--- type: "Article" title: "By Glacier Express from St. Moritz to Zermatt" description: "The Glacier Express is titled the \"the world’s slowest express train\": The trip takes you from St. Moritz to Zermatt in about eight hours." resource: "https://travelmemo.com/switzerland/glacier-express-stmoritz-zermatt" author: "Walter Schaerer" publisher: "Travelmemo" photo_count: 9 tags: ["Alps", "Experience", "Landscape", "Nature", "Winter", "Zermatt", "Switzerland"] entities: - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/switzerland" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/alps" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/zermatt" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/andermatt" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/matterhorn" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/st-moritz" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/graubuenden" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/africa" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/albulabahn" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/brig" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/chur" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/disentis" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/oberalppass" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/rhonegletscher" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/ruinaulta" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/wallis" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/experience-travel" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/landscape" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/nature-tourism" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/winter-tourism" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/excursion-tips" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/luxury-travel" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/review" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/organizations/swiss-international-air-lines" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/organizations/railtour" - "https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/trips/glacier-express" generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer", at: 2026-07-04T13:36:21+00:00 } verified: - { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer", at: 2015-03-22T17:21:05+00:00 } sources: - id: photos resource: glacier-express-stmoritz-zermatt.md#photos title: "Original photography by Walter Schaerer" author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer" last_modified: 2017-01-20 timestamp: 2026-07-04T13:36:21+00:00 --- # By Glacier Express from St. Moritz to Zermatt > The Glacier Express is a legendary Swiss scenic railway journey connecting St. Moritz and Zermatt in roughly eight hours, crossing 291 bridges and 91 tunnels through the heart of the Alps. Known as the world's slowest express train, it offers breathtaking mountain landscapes, UNESCO-listed routes, and iconic destinations that make it a once-in-a-lifetime rail experience. ## Destination Switzerland, running between St. Moritz and Zermatt via Chur, Disentis, Andermatt, and Brig. ## Getting there Board the Glacier Express at St. Moritz or Zermatt; schedules and booking details are available on the official Glacier Express website. Railtour also organises Glacier Express journeys. ## When to go Most tourists travel during the warm seasons, but a winter journey offers spectacular snowy landscapes — weather permitting on all segments. ## Why visit The route cuts through the Swiss Alps with an unbroken succession of highlights: UNESCO World Heritage rail sections, a cogwheel climb to over 2,000 metres, glacier views, and arrival at iconic Zermatt beneath the Matterhorn. ## What to see - **Albula/Bernina UNESCO World Heritage Route** — Between Preda and Bergün, featuring six high viaducts, three spiral tunnels, and two loop-back tunnels climbing a 400-metre grade differential. - **Swiss Rhine Gorge (Switzerland's Grand Canyon)** — A unique canyon landscape formed by post-Ice Age rockslides. - **Oberalp Pass** — The highest point on the route at 2,033 metres above sea level, reached using a cogwheel system. - **Rhone Glacier** — A nine-kilometre-long natural wonder in the canton of Wallis. - **Matterhorn and Zermatt** — The legendary peak visible on arrival into the car-free village of Zermatt. ## What to do - **Ride in the observation/panorama car** — Signature feature of the Glacier Express offering wide-angle Alpine views from your seat. - **Dine at your seat** — A full menu of local Swiss delicacies is served directly to observation car passengers throughout the journey. - **Listen to the audio commentary** — Headphone commentary in six languages explains landmarks and scenery along the entire route. - **Relax at the Panorama Bar** — Drinks and snacks available in the onboard bar car. - **Break the journey in Andermatt** — Splitting the trip with an overnight stop in Andermatt — the article recommends The Chedi Andermatt hotel — is a practical and rewarding option. ## Good to know The full St. Moritz to Zermatt journey takes approximately eight hours and runs in both directions. Swiss folk music (Ländler) and contemporary Swiss pop are available on dedicated audio channels onboard. ## Photos ```yaml photos: - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Glacier-Express-Logo-Wagen-1024x683.jpg" caption: "Glacier Express bar and observation cars" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Burg-Graubünden-Glacier-Express-1024x683.jpg" caption: "Castle and church in snowy Graubünden" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Glacier-Express-verschneite-Winderlandschaft-1024x576.jpg" caption: "Snowy landscape in Graubünden" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Glacier-Express-Winter-Dorf-Kirche-1024x683.jpg" caption: "village in wintry magic" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Glacier-Express-Taesch-Zermatt-1024x683.jpg" caption: "On the way to Zermatt near Täsc" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Swiss-chalet-village-Findeln-Zermatt-3.jpg" caption: "Chalet in Findeln mit Matterhorn im Hintergrund" keywords: ["Chaletdorf", "Findeln", "Gault-Millau", "Gourmet", "Matterhorn", "Restaurant", "Zermatt"] captured: 2017-01-20 geo: {latitude: 46.0133, longitude: 7.7733} credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Glacier-Express-Logo-Sitze-1024x683.jpg" caption: "Glacier Express seats" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Glacier-Express-Walter-Schaerer-1024x576.jpg" caption: "Walter waving from the Glacier Express" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Glacier-Express-railtour-1024x579.jpg" caption: "With Railtour on Glacier Express expedition" ```