How to book Swiss scenic trains: tickets and passes

What you actually need to book

Swiss scenic trains divide into two categories: those that require advance reservations and those you can simply board on the day. Understanding which is which saves you both money and the frustration of turning up at a station to find the train is full.

Reservation required (book in advance):

• Glacier Express — mandatory, CHF 39–59
• Bernina Express — strongly recommended, CHF 14
• GoldenPass Express — required, CHF 10–16
• Gotthard Panorama Express — required, CHF 14–20
• Chocolate Train — required (full package booking)

No reservation needed (board any time):

• Lucerne-Interlaken Express — fully open seating
• Rhaetian Railway regular services (Chur–St. Moritz Albula line)
• Appenzellerbahn
• Mont Blanc Express (Swiss section)

This distinction matters enormously when you have a Swiss Travel Pass: the pass covers the base fare for all of the above, but reservation fees must always be paid separately. The Lucerne-Interlaken Express, with no reservation fee, is completely free with a Swiss Travel Pass.

Where to buy tickets and reservations

Option 1: SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) — sbb.ch

The SBB website and app are the primary booking platforms for all Swiss rail. You can book:

• Point-to-point tickets on all routes
• Seat reservations on all scenic trains
• The Swiss Travel Pass (and other passes)
• Combination packages (e.g., Glacier Express full package)

The SBB app is available for iOS and Android and allows full ticket management, including QR code tickets accepted on all trains. It is also the best tool for checking real-time timetables, platform information, and disruption alerts.

How to book a Glacier Express reservation on SBB:

1. Go to sbb.ch and select “Timetable”
2. Enter Zermatt as origin and St. Moritz as destination
3. Select your date and choose the Glacier Express departure (usually 09:00 from Zermatt)
4. When prompted, add a seat reservation (this is the mandatory step)
5. If you have a Swiss Travel Pass, choose “Pass” as your ticket type — the base fare will drop to zero and you will only pay the reservation

Option 2: Rhaetian Railway (rhb.ch)

The Rhaetian Railway (RhB) operates the Bernina Express and the Albula line. For Bernina Express bookings, rhb.ch is the direct source and is often slightly faster than SBB for this specific route. The seat map is also clearer on the RhB site for selecting specific carriages and seats.

Option 3: GetYourGuide

GetYourGuide offers bookings for the Glacier Express and Bernina Express as part of its activity platform. This is convenient if you prefer a single checkout experience that groups your Switzerland activities, or if you are booking from a country where SBB’s international payment system is less reliable.

Prices on GetYourGuide are the same as SBB. The advantage is a consolidated booking history and customer service if issues arise.

Option 4: Your travel agent or tour operator

If you are booking a guided Switzerland tour, your operator will typically handle all scenic train reservations. Confirm with them explicitly which trains are included and whether they have reserved specific seats.

Step-by-step: booking the Glacier Express

The Glacier Express is the most complex booking on the Swiss scenic train network because the reservation is mandatory and specific seats matter significantly.

Step 1 — Decide your direction. Zermatt to St. Moritz is the standard (eastbound). St. Moritz to Zermatt (westbound) is equally good but reverses which side of the train gives the best Rhine Gorge views.

Step 2 — Choose your date. The Glacier Express runs daily year-round (with rare exceptions for extreme weather). Summer dates (July–August) sell out. Book 4–6 weeks ahead for peak season, 2–3 weeks ahead for spring/autumn.

Step 3 — Choose your class. Second class at CHF 153 + CHF 39 reservation. First class at CHF 265 + CHF 49 reservation. Excellence Class at CHF 313 + CHF 150+ supplement. For most travellers, 2nd class is the right choice.

Step 4 — Open SBB or rhb.ch and search the route. Input Zermatt → St. Moritz, your chosen date. The Glacier Express departure (typically around 09:00) will appear. Select it.

Step 5 — Add the reservation. This is a separate step from purchasing the ticket. The system prompts you. Do not skip this — you cannot board the Glacier Express without a reservation.

Step 6 — Select specific seats. On SBB, a seat map appears. Right side of the carriage for Zermatt to St. Moritz (for Rhine Gorge views). Window seats over aisle seats. Avoid the galley areas.

Step 7 — Pay and receive your tickets. Download the QR codes or print the tickets. The QR code on your phone is accepted on board — no need to print.

Step 8 — Arrange luggage if needed. If moving hotels between Zermatt and St. Moritz, use the SBB Reisegepäck luggage forwarding service (book separately, CHF 26–40 per item, usually next-day delivery).

Step-by-step: booking the Bernina Express

Step 1 — Decide direction. St. Moritz to Tirano (southbound) is standard. For best views of Brusio viaduct heading south, sit on the left.

Step 2 — Check the service type. Confirm your departure is the designated “Bernina Express” panorama service, not the regular regional train. On SBB, the Bernina Express departures are labelled clearly.

Step 3 — Purchase ticket or confirm pass. Full-price 2nd class: CHF 76. With Swiss Travel Pass: free base fare.

Step 4 — Add reservation. CHF 14, optional but recommended July–August. Seat selection available on the RhB booking interface.

Step 5 — Plan the extension. If continuing to Lugano on the Bernina Express bus, book this separately on SBB or RhB. The bus runs Tirano → Lugano and takes approximately 3.5 hours, passing Lake Como.

How the Swiss Travel Pass changes the booking process

The Swiss Travel Pass is the most cost-effective way to access Swiss scenic trains if you plan multiple journeys. Here is exactly how it affects bookings:

What the pass covers:

• The full base fare on all Swiss Federal Railway (SBB) trains
• The full base fare on most private railways including Rhaetian Railway (Bernina, Albula), MOB (GoldenPass), and Zentralbahn (Lucerne-Interlaken)
• Lake cruises including Lake Lucerne boats (for Gotthard Panorama Express boat section)
• City transport in all major Swiss cities

What the pass does NOT cover:

• Mandatory or optional seat reservations on any scenic train
• Supplements for Excellence Class on the Glacier Express
• Mountain railways (partial discounts apply, typically 50%; Jungfraujoch 25%)
• The full Chocolate Train excursion package (though a discount applies)

Practical pass booking flow:

1. Purchase your Swiss Travel Pass in advance (from SBB, Rail Europe, or GetYourGuide)
2. Activate it on the day of first use (enter the date online or at the station)
3. For each scenic train, book only the reservation (not the base fare) and select “Swiss Travel Pass” as your ticket type during checkout
4. Your pass QR code + reservation confirmation are all you need at ticket inspection

The pass exists in consecutive days (3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 days) and flexible days (3, 4, 6, or 8 days within one month). For scenic train focused trips, consecutive passes are usually better — you will be moving every day and the trains count together with city transport and museums.

Timing: how far ahead to book

Train	July–August	May–June, Sept	Oct–April
Glacier Express	4–6 weeks	2–3 weeks	1–2 weeks
Bernina Express	2–4 weeks	1–2 weeks	A few days
GoldenPass Express	2–3 weeks	1 week	A few days
Gotthard Panorama	2–3 weeks	1 week	N/A (doesn’t run)
Chocolate Train	3–4 weeks	2 weeks	N/A (May–Oct only)
Lucerne-Interlaken	No booking needed	No booking needed	No booking needed

These are guidelines, not guarantees. Check availability when you start planning and book when you have confirmed dates.

Booking pitfalls to avoid

Pitfall 1 — Buying the base fare ticket AND the reservation separately without linking them. On SBB, the reservation and ticket are linked when purchased together. If you buy a reservation separately from a ticket, confirm the reservation references your specific train and seat, not a generic booking.

Pitfall 2 — Forgetting the reservation after buying the pass. Travellers who buy a Swiss Travel Pass well in advance sometimes forget that the scenic train reservations must be booked separately and closer to the travel date. The pass itself does not create reservations.

Pitfall 3 — Booking the wrong train service. On the Bernina route, both the “Bernina Express” panorama service and regular numbered regional trains run. They are different services. The Bernina Express costs more and has panoramic carriages. The regional service is cheaper with standard windows. Know which one you are booking.

Pitfall 4 — Booking Excellence Class without checking the schedule. Excellence Class on the Glacier Express runs on specific departures only — not all daily services offer it. Confirm your selected departure includes Excellence Class before paying the premium.

Pitfall 5 — Missing the Chocolate Train return time. The Chocolate Train is a guided excursion with a fixed return schedule. Missing the coach from Broc or Gruyeres means arranging your own transport back to Montreux at your expense. Keep to the schedule.

Pitfall 6 — Not checking seasonal operation. The Gotthard Panorama Express and Chocolate Train do not run in winter. The William Tell Express (an older version of the Gotthard route) had limited service — always confirm the current year’s timetable with SBB before booking.

Special tickets and deals

Swiss Travel Pass + scenic train reservations: As described above, this is the best value for multi-day travellers.

Half Fare Card: Costs CHF 120 for one month. Halves the price of all SBB and most private railway tickets. The scenic train reservation fees are not halved. If you are only doing one or two scenic trains and limited other travel, calculate whether the Half Fare Card beats the Swiss Travel Pass for your specific itinerary. Our Swiss Travel Pass vs Half Fare Card comparison breaks this down in detail.

GA (General Abonnement): The annual Swiss pass covering unlimited travel. Only relevant if you live in or near Switzerland or are spending several months in the country. Not relevant for most tourists.

Day Pass: SBB offers a day pass (Tageskarte) covering unlimited travel for one day on all SBB trains. Costs around CHF 52–75 depending on zone. Not cheaper than point-to-point tickets for most scenic train routes but useful for days involving multiple short journeys.

Family discounts: Children under 6 travel free. Children 6–16 with a Family Card (free from SBB, added to an adult pass or ticket) also travel free. The reservation fee for children is typically waived or very low — confirm at booking.

Managing changes and cancellations

Glacier Express: Reservations are refundable up to 24 hours before departure with a small cancellation fee. The base ticket follows standard SBB cancellation rules (full refund if cancelled well in advance, partial refund closer to departure).

Bernina Express: Reservations are refundable. Standard SBB ticket rules apply.

Chocolate Train: Cancellation policies apply to the full package. Check the SBB or Chocolate Train terms at booking. Full refund is usually available if cancelled 7+ days in advance.

Weather cancellations: If the railway cancels a service due to extreme weather, you are entitled to a full refund or rerouting. SBB customer service (+41 512 29 11 11) handles these cases. Travel insurance is worth considering for the Glacier Express specifically, given the cost and the occasional weather disruptions in Alpine passes.

Useful resources for planning

• SBB.ch: The definitive Swiss rail booking and timetable platform. English-language version available.
• RhB.ch: Rhaetian Railway, specific to Bernina Express and Albula line.
• MySwitzerland.com: Switzerland Tourism’s official site with scenic train overview pages and links to official booking.
• Rail.cc: Independent rail community with user experiences and tips for scenic routes.

For the full landscape of what each train offers before booking, read our individual guides: Glacier Express, Bernina Express, GoldenPass Express, Gotthard Panorama Express, and Lucerne-Interlaken Express.

Our best scenic train routes ranking and Swiss Travel Pass guide will help you prioritise and budget your train choices before committing to bookings.

For a budget perspective on planning Swiss travel including train costs, see our Switzerland travel budget guide.