Now that there are direct trains from Bern to Chur, it has become easier to reach St Moritz by train, so making a return journey as a stunning day trip, is entirely feasible.
Don't be put off by the length of the journey and the need to change trains, this is a fantastic ride particularly once you have passed through Zurich.
The connection in Chur:
The train from Bern will typically arrive in Chur 15 mins before the train on to St. Moritz will depart.
Though if you will be travelling with a 2nd class ticket/rail pass, time is on your side AND you want to experience the best of the journey between Chur and St. Moritz, not rushing to make the connection between trains can be worth considering.
The RhB trains to St.Moritz can be busy, but to make the most of the journey, you'll want to be in a window seat on the right-hand side of the train
On arrival at Chur you may see a Glacier Express that's about to depart for St Moritz; and your tickets or pass won't be valid on The Glacier Express.
But ordinary coaches, in which your tickets or pass will be valid are usually attached to the Glacier Express trains as it travels between Chur and St. Moritz, so you may need to walk along the platform/track that the train to St Moritz will be departing from, to find these coaches.
1 x connection per hour
If you are willing to make an additional connection, in many hours it's possible to be in Chur around 4hr 45min after departing Bern by taking this combination of trains
Booking Tickets:
SBB and Trainline will sell tickets for this end-to-end journeys which involve taking a SBB train + the train(s) on to St Moritz which are operated by RhB
‘Point-to-Point’ tickets can be used on any train(s) on your travel date, but they tend to be comparatively expensive.
Supersaver tickets are cheaper, the portion of the journey by the SBB train can be discounted by up to 50%, but these tickets are train departure specific.
Hence it’s worth comparing the ticket price of a journey with the price(s) e of Saver Day Passes (see below); they might save you money and can also allow for a less stressful journey.
Using Saver Day Passes:
Now that the Swiss Transfer tickets have been discontinued a Saver Day Pass is likely to save you money.
They can be cheaper than tickets for the end-to-end journey, particularly when the discounted Supersaver tickets aren't available; and are often cheaper if you will be making a day return trip between Bern and St Moritz, even if you can book in advance.
They can be used on;
They are not train specific, so can still be used in the event of a journey to Switzerland being delayed.
However, they need to be booked at least a day ahead of your travel date, so won't be an option if you book tickets at the station on arrival in Switzerland.
They're also cheaper the further ahead that you book.
Additional Information:
More general info is available on our GUIDE to taking the train to Swiss Ski Resorts.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
SBB | * | |
Trainline | * |
Final Destination: Chur
The train will reverse direction on departure from Zurich HB station and between Zurich and Chur the best of the views will be on the left when facing the direction of travel.
This a journey of three distinct phases.
From the left of the train (when facing the direction) of travel, there are fabulous views over Lake Zurich...
and then over the Walensee...
...before the train calls in Sargans.
Then between Sargans and Chur there are very pleasant views of distant mountain ranges from both sides of the train.
Though as the will reverse direction on departure from Zurich take seats on the right-hand side when boarding in Bern in order to make the most of these views.
Final Destination: St. Moritz
All trains also call at: Filisur (connections to Davos); Samedan (connections to Scuol-Tarasp and Pontresina for Tirano)
Step on board for a journey on the incredible Albula Railway!
Sit on the right (when facing the direction of travel) when joining the train at Chur and face forwards for the best views of the Landwasser Viaduct and tunnel.
Overall the best of the views are from the right of the train, but you'll still experience an incredible journey if youe seats are on the left hand side.
Step on board for a journey on the incredible Albula Railway!
Sit on the right (when facing the direction of travel) when joining the train at Chur and face forwards for the best views of the Landwasser Viaduct and tunnel.
The videos were taken from a train travelling in the opposite direction.
Overall the best of the views are from the right of the train when heading south...
..but you'll still experience an incredible journey if your seats are on the left hand side.
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