Bernina Express on Postcard

@travelleisure

"Online gaming site Rant Casino released its analysis of the most Instagrammed luxury train journeys around the world and named the Bernina Express the winner with more than 96,000 tags. It boasts some seriously cool stats, like the fact that it’s the highest railway track in Europe, and is the steepest railway on earth. The train journey also passes through “55 tunnels and over 196 bridges.” The 2.5-hour journey connects Chur and St.Moritz in Switzerland to Tirano, Italy, traversing the Swiss Alps. The Bernina Railway website explains that there are two trains for people to choose from on the line: the regional Bernina Red Train and the Bernina Express." - Travel + Leisure Editors

Bernina Express Named Instagram's Favorite Train Ride

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@afar

"Train Adventure Through the Swiss Alps I didn’t even realize that the Bernina Express scenic train journey was on the UNESCO World Heritage list until I arrived at the small northern Italian town of Tirano to start the trip. There are several different routes from which travelers may chose, but that day I took a one-way trip from Tirano to the Swiss mountain town of Chur. It was the middle of winter and I was excited to see the famous snow-covered Alps in person. Images of Maria from the Sound of Music kept running through my head as the train slowly pulled out of the small station. The journey is a scenic one and the train cars have been designed to maximize the amazing views. The windows are extra large and there is more than enough room between seats to allow for even the most ardent shutterbug. Our trip took about four hours, during which time we passed through narrow valleys and swept past mountain villages that looked like they were plucked out of a model train set. The unique and stunning scenery I was lucky enough to witness proved to me why UNESCO very smartly placed this journey on their important list. Tirano is easy to reach from Milan and there are many different train routes available including trips to St. Moritz and Davos."

The Best of Switzerland's Natural Scenery

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Tayler Valliere

Google

Best train ride ever! Staff was amazing. Everything was extremely clean. I was in awe the entire train ride from Tirano to Chur. It was amazing. Even better than I imagined. Pictures don’t even do it justice. It was a huge bucket list item for me and I’m so happy I did it. now I want to do it during the snow season so bad. Can’t recommend a train ride enough. This was spectacular.

Daniel Cheoh

Google

The best train journey I had in Switzerland. From St Moritz to Torino Italy. Views were absolutely stunning. From glacier to mountain top views to valleys. Just for the views alone was worth the trip.

skushas

Google

From Tirano to Chur Never going to forget this train ride. Everything is comfortable but the you look outside and see beautiful views the whole journey. I'll let the photos speak for itself.

Marie C

Google

We took the train from St Moritz to Tirano today 30 October 2024 and the views were mind blowing. The weather was perfect with the sun shining so brightly on 8’c weather so that it felt more like 16’c. I didn’t mind the 2nd class train arranged by the tour operator because this had the true flavor of the original train that was built in 1906 and I could imagine for myself how it must have been way back when. The train station in St Moritz is world class, spectacular views, clean, working toilets, and everything worked like clockwork. On the train, two rows of seats. Hard to say which views were better on the right or on the left because there were awesome views on both sides and the windows could open for unobstructed shots of the scenery. Every car had a WC (toilets as they are named here). And the 2.5 hour train ride just flew by.

Anna Binda

Google

The Bernina Express is one of the most spectacular rail experiences in the world, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves scenic journeys. The train passes through breathtaking landscapes, from lush green valleys to majestic snow-capped mountains, offering unparalleled views of the Swiss Alps. Each bend in the track reveals new scenes that look like they’ve come straight out of a postcard. Onboard comfort is excellent, with spacious seats and large panoramic windows that allow you to fully enjoy the surrounding scenery. The option to listen to a multilingual guide describing the beauty and history of the places along the route makes the experience even more enriching. In addition, the staff is friendly and always ready to provide information and assistance, which adds to making the journey pleasant and relaxing. No matter the season—whether it’s summer with its blooming meadows or winter with snow-covered landscapes—the Bernina Express offers a unique and unforgettable experience. A true wonder that I recommend everyone try at least once in a lifetime!

D B

Google

This was an amazing experience and I'm so glad we did it. We took the train from Chur to Tirano, which took us around 4 hours. The train staff were very friendly and the seats very comfortable. The views that we saw along the way were just absolutely breathtaking, from the snowy mountains to the viaduct. The free herbal tea provided didn't taste good, would have preferred if they offered regular coffee and tea. We ended up ordering some, however due to no lid we ended spilling one cup. Apart from this minor point it was an amazing experience!

Joris van Ede

Google

Absolutely amazing experience. I took the panorama cart (reservations required) from Chur to Poschiavo. And while it is nice to be able to see everything on both sides, the windows do make it hard for nice pictures. On the way back I had a normal cart, where all the windows could open. Making picture taking easy and hanging out of the window through this landscape was even better. There was also a fully open cart (with no roof) but this is only a thing during summer.

Jessica

Google

This trip was amazing. I highly recommend NOT reserving a seat in the panoramic car but sitting in the party that pulls the train. It’s much less crowded, the windows are big, and they open. We were so glad we were not seated in the packed reserve seat cars. The views are out of this world. They even stop at the top to let you check things out and take pictures. The cars were clean and the seats comfortable. I would definitely do this again.

Tayler Valliere

Google

Best train ride ever! Staff was amazing. Everything was extremely clean. I was in awe the entire train ride from Tirano to Chur. It was amazing. Even better than I imagined. Pictures don’t even do it justice. It was a huge bucket list item for me and I’m so happy I did it. now I want to do it during the snow season so bad. Can’t recommend a train ride enough. This was spectacular.

Daniel Cheoh

Google

The best train journey I had in Switzerland. From St Moritz to Torino Italy. Views were absolutely stunning. From glacier to mountain top views to valleys. Just for the views alone was worth the trip.

skushas

Google

From Tirano to Chur Never going to forget this train ride. Everything is comfortable but the you look outside and see beautiful views the whole journey. I'll let the photos speak for itself.

Marie C

Google

We took the train from St Moritz to Tirano today 30 October 2024 and the views were mind blowing. The weather was perfect with the sun shining so brightly on 8’c weather so that it felt more like 16’c. I didn’t mind the 2nd class train arranged by the tour operator because this had the true flavor of the original train that was built in 1906 and I could imagine for myself how it must have been way back when. The train station in St Moritz is world class, spectacular views, clean, working toilets, and everything worked like clockwork. On the train, two rows of seats. Hard to say which views were better on the right or on the left because there were awesome views on both sides and the windows could open for unobstructed shots of the scenery. Every car had a WC (toilets as they are named here). And the 2.5 hour train ride just flew by.

Anna Binda

Google

The Bernina Express is one of the most spectacular rail experiences in the world, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves scenic journeys. The train passes through breathtaking landscapes, from lush green valleys to majestic snow-capped mountains, offering unparalleled views of the Swiss Alps. Each bend in the track reveals new scenes that look like they’ve come straight out of a postcard. Onboard comfort is excellent, with spacious seats and large panoramic windows that allow you to fully enjoy the surrounding scenery. The option to listen to a multilingual guide describing the beauty and history of the places along the route makes the experience even more enriching. In addition, the staff is friendly and always ready to provide information and assistance, which adds to making the journey pleasant and relaxing. No matter the season—whether it’s summer with its blooming meadows or winter with snow-covered landscapes—the Bernina Express offers a unique and unforgettable experience. A true wonder that I recommend everyone try at least once in a lifetime!

D B

Google

This was an amazing experience and I'm so glad we did it. We took the train from Chur to Tirano, which took us around 4 hours. The train staff were very friendly and the seats very comfortable. The views that we saw along the way were just absolutely breathtaking, from the snowy mountains to the viaduct. The free herbal tea provided didn't taste good, would have preferred if they offered regular coffee and tea. We ended up ordering some, however due to no lid we ended spilling one cup. Apart from this minor point it was an amazing experience!

Joris van Ede

Google

Absolutely amazing experience. I took the panorama cart (reservations required) from Chur to Poschiavo. And while it is nice to be able to see everything on both sides, the windows do make it hard for nice pictures. On the way back I had a normal cart, where all the windows could open. Making picture taking easy and hanging out of the window through this landscape was even better. There was also a fully open cart (with no roof) but this is only a thing during summer.

Jessica

Google

This trip was amazing. I highly recommend NOT reserving a seat in the panoramic car but sitting in the party that pulls the train. It’s much less crowded, the windows are big, and they open. We were so glad we were not seated in the packed reserve seat cars. The views are out of this world. They even stop at the top to let you check things out and take pictures. The cars were clean and the seats comfortable. I would definitely do this again.

Bernina Express

Bernina Express

Photos

Highlights

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