Glacier Express Review｜How to Book & Best Section

Updated on 25/11/2025 ｜ Published on 15/08/2025

The Glacier Express is one of Switzerland’s most famous scenic trains, often called the slowest express train in the world. Crossing the Swiss Alps, the full journey takes around eight hours. This article shares my real experience riding it in summer, including how to book, seat classes, route highlights, and my honest review — to help you decide if this iconic rail trip is worth adding to your itinerary.

Best Section of the Glacier Express

The Glacier Express runs for about 291 km, connecting Zermatt and St. Moritz, with the full trip taking around eight hours. If you’re short on time, you don’t have to ride the entire route. The full trip is pricey, parts of the scenery repeat, and shorter sections save both time and money.

• Summer recommendation: Andermatt → Chur
  • Highlights: Landwasser Viaduct, Rhine Gorge, and the most varied valley scenery.

How to Book the Glacier Express – Using STP or the Half Fare Card

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The Glacier Express requires mandatory seat reservations with assigned seating. It’s best to book 2–4 weeks in advance. Even if you have aSwiss Travel Pass （STP） or  Swiss Half Fare Card , you still need to pay a seat reservation fee. The key difference lies in whether or not you also need to purchase a separate ticket.

Seat Reservation Fees:

• Excellence Class: CHF 420 (includes ticket and meal package)
• First Class / Second Class: CHF 44 (short trip); CHF 49 (long trip)

Glacier Express Step-by-Step Booking Guide

1. Go to Glacier Express Official Website
2. Click “Book Now” in the top-right corner, then choose 1st Class, 2nd Class, or Excellence Class
3. Enter your departure/arrival stations and travel date (e.g.Andermatt → Chur）
4. Select your preferred departure time
5. Choose your seat
6. Choose whether to pre-order meals
7. Enter passenger details
8. Under the Discount Cards section, select the type of pass or ticket you’re using. Common options include:
   • No Discount
   • Swiss Half Fare Card
   • Swiss Travel Pass (choose either 1st or 2nd class)
9. If you are using a Swiss Travel Pass (STP)
   • tick the box that says: “This passenger only needs a seat reservation”
   • This tells the system to waive the base fare and only charge you the seat reservation fee
10. If you are selecting “No Discount” or using a Half Fare Card but have not yet bought your train ticket
    • leave the box unchecked
    • The system will automatically add the appropriate ticket price plus the reservation fee
11. Click “Configure Journey” review the price, then “Checkout” to pay.
    • You’ll receive a confirmation email.
    • On the travel day, you must show both this confirmation and your valid travel pass (STP or Half Fare Card) to the conductor when boarding

Summer Glacier Express Experience – Route & Class Choice

Our trip ended in Zermatt, so we chose to board the Glacier Express from the starting point.

When I booked two weeks ahead, there were only two seats left — and they weren’t together. I strongly recommend booking early if you know your schedule, especially in peak season.

On the day, I realised the carriage was quite empty between Zermatt and Andermatt. The staff told us the second batch of passengers would only board at Andermatt, so we could sit together until then. For the first part of the ride, we sat side by side, watching green valleys gradually unfold outside the panoramic windows.

To be honest, I rarely get motion sickness, but I felt slightly dizzy during this section — the carriage was stuffy, and the slow climb in altitude caused some pressure changes. In June, the snow had already melted, leaving mostly green hillsides and forests, without the dramatic glacier views. It didn’t feel as bright and open as the GoldenPass Express.

At Andermatt, tour groups began boarding. My partner had already moved back to his assigned seat, restoring the space next to me.

But after boarding was complete, the seat beside me — and the other seat assigned to me — remained empty. Perhaps some group members cancelled or unused reserved seats were freed up. I couldn’t help but smile — maybe I’d done something good in a past life, because we stayed together all the way to Chur.

As the train left Andermatt, the scenery instantly changed. Towering larches, spruces, and Scots pines flanked the valley like a green corridor. Sunlight filtered through the trees, dancing across the windows.

Approaching the Rhine Gorge (Ruinaulta), it felt like bursting out of a forest tunnel into an expansive cliffside view — the river winding through the deep valley, the air crisp and fresh. At that moment, it truly felt like riding through a postcard.

If you ask me which section is the best, I’d say without hesitation: Andermatt → Chur.

Onboard Dining

I’m glad I didn’t order the set menu. The first half of the trip, I felt queasy and the sunlight was too warm for an appetite; the second half’s scenery was far too captivating to look away from.

From what I observed, aside from tour groups who often pre-book the set menu, most independent travellers simply ordered a drink or snack to enjoy with the view — a lighter, more relaxed way to experience the ride.

Is the Glacier Express Worth It?

If it’s your first time in Switzerland or you want to experience a classic train journey through the Alps, the Glacier Express is well worth adding to your itinerary. But if you’re short on time or don’t want to spend eight hours onboard, go for the Andermatt → Chur section instead — under three hours with all the highlights.

Related Articles：

• 【GoldenPass vs Glacier Express – Which Swiss Scenic Train to Take?】
• 【GoldenPass Express Switzerland – How to Book, Passes & Views】