The Bernina Express route

The Bernina Express Highlights

Heading through Chur, Switzerland to Tirano, Italy, this route offers a feast of alpine views, sparkling glaciers and charming villages. Enjoy this bucket-list-worthy journey on the famed Bernina Express, or hop on the local trains for fewer crowds and more views of the diverse landscapes.

Highlights of the route feature the Landwasser Viaduct, a striking stone bridge that arches over a deep gorge, and the spiralling Brusio Circular Viaduct. The journey also crosses the Bernina Range, reaching an elevation of 2,253 meters at the Bernina Pass. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed route promises an unforgettable adventure, watching foothills and valleys pass you by.

Looking to follow in the tracks of the Bernina Express?

We’ve got you covered—with an even better alternative. Fewer tourists, more flexibility, and the chance to hop on and off for a mountainside picnic or too-good-to-miss photo opportunity. Sound good? That’s why at Byway, we’re big fans of the lesser-known local train that runs on the exact same route as the Bernina Express. All our trips below feature the Bernina Express route along the UNESCO Rhaetian Railway on the local service, so you don’t have to feel like just another tourist.

- James, Byway Concierge

(Better than) the Bernina Express: top trips

Tracing the tracks of the Bernina

Zürich, Arosa, Lecco, Paris

Uncover the UNESCO Rhaetian Railway en route from Chur to Tirano, pausing in the Swiss Alpine village of Arosa and the banks of Lake Como.

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Europe’s greatest train journeys

Cologne, Vienna,Locarno, Chur, Milan, Monterosso, Nice, Marseille, Barcelona, Cádiz, Madrid, San Sebastián

One for the real train lovers: an epic journey across Europe featuring the continent’s most esteemed railways, including the route of the Bernina Express.

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Switzerland by rail

Zürich, Locarno, Chur, Milan, Geneva, Paris

Board the window seat of Switzerland’s most scenic trains across the Gotthard Panorama line, Centovalli Railway, Oberalp Pass and the Rhaetian Railway.

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