This post may contain affiliate links. I only recommend excursions, products and tours that I have personally used and purchased myself. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a very small commission at no extra cost to you. All proceeds go to running this blog and your support is truly appreciated! All opinions are my own. Headed to Switzerland? More than likely, then, you already know what’s in store. Anticipate incredible cheese, decadent chocolate… and some really epic views. I mean, the landscapes in Switzerland are nothing short of stunning. In fact, one way to really take in the views is to travel by one of Switzerlands trains. The Glacier Express happens to be one of Switzerlands most iconic. It’s a bucket list worthy experience. So, let’s talk about everything you need to know about the Glacier Express Switzerland: routes, cost and… possibly most importantly… what’s to eat. The Glacier Express is a railroad company that runs the self-declared “slowest express train in the world.” In actuality, it’s one of the most perfect train rides I’ve ever experienced. Yes, it’s pure luxury for public transportation. Definitely, the views are spectacular. But, I believe it’s also the perfect pace. It effortlessly glides along its tracks where you almost feel like you’re floating. So, “slowest express train” or not, I feel certain you’ll find the pace to be just right. The Glacier Express began operating in June of 1930. Its first route was Zermatt to St. Moritz. From its inception, it boasted elegant passenger and dining cars. Likewise, the Glacier Express Switzerland route remains distinguished up to today. Simply put, the shorter your route, the less expensive your ticket will be. Thus, if you’re on a tighter budget you can always take a shorter trip on the Glacier Express for the experience. We arrived in Switzerland at the Geneva airport. From there, we traveled to Zermatt (which, is incidentally one of my favorite places in the world). Zermatt is very walkable and has a large train station downtown – this is where my husband and I boarded the Glacier Express. I hadn’t heard of the town of Chur a day in my life until I went to book tickets for the Glacier Express Switzerland route. Turns out, Chur is the oldest city in all of Switzerland. Who doesn’t love a city or town with historical relevance? Okay, even if you don’t appreciate historical relevance, Chur has lots of good food, cute cafes and photo worthy architecture. The Glacier Express runs from Zermatt to St. Moritz and vice versa. The route I took was Zermatt to Chur, which is about four stops before the end of the line. However, you can purchase tickets for any portion of the total length of the route. Accordingly, the shorter your train route, the less expensive the ticket. Tip: You can buy your Glacier Express tickets – here . Here is a brief overview of all the destinations that the Glacier Express travels through and to: Zermatt: a quaint, scenic mountain town. Treat yourself to fondue, the après ski scene, a mountain lodge stay and see the star of the Swiss Alps: none other than the Matterhorn. Chur: the oldest city in Switzerland. A town filled with German influence and food, medieval architecture, museums, lots of bars and history. Davos: a Swiss Alps ski town located in the canton of Graubünden. If you’re interested in staying at a ski resort here, you can take the Glacier Express to this mountain town. Conversely, the Glacier Express can take you from Davos to the Matterhorn. Brig: a charming Alpine town in the canton of Valais, located near the Italian border. Here, you can relax in thermal baths and tour a 17th century castle. Valais is also the largest wine growing region in Switzerland. So wine lovers, you know where to go! Andermatt: a scenic village in the Swiss Alps. A similar atmosphere to Zermatt – quaint Swiss architecture, creeks and streams running through town. There’s cable cars that can take you to ski and snow excursions. It’s also a village that comes alive during the holidays with lots of festive activities. St. Moritz: If pure luxury is what you seek… St. Moritz will likely fit the bill. It’s a destination with a long time legacy of glitz and glam. A favorite of the well-heeled. But, anyone who enjoys the finer things and a lavish atmosphere will appreciate and enjoy St. Moritz. Tip: if you want to experience the full Glacier Express route, you should either plan to board the train in Zermatt and take it all the way to St. Moritz or vice versa. Basically, like many luxurious experiences, the Glacier Express comes at a cost. Let’s start with the first expense: your seat reservation fee. Generally, the Glacier Express requires a seat reservation fee to be paid for all passengers of all ages. The cost is priced as follows: Excellence Class: CHF 470.00 (approximately $516.00 USD) Long Journeys 1st and 2nd class: CHF 49 (approximately $54.00 USD) Short Journeys 1st and 2nd class: CHF 44 (approximately $48.00 USD) Tip: It’s important to note that paying for your reservation is not the same thing as purchasing a ticket. You must make a reservation for your desired class of travel, pay the seat reservation fee and purchase your route ticket. Excellence Class is a pricey, extravagant indulgence. I considered splurging for it for my birthday while in Switzerland, but it was not being offered during the ‘off season.’ All seats in excellence class are window seats. Additionally, there are many perks like a personal check in at the train station, an in-car concierge and more. Also, the food and beverage are a marked distinction between this class and first class. Your experience starts with an aperitif in the Glacier bar car. Afterwards, you’ll enjoy a starter plate with Champagne. Following, a five course meal of regional Swiss fare with corresponding wine pairings. Later, an afternoon tea service with goodies. Snacks are available all day. First class cars are a mixture of four top and two top tables. Thus, not everyone in first class will have a window seat. Perhaps, the window seat doesn’t matter to everyone because with the panoramic ceilings, it’s hard to miss the gorgeous views. Unlike Excellence class, food and beverage is not included in your reservation fee. However, you can order from a full menu of cocktails, wine, coffee, tea, dessert, snacks or opt for meal service. We ordered both main dish options and shared them. My take on the food: it’ll likely be the best meal you’ll ever have on any form of public transportation. It won’t compete with a fine restaurant, but it’s a really nice meal to have on a train. Additionally, the service is top tier and all the food and beverage is served in beautiful table and glassware. Also, drinks cost extra and are priced à la carte. The tea selection and quality is divine, as well as the lattes. Tip: I highly recommend reserving your meal service in advance, if you intend to have a full coursed meal. This can be done during your ticket purchase. You can view the full menu: here. I have not experienced the second class car first hand, however, I come with good news. If you’re on a tighter budget, you don’t have to miss out on the Glacier Express experience. The second class car is very similar to first. In fact, the scenery, the panoramic views, the in-car service and food options are all the same. The main difference is that the entire car is made up of four top tables versus the four top on one side and two seaters on the other. Tip: In both first and second class, unless you reserve a two seater table a party of two can be sat with others at the four top tables. If you are traveling alone, you will more than likely be sat with other travelers. Glacier Express Switzerland route tickets can only be purchased online six months in advance. In First class and Excellence class, there is plenty of room to stow your luggage and personal belongings. Have you experienced the Glacier Express Switzerland route? What was your experience like? Do you have any questions about traveling on the Glacier Express? Drop them in the comments! Check these out! Want to know how I travel so frequently? By booking jaw-dropping flight deals that are often so low you’d have to see ’em to believe it. The best part? They’re sent right to my inbox. You can try it out for free: here. I exclusively use this site to book all my stays. I get 20% off on all my stays plus additional perks from their loyalty program. Check it out! Get reliable travel medical insurance for your trip, for just $2 a day – here Looking for a flight on a specific date? Use this search engine and start earning rewards! Need to book your excursions and tours? This company is my favorite. This is another marketplace for tours, that is especially great for Europe. Renting a car for your adventure? Discover the right car for your journey: here. Do you love train travel as much as I do? Get your train tickets here! Want to travel in comfort and have lounge access around the world? Get that right here. You know what I love to do when I visit a new city? This!Glacier Express Switzerland: Route, Cost, everything you need to know!
All about the Glacier Express
Glacier Express Switzerland Route Options
Glacier Express Route Options, Explained
Ticket Classes and Cost
Excellence Class
The First Class Experience
Second Class
Know Before You Go
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I cannot see in any posts about the glazier express having a return journey, does the prices include return?, it does not say when booking about return. ,
Thank you colin
I want to ride glacier train in one day trip from Zurich. M staying Zurich. How I can do it. If I reserved a seat then will it cover complete journey. What is total time. If I want to complete in around 5 hours what I do