Bernina Express Holidays: 6 Ways to Explore Switzerland & Italy

Perhaps you've seen the photograph: a bright red train winding across a stone viaduct, surrounded by mountains, and thought, I'd love to do that!

That's the Bernina Express, one of Switzerland's most spectacular railway journeys.

But where does it actually go? Should you stay in Switzerland or continue into Italy? And what else could you see along the way?

If you're looking for a Bernina Express holiday package, there's much more to consider than the train itself. You could explore mountain villages, spend a few days beside an Italian lake or combine several of Switzerland's famous scenic railways.

And rather than choosing a fixed itinerary, your holiday can be planned around the places you'd most like to visit, with flights, hotels, train journeys and excursions arranged together.

Here are six ways to turn that famous railway journey into a wonderful holiday.

Where Does the Bernina Express Go?

The Bernina Express travels from Chur in eastern Switzerland, through the Alps and into Italy at Tirano. Some services start from St. Moritz instead.

The full journey from Chur takes around four hours, travelling through a UNESCO World Heritage railway landscape.

Along the way, you'll see:

• Landwasser Viaduct: A spectacular curved stone bridge leading straight into a mountainside tunnel.
• Morteratsch Glacier: Beautiful Alpine scenery beneath towering peaks.
• Lago Bianco: A high-altitude lake near the top of the Bernina Pass.
• Alp Grüm: Wonderful views across the mountains and down towards the Poschiavo Valley.
• Brusio Spiral Viaduct: An extraordinary circular bridge where the railway loops around itself.
• Tirano: An Italian town where you can stop for lunch or continue your holiday.

One of the most remarkable things about the journey is how dramatically the scenery changes. You travel from high mountain landscapes towards greener valleys, arriving in Italy just a few hours later.

Worth knowing: If you board at St. Moritz rather than Chur, you won't see the Landwasser Viaduct. It's on the section between Chur and St. Moritz.

You can explore the route on the Rhaetian Railway website.

Six Ways to Enjoy a Bernina Express Holiday Package

There's no single way to experience the Bernina Express. You could make it the highlight of a short break, include it in a longer Swiss rail holiday or use it as a spectacular way to travel into Italy.

These six ideas are starting points rather than fixed packages. We can adapt the route, hotels, excursions and number of nights to suit you.

1. The Classic Bernina Express Short Break

A few days in Switzerland with one extraordinary train journey.

You don't need two weeks to experience the Bernina Express. A short stay in eastern Switzerland gives you time to explore before enjoying the famous railway.

Your holiday could include:

• Zurich: Explore the old town and enjoy a walk beside the lake.
• Chur: Stay overnight in Switzerland's oldest town, with its narrow streets and colourful buildings.
• Bernina Express: Travel through the Alps to Tirano.
• Tirano: Enjoy an Italian lunch before returning to Switzerland or continuing your journey.

My advice: I'd suggest staying in Chur the night before your train journey. Travelling from Chur to Tirano and back in one day is possible with suitable connections, but it's a long day. An overnight stay in Italy can make the experience much more relaxed.

2. St. Moritz and the Bernina Express

Beautiful mountain villages, lakes and a journey into Italy.

Rather than changing hotels every night, you could spend a few days exploring the Engadin Valley, with St. Moritz as your base.

Your holiday could include:

• St. Moritz: Enjoy the mountain setting, lakeside walks and beautiful hotels.
• Pontresina: Explore a traditional Alpine village and the nearby Morteratsch Glacier.
• Engadin Valley: Discover lakes, walking routes and smaller mountain villages.
• Bernina Express: Travel over the Bernina Pass towards Tirano.

My advice: The journey from St. Moritz to Tirano takes around two and a quarter hours, so it's easier to fit into a day of exploring. Just remember that this shorter route doesn't include the Landwasser Viaduct.

3. From Swiss Mountains to the Italian Lakes

Why turn around at Tirano when Italy is waiting?

One of my favourite things about the Bernina Express is that it doesn't have to be a return journey.

You could travel through the Swiss Alps, arrive in Italy and continue somewhere completely different.

Your holiday could include:

• Chur or St. Moritz: Begin with a few nights in the Swiss mountains.
• Bernina Express: Travel through spectacular Alpine scenery to Tirano.
• Lake Como: Continue towards the lake for boat trips, beautiful villages and long lunches beside the water.
• Milan: Perhaps finish with a couple of nights exploring the city before flying home.

It's a wonderful contrast. One day you're surrounded by glaciers and mountain passes, and the next you're enjoying lunch beside an Italian lake.

My advice: I'd allow at least two or three nights at Lake Como. The connections from Tirano need a little planning, but it's a lovely way to combine Switzerland and Italy without retracing your steps. My guide on where to stay in Lake Como is a good place to start.

4. The Bernina Express and Glacier Express Together

Two of Switzerland's most famous trains in one holiday.

If you love scenic rail journeys, the Bernina Express and Glacier Express work beautifully together.

The Glacier Express is a leisurely, full-day journey across the Swiss Alps, while the Bernina Express is shorter, with dramatic scenery as you travel towards Italy.

Your holiday could include:

• Zermatt: Stay beneath the Matterhorn and enjoy the Gornergrat mountain railway.
• Glacier Express: Travel across the Alps to St. Moritz.
• St. Moritz: Spend a couple of nights exploring the Engadin Valley.
• Bernina Express: Continue over the Bernina Pass into Italy.

From Tirano, you could return to Switzerland or continue towards Lake Como and Milan.

My advice: I'd allow time in St. Moritz between the two journeys. There's so much to explore in the surrounding mountains that it would be a shame to rush straight from one train to another.

You can discover more ideas in my guide to Glacier Express holidays.

5. Lakes, Mountains and Scenic Railways

Explore more of Switzerland before your journey into Italy.

Switzerland has some beautiful scenic railways, and you could combine several of them with time exploring the lakes and mountains.

Your holiday could include:

• Lucerne: Explore the old town, take a boat trip or travel up Mount Pilatus.
• Luzern-Interlaken Express: Enjoy turquoise lakes, waterfalls and mountain scenery.
• Interlaken: Explore Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and the Bernese Oberland.
• GoldenPass Express: Perhaps include a journey through traditional Swiss villages towards Montreux and Lake Geneva.

My advice: You don't need to travel on every scenic train. The GoldenPass Express heads west from Interlaken, while the Bernina Express is in eastern Switzerland, so including both requires a little more time.

I'd help you choose the journeys that fit naturally into your holiday rather than spending every day travelling.

You can also read my guide to the GoldenPass Express, another lovely way to explore Switzerland by train, heading west towards Montreux and Lake Geneva.

6. The Bernina Express and Christmas Markets

Snowy mountains, festive cities and a little Italian Christmas magic.

The Bernina Express isn't just a summer experience. Winter brings snow-covered mountains, frozen lakes and beautiful Alpine scenery.

You could combine the journey with Christmas markets in Switzerland and northern Italy.

Your holiday could include:

• Zurich: Explore the Christmas markets, festive lights and old town.
• Chur: Enjoy the historic streets and seasonal atmosphere before boarding the Bernina Express.
• Tirano: Arrive in Italy after travelling through the snowy Alps.
• Milan: Continue for Christmas shopping, festive markets and a visit to the magnificent Duomo.

I've also put together a guide to Milan's Christmas markets if you'd like to see what's on offer.

Other northern Italian cities, such as Bergamo or Verona, could also work, depending on your dates and how long you'd like to travel.

My advice: Christmas market dates vary, so I'd plan your journey around the markets you'd most like to visit. Winter daylight hours are shorter too, making the choice of train departure particularly important.

If you love Christmas markets but fancy something a little different from the usual city break, combining Milan with a journey through the snowy Swiss Alps could be rather special.

Bernina Express or Glacier Express: Which Should You Choose?

Both are spectacular, but they offer different experiences.

The Bernina Express is a shorter journey with dramatic changes in scenery, high mountain lakes, glaciers and the chance to continue into Italy.

The Glacier Express is a full-day journey between Zermatt and St. Moritz, with a more leisurely onboard experience and lunch served at your seat.

Neither is better than the other. It depends on where you'd like to go and how you enjoy travelling.

And if you love the sound of both, they combine beautifully.

When Is the Best Time to Travel on the Bernina Express?

The Bernina Express operates throughout the year, with each season offering something different.

• Spring: Snow-covered peaks and valleys beginning to turn green.
• Summer: Mountain wildflowers, green landscapes and longer daylight hours.
• Autumn: Golden larches, colourful valleys and quieter mountain villages.
• Winter: Snowy mountains, frozen lakes and wonderful Alpine scenery.

My advice: Winter is particularly beautiful if you're dreaming of snowy mountains, while summer gives you more time to explore the surrounding area.

The best season depends on what else you'd like to include in your holiday. You can read more about the journey on Switzerland Tourism.

What's Included in a Bernina Express Holiday Package?

When you're planning a holiday around the Bernina Express, the train is just one part of the experience.

I can work with my trusted travel specialists to arrange:

• Flights or rail travel from the UK, depending on how you'd prefer to travel.
• Hotels in Switzerland and Italy, chosen around your preferred locations and budget.
• Bernina Express tickets and seat reservations, including advice on where to board.
• Other scenic train journeys, such as the Glacier Express.
• Transfers and onward connections, so the journey between destinations works smoothly.
• Excursions and experiences, from mountain railways to lake cruises.

Your holiday can be as simple or as adventurous as you like. Perhaps you'd prefer a few nights in one mountain resort, or maybe you'd love a longer journey through Switzerland and into Italy.

I'll help you put the different parts together, so you're not left trying to work out train connections and hotel locations on your own. Ready to start planning? Fill in my enquiry form and I'll put something together for you.

A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Book

There are some practical details worth considering when planning your Bernina Express holiday.

• Where you board: Chur includes the Landwasser Viaduct on the usual route, while St. Moritz offers a shorter journey over the Bernina Pass.
• Seat reservations: Required for the Bernina Express panoramic carriages. Regional trains also travel along the route and generally don't require reservations.
• Food on board: Snacks and drinks are available, but there's no full restaurant car.
• Travelling into Italy: You'll need the appropriate travel documents for crossing the border.
• Onward connections: From Tirano, you can continue towards Lake Como or Milan. A seasonal Bernina Express bus also connects Tirano with Lugano.
• Rail passes: Some Swiss rail passes cover the journey, although seat reservations may cost extra.

These are all things I'll help you work through when we put your holiday together.

Bernina Express Holiday Package: Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the Bernina Express go?

The Bernina Express travels from Chur or St. Moritz in Switzerland, across the Bernina Pass and into Italy at Tirano. Along the way, you'll see glaciers, mountain lakes, spectacular viaducts and beautiful Alpine scenery.

How long does the Bernina Express take?

The full journey from Chur to Tirano takes around four hours. From St. Moritz, it takes approximately two hours and fifteen minutes.

Can you combine the Bernina Express with the Glacier Express?

Yes! You could travel from Zermatt to St. Moritz on the Glacier Express, enjoy a few nights in the mountains and then continue towards Tirano on the Bernina Express.

Can you travel from the Bernina Express to Lake Como?

Yes. The Bernina Express finishes in Tirano, where you can connect with regional trains towards Lake Como. It's a lovely way to combine the Swiss mountains with a few days beside an Italian lake.

Do you need to reserve seats on the Bernina Express?

Yes, reservations are compulsory in the panoramic carriages. Regular regional trains also operate along the railway, generally without compulsory reservations.

Can you travel on the Bernina Express in winter?

Absolutely! The Bernina Express operates in winter, and the snow-covered mountains can be spectacular. You could even combine the journey with Christmas markets in Zurich, Chur or Milan.

How many days do you need for a Bernina Express holiday package?

A short break of four or five days can work if your main aim is to enjoy the train. A week gives you more time to explore, while ten to fourteen days allows you to combine Switzerland with other scenic railways or Italy.

Can you book a Bernina Express holiday package from the UK?

Yes! I can help arrange flights or rail travel from the UK, hotels, scenic train journeys, seat reservations, transfers and excursions, building the holiday around the places you'd most like to visit.

Discover More of Switzerland by Train

The Bernina Express is just one of Switzerland's beautiful scenic railways.

You might also enjoy:

• Glacier Express: A full-day journey across the Swiss Alps between Zermatt and St. Moritz.
• GoldenPass Express: A scenic journey connecting Interlaken with Montreux and Lake Geneva.
• Luzern-Interlaken Express: Turquoise lakes and mountain scenery between Lucerne and Interlaken.

You could choose one, combine two or include several as part of a longer holiday. I'll help you work out which journeys make sense for the places you'd like to explore.

Let's Plan Your Bernina Express Holiday

You might know exactly which train you'd love to travel on, but have no idea where to start with the rest of Switzerland or Italy.

That's absolutely fine!

Tell me what's caught your eye, how long you'd like to go for and what you enjoy doing when you're away.

I'll work with my trusted travel specialists to plan a holiday around you, from choosing the right train journey and places to stay to arranging flights, transfers and excursions.

And I'll be here before you travel and while you're away, with a personalised travel guide to help you make the most of each stop.

The Bernina Express might be what first catches your imagination. Let's see where else it could take you. Ready to start planning? Fill in my enquiry form and we'll begin.