every journey, also with a Swiss Travel Pass; winter trains from December 5, 2026, free cancellation up to 24 hours before (Oct 2026).
Reserve Glacier Express seatsLakes and boats in winter
Lake Lucerne and Lake Thun have boats all year, Lake Brienz does not. On Lake Lucerne a reduced timetable runs from November to March, Lucerne, Weggis and Vitznau are served daily, and the winter day pass costs CHF 53; the lunch cruise also runs. The BLS boats on Lake Brienz stop on December 6, 2026 and start again in early April.
A winter boat trip is a good plan B for a cloudy day, when the high mountains are hidden. Fares, routes and the winter pass are in our guide to Lake Lucerne cruises; for the summer boats on the turquoise lake near Interlaken see our Lake Brienz boat guide.
Which pass for a winter train trip?
For a winter round trip with the Glacier Express, Bernina Express and several long transfers, the Swiss Travel Pass is usually the simplest choice, because it covers every train and you only add the reservations. For a week in one region, a regional pass or the Half Fare Card is cheaper.
- Swiss Travel Pass: CHF 309 for 4 days, CHF 399 for 6 days and CHF 439 for 8 days in second class in 2026; covers the Glacier, Bernina and GoldenPass Express, reservations extra. Check the price for your start date if you travel in 2027. Our Swiss Travel Pass guide has a two-minute rule to check your route.
- Swiss Travel Pass Flex: worth it if you stay in one place for several days between long train days; see our guide to Swiss Travel Pass Flex or consecutive.
- Half Fare Card: CHF 150 for a month; halves the Glacier Express ticket (from CHF 79.50) and most mountain railways.
- Saver Day Pass: from CHF 52 for one long train day, ideal for the Glacier Express day if booked early; see our Saver Day Pass guide.
- Jungfrau Travel Pass: the best choice for three or more winter days around Interlaken and Grindelwald.
Our overview of Swiss rail passes compares all of them by type of trip.
Travelling without a car? The Swiss Travel Pass covers trains, buses and boats across the country and gives discounts on many mountain railways. Our pass guide shows when it pays off. Tip: Klook often shows discount codes at checkout (in October 2026 for example 5% off orders over US$300); whether one applies to the pass you see in the cart.
Check Swiss Travel Pass pricesA 7-day winter route by train
This route links Lucerne, the Jungfrau Region, Zermatt and the Engadine in seven days, with the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express as highlights. It works from mid-December to early May; avoid April 17 to May 2, 2027 because of the Rhine Gorge closure.
- Day 1, Zurich to Lucerne: 41 to 50 minutes by train; afternoon in the old town or a winter boat on the lake.
- Day 2, Rigi: by train via Arth-Goldau or Vitznau; free with the Swiss Travel Pass. Winter hiking and sledging on the Rigi.
- Day 3, Luzern-Interlaken Express to Interlaken: about 1 hour 50 minutes over the Brünig Pass; evening in Interlaken or Grindelwald.
- Day 4, Jungfrau Region: Jungfraujoch on a clear day, or the Eiger Run by sled and night sledging at Alpiglen on Fridays and Saturdays.
- Day 5, Interlaken to Zermatt: about 2.5 hours with changes in Spiez and Visp; afternoon Gornergrat with the Matterhorn in snow.
- Day 6, Glacier Express to St. Moritz: 8:50 from Zermatt, arrival 16:37; reservation CHF 54.
- Day 7, Bernina Express to Tirano and back, or straight back to Zurich in about 3 hours.
With an 8-day Swiss Travel Pass at CHF 439 (there is no 7-day pass) plus reservations of CHF 54 (Glacier), CHF 32 (Bernina from St. Moritz) and optionally CHF 16 (Luzern-Interlaken Express), the trains of this week cost from CHF 525 per adult in second class, plus the Jungfraujoch or sled tickets at the pass discount. For a shorter or longer version of the classic summer loop see our guide to Swiss panoramic trains.
Tips for winter train travel
Book panoramic train reservations as soon as they open, travel with light luggage, and plan the high mountains flexibly around the weather. Swiss trains run reliably in snow, but mountain railways and passes can close for avalanches or wind.
- Reservations early: Glacier Express seats open 93 days ahead and popular winter dates sell out; the Christmas weeks and February are the busiest.
- Daylight: days are short in December and January; morning trains give you the most light on the Oberalp and Bernina Passes.
- Luggage: send big bags ahead with SBB luggage services or store them; see our luggage guide.
- Clothing: warm, waterproof shoes for platforms and summit stations; at the Jungfraujoch it is well below freezing.
- Mobile data: you need the SBB app for real-time changes; see our guide to eSIMs in Switzerland.
- Weather plan B: on cloudy days, take a lake boat or a city day instead of a mountain.
Honest downsides
Winter by train has real limits: several famous excursions are closed, days are short, some prices for 2026/27 are not yet published, and the panoramic trains sell out on peak dates.
- Closed highlights: no Lake Brienz boats, no Gotthard Panorama Express, no Rothorn, Harder Kulm or Schynige Platte, no gorges.
- Glacier Express gap: no trains from October 11 to December 4, 2026.
- Bernina bus: not in winter, so no easy link from Tirano to Lugano.
- Weather: a grey day at 3,000 metres means you see nothing; keep mountain days flexible.
- Prices in flux: some panoramic train fares rise in mid-December 2026; check the price for your travel date.
Winter train tickets and reservations
These are the panoramic train reservations and tickets Swiss Activities sells at the official price, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before:
Mandatory on every journey, also with Swiss Travel Pass; 1st or 2nd class, Zermatt or St. Moritz.
Check prices & availabilityTrain ticket without reservation; book the reservation first. Not needed with a Swiss Travel Pass.
Check prices & availabilityMandatory seat reservation on the panoramic train; runs all year.
Check prices & availabilitySt. Moritz to Tirano from CHF 33, Chur to Tirano CHF 66; reservation extra.
Check prices & availabilityDirect in about 3 hours 15 minutes, all year; optional reservation CHF 20.
Check prices & availability3 to 8 days in the Jungfrau Region, sledding and winter hiking allowed, no ski pass; children CHF 30.
Check prices & availabilityGlacier Express seat reservation for CHF 54 (about US$65), mandatory on every journey, also with a Swiss Travel Pass; winter trains from December 5, 2026, free cancellation up to 24 hours before (Oct 2026).
Reserve Glacier Express seatsFAQ: Switzerland in winter by train
Does the Glacier Express run in winter?
Yes, from December 5, 2026 to May 7, 2027, with one or two trains a day in each direction. There are no trains from October 11 to December 4, 2026.
Does the Bernina Express run in winter?
The train runs all year between Chur or St. Moritz and Tirano. The Bernina Express bus from Tirano to Lugano does not run in winter.
Is the Jungfraujoch open in winter?
Yes, every day of the year, with lower winter fares and optional seat reservations from November to April.
Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it in winter?
For a round trip with the Glacier Express, Bernina Express and several long transfers, usually yes. For a week in one region, a regional pass or the Half Fare Card is often cheaper.
Which Swiss trains do not run in winter?
The Gotthard Panorama Express and the Bernina Express bus, plus summer-only mountain railways like the Brienz Rothorn and Schynige Platte. The Lake Brienz boats also stop in winter.
How much is the Glacier Express reservation?
CHF 54 per person and journey in first or second class, CHF 590 for Excellence Class, also with a Swiss Travel Pass.
Winter is a wonderful time for Swiss rail travel if you choose the right routes. Compare all panoramic trains in our guide to Swiss scenic trains, add a day of sledding in the Jungfrau Region, and find the right pass in our rail pass overview. For the summer side of the Bernese Oberland, see our Bernese Oberland guide, and for more trips the Swiss Detours home page.
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