Ride the Glacier Express

The Glacier Express crosses 291 bridges and passes through 91 tunnels on its route between Zermatt and St. Moritz, climbing to 2,033 meters at the Oberalp Pass. Traveling through three Swiss cantons in a private panoramic carriage, the journey traces the Rhine Gorge and the Landwasser Viaduct over eight hours.

The route runs through the cantons of Valais, Uri, and Graubünden, each shifting the landscape outside the window. The Rhine Gorge unfolds over 13 kilometers of white stone cliffs carved by the river below, before the train reaches the Landwasser Viaduct, a curved limestone bridge standing 65 meters high that carries the carriage directly into a mountainside tunnel.

Waterfalls cascade down the valley walls along the Mattertal descent, and snow lingers on the higher peaks for much of the year, even as the lower slopes turn green in summer.

The carriage moves at an average speed of 24 kilometers per hour, slow enough to take in the scenery without it blurring past. Meals are prepared in the onboard kitchen and served directly at the seat on a linen tablecloth, timed to match the changing landscape outside. Panoramic windows run floor to ceiling, framing the Matterhorn at the Zermatt end and the Engadin lakeland as the train approaches St. Moritz.

The climb over the Oberalp Pass uses a cogwheel rack rail system, and the incline is steep enough that the onboard wine glasses are built with a slanted base to stop the contents from spilling. Travelers short on time can join the route for a shorter segment, with Zermatt to Chur running around five and a half hours and Andermatt to St. Moritz around four and a half.

Standard service seats groups of four in shared bays, with meals available to order rather than included, and the difference in comfort between 1st and 2nd class comes down mainly to legroom and seating configuration rather than the experience itself. A private carriage changes the pace of the journey, with a smaller group moving through the same eight hours without the fixed schedule of a shared dining sitting or the rotation of new seatmates every leg.

Excellence Class carries a maximum of 20 people, with lounge seating, a five-course meal built into the fare, and access to a dedicated bar car. Check-in happens away from the general platform, and the reduced numbers mean the carriage stays quiet even as the train climbs past its busiest scenic points.

What is the best way to ride the Glacier Express?

A private carriage or Excellence Class booking gives the most consistent experience, with guaranteed seating, an included meal, and a smaller group moving through the same eight-hour route.

What is the difference between 1st and 2nd class on the Glacier Express?

The layout changes seating configuration and legroom, but both classes cover the same route and rely on meals ordered separately rather than included in the fare.

Can you hop on and off the Glacier Express?

The full route can be split into shorter segments, with Zermatt to Chur running around five and a half hours and Andermatt to St. Moritz around four and a half.

What is the best time of year to do the Glacier Express?

Late spring through early autumn tends to offer the clearest mountain visibility. The train runs close to year round, pausing only for its annual maintenance break in mid-October.

Do Not Disturb arranges the private carriage booking, timing the journey to daylight and season so the Rhine Gorge and Oberalp Pass fall during the strongest light. Onward arrangements in Zermatt or St. Moritz are built around the same day, so the journey sits inside a wider itinerary rather than standing alone as a single excursion.

Start Planning Your Glacier Express Journey.